Social Security: Continuing Disability Reviews: If An Investigator Comes Calling

Investigators usually ask questions similar to those that were on the claim forms, including:

• Why you can't work
• When your illness began
• When you stopped working and, perhaps,
• What your current symptoms are.

It will help to review your claim form and attachments thoroughly before the meeting so your answers are consistent with what you previously told Social Security.

Also note any new symptoms to bring to the investigator's attention. Just as when you filed the disability claim in the first place. It would be helpful to mention how each of those symptoms would impact in a negative way on your ability to do your former job.  

Investigators usually also ask about your daily life, including how you spend your time, how chores like house cleaning, laundry, and shopping get done and how you spend your time.

Investigators also might ask you to describe a "typical day." Give the details, but keep in mind the bad days as well as the good ones. If a symptom impacts your daily life, be sure to tell the investigator that.  For example, if you eat cold cereal for breakfast because you don't have the energy to cook, don't just say you have cereal for breakfast, but say that you have cold cereal for breakfast and why. If you take a lot of naps or you can't read or focus on a movie, let the investigator know.

As you speak with an investigator, keep in mind that while an investigator will ask about your daily routine on disability, his or her real focus is on your ability to perform job related duties. Keep this in mind when answering questions about how long you can stand, or walk, sit, or concentrate, or remember things. It doesn't hurt to periodically relate a symptom to work, as in, "I can't even watch a movie on television without losing track of what's going on. No wonder, I had such trouble keeping track of inventory at work." Just be sure not to overdo it.

Occasionally investigators may try to rattle you with a contradiction between one of your statements and that of your doctor or employer. Don't fall for it. Information from three different people is not going to be identical. Differences happen, so don't be embarrassed about them or get defensive. If you do get defensive, an investigator may think you're hiding something.

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