What will happen at my consultative examination with Social Security doctors?

A consultative examination may be requested by the Social Security Administration  when you apply for social security disability benefits if the SSA does not believe you have provided sufficient medical information or sufficient evidence to prove you are disabled and qualified for benefits. A consultative examination will be performed by a qualified physician of the SSA's choosing. That physician must be licensed and must meet a reasonable standard of medical care expected of any professional

The nature of the examination, and exactly what happens at it, will vary depending on the reason why you applied for benefits from the social security administration. For example:

• If you applied based on a back injury, you may have your back x-rayed in order to determine the nature and extent of the injury
• If you applied based on a blood disorder, you may undergo blood tests or other examinations to assess the nature and extent of the blood disorder
• If you applied based on metastasized cancer, you may have an MRI, PET scan or CT scan to determine how far your cancer has spread and where it has spread
• If you applied based on a mental disorder, you may have to undergo an evaluation by a psychiatrist or psychologist to determine the level at which your mental illness impacts your ability to function.

Ultimately, the purpose of this exam is just to make sure you really are as sick as you are claiming to be, and you should cooperate with this examination. You should also contact a lawyer in order to ensure your legal rights are protected and that the entire claims process goes as smoothly as possible.