In Part 1, we talked about some of the reasons why Social Security may not get all your relevant medical records.
Here is the real kicker: you often only find out what records Social Security has obtained in the denial notice.
In Colorado, where my Social Security practice is located, Social Security used to send out a letter listing what records they had before making a decision. This notice also asked if you had any additional records you wanted Social Security to consider before a decision was made.
I have not seen that notice in years. Nowadays, you get no warning before you receive the decision. Many people contacting my office are surprised to learn that the most important doctors were not contacted or did not provide any records to Social Security.
And if you are denied, you either have to re-apply or appeal. If you re-apply, you have to start from scratch, and you may have to overcome the possibility that Social Security may just look at the prior decision (a denial) and deny the case again.
If you appeal, you may be waiting anywhere from 6 months to 24 months before you have a hearing on your case. That’s right: you may have to wait two years just because medical records were not requested or received.
This is why it is so important not to just leave it to Social Security to get your medical records.
