Can I get Social Security Disability if I havent seen a Doctor?

ByChristopher Le

Can I get approve for SSD if I havent treated with a Doctor?

You can still possibly receive Social Security disability benefits without ever seeing a doctor, BUT, it will be very difficult and unlikely. The Social Security Administration (SSA) follows a strict process to determine if you are disabled. Part of this is matching your claimed conditions with the SSA’s list of medical conditions. To prove that you are suffering from a specific diagnosis or condition, you will need medical documentation from a medical doctor diagnosing you with your claimed condition.

According to SSA, your application for disability must include contact information of someone that they “can contact who knows about your medical conditions.” This would be a medical doctor. For your application to be approved, you will likely need a credible source such as a medical doctor to provide this information to SSA. Without having documentation to support your claimed condition, there is no way for SSA to determine the severity of your condition. But do not give up hope, because there is still a slim chance you can be approved.

I Cannot Afford To Go See A Doctor

Not everyone can afford to visit a doctor regularly, and SSA knows this. Insurance premiums are expensive and this can hurt your chances of seeking medical help. Medical records and any relevant evidence detailing your limitations are vital to being approved for social security disability benefits. Without those pieces of evidence, you may find yourself being denied on your first application. But always remember that you have appeal rights and should appeal!

SSA requires you to provide detailed medical documentation about your medical condition when applying for disability. Some of this medical documentation includes:

  • Your doctor’s information
  • Dates of treatment for all doctors, hospitals, and clinics
  • Prescriptions that you are currently taking, and who prescribed them
  • Diagnostic tests, including imaging studies and lab results

Without seeing a doctor, you will likely not have this important information when applying. If you cant prove that your condition is severe and that it prevents you from working, your application will be denied.

There is still hope though, as SSA has measures in place in the event you cannot afford medical care. A consultative examination is one way that SSA may offer to have your condition examined by one of their doctors for a proper assessment.

Using A Consultative Examination

During the Social Security disability application process, Social Security may order a whats called a ‘consultative examination’ (CE) to help provide you with a medical opinion to support your claim. In this scenario, a medical professional who is paid by SSA will perform an examination to determine your diagnosis, severity of your condition, and limitations associated with your condition. Disability examiners may then rely on the consultative examination’s report to determine whether to approve or deny a claim.

Previous Treatment Records Can Help Your Claim

SSA understands that there are various reasons why you cant seek treatment. Sometimes, you may stop seeing a doctor because the treatments were not helping your condition. In addition, maybe you took medications that also did not help so you elected to stop taking those meds. Regardless of why you stopped treatment, any document you have relating to past medical care can be used in your application for disability benefits. So even if you have not recently gone to see a doctor, you may have past evidence from your previous medical visits that may support your disability. You may want to consult with a Social Security disability lawyer to see if you have a case worth pursuing.

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Christopher Le is the Founder of the Law Offices of Christopher Le. Born and raised in San Antonio, Texas, he became the first Vietnamese American in his family to become an Attorney. He takes pride in representing the working person against big insurance companies and feels that our system of justice guarantees equal rights to all citizens. He also fights for those who are no longer able to work due to a disabling condition file for social security disability benefits. Christopher comes from a hard working family who came to the United States with very little.