There are several things that you can do to help your case.

The first, and most critical, is to continue to obtain appropriate medical treatment.  Sometimes we see a situation where clients who have worker’s comp claims stop going for medical treatment because they can’t afford it after the employer is no longer paying.   In addition to jeopardizing your health, this is a big mistake for another reason — you can’t win your disability case without objective medical evidence to support your claimed disability.  If you cannot afford medical treatment, contact our office immediately.  We can help you find a healthcare provider who will treat you for little or no cost.

It also is critical that you follow the medical treatment prescribed by your healthcare providers. Failure to follow prescribed treatment can lead to your disability claim being denied.  For this reason, you should not just stop a particular treatment just because you don’t think its working.   Rather, you should share these concerns with your healthcare provider, who may decide to pursue a different course of treatment.

If you have a problem with alcoholism or drug abuse, ask your healthcare provider to direct you to a treatment program that can help you overcome this problem.   A disability claim will be denied if the judge finds that alcohol or illicit drug use is a “contributing factor material to the determination of disability.”

Also make sure that you keep our office updated regarding changes to your contact information or medical treatment.

Finally, be absolutely candid with your attorney.  We are your advocates, but in order to advocate effectively for you, we need to know it all – the good, the bad, and the ugly.   If there are any “skeletons in your closet,” it is much better for us to know about it up front so we can figure out how to deal with it at the hearing.   Surprising your attorney with such information at the hearing is a recipe for disaster.   You also should make every effort to be completely honest and consistent in all your dealings with Social Security personnel, including the ALJ.    ALJs deal with hundreds of claims a month, and are usually pretty good at figuring out when someone is being dishonest or evasive.   Moreover, if your hearing testimony is in direct conflict with what you’ve previously told SSA personnel, you will damage your credibility in front of the ALJ (which can reduce your chances of being approved).