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Talking With Your Doctor and Social Security Disability

Dirk May Help, Medical, Social Security, Social Security Disability, Supplemental Security Income, Your questions

What does a talk with your doctor regarding your Social Security Disability look like?

What follows is a fictional account of a meeting with a person who has filed for disability and their doctor.

This represents a one time visit but should be carried out at each doctor appointment with each specialist or medical provider that you treat with.

Doctor: How are you doing today, Ann?

Ann: Not so good doctor.

Doctor: What seems to be the problem?

Ann: My arthritis has really been flaring up. It kicks in as soon as I start using my hands for holding things or moving my fingers. At night it
wakes me from my sleep.

Doctor: Have you been taking your medicine as prescribed?

Ann: Yes, I follow what it says on the bottle and do what the pharmacist says.

Doctor: Do you want to try a different dosage or more therapy?

Ann: Sure, I am willing to try anything to get the pain under control. Do you think it will get worse?

Doctor: It will usually progress over time, however we hope we can slow the arthritis down.

Ann: Is it possible to get another xray of my hands to see how they look now?

Doctor: I can order the xray. The last one was 2 years ago.

Ann: Thank you very much, doctor.

The doctor will record in her medical records the reason you come in, your problems, symptoms and the treatment plan. It is important that the doctor understand that you are having problems and it limits your daily activities. Objective findings such as Xrays, MRIs and other tests support problems such as pain.

Questions about your disability claim? Feel free to contact Illinois Social Security Disability Attorney Dirk May at 309-827-4371.

Repeat After Me- Important Tips for Injured Workers

Dirk May Help, Workers Compensation, Workers Compensation Commission, Your questions

There is a long line of injured workers who can tell what not to do, or ways to avoid screwing up your workers compensation case.

You should learn important lessons from others and not experience the bitter fruit of a denied claim or a low settlement.

First and most importantly make sure that you report your injury to your employer right away and put it in writing and get a copy of it. This will avoid insurance companies who will want to twist your words and claim the injury did not happen at work.

Another very important tip is to tell your doctor how your injury happened and that it occurred at work. Make sure that you describe all your body parts injured. This will make things much cleaner in the end and avoid the defense that you only hurt your arm and not your neck.

It is much smoother when you do these two simple, yet important things.

Then the battle is about how much money the insurance company must pay you and not whether your injuries are related to the work accident.

Questions about getting the best workers’ compensation settlement? Feel free to contact Illinois Workers’ Compensation Attorney Dirk May at 309-827-4371.

The Importance of Repeating in Social Security Disability

Dirk May Denial, Help, Social Security, Social Security Disability, Supplemental Security Income

Most of us learn through repetition.

For example, it takes us several times trying a new skill or task before we catch on.

It takes us several times hearing something before we notice it or pay attention.

This is something important to remember for your Social Security Disability case.

It even takes your doctor several times hearing your problems and how they limit you before she understands and puts it in her notes and records.

The same with Social Security Judges.

The more they see your complaints and problems and limitations listed in the medical records and hear you explain it in testimony, then the better the chance they have of getting how it restricts your daily activities.

When you go to your doctor make sure you repeat your concerns each time.

This is the only way to have it sink in.

Winning your case depends on your medical records and what they say.

Do not forget to repeat, repeat and repeat.

Questions about your disability case? Feel free to contact Illinois Social Security Disability Attorney Dirk May at 309-827-4371.

Why Go it Alone?

Dirk May Help, Social Security, Social Security Disability, Supplemental Security Income, Your questions

Recently I have seen more people who are representing themselves in their Social Security Disability cases.

It does not make very much sense.

If you win your case you may save yourself anywhere from a couple hundred dollars to several thousand dollars.

Compared to a lifetime of benefits that will total in the hundred of thousands of dollars this is nothing.

What you are risking is not getting your Social Security Disability at all.

The Judges are denying more and more cases so you need every edge you can get.

You must know what proof the Judges need to approve you.

You must know why the Judges are asking the questions.

You must know how to answer the questions.

You must know why the Vocational Consultant is testifying, and what to do when it is your turn to question the Vocational Consultant.

A lawyer only gets paid if you win your case.

You will always get more money than the lawyer.

If you win and start getting your monthly check that is 100 percent yours.

Questions about Social Security Disability? Make sure to contact Illinois Social Security Disability Lawyer Dirk May at 309-827-4371.