Does social security contact your former work employers when you file for disability?This is not typically what decision-makers on Social Security Disability claims do. The decision-makers, for those who are unaware, are disability examiners and disability judges (administrative law judges). Disability examiners render decisions on SSD and SSI claims at the disability application and reconsideration appeal levels. Of course, administrative law judges, ALJs, make decisions at disability hearings. Disability examiners will ordinarily rely on work activity questionaires supplied by a claimant during the application and evaluation process to do the following: 1. Classify a claimant's past work. 2. Determine the nature of the claimant's past work in terms of the physical and mental demands of the claimant's past work jobs. 3. Compare the demands of the claimant's past work so that this may be compared to the present capabilities of the claimant, known as the claimant's residual functional capacity, or RFC. It should be clear, then, that properly classifying the claimant's past jobs is extremely important since it can literally influence the outcome of a disability case. Therefore, despite the fact that disability examiners generally rely on the information provided by a claimant in a work history report or work activity questionaire, there are occasions in which an examiner will contact a claimant's former employer. As a disability examiner, I myself did this to learn more about what a claimant's work duties were for a particular job and to learn also what difficulties the claimant had in performing these duties. About the Author: Tim Moore is a former Social Security Disability Examiner in North Carolina, has been interviewed by the NY Times and the LA Times on the disability system, and is an Accredited Disability Representative (ADR) in North Carolina. For assistance on a disability application or Appeal in NC, click here. Most popular topics on SSDRC.com Social Security Disability in North Carolina Common Mistakes to avoid after being denied for Disability Tips to Prepare for Filing for Social Security Disability or SSI Advice to Win SSD and SSI Benefit Claims Social Security Disability SSI Questions What is the difference between Social Security Disability and SSI? How to get disability for depression Getting disability for fibromyalgia SSI disability for children with ADHD What is the Application Process for Social Security Disability and SSI? Social Security Disability SSI Exam tips More Social Security Disability SSI Questions What makes you eligible for Social Security Disability or SSI? Related pages: What if you become disabled and are not insured for SSD? Will I automatically get disability on the third try? What are my chances of getting disability at age 45? Will Social Security Decide That I can go Back to My Old Job? Can You Apply For Disability Benefits When You Lose Your Job? Social Security Disability and the Job that You Worked Will You Get Social Security Disability Benefits If You Cannot Work Your Old Job? Is Receiving Social Security Disability Based On Whether I Can Do My Current or Last Job? Does social security contact your former work employers when you file for disability? Will collecting retirement stop disability benefits? |
