Gathering evidence for your SSD claim appeal

Gathering evidence for your SSD claim appeal

On Behalf of | Sep 24, 2021 | Social Security Disability |

Our last post on the blog talked about the process for appealing a denied Social Security disability claim. If you find yourself in a position where you need to utilize that process, then you need to know how to gather and present the evidence that you need to maximize your chances of having your claim approved. Let’s look at a few ways in which you can go about doing that.

Your first step in preparing for your disability claim appeal is reading your denial letter. This should specify why your claim was denied, which will essentially let you know where you need additional evidence. By looking at this letter, you can also get a better sense of what evidence the government heavily relied upon when making its decision.

Once you’ve assessed the denial letter, you should be proactive in gathering recent and pertinent medical evidence. This evidence should include all medical notes and the result of tests that you’ve been subjected to. Hopefully those tests are objective in nature and thorough. Don’t be afraid to ask your doctor what tests would be needed to address the concerns laid out in your denial letter.

Also, ask if your physician is willing to give a written opinion on your medical condition. He or she can also fill out a residual functional capacity form, which should help support a showing that your medical condition has caused marked limitation in your ability to perform certain tasks relevant to the disability determination.

Remember, too, that you may be able to submit statements from those individuals who know you best and can speak as to how your condition has affected your ability to live a normal life. If you haven’t already, speak to friends, neighbors, and others to see if they’d be willing to write a statement on your behalf.

Build the best appeal possible under your circumstances

You owe it to yourself to build the best case possible, both with your initial claim and your appeal. That’s why it’s important that you understand the intricacies of disability law and how to use them to your advantage. To learn more, consider researching this area of the law further and reaching out for the support that you need.

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