When Social Security feels it doesn't have enough medical evidence to make an award (approval), they will ask the claimant to appear for a consultative exam. This could be a physical exam with a regular MD, or a psychiatric exam, most likely with a licensed clinical psychologist.
First, it is highly unlikely that this exam will help your case. The doctor, who is paid by Social Security, will spend a few minutes with you, answer some questions on a form, then send you on your way. These doctors tend to tell Social Security what they want to hear: that there is nothing seriously wrong with you and that you have no severe limitations that prevent you from working.
Here are some practical tips if you are ordered to attend a consultative examination by Social Security:
1) By all means do attend and be on time. Failure to attend may be grounds for denial of your claim.
2) Take all the medications with you to the appointment.
3) Write down any side effects to your medications.
4) Write down all your symptoms, how often you have them, and their duration.
5) Try to be cooperative with the examining doctor. Being unpleasant or uncooperative will only hurt your claim.
The consulting doctor will be given 30 days to file his report with Social Security. Some doctors do not take that long, others do.
One thing to keep in mind is this: Under Social Security regulations, they are to give more "weight" to your own treating doctor than to a doctor who performed a one-time consultation. Thus, your treating doctor's opinion should count more than the opinion of the doctor who performed the consulting examination. This is why it is very important to have a personal physician that you see on a regular basis.
The Forsythe Firm
Practice Limited to Social Security Disability
Huntsville, AL
PHONE: (256) 799-0297 or (256) 431-1599
First, it is highly unlikely that this exam will help your case. The doctor, who is paid by Social Security, will spend a few minutes with you, answer some questions on a form, then send you on your way. These doctors tend to tell Social Security what they want to hear: that there is nothing seriously wrong with you and that you have no severe limitations that prevent you from working.
Here are some practical tips if you are ordered to attend a consultative examination by Social Security:
1) By all means do attend and be on time. Failure to attend may be grounds for denial of your claim.
2) Take all the medications with you to the appointment.
3) Write down any side effects to your medications.
4) Write down all your symptoms, how often you have them, and their duration.
5) Try to be cooperative with the examining doctor. Being unpleasant or uncooperative will only hurt your claim.
The consulting doctor will be given 30 days to file his report with Social Security. Some doctors do not take that long, others do.
One thing to keep in mind is this: Under Social Security regulations, they are to give more "weight" to your own treating doctor than to a doctor who performed a one-time consultation. Thus, your treating doctor's opinion should count more than the opinion of the doctor who performed the consulting examination. This is why it is very important to have a personal physician that you see on a regular basis.
The Forsythe Firm
Practice Limited to Social Security Disability
Huntsville, AL
PHONE: (256) 799-0297 or (256) 431-1599
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