Doctors’ offices and hospitals are so busy that they sometimes delay in responding to requests for your medical records; and in some cases, just plain don’t respond. Stay in contact with your disability caseworker by calling once a week to see if your medical sources are responding to medical records requests. Don’t annoy your caseworker by calling every day. If your treating sources are not responding, this is a point where you can step in and make a huge difference in your claim. Call your doctors and encourage them to comply with the medical records request. If necessary, make an appointment with your doctors to explain to them why it is important to supply your caseworker with these records.

Caseworkers sometimes use special forms to get information from treating sources if the records they receive from them aren’t detailed enough. If necessary, you should offer to physically bring this form to your doctor’s office, and see if your doctor will complete the form while you are there. This action on your part can significantly speed the processing of your claim.

Disability caseworkers in the Disability Office are overwhelmed with cases and under intense pressure to get cases completed. That is a bad combination. So the more you do to make their job easier, the better. Make sure you assist him or her in getting all pertinent medical records, especially those that relate to your impairment. Social Security workers will give you release forms to sign so they can request your medical records.