What You Do

First, your primary obligation is to take care of yourself. See your doctors, follow their directions, take your medications, and don't focus on your SSA claim. I will be the person responsible for that.

You and I will work together on some things. I will need your help to get a supporting statement from your treating doctor if she has indicated that she thinks you can no longer do any full time employment.

I will need to hear from you any time you hear from Social Security. Sometimes they send you notices that they forget to mail to me. This happens even when they indicated on your copy that they have sent me a copy. It's always better if we both know what SSA is doing. Also if you contact me when you receive any notices from SSA I can answer any questions you might have about them.

You and I will talk about all of the doctors and others you have seen about the impairments that keep you from working, and I will rely on you to tell me about everyone you've seen so that SSA can get records about your problems from every physician or other treating professional (physical therapist, counselor, acupuncturist, chiropractor) that has treated them.