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TIPS FOR THE CONSULTATIVE EXAMINATION - SOCIAL SECURITY

                                           TIPS FOR SOCIAL SECURITY'S CONSULTATIVE EXAM

                                    By Charles W. Forsythe     The Forsythe Firm     Huntsville, AL

In the process of a disability application, Social Security may send the claimant for a "Consultative Exam" (CE).  This is an examination performed by a doctor who does exams for Social Security for a fee.  The fee is paid by Social Security.

You might be asked to have a physical CE or a "mental status exam."  In this article, I want to discuss the Physical CE.

SHOULD YOU ATTEND THIS EXAM?      Yes.  Failure to attend without a good reason will jeopardize your claim.  It might cause your benefits to be denied.  The reason for the exam is that your case worker does not feel (s)he has enough medical evidence to make a decision.  Thus, the exam is to provide additional medical evidence about the severity of your medical condition(s).  Social Security usually specifies what they want the doctor to check, though some exams are more general.

Some tips may help you as you prepare to attend one of these examinations:

  • Arrive 15 minutes early. Late arrivals may not be examined.
  • If possible, have an adult drive you to the exam and go with you (to the waiting room).
  • Take all your prescription medications in their original bottles (labeled).
  • Don't take unattended children to the exam.
  • Think about your medical history so you can answer the doctor's questions about:  your most serious impairments,. past surgeries, specialists that you see or have recently seen, etc.
  • First, mention the impairment that has the most impact on not being able to work. For example, if you have congestive heart failure, mention that before you talk about foot pain.
  •  Be pleasant and cooperative with the doctor.  Make a genuine effort to do what you are asked.  You may be asked to heel-to-toe walk, bend, sit and stand, squat or other maneuvers.
  • Be careful with "small talk."  Anything you tell the doctor may be included in the report.  Some things I have actually seen show up in doctor's CE reports include:
    • I've been working on my house.
    • I just took a nice vacation to Colorado.
    • My wife and I like to go camping on the weekends.
    • I think I hurt my back working on my barn
    • "Patient says he is doing just fine."
    • YOU GET THE IDEA.  "What you say can be used against you..."
  • Be open and candid with the doctor.  Don't hesitate to talk about your symptoms, pains, difficult with performing certain tasks, etc.
  • Don't exaggerate or embellish.  Don't say "I hurt so bad all the time that I can't do anything."  
  • Don't  understate your symptoms or hold back.  
  • Don't try to convince the doctor that you are disabled.  Social Security does not let doctors make that decision.  The doctor is going to report facts, not opinions.  The doctor cannot state that you are not able to work or that you are disabled. (S)he can report facts, such as:  Patient is tender in the paraspinal area, has normal reflexes, has limited use of the right hand, edema is present in the ankles, etc.
  • Avoid complaining about the Social Security system, its process or how long it takes them to make a decision.
  • Don't argue.
  • Avoid smoking or tobacco use on the day of exam and avoid wearing clothing that smells of tobacco smoke.  If the doctor smells it, he will report it.
  •  The typical consultative exam will last about 45 minutes.
  •  The doctor will not usually do any tests like X-rays or blood tests.  (Infrequently Social Security may ask for a particular X-ray--such as  an image of the knee, shoulder or hand--but this is something they will request when they set up the exam, not something you can request).
  •  The doctor has 30 days to report his/her findings to Social Security. You do have a right to see the doctor's report; request it from Social Security.

IN SUMMARY

Report to the exam a few minutes early and take all your prescription containers.  Be able to list important medical milestones, like:  major surgeries, strokes, serious accidents, recent hospitalizations, etc., and how long ago each occurred. Be pleasant and cooperative.  Try to answer the doctor's questions without exaggeration or minimization.  There's no need to try to convince the doctor that you are not able to work.  Remember, this is a fact finding exam.

For help getting through the complicated process for Social Security disability, talk to The Forsythe Firm in Huntsville, AL.  Consultations are always free and there is never a fee unless you get approved with past due pay. We will answer your Social Security disability questions for free.


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