There are several things you can do to help win your Social Security Disability or Supplemental Security Income case. One of the most important things you can do is to receive consistent medical treatment. If you do not have access to medical treatment, talk to your attorney or representative. Many times, he or she may be able to give you information about programs offering free or reduced cost medical care. Another important thing you can do is to follow medical treatment as prescribed. Make sure to take all of your medications every day and to follow your doctor’s orders. You must show that despite doing everything you can to get better, you continue be too sick to maintain employment. Also, be sure to inform and regularly update your attorney regarding all of your treating sources and give your attorney accurate contact information.
As your case progresses, your attorney will be gathering medical records and other pertinent information. It’s important that he or she is aware of which doctors you have seen so that they can get all of the evidence to win your case. Another very valuable tool in winning your benefits is obtaining residual functional capacity opinions from your treating sources. Doctors often fill out forms providing their medical opinion about your capacity to do work related activities. Your attorney should have these forms available. If you’re not automatically given these types of forms when you agree to let someone represent you, ask about them and do what you can to get your doctor to fill them out. Sometimes doctors are leery of signing these forms and/or may fill them out for a fee. Discuss this with your attorney to help you decide how to proceed.