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Easy steps you can take to improve your chances of success

Here are a few simple ways you can help your Jeffersonville disability lawyers move your claim through the Social Security disability benefits process:

Make an effort to regain your health

Your first priority, always, should be to take care of your health. This is important for you and your family, as well as to the Social Security Administration. Social Security expects that all applicants for benefits will make a diligent effort to regain their health while the application and appeals process plays out. This means that you are expected to see your doctor, take your medications and follow your doctor's orders. In almost all cases, failure to follow your doctor's reasonable treatment plan will hurt your case for disability benefits.

Be a good record-keeper

The Social Security application and appeals process demands that you be a good record-keeper. In addition to your application and all other required forms, you will need to submit documentation in support of your claim for benefits. At a minimum, this supporting documentation will include medical treatment records and employment records (e.g., W-2 forms). There is no magic formula or system for being a good record-keeper, but here are a few tips: Maintain a separate calendar on which you note all your medical appointments (and only your medical appointments). Keep a file that contains a current business card for every doctor you visit, so that you always have quick access to the doctor's contact information. An easy way to keep track of your medications is to keep all your empty prescription bottles. Find a method that works for you, and stick to it. Without a system for collecting, updating and maintaining these documents, you may quickly become overwhelmed.

Keep a symptom diary

A "symptom diary" is a way of recording your symptoms (e.g., pain, fatigue, vertigo, nausea) and the impact of your symptoms on your daily activities. There are many ways to keep this type of diary - a handwritten journal, a journal on your computer, notes on a wall calendar, a chart or spreadsheet. Any format that is comfortable for you and allows you to routinely record your symptoms over a prolonged period of time will work. A symptom diary is important to the success of your case because it will help you provide detailed testimony at your hearing before the administrative law judge. The more specific examples and personal anecdotes you provide, the more persuasive your testimony will be. The backlog of Social Security disability cases likely ensures that you will have to wait many months for a hearing date. No matter how good you think your memory is, a symptom diary will make your testimony stronger.

Contact the Jeffersonville disability lawyers

If you would like to speak with one of our experienced Jeffersonville disability lawyers about these steps and other steps you can take to help your claim move efficiently through the Social Security application and appeals process, please contact us. Use the Free Claim Evaluation on this page to tell us about your situation.

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