Using a Journal to Support Your Social Security Disability Claim

If you are unable to work for 12 months or longer due to a disabling medical condition, you may be eligible for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits. However, applying for SSDI can be a lengthy and arduous task. A staggering 70 percent of applicants are denied in the initial phase—often as a result of insufficient medical evidence or errors made in the application process.

Providing extensive medical documentation for your disabling condition is key to being approved for SSDI benefits. While much of this vital information will come from your doctors and other health care providers, you can also submit a personal medical journal or diary to help support your claim.

Journaling Supports Your Claim

A journal can serve as powerful evidence and is an effective way to convey the daily effects of your disability to the SSDI examiner evaluating your application. Your journal should include:

• Dated and detailed entries describing how your condition affects you throughout the day
• Specific examples of tasks you can no longer complete as a result of your disability
• Times, dates, duration, and severity of symptoms linked to your condition
• Which body parts are affected by pain and descriptions of the nature of that pain (such as burning, stabbing, throbbing, sharp, dull, etc.)
• What circumstances trigger your symptoms
• Information on your medications and treatments, including whether they help and if they cause side effects
• How the side effects of your medications or treatments affect your daily life

Need more information on journaling your symptoms or help completing your SSDI application? At O’Connor Law PLLC, our dedicated New York Social Security disability attorneys have helped countless clients obtain the SSDI benefits they need and deserve. Don’t risk having your application denied due to mistakes or a lack of sufficient medical evidence—let our exemplary team handle your SSDI case from start to finish. Already received a denial? We can help you appeal the decision.

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Contact us today to schedule an appointment for a free, no-obligation initial consultation. Don’t wait—the sooner you start the application process, the sooner you can start collecting much-needed benefits.