When suffering from an illness, condition, or injury that is severe enough that an Oklahoman believes he or she should get Social Security disability benefits, there are many requirements to follow when applying. It is not a simple matter of filing out an application and being awarded SSD benefits. Evidence is imperative to the process, and it must be shown that the person is at least trying to achieve maximum improvement even if it is unlikely to result in a claimant being able to return to work.
The prescribed treatment an applicant is given by medical professionals and adhering to it can be a critical factor in a SSD determination. Failure to follow this course of treatment could result in a claim being denied or benefits stopping. When there is a prescribed treatment, an individual must follow it if it is believed to be part of helping him or her get back into a position where work is possible.
Not following prescribed treatment is problematic to a SSD claim. Failing to follow it and not having a good reason for doing so will lead to the claim being denied or a stoppage of the benefits. There are certain acceptable reasons to not follow prescribed treatment, under which circumstances the refusal to follow that treatment will not impact the claim or one’s ability to obtain SSD benefits. The Social Security Administration will take the following into account: the physical, mental, education-based, and language-based limitations.
Examples of sufficient justifications for failing to adhere to prescribed treatments are a surgical procedure that did not work and the same surgery being recommended again; the prescribed treatment being dangerous to the person’s health; amputation of an extremity; and it being in violation of the person’s religious beliefs. In most cases, an applicant is required to follow prescribed treatments. However, every case is different and this issue might not prevent an applicant from getting SSD benefits. For advice on these considerations or any other factor in the Social Security disability claims process, calling a law firm that handles these cases is wise.