WHAT NOT TO SAY TO YOUR DISABILITY DOCTOR

 When you apply for Social Security disability, you may be sent to a doctor for a consultative examination (CE).  This exam will be part interview and part exam.  The doctor will take a brief medical history from you and ask you some questions.

Here are things to do when talking to this examining doctor:

1.  Be polite.  

2.  Be cooperative.

3.  Listen to the doctor's questions and provide honest, concise answers without rambling.

WHAT NOT TO SAY TO YOUR CE DOCTOR

Do not say the following to a Social Security consultative doctor:

1.  When the doctor asks, "How are you?" don't say the usual, "I'm fine," or "I'm doing good."  The doctor may take this literally and may even put those words in his report.  Don't be afraid to say "I don't feel well" or "I'm afraid I'm not doing very well."  This isn't the time to be tough.

2.  "I don't think this exam is necessary."  You are there, so make the best of it.

3.  Don't ask the doctor if he/she thinks you are disabled.  This is not a conclusion the doctor is allowed to make and it may simply irritate him/her.

4.  Do not try to convince the doctor that you should get disability benefits.  The doctor does NOT make this decision.  He or she makes an objective medical exam, as requested by Social Security, then Social Security makes the decision.  Talk about your medical problems and, specifically, your symptoms.  

5.  Don't exaggerate.  For example, don't say "My pain is a level 13 on a scale of 1 to 10."  You just made your case incredible or outside the realm of possibility.  Don't say, "I can't do anything."  Instead you might say, "I have difficulty standing more than 15 minutes," or something of that nature.

6.  Avoid bragging about what you used to do or the work you once performed.  Avoid saying, "I worked for 32 years at the ABC Tire Company and was one of their best workers."

Your goal at a Consultative Exam (CE) is to let the doctor perform the exam and you answer questions truthfully and objectively.  Trying to "sell" the doctor on the fact that you are disabled will backfire every time.