"Even My Doctor Told Me I Should Apply/Can’t Work!"

A doctor’s medical opinion is extremely valuable to the Social Security Administration when determining whether someone meets the requirements for Social Security Disability Benefits. However, Social Security only values the doctor’s medical opinion. Social Security uses a legal definition of disability. A statement from a doctor that a person is disabled or is unable to work is not very helpful.

Whether a person is disabled is a legal determination based on that person’s ability to perform certain types of work based on their age. This determination is made using medical evidence provided by doctors, but the doctor’s opinion on the legal issue is not considered. In other words: the doctor can say what’s wrong with you, but the doctor can’t say that what’s wrong with you fits the legal definition of disability.

For example, a 40 year old man who has worked in heavy duty construction for his entire life, and who has an injured shoulder that prevents him from lifting more than a few pounds, could be told by his doctor that he can no longer work. Under Social Security’s legal definition of disabled, however, he is not eligible for Social Security Disability Benefits because, while he cannot perform his past work, it is possible for him to work a job that doesn’t require heavy lifting, like a desk job.

Contact our Grand Rapids office today for a free consultation, located here in Kent County in West Michigan.