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So here are some truthful tips about the state of Social Security Disability.

It is getter harder to be approved for Social Security Disability.

Part politics, part reality of a tough economy closing in.

Social Security Judges making it more difficult to be found disabled. Approval ratings for some Judges hovering in the 20 to 30 percent range.

What are some ways to overcome this difficult situation?

Take a note card with you when you go to the doctor and write your problems and limitations on the card. This way your doctor will not forget what he should put in your medical records.

Take note of your daily activities and chores and how your conditions limit you and require you to take breaks and rest when you do these things.

Be ready for the Social Security Judges questions.

Why can’t you work a full time job?

Why can’t stand and walk most of the day?

Why can’t you lift more than 5 pounds?

Why can’t you use your hands and fingers more than occasionally throughout the day?

Be ready to question the vocational expert.

What if you miss more than one day a month due to illness?

What if you cannot be productive 80 percent of the day?

Illinois Workers’ Compensation Cases have plenty of rules to follow and can be complicated.

But the Big Picture is to not give anyone a reason to deny your Work Comp case.

The insurance company wants to hold onto its money, and the Arbitrator wants to make sure that a work related injury has taken place.

Some simple tips will help you avoid being denied benefits and making sure you get the maximum value out of your case.

Make sure you complete an injury report as soon as possible after your work accident occurs.

Make sure you give all your medical providers an explanation of how you were hurt on the job.

Make sure you go to the doctor for all your injuries as soon as possible.

Make sure you do not have wait long periods between your medical treatments. This would make it look like you are done with your treatments.

Keep track of who is paying your medical bills and whether all bills have been paid.

Make sure you tell your doctors about all your limitations related to your injury.

Such as, I cannot lift my arm overhead to reach for items on the shelf.

Or my back pain makes it difficult for me to stand more than one hour per day.

The more details that are contained in your medical records the better your chance you have for getting full value for your case.

Medical records are at the heart of your Social Security Disability case.

They make the difference between winning and losing your case.

Of course, the only way you get the information in your records is to go to the doctor.

If you have medical insurance, then it is not that difficult.

Make your appointment and tell the doctor your problems and limitations.

You will get your tests for diabetes, xrays, or MRI’s.

There are sometimes more problems if you have a medical card.

Some doctors will not take the card, but at least you can some treatment and testing done.

Free clinics limit the treatment even more. Usually there are no doctors, only nurses who treat you. Medical tests are limited.

However, some free clinics will send you to a specialist if your condition is serious enough.

What is can you do if you do not have any of these options?

You may have to borrow money from family or friends to get an xray or other specialized tests.

This is tough but it may be the difference between winning and losing.

Finally, some Social Security Judges may send you to a specialist or for an xray or other test.

You cannot relay on the Judge doing this. There is no way to make the Judge order tests or doctor visits. You can only request.

Remember no medical treatment, no win.

But sometimes it is better to learn from the mistakes of others.

I recently saw a person who went to trial in their Workers’ Compensation Case, and they did not have an accident report. They also did not explain to the doctor that their injury was related to a work injury.

They did have a witness who testified that they saw them get hurt.

However, they could have saved themselves much grief and probably would have easily won their case if they had taken the time to complete an accident report.

Why does it make a difference?

Judges are human.

They like it when people make it easy for them.

An accident report detailing all your injuries and how they happened is easy.

Telling your doctor how you got hurt at work is easy.

When the insurance company is faced with a timely accident report and medical records describing your accident it easy for them to authorize treatment and pay for your time off work.

It is much harder to explain to the Arbitrator 2 years later why you did not complete an accident report, or why you did not tell your doctor about your work injury.

Once you have applied for disability Social Security will mail you a long set of questions about what keeps you from working, what you do all day, what chores you can do, what limits you have, and places you spend a lot of time.

The people who make a decision on your case will review your answers.

If you have a hearing, then the Administrative Law Judge will have access to your answers also.

Your answers may have a lot of impact on your case.

I have seen people who explain that they spend a lot of their time in bars.

This will raise many questions for the Administrative Law Judge.

Such as are you an alcoholic?

If you can do this why can’t you work?

I have seen people answer that they spend a lot of time on the golf course.

Social Security is making the connection between your daily activities and your ability to perform functions at work.

You need to explain the context of your activities.

If you can do chores at home do you need to take breaks and rest while you perform them.

Your answers should reflect this.