How Medical Evidence Impacts a Disability Claim In Mississippi

How Medical Evidence Impacts Your Mississippi Disability Claim

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If you live in Mississippi and you struggle with a disability that has caused you to be unable to work and earn an income, you may be experiencing considerable financial stress. It can be overwhelming when bills keep arriving, and you have no way to pay them. If you find yourself in this situation, you may wonder whether you should pursue a claim for disability benefits. You may also be wondering about what kind of evidence you will need to support your claim. These are important and understandable questions to ask. Let’s take a closer look at the law together.

What Elements Are Needed for a Social Security Disability Claim?

Prior to understanding what types of medical evidence might be helpful, it’s important to have a general understanding of the necessary elements of a claim for Social Security disability benefits.

There are two types of disability benefits offered by the Social Security Administration. These include:

  • Social Security Disability Insurance
  • Supplemental Security Income

The benefits are different in some ways. The primary difference is that in order to seek SSDI benefits, the applicant must be “insured.” This means they worked for a sufficient length of time and regularly paid a portion of their salary in taxes to the Social Security Administration. Those who seek SSI benefits do not need to be insured, but instead, must have income and resources below a certain limit established annually by the Social Security Administration.

Beyond their differences, however, these two types of benefits share two things in common. Namely, those who are seeking these benefits must prove the existence of:

  • A disabling medical condition exists.
  • The condition has rendered the applicant unable to work for at least one continuous calendar year or more.

When making a claim for benefits with the Social Security Administration, an applicant will need to be able to prove these two elements with sufficient medical evidence.

What Type of Medical Evidence is Needed?

In attempting to determine whether a particular condition is a “disability” for the purpose of awarding benefits, the Social Security Administration will consult its Blue Book. The Blue Book is a guide that covers a wide range of conditions and their associated symptoms.

The Social Security Administration will review the medical evidence presented by a claimant to see if their condition is included in the Blue Book. If a condition is not specifically listed, this does not necessarily mean the claim will be automatically denied; it may mean more evidence is needed.

Medical evidence that may be helpful to support a claim includes:

  • Physician notes: Notes from a physician who is familiar with your condition and who has treated you for that condition can be extremely helpful in support of a claim for benefits. These notes may include information about your symptoms, how long you’ve had the condition, how it impacts your daily life, what treatment you’ve received, and your long-term prognosis.
  • Diagnostic tests: Diagnostic tests like x-rays, CT scans, EKG results, MRI scans, PET scans, and more may be very helpful in confirming symptoms and supporting your claim.
  • Physical therapy notes: If you have attended physical therapy for your particular condition, these records may be helpful to support your claim. These records can help not only to show your efforts at recovery, but also to establish the severity of the condition itself.
  • Mental health records: If your claim has a mental health component, you will want to be sure not only to include records from a doctor treating any physical condition you have, but also from any mental health professionals that you may see.
  • Prescription records: Prescription records, including the medications you regularly take for your condition, can help establish ongoing treatment and show how the condition has responded to treatment over time.

These are only a few examples of medical evidence that you should consider gathering to support your case. Obviously, every case is unique, so you’ll want to be certain to consult with an attorney regarding your particular situation and what evidence might be best. At Muse Disability, we’re here for you.

Call Muse Disability Today

At Muse Disability, we know that when you’re disabled, life can be stressful in many ways. The last thing you need is to add financial stress to your list of worries. We know that’s why you want to do all you can to fight for the benefits you need and deserve – and it’s why we’re here to help. We understand every aspect of the disability claims process, including the types of evidence you’ll need to present your claim in the best possible light. If you trust your claim to us, we’ll fight for you each step of the way – because you deserve nothing less. If you’re ready to get started today, give us a call. We look forward to helping you soon.

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