Medical evidence is the key to a successful Social Security disability claim. Social Security needs medical evidence in a claimant’s case to determine if they meet the agency’s rules related to disability to be entitled to benefits, so keeping Social Security up-to-date on all relevant medical evidence is important.
This is a process that should continue throughout the completion of a claim. At the beginning of a claim, the initial application phase, a claimant will need to provide Social Security a list of all of its medical providers at least one year prior to filing the initial application. Because a Social Security disability claim can last well over a year it will also be the responsibility of a claimant to update Social Security on any new providers the claimant visits during the processing of a claim.
Once a claimant reaches the hearing before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) this will be the final opportunity to provide updated and complete medical information through its Recent Medical Treatment form provided to claimants. Because a hearing with an ALJ can take several months, sometimes even a year or more, before it is scheduled, there may be several new sources Social Security is unaware of that have medical evidence that will benefit a claimant’s chance of being found disabled by SSA and entitled to benefits.
Social Security Disclosures about this information
The information you provide will be used to determine whether we need to obtain additional information regarding your treatments or conditions.
The information you furnish on this form is voluntary. However, failure to provide the requested information may prevent you from receiving benefits under the Social Security Act. We generally use the information you supply for the purpose of determining eligibility for benefits. However, we may use it for the administration and integrity of Social Security programs. We may also disclose information to another person or to another agency in accordance with approved routine uses, which include but are not limited to the following:
- To enable a third party or an agency to assist Social Security in establishing rights to Social Security benefits and/or coverage;
- To comply with Federal laws requiring the release of information from Social Security records (e.g., to the Government Accountability Office and Department of Veterans’ Affairs);
- To make determinations for eligibility in similar health and income maintenance programs at the Federal, state, and local level; and
- To facilitate statistical research, audit or investigative activities necessary to assure the integrity of Social Security programs.
We may also use the information you provide in computer matching programs. Matching programs compare our records with records kept by other Federal, state, or local government agencies.
