Question of the Month: Should I Tell My Doctor I am Filing for Disability?

Posted on January 21st, 2020 By Emma Drozdowski

Filing for disability can be an overwhelming undertaking on your own. It’s a process that involves many different moving parts; to increase your chances of obtaining benefits, it’s always a good idea to hire our disability lawyers in Knoxville. One common question we get: does my doctor need to know if I am applying for disability?

In Most Cases, Yes

While every situation is different, we recommend letting your doctor know ahead of time that you will be applying for disability benefits. Did you know that one of the most common reasons that applicants get denied is due to the fact that they don’t have sufficient medical evidence? Looping in your doctor that you will be applying for medical benefits is an easy way to help collect relevant and useful information that can be used in your application.

How to Go About Initiating the Conversation

We recommend talking to your doctor before you begin your application. This way, your doctor can begin to document your symptoms and limitations before you apply. However, you don’t want to raise any red flags by alerting your doctor if you are seeing them for the first time, as they may not feel comfortable providing evidence upon your first appointment.

For Multiple Doctors

If you go to multiple doctors, make sure that you let each of them know that you will be applying for disability. This is especially important if you are visiting a specialist.