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A good grasp of the inner workings of disability claim benefits will significantly increase claimant's chances of having his request approved. Understanding the procedures as well as the criteria used in evaluating your claims is a must if you want to receive the benefit you rightfully deserve. It is next to impossible to win at something when you do not know the rules that apply. Of course it will be a lot in favor of the opposing team if they alone know the regulations in effect. Consider this, if you are not aware of what should be done, you will never know if the rules that should be applied is being followed at all. Remember that the people making decisions that will affect you are only human and prone to make mistakes.

The first problem every applicant for social security disability faces is the sudden realization that what is disability to you, to your doctor, to any one with common sense, may not be disability as defined by social security. Of course it goes without saying that the people who will determine whether you are legible will have a very different opinion what is disabled and what is not.

Social security disability has a very fact specific set of rules, regulations, tables, and agency policies that are used to determine whether a claimant for disability meets the definition and criteria of disability under the social security system- for the purposes of entitlement to benefits. What seems to you like a fairly simple determination - are you or are you not disabled - becomes something subject to determination according to a set of criteria that often defies common sense and logic.

Scott E. Davis states below the importance of documents in settling your disability claim:

'There is no substitute for well documented medical records. Medical records are critical because judges review them to determine if your story regarding chronic pain and fatigue add up. The medical records also set up and support your doctor's opinion that you are unable to work. You can win with poorly documented records but it's not easy.

Judges review your medical records for the consistency of medical care, and whether there is an explanation for your symptoms. Obtaining all available medical tests such as MRI's, x-rays, laboratory work and clinical evaluations from numerous specialists is important.'