In the last month, we have talked about a couple of important topics when it comes to Social Security disability insurance. We talked about how the disability onset date is an incredibly important factor in your case. We talked about how there are slight, but critical, differences in Social Security disability (SSD) claims and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) claims.
Building off of these two topics, today we are going to talk about how to prove your disability. Now, that may seem like a silly topic, right? If you’re disabled, you shouldn’t have to prove it. And if you are disabled in the sense that you can’t work anymore, then it should seem very clear to others, right?
However, proving your disability is a very important step in the process of filing your Social Security claim, whatever it may be. So how can you effectively prove your disability in a legal sense?
There are a few things you can do. First, you should gather all of the necessary medical information and documentation pertaining to your condition, disability or illness. You should also consult with medical professionals to get their statements on your condition and their analysis of your disability. You should also know how the Social Security Administration defines your disability, and if it considers it a disability in the first place.
You should also start building your “non-medical” evidence that supports your claim. This includes bringing family members and friends who know you well and can speak to the changes you have experienced since your disability began. You can also demonstrate your inability to do things in court.
Source: FindLaw, “How to Prove Disability,” Accessed March 16, 2016