Here is a question I received from a woman named Phyllis who sent me the following email:
IF YOU HAVE WORKED AS A PROFESSIONAL NURSE FOR PAST 25 YEARS AND CAN NO LONGER DO THE JOB AS A NURSE DUE TO DISABILITY, CAN SOCIAL SECURITY REQUIRE YOU TO WORK AS A NON-PROFESSIONAL WITH ALOT LESS PAY DOING SOMETHING TOTALLY DIFFERENT THAN WHAT YOUR WERE TRAINED TO DO ? IF THE ANSWER IS YES, DO THEY ASSIST YOU IN FINDING ADEQUATE EMPLOYMENT IN YOUR COMMUNITY WHERE YOU LIVE.
In the podcast, I make note of the following:
More on Episode 22: Can Social Security Force Me to Take a Less Demanding Job?
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A gentleman named Mike writes in with a question about recommended medical treatment. Mike has been diagnosed with severe depression and he reports that the psychotropic medications prescribed to him have not worked well. His treating psychiatrist is now recommending electroconvulsive shock treatment (ECT), but Mike does not want to undergo this treatment because of possible side effects and risks.
More on Episode 20 – Refusal to Agree to Recommended Medical Treatment
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Episode Notes: Link to grid rules
I have always believed that work history helps establish credibility. Yesterday our judge said as much and approved a case with consistent, but not overwhelming medical records.
More on Episode 19 – The Importance of Past Work, and Hearing Records on CD
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What happens at your Social Security Disability hearing? What should you wear? Who will be in the hearing room? In this 10 minute video, Jonathan demystifies the Social Security disability hearing process.
More on Episode 18 – How Can I Best Prepare for My Social Security Disability Hearing
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In this episode, I discuss the role of the vocational witness. In many hearing offices, Social Security judges regularly call vocational witnesses to testify in hearings. You need to understand who these witnesses are, why they are testifying at your hearing and their purpose for testifying.
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If you allege depression, anxiety or any other mental health problem, there is a good chance that your Social Security claims rep will send you out for a consultative evaluation by a psychologist on a panel maintained by your local Social Security office. In this episode, I explain what to expect and I discuss why this type of consultative evaluation can be so important to your case.
More on Episode 16 – What To Expect at a Consultative Evaluation by at Psychologist
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Show Notes:
1) MY HUSBAND HAS SIGNED UP FOR SSI DISABILITY 7 MONTHS AGO. AND HAS NO HEARD FROM THEM HE DID CALL AND ASKED ABOUT WHAT WAS GOING ON, AND WAS TOLD THEY ARE STILL INVESTIAGTING CLAIM.WE ARE ABOUT TO BE KICKED TO THE STREET FOR NOT HAVING MONEY TO PAY RENT…… HOW CAN WE GET THIS MOVING FASTER?
–Maryann
More on Episode 15 – Speeding Up the Process, and Part Time Work
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Show Notes:
1) dear Jonathan, i was finally able to go before the ALJ yesterday, my lawyer was 25 mins late and had no clue about the case ,we did not get together to discuss my case anytime before hand, needless to say i was trying to get across that i was having problems concentrating, what is this lawyers problem?, i was advised of nothing..i am late deafend hearing loss, have balance problems ,dizziness, and lack of concentration, i was ranting and raving like a fool, in there, trying to explain this concetration problem. Is there any hope of getting a favorable judgement. my dr still needs to do more test on me. i am also being treated for depression should i just forget about it , i cannot work. There wes one job that was there for me and nothing more. do i just need to forget about it?
–Denise
2) dear jonathan–i have a question about my hearing. The vocational ex. testified that with the judges prsumptions, no work available. how often does that result in an unfavorable decision and why? Thank you, and bless you for helping us on this site!
–Jill
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Show Notes:
1) I have a lawyer and I'm waiting for my ALJ hearing ( 1 1/2 to 2 years, I was told at the SS office) Due to financial issues, I was unable to continue treatment with the doctor that first diagnosed me with lupus, firbomyalgia and MCTD, and I now go to a charity clinic. My lawyer says that the date of onset of my disease, which my original doctor diagnosed, does not matter, but the illness coupled with the date I stopped working does. I am working now, going from part time to half time within 6 months, because of the pain my condition causes, even though it is a sedentary job. Is my lawyer correct, that it doesn't matter when I was diagnosed?
More on Episode 13 – Onset dates, part time work and SSI Offsets
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In this episode I discuss the term "residual functional capacity" and explain why your "RFC" is such an important part of your claim for Social Security disability benefits.
Technorati Tags: residual functional capacity, RFC
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Jonathan Ginsberg
