Recently I had an opportunity to talk about Social Security disability benefits with a group of folks ( and their families) who are all experiencing young-onset Parkinson’s Disease. Some common themes emerged from their questions. I thought this might be of interest to other folks as well, so I’m going to address their questions here, over my next three blogs.
Today, I’ll address the best way to fill out an application for social security disability benefits.
Effectively Filling Out Your Application for Social Security Disability: Top Tips
• Start a journal now that records how you’re doing on a daily basis, including any of your usual activities that you’re unable to do on a given day. Once you’re ready to apply, bring it with you and include that information in your application.
• Go into your local Social Security Administration (SSA) field office and get the assistance of SSA personnel in filling out your application rather than doing it online.
• Fill out all forms completely.
• Bring with you a list of the names, addresses, phone numbers, and dates of care for all doctors, hospitals, and clinics where you’ve been seen and be sure to include all of these in your application.
• Bring with you information about all medications and dosages and be sure to list all of these in your application. Note any that you have discontinued because they weren’t effective for you.
• Submit with your application as much medical evidence as you can. That means getting your own medical record, including hospital records, doctor’s reports, and treatment notes.
• List ALL of your medical conditions, not just Parkinson’s Disease. SSA will look at all of your conditions together and consider how they affect you. A medical condition that you leave out might limit you from work in a manner that you did not think of.
• Your application should include a complete work history that describes the jobs you’ve held over the past fifteen years. But don’t inflate your credentials. This list of prior jobs and the responsibilities you had in each job will be used by the vocational expert, should your case go to hearing, to assess what you still may be capable of doing.
• If, after you submit your Social Security application, you’re asked for more information or paper work, respond promptly.
• SSA will send you a Function Report SSA- 3373 about how you are limited in your day-to-day functioning. Fill it out completely and with all details. Don’t exaggerate, but don’t under-report your symptoms either. If your case goes to hearing, you may be asked to explain any inconsistencies between your testimony and what you said in your report.
• Be aware that if a disability decision cannot be made on the basis of your diagnosis alone, your case will be evaluated based on physical and mental limitations that affect your ability to work. Address how well you can perform physical tasks such as walking, standing, lifting, carrying…and how well you can perform mental tasks such as understanding and carrying out instructions, responding appropriately co-workers and supervisors and dealing with workplace stress.
• You will have an opportunity to have a function report filled out by someone else. Make sure it’s someone who knows you well and let them know the importance of filling it out completely and with all details. Make sure that they understand the importance of neither exaggerating nor under-reporting your ability to function.
In my next blog posts, I’ll address questions related to self-employment, as well as to reasonable accomodation and discrimination in the workplace.