Earlier on the Disability Report, it asked for you to list medical conditions that you have (both physical and mental). Now, you are being asked if you have ever received medical treatment for any of these conditions (physical or mental). If you haven't received treatment for any of the medical problems that you listed earlier, it's in your best interest to set up a Dr. appointment for yourself and discuss with the Dr. everything that you have mentioned on this application. It could be you have medical records for every condition you mentioned...except maybe those migraines you mentioned, or the dizziness you're having, or the depression you've been having. If you know you've listed an ailment that you have never been treated for or have ever mentioned to you Dr., now's the time to make an appointment and tell your Dr. about these things. Otherwise, the SSA may very well set up an exam for you. Not good for them to do so if you can make your own appointment with your clinic or Dr. Many simply do not have the money to make a Dr. appointment. If this is the case, call your county health department and ask them if there is an indigent care clinic that you can go to for an appointment and meds if you need them. There is always help out there. Sometimes it's a matter of making some calls and asking what there is. For those who do not have any form of insurance or money for meds, these clinics can help you apply for med programs from the pharmaceutical companies to get your meds free or at a very discounted rate. (Look under "Helpful Links" on the right of this page to find links for prescription help and free or low cost clinics in your area.). I can't stress enough that it will be much better for you to make an appointment than to wait for the SSA to set one up for you. Oh...they will if there's no recent medical information on the claims that you're making about your condition. They call this a Consultative Exam or "CE" and it is not to your benefit to have a CE scheduled. The doctors that are contracted by the SSA are, in my experience, usually not helpful to the claimant, and more times than not, actually hurt your chances of having your claim approved. I've had clients with migraines be scheduled for a simple physical...lift and lower legs, etc. What? Tell me...is that going to give someone a good report who is there because they are having severe migraines? It's enough to give you one if you didn't have one already. Now...if there's no other choice but to go to a CE, by all means, you must be sure to make that appointment the SSA schedules for you. Otherwise, they frown if you are a "no show" since that appointment is set at tax payers expense. They typically will deny your claim if you don't go. If one is scheduled and you must go...but an emergency comes up (and it had better be an emergency), then call DDS ahead of time and see if it can be rescheduled. Don't wait until the day or even week of the appointment to do that. It wouldn't be good. If you need to have a family member or neighbor take you, DDS will reimburse their mileage, or yours if you drive your vehicle.
Do you have an appointment scheduled with your Dr....or some test scheduled and you're wanting to wait before you file your claim so that you can list the findings on the claim? Don't wait until then. Claims take a long time to process, so you can call and have your future tests and/or appointments added later. If you have the dates to the upcoming tests or appointments, just be sure to include the date so that your medical records can be requested. If months into your pending claim you have more medical treatment (meds, Drs., hospital, ER, ect.) that wasn't listed on your Disability Report, do get in touch with the SSA and give them this information so that your newer medical information can be requested. When case managing, you'll need to be sure to stay on top of things giving updates to the SSA as needed. Now...if you have tons of medical records on your condition(s), but they are not recent...and when I say recent, I mean within the last 3 months...you'll want to schedule an appointment with your care provider. Otherwise, DDS will want to set up a Consultative Exam to get newer information...again...avoid having that done if at all possible. Whatever the case, make sure when you do visit the Dr., make out your list before you even step into his office of the things you need to talk to him about. This way, you won't walk out saying, "I forgot to tell him.....!". By you bringing up all the health issues you are having problems with, he (or she) will make notes in your medical records...the ones DDS will be requesting.
I think I've already touched on this, but when filling in the information on the medical sources...name of Dr. or facility, address, phone #, dates visited....DO be as complete as possible. Use whatever sources and means you have to complete the contact information and this will help speed your claim. Imagine being a Social Security Rep with hundreds of files on and around their desks and they pick up your claim that's incomplete. Know what this means for them? More work having to look up the info that you could have provided. Yes they have a job to do, but this is about you helping you and speeding your claim up as much as possible, right? Go get 'em! Can't remember dates? Again, use your best "guestimate" with time...Month/Year....or even "Fall of 2009" if you have to. Just don't leave dates blank. They need to know from what time to what time to request your records. And better safe than sorry. If you remember if was early in the year of 2011 when you went to the hospital but can't remember the month, it's safer to put "January 2011" to ensure your records are not missed. Just a gentle reminder...it's up to YOU to prove your disability. I want to help you to do just that.
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