Social Security: Mental Consultative Examination

Welcome to Disability Law Group. We are here to guide you through each and every step of the disability benefits journey. This video will explore what to expect and how to prepare for a mental consultative examination or a mental status exam with the Social Security Administration. A consultative exam is a common part of the disability evaluation process. This exam is a medical examination that generally takes around 30 minutes or less and is paid for by Social Security. The examiner is an independent medical professional that should already have access to your medical records. The purpose of the mental consultative exam is to assess your mental condition and work-related limitations that they cause you. The goal is to gather additional medical evidence for your disability claim that will help determine your eligibility for disability benefits. During the examination, the healthcare professional will ask you questions about your medical history and your current symptoms. Let's go through the practice tips that will help you prepare. Number one, do not skip the exam and be sure to arrive early. Arriving on time for your appointment not only reduces stress for you, but also ensures that you have enough time to fill out any paperwork that's needed. If you are late to the exam or you miss the exam, you may not be able to reschedule and you do not want Social Security denying your disability claim for not attending your exam. So be sure to attend. And the next important tip is to be honest. Provide accurate and complete information about your medical history and your current condition when asked. Honesty is crucial. The examiner will have access to your medical history even if they have not yet fully reviewed that information prior to your appointment. Number three, do not minimize your condition. Take your time, listen to the questions being asked, and try your best to answer by providing any helpful information you can, but be sure not to devalue or minimize your symptoms and the limiting effect that they have on your day-to-day life. For example, consultative examiners will commonly ask questions about how you feel and how your symptoms affect you on a daily basis. So if you experience depression, anxiety, or other symptoms that make it difficult for you to do work-like tasks such as concentrating and focusing, remembering things, completing simple tasks, handling stress, or being around other people, and even limit your ability to care for yourself and your home, be sure to say that. Similarly, if your symptoms make it difficult for you to sleep and as a result you need to take naps during the day, or if you have bad days where you don't leave your home because of your symptoms, make sure to let the examiner know that. One of the common questions asked about is what you do in a typical day. Remember that you are being asked what you are doing in that one day, so do not cram everything you do in a week or in a month or maybe something you really have not done in some time into that answer. Be sure to indicate what time you wake up, take your medicine, if anyone helps you with your day-to-day tasks like cooking and cleaning and shopping, and if you need to do anything special to help manage your symptoms. Also, be sure to indicate any medication side effects that you have. Common ones include fatigue and grogginess, memory issues, GI upset, or blurred vision, for example. You will want to give the examiner a good idea about all of your symptoms and how they impact you day-to-day. This is critical because if you must take naps during the day, or if you're likely to be absent because of your symptoms, then you're not going to be able to work. Number four, ask questions. Don't hesitate to ask the examiner for clarification if you don't understand something during the exam, and don't be afraid to say I don't know the answer to something asked. Remember, honesty is key, so do not guess with your answers as that could actually harm your chances of being approved. Number five, know that this exam is confidential and private. Please do not feel embarrassed when talking about your symptoms. This exam is for you and you only. It's extremely important that the examiner knows how you feel in your own words, the limitations you feel that you have, and any help that you need. We want you to remember that you're not alone in this journey. While the social security disability process, paperwork, the exams may seem overwhelming, we are here to help you and to help guide you through every step of the way. A consultative examination is not the only thing that social security looks at when assessing your claim. Remember to continue seeing your own doctors and make the most out of those visits by reporting your symptoms and limitations like those covered in this video. Be sure to call or email your case manager here at Disability Law Group if you are seen at any new medical facilities that we did not already know about or if you have any other important medical updates such as a hospital visit, testing, or procedure. Our team will be sure that your file is as up-to-date as possible to help put you in the best position to be approved. Thank you for your trust in Disability Law Group. We hope that you found this video helpful and we promise to continue keeping you informed along this journey.