The Disability Report
As an attorney who specializes in Social Security disability claims in San Diego and Temecula, I find it helpful for clients to know what types of forms and reports they will be completing. After you apply for Social Security disability benefits, the Social Security Administration (SSA) will begin gathering information about your medical conditions and symptoms, and how these affect your work capability. Their goal is to determine if there is any type of job that you would be able to perform on a regular basis – if they find that there is, your application for disability benefits will be denied.
To help make this determination, the SSA will have you complete the Adult Disability Report. In most cases, you’re required to fill out the disability report after you apply for benefits, and complete an updated one if you receive a denial and file an appeal.
The Disability Report – Adult is a lengthy document. It contains detailed questions regarding several things, including your past employment, education, medications, and medical treatment.
When filling out the Social Security disability report, be sure to write something in every answer blank. If your response to a question is “I don’t know” or “doesn’t apply,” you should write this so the SSA knows you didn’t just overlook a question. If you run out of room answering any of the questions, Section 11, on the last page of the report, provides additional space in which to continue an answer. You can also write any additional comments here.
Many of the questions ask for very detailed information that you may not have, such as the dates of past medical treatment and any tests that you’ve had done, and the dates of your past employment. If you don’t know the answers to some of the questions, you can write “unsure,” or simply make your best guess and note it as an estimate. If the SSA needs further information based on anything from this report, they will contact you.
Social Security disability claims involve much paperwork. Our staff can ensure that you’re properly answering each question, and can provide advice as to what types of comments might be helpful. The Social Security disability appeals process is long and arduous; let us help you do everything right from the start, to increase the odds that your application will be approved and you won’t be forced to progress through multiple levels of appeals.
