Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) – New Rules on Submission of Evidence
Attention claimants and representatives regarding Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) claims! The SSA published the final rules on the submission of adverse evidence in disability claims. The final rules amend both the regulations on “Evidence of your impairment” (20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1512 and 416.912 and the “Rules of Conduct and standards of responsibility for representatives” (20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1740 and 416.1540).
The new regulations require claimants to “inform us [SSA] about or submit all evidence known to you that relates to whether or not you are blind or disabled,” with two exceptions: (1) material subject to the attorney-client privilege, and (2) the representative’s “analysis of the claim,” a narrow version of the attorney work product doctrine. Both favorable and unfavorable evidence must be submitted. While the duty to inform or submit evidence is on the claimant, the new rule imposes a specific duty on representatives to “act with reasonable promptness to help obtain the information or evidence that the claimant must submit under our regulations.”
If the claimant or representative has evidence that is relevant and does not fall into any exceptions, it must be submitted. If the evidence is not in the claimant or representative’s possession, the new regulations state that claimants could satisfy their obligation to inform SSA by providing the information on the disability and appeals forms required for the application or appeal. However, if the claimant becomes “aware of additional related evidence” at any point while the case is being determined, he or she must submit this new evidence as well.
The claimant and representative must inform SSA about “all evidence.” Claimants and representatives must submit everything “relevant” they receive. However, claimants and representatives do not need to request “all evidence.” SSA’s response to comments reiterates the agency’s duty to develop the file. SSA’s response also states that “if claimants or their representatives request only the discharge summary from a hospital chart, we require them to submit only what they receive in response to that request in its entirety. We would not require them to request and pay for all of the other records from that hospitalization.” SSA’s response to comments also notes that medical records for an individual other than the claimant, sent accidentally by a treating source, are not considered relevant.
SSA’s response to comments also address concerns that the new rule would deluge SSA with duplicative evidence. In 20 CFR 404.1512(c) and 416.1912(c), the new regulations provide two exceptions to the rule that “evidence from another source must be submitted in its entirety.” First, evidence should not be submitted if an exact duplicate of the document is already in the file. Second, duplicative evidence need not be submitted if an SSA adjudicator directs the claimant or representative not to submit it.
In addition to requesting extant medical records, representatives often ask medical providers to write letters or complete questionnaires about a claimant’s impairments. SSA’s response to comments explain that “if a claimant’s medical source sends his or her representative medical records or a written opinion about the claimant’s medical condition, the representative cannot withhold those records or that opinion based on the work product doctrine adopted under these rules.” But “representatives may still protect from disclosure their consultation with any medical source about the claimant’s medical condition….if a representative takes notes during a discussion with a claimant’s medical source, those notes are protected from disclosure as work product.”
These new rules demonstrate why it is important to have competent, legal representation.
If you need more information about a Social Security Disability/SSI, personal injury, EEOICPA, long or short-term disability, VA disability, Railroad Retirement Board disability, or a workers compensation matter, please contact the Law Offices of Tony Farmer and John Dreiser for a free case evaluation. We can be reached at (865) 584-1211 or (800) 806-4611 or through our website. Our office handles claims throughout Tennessee and Kentucky.