Those Pesky Social Security Forms

The Problem:

Denials often mischaracterize what people say.

Here’s an example: At a hearing, Jay says, “I do dishes sometimes.”

What Jay meant was: he has a lot of trouble doing dishes. It hurts to bend over the sink. His feet begin hurting and he cannot stand long enough to finish a sink full of dishes, and if he does dishes for more than a few minutes, his wrists hurt. Therefore, he only does dishes on a good day and only for a few minutes at a time.

What the judge hears: Jay has the ability to do dishes.

When the judge checks the forms that Jay filled out during the application process, the form says: “He is no longer able to do household chores. He only does them sometimes.”

What the judge sees: Jay has the ability to do dishes because he does them sometimes.

An Example:

Even though forms are annoying and long, the forms have a purpose. These forms are testimony that the field office and the reviewing doctor will see at the initial level of Social Security filing. In an insurance case, most of the time, forms are the only testimony regarding every day activities.

What that means: If a form is hastily filled out, rushed, and incomplete, the decision maker has little to no detail explaining the situation from the disabled person’s perspective.

Consider the following answers to “Describe what you do from the time you wake up until going to bed:”

• “Nothing. I get up, have some breakfast and do nothing until bed time.”

 

This answer is not helpful.

 

It gives very little details. It sounds like an answer a teen on spring break might give. It could mean the person sleeps all day, watches tv all day, or walks along the highway endlessly.

 

It is not likely to be true. Even if the person is disabled, it is likely that they do something during the day whether it is pace the house, go outside to smoke a cigarette, let the dog out, make a sandwich for lunch, or go to the restroom a few times.

 

It is easy to misinterpret. I personally get up around 5:30 am and go to bed at 9 pm. If I have no other information, I am likely to assume this person also gets up at 5:30 and goes to be at 9 pm. When they have some breakfast, that could be anything from a bowl of cereal to cooking eggs and sausage. I know which one I prefer if I was staying home and had the time to cook.

 

• “I get up around 8:30 am and fix a bowl of cereal. I let the dogs out then I sit down and watch the morning news and maybe a talk show until 11. Then I heat up some soup, eat and wash the dishes. About 1:30, I start a movie, but I fall asleep during it. At 5 pm my husband comes home. We talk for an hour while he cooks dinner. We eat and watch the evening news. Then I go to bed around 9 pm.”

This answer is only partially helpful.

Unlike the first answer, this one gives good detail. There are still gaps in the description of the day, but it does give a picture of what the person is doing.

This answer is harder to misinterpret because of the better details.

The problem is that this answer does not give reasons why things are done or not done. This answer could be equally as true for a stay at home mom who’s children are in school as it is for a disabled individual.

• “I have trouble sleeping at night because of pain, so I may wake up anywhere between 2 am and 9 am. If I am not already up and moving, I get up at 9 am and take my first set of medications. I have to take my medicines 1 hour before I eat, so I let the dogs out while I wait and I may get dressed. On really bad pain days, I skip getting dressed because I will end up back in bed, but on a better pain day, I will put on sweats or something comfortable that I can wear out if I have to leave the house. After an hour, I make cereal and coffee. I eat in my recliner because I need to put my feet up. It helps keep my swelling down if I put my feet up throughout the day. After breakfast I will wash my bowl. If I don’t wash my dishes after every meal, they build up and I cannot get through washing them because I can’t stand that long or bend over the sink. . . .”

 

This is the kind of answer that would be best. It is detailed and focuses on the causes behind why things happen throughout the day.

 

But it won’t fit on the line. True. These forms can have extra pages added to them. Don’t let the line length intimidate you into not accurately or completely filling out the form.

 

But that answer is too long. False. If the answer is accurate and on topic, it is not too long.

 

But I don’t have the time to fill out the form in that much detail. False. This is the only chance at the initial level to explain what is happening. It is the one opportunity to describe how your life has been affected. It is the only direct contact you are likely to have with the person making the decision. If you don’t take the time to fully answer these questions, then you are giving up your chance to tell your story. Social Security gives you time to fill out the forms. Use the time wisely. If you only have ten minutes to fill out the forms, do you expect Social Security to spend more than ten minutes thinking about what you wrote?

 

Tips to filling out the forms:

• Be specific
• Focus on symptoms (you may have degenerative disc disease or herniated discs but it is likely the pain from your back that is stopping you. Focus on the pain. The medical records will talk about the source of the pain.)
• Focus on the reasons behind the answers (because of my neuropathy, because I can’t stand, because I panic)
• Give full answers — add extra pages if needed
• Stay on topic
• Be accurate

By Anna Louise Hawes