IF I OWN MY OWN BUSINESS AND HAVE A DISABLING CONDITION THAT PREVENTS ME FROM TECHNICALLY "DOING WORK" WITHIN MY BUSINESS, AM I ELIGIBLE FOR RECEIVING SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY BENEFITS?

My Doctor Says I'm Disabled, Isn't That Enough?

In every Social Security Disability case, it is crucial to have at least one treating doctor who supports your disability and agrees that you cannot work. Having more than one supporting doctor helps your case even more, but it is important to realize that while a treating doctor's opinions are very important to the case, they are not the only factor that is considered in a disability case.

Simply having a letter from your doctor that states you are totally disabled will not alone win your case. In fact, a letter like that needs to be backed up with supporting medical documentation such as lab tests, objective evaluations, MRI reports, or anything else that helps to confirm your alleged disability.

While your case is pending, the Social Security Administration will schedule you for a consultative exam with a doctor they've hired for the purpose of providing an objective medical evaluation. These evaluations are very quick and the claimant must attend the appointment. In most cases, very little weight is given to these evaluations at the hearing level because the Judge knows that the examining doctor has only seen the claimant one time and has not treated the claimant on a consistent basis.

Other forms of evidence that can increase your chances of winning your Social Security Disability case are:

-- Employee Records that show work restrictions or excessive absences due to impairments

-- Vocational rehabilitation records that prove you are unable to work

-- Letters from friends or family members documenting how they view you with your disability

-- Opinion testimony from family members, friends or treating physicians

Contact Us: Markhoff & Mittman PC 866.205.2415 or info@markhofflaw.com

Serving disabled individuals and their families since 1933. We handle cases througout New York City, Bronx, Brookyln, Queens, Long Island, Westchester and Rockland. We have offices in White Plains, Monsey, Bronx, East Meadow and NYC! Call us or email us today.

The Markhoff & Mittman Team!