Social Security Disability benefits are provided to citizens suffering from disability resulting from illness. However, each disability claim must be supported with adequate medical evidence, and it can be important for Michigan residents to understand the medical evidence required to prove disability arising from illness.
The claimant must provide written proof that certifies the existence of impairment from recognized medical sources. After the existence of impairment is established, other medical and non-medical sources are considered to establish the severity of the impairment. Non-medical sources may include teachers, parents, social workers and employers.
The SSA also requires submission of a complete medical history from hospitals and clinics where the claimant received treatment. SSA reviewers place special emphasis on medical evidence from facilities where the person was treated, because they are usually the best sources of information for assessment of the severity of impairment and the need for disability benefits. The fastest way to receiving a decision regarding benefits is to submit recent medical reports from treatment facilities used by the claimant.
Medical evidence furnished by doctors and psychologists to the SSA regarding a patient claiming Social Security disability benefits for illness should contain a detailed medical history of the patient, along with clinical and laboratory findings and diagnosis and treatment prescribed for the impairment. Additionally, medical practitioners should also provide the capabilities of the patient despite the impairment. If a person suffers from mental illness, it must be specifically mentioned whether the person is capable of understanding, remembering and carrying out instructions. If the claimant is a child, the report should mention if the disability might lead to any learning impairment.
Source: Social Security Administration, “Disability Evaluation Under Social Security,” Accessed on July 18, 2015