Navigating Social Security Disability Programs: A Handbook for Clinicians and Advocates

This book responds to a previously unmet need: unlocking the mysteries of Social Security disability programs and providing medical and mental health clinicians, as well as advocates, with the information necessary to act in the best interests of their clients.

This text aims to bring clarity to medical and psychological health care providers so they better understand the importance of their role in disability determinations by familiarizing them with the benefits, limitations, and qualifications for Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income. Also useful for patient advocates, the authors here provide insights into the workings of Social Security, the language employed, the definitions adhered to, and the reliance on providers to respond to requests from Social Security and their patients to support their claims when warranted. Almost all medical and mental health professionals will need to interact with Social Security at some point, but will not understand the relevance or importance of their response. Much hangs on the clarity of treatment notes and opinions rendered by clinicians. Not only can their failure to respond to requests for Social Security, or to their patients in a disability case, obstruct their patients' access to benefits, it may also put a provider at risk of board censure or civil suit.

Preface
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Chapter 1 An Overview of Social Security Disability Programs
Social Security Disability Insurance
Disabled Widow Benefits
Disabled Child Benefits
Posthumous Benefits
Supplemental Security Income
Disabled U.S. Veterans of the Uniformed Services
Chapter 2 Clinical Assessment of the Ability to Work
What Is Disability?
What Is Work?
Measuring Disability
Chapter 3 Disability Determination
Diagnoses, Symptoms, and Limitations in the Assessment of Disability
Contributing Factors in Disability Determination
Chapter 4 Complicating Factors in Disability Determination
Lack of Treatment
Drug Abuse and Alcoholism
Noncompliance with Treatment
Lack of Treating Clinician Support
Malingering
Credibility
Chapter 5 The Role of Clinicians in Disability Determination
Duty of Clinicians to Patients
Disabled People as an Underserved Community
Clinicians' Ethical Considerations and Disability Determination
Documentation of Services
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
Chapter 6 Psychological Disabilities
Neurocognitive Disorders
Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders
Depressive, Bipolar, and Related Disorders
Intellectual Disorder
Anxiety and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders
Somatic Symptom and Related Disorders
Personality and Impulse-Control Disorders
Autism Spectrum Disorder
Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Eating Disorders
Developmental Disorders in Infants and Toddlers
Trauma- and Stressor-Related Disorders
Chapter 7 Application Process for Social Security Disability Programs
Who Is Eligible for Social Security Disability Programs?
Initial Application
Reconsideration
Exhibit File
Hearing Level
Representation for Disability Insurance Benefits
Chapter 8 Claimants and Advocates: Navigating the Disability Determination Process
Planning for Disaster
Survival Strategies
Common Mistakes Claimants Make
Assessing Clinicians
Treatment and Opinions
Chapter 9 The Past, Present, and Future: Public Policy and Social Security
Epilogue
Appendix A Listing of Impairments (Adult)
Appendix B Listing of Impairments (Child)
Appendix C Functional Limitations Due to Physical Impairment Questionnaire (Adult)
Appendix D Functional Limitations Due to Psychological Impairment Questionnaire (Adult)
Appendix E Functional Limitations Due to Physical Impairment Questionnaire (Child)
Appendix F Functional Limitations Due to Psychological Impairment Questionnaire (Child)
Appendix G Example of Social Security–Compatible Documentation of Psychological Services
Appendix H Compassionate Allowance List (as of August 20, 2018)
References
Glossary of Terms
Index

James Randall Noblitt is a licensed psychologist in the state of Texas and a professor of clinical psychology and a member of the core faculty at the California School of Professional Psychology, USA.

Pamela Perskin Noblitt is a non-attorney representative who advocates on behalf of disabled claimants. She was selected as one of 100 Women of 2000 by Eckerd's Salute to Women.