Re: Medical records for disability????

November 14, 2004

, I live in Missouri and don't know if all applications are the same, but

when I applied it was quite a lengthy apllication.There are places to put down

all of the doctors and hospitals that you have been to for this condition. It

sounds like you have quite a few so you may have to attach a seperate sheet if

you run out of room on the application. There isn't much room on the

application. It asks for the doctor or hospital name and adress and phone

number. Then the caseworker sends off for all of the records from the places you

have named. As soon as you get a letter stating that you are being processed

you might call the case worker and find out who they haven't received records

from. This can get very frustrating, having to chase after people, but

sometimes you have to ,to get them in gear. I hope this helps a little. If you

have anymore questions please contact me and I'll try to help. I'm sure that

there are others on this board who have some great advice also. Hope

you are feeling well today. Bob

W wrote:I have been reading alot about the

application process for disability. My question: how far back do they want to

see your medical records. Mine start in 1955 with my first heart surgery. I

remember when I went thru a divorse in 1989 that the judge ordered my medical

records. The day of our divorce the piles of medical records on his desk made

them all laugh. You could barely see the top of his head with the piles. To say

the least, it proved my attorneys point on medical issues. They would not give

me the records back as they now belonged to the courts. Well since 1989, the

medical drama has been pretty consistant. I would probably need to rent a u-haul

truck to hold all my records. So how much do I need to send them?? Help !!! Do

I start in 1955??? Thanks for any answers.

Love,

w

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November 14, 2004

,

Some tips about your medical records for SSDI...

First of all, I believe the only records they will be concerned about are those

that pertain to your illness(s) that are the cause of your disablement(s). In

your case, since you have several, you would need all the records from each

of the treating doctors for each condition/disease. I don't believe it's

necessary to go as far back as 1955, unless that surgery directly resulted in

one of your disabling conditions. Don't be afraid to overload them with

paperwork, if that's what's necessary to prove your claims of disability.

I would highly recommend that you collect all of your medical records, and

your hospitalization records yourself, other than relying upon Social Security

to obtain them. If you have them do it, it can take forever! The time involved

to

send off for these records is lengthly, as well as the time spend waiting for

them to be returned to SS. Many doctors forget to send them in, or send

records that are outdated, etc., and the SSDI office isn't in any hurry to

collect

them. Some doctors don't even reply at all. If you do this yourself, it will

help

to speed up what is already a long and frustrating waiting process.

I went to each of my many doctor's different offices and collected copies of all

my medical and lab records, and then went to the three hospitals I'd been

hospitalized in and did the same. Each of the offices required me to fill out

an

authorization form to pick up the records, and I made a copy of each of these

forms and attached it to each doctor's records so that the SSDI would know

that there hadn't been any tampering or false submissions. Then I copied ALL

of the records and kept a copy for myself before hand-delivering them to the

SS office. The first package I delivered to them had over 260 pages. Make

sure you get copies, because the SSDI people lose paperwork all the time,

and this way you will be able to provide them with a copy if they do. Once you

have applied and are assigned to a case worker, if you ever have to mail in

any records, instead of hand delivering them, send them " signature required "

with the case worker's name as the recipient. That way you have record that

they were received and your case worker was the one that they went to. Keep

COPIES of everything!

My case is awaiting assignment to a judge, and my attorney just called last

week to tell me that they have finished putting my file together and were going

to get someone to walk it through, hoping that once the judge receives the

appeal that he will rule upon it without calling for a hearing. I'm hoping that

it

will work out that way and that, if I'm really lucky, I'll hear something before

the

new year. Wish me luck!

If you have any other questions, please don't hesitate to email me. I'll help

you with your application any way that I can.

With love, hope and prayers,

Heidi

Heidi H. Griffeth

South Carolina Rep.

SE Regional Rep., PAI

Note: All comment or advice is based on personal experience or opinion, and

should not be substituted for consultation with a medical professional.

November 15, 2004

Dear Bob,

Thanks for the information.

Love,

w

Bob Farmer wrote: