Medical Care: an Important Step in the Social Security Disability Application
02/16/09
Obtaining Social Security disability benefits for a person under the age of 50 is not impossible, but it is much more difficult then it would be for someone over 50, who is considered an older individual. The burden of proof for a younger individual is that there is no work in the national economy that he/she can do. For an older individual, they typically only have to prove that they can no longer do the work that they did in the past 15 years. Those people who do not have medical insurance of their own can visit Social Security doctors for evaluation. These Social Security doctors are not actually there to treat you, but to examine your case impartially and methodically. The best way to prove your case is to get treatment with your own doctors. These are physicians with real knowledge of your case and experience with your disability.
If, however, you have no access to medical insurance, you have two different options for obtaining care. One of these is the county clinic in your county, and the other is a vocational rehabilitation center. County clinics exist to provide care to those without medical insurance. If you decide to use a county clinic, the best way to go about it is quietly: it is best not to tell them about your current disabilities. Often times, when the administrative staff hears about your complicated medical problems, they will tell you that they cannot help you because they do not have proper funding for your condition(s). They may decide to turn you away before you even get to see a doctor. Instead of providing a long medical history, when you speak to a county clinic, simply state that you a person without medical insurance who needs to see a primary physician. Do not tell them anything more. Then, when you get in to see the doctor, you can provide details about your condition and concerns. Often times, they will send you to specialists for your conditions and pay for it.
Your other medical care option, the Vocational Rehabilitation Program, is paid for by the state and works to train people for a vocation or career. But before they send you to work, they will look at your existing medical records from previous medical providers and they will also send you to their doctors. They will pay for doctor visits, medications, tests and even surgeries and/or procedures, if warranted. At the end, they will make a determination as to whether they feel you can or cannot work. If they feel you cannot work due to your severe limitations, they will issue a decision stating so and refer you to apply for disability benefits through SS. This can help your claim, because the experts in the field of getting you back to work say you cannot. And as a "bonus," you have also received the treatments and medicines you needed without having to pay a penny. And, if a vocation rehabilitation program does decide that you are fit to work, they will help you find the employment you need. The records from the doctors that vocational rehabilitation sent you to can also be used as evidence in support of your claim for disability benefits.
The truth is, it is incredibly difficult to get Social security disability benefits if you are under 50 unless you have received medical treatment outside of Social Security. Therefore, you have to get into medical treatment as soon possible.
More articles