You will need medical and educational records to apply. We recommend that you gather these records yourself, rather than waiting for Social Security to request them.
You will need records from every medical provider who has diagnosed or treated you for your condition(s) for at least the past 2 years. Go further back if you can. More is better than less.
Your providers may include primary care, specialty care, and all types of therapy providers. If you get disability related services through a state agency, you can also request records from the agency.
If you are still in high school or recently graduated, you will need to request school records. This may include your Individualized Education Plan (IEP) and your most recent psychological evaluation.
If you do not have recent medical records, or if Social Security feels that you do not have enough medical evidence, they may schedule a Consultative Evaluation with a provider that they choose. If this happens, the provider will evaluate you for the conditions you list on your application.
You can now upload medical and school records to your MySSA account - we recommend doing this.
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Tip: It’s a good idea to let your medical providers know that you’re planning to apply for benefits. Ask if there are any assessments or documentation that will help your case.
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To Do: Make a list of medical providers you remember seeing for at least the past 2 years, including addresses and phone numbers. Request records from each one.
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To Do: If you’re still in high school or just graduated, request your IEP or 504 plan and psychological evaluation from your school.
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Go back to previous section: The Application Process Overview