Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) – 10 Reasons Cases are Lost
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) cases are typically won or lost on the strength of the medical evidence and the credibility of the claimant. However, if you are an attorney representing claimants, there are certain things you should always remember in preparing a case for hearing.
1. Failure to formulate a complete and detailed theory of the case, covering ALL FIVE steps of the sequential evaluation.
2. Failure to ask for the DOT codes for all jobs mentioned at the hearing, including past relevant work (PRW).
3. Failure to prove the specific functional limitations precluding past relevant work, and to verify which work is PRW by verifying recency, SGA-level earnings, and duration satisfying the SVP (specific vocational preparation) requirement.
4. Failure to get claimant testimony identifying functions necessary for past-relevant and other work the claimant can no longer do, and why.
5. Failure to get treating physician opinion(s) showing that the claimant cannot do functions required for past relevant and other work, and why.
6. Failure to find evidence that could give rise to negative inferences, and show why they do not disprove disability. This includes statements like “Needs work excuse” or “May be engaged in drug-seeking” in medical records, post-alleged onset date earnings, etc.
7. Failure to present hypothetical questions showing that each disabling limitation precludes work. If the claimant describes three symptoms which individually preclude work, each should be presented separately to the VE so that all must be rejected to deny.
8. Failure to get consultative examinations when required. The burden of proving disability is on the claimant not the ALJ.
9. Failure to get school records. There is no evidence with as high a cost/benefit ratio.
10. Failure to establish limitations on admitted activities, allowing the ALJ to compile an unchallenged laundry list of activities the claimant has done. When claimants say they read novels, find out how long it takes and whether they remember what they read. If they go fishing, find out how long and how often. Prepare for this by comparing the difference between their current life and their pre-impairment life.
Click to read the most recent update regarding wait times and percentage of cases approved at the hearing level for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and SSI cases.
If you need more information about a Social Security Disability/SSI, personal injury, EEOICPA, long or short-term disability, VA disability, Railroad Retirement Board disability, or a workers compensation matter, please contact the Law Offices of Tony Farmer and John Dreiser for a free case evaluation. We can be reached at (865) 584-1211 or (800) 806-4611 or through our website. Our office handles claims throughout Tennessee and surrounding states.