WHY YOUR MEDICAL RECORDS MATTER FOR YOUR DISABILITY CLAIM

Getting disability benefits generally comes down to one thing: your medical records. They’re the guts of your claim, the proof you need. Without solid, complete documentation, your shot at benefits drops fast.

Here’s the why and the how of making sure your records back you up:

Medical Records as Evidence

Medical records are the backbone to proving your SSI or SSDI claim. They provide the hard evidence of your health issues and treatments. Without them, your claim has as good a shot as a paper bag in a rainstorm.

If you can’t afford proper care, don’t just accept your fate. Look up free clinics, seek out community resources, or find other ways to get treatment. Because without records, there’s no evidence, and without evidence, there’s no case.

Matching Your Medical Records with Your Health Issues

You can’t rely solely on your medical records to tell your story. Too often, people describe their daily struggles and pain, but their records don’t match up. This can weaken your claim.

To succeed, make sure you and your healthcare providers are on the same page, and that they document all symptoms and limitations thoroughly.

Where To Get Your Medical Records

Your medical provider matters, and so do their qualifications. In fact, the SSA requires documentation from recognized professionals (e.g., licensed physicians, clinical psychologists, medical specialists) who, typically, must have conducted diagnostic tests and provided detailed clinical findings to meet their standards.

Moreover, while all submissions are given some consideration, medical records from those recognized sources are almost always given priority over those that the SSA has yet to designate as “acceptable” (e.g., social workers, chiropractors, naturopaths).

The moral of the story? To get the benefits you deserve, you have to give the SSA what it wants.