The Social Security Administration considers many factors when deciding whether a persona is eligible for disability benefits. Sometimes, it isn’t enough just to have a qualifying condition; the applicant must also be in treatment for the condition.
In some cases, there are questions about the prescribed treatment for the applicant’s health issues. In these cases, the SSA wants to know that the person is following the recommendations given to them by their medical source. Failure to do so could damage their application for Social Security Disability benefits.
Key points to understand about following the prescribed treatment
The SSA has specific rules in place regarding following the prescribed treatment. A person who is seeking benefits must have a medical source that provides information regarding their medical problems. For example, if they have brain injury, it might be a neurologist giving the diagnosis and prognosis.
When the person does not adhere to the treatment protocol, the SSA will want to know why.
There must be a valid justification for not doing as the medical provider asked. Those who do not follow the prescribed treatment and do not have a good reason for it are likely to be denied in their claim or lose their benefits if they are already getting them.
In some cases, there are valid reasons not to follow the prescribed treatment. The patient could have mental or physical limitations that make the treatment impossible or impractical.
In some cases, the patient may have a language barrier or other issues that make it difficult to follow the prescribed treatment.
In others, a treatment as prescribed can clash with the person’s religious beliefs.
And in some difficult cases, the benefits of the treatment could cause more problems than not having it at all. The patient may have had the same treatment before and it did not work. Or it might be a danger to their life.
Unfortunately, it can be difficult for patients in these cases to convince the SSA that their reasons for not following the prescribed treatment are valid. They may need help from a professional who can advocate on their behalf.
Social Security Disability claims
The prescribed treatment is just one part of a Social Security Disability case that can be confusing and worrisome. When a person is seeking these benefits, they are already facing specific challenges to their health and their financial future.