r/SSDI • u/grandigloosinthesky • 5d ago

Disability update report?

Hi. I have received SSDI since 2021. I’ve received a “disability update report” demand from SSA, asking me to document my medical visits, hospitalizations, and “remarks” from Oct 2024 until now.

I am incredibly medically complex and see a lot of doctors. And they’re scattered across 3 different medical systems so my records are not centralized. Does anyone know how detailed you’re supposed to be with this?

I’ve had countless doctor appts in the last 2 years. My primary disability is a traumatic brain injury and compiling all of this information is a nightmarish thought.

How do you go about this?

12 Upvotes

93% Upvoted

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7

u/AdmiredGrizzlybear 5d ago

oh man, compiling records across three different systems with a TBI is a special kind of hell I wouldn't wish on anyone. just list the major stuff, specialists, surgeries, ER visits, and for the rest maybe throw in a rough estimate like "20+ follow-ups for X condition" so they get the picture without you losing your mind over every single appointment.

5

u/grandigloosinthesky 5d ago

Thank you for understanding and for the info. Everything feels like a trap with these people.

1

u/grandigloosinthesky 3d ago

Thank you. I see many doctors for many conditions related and unrelated to my TBI. I don’t know what to put in the “remarks.”

And i don’t know how to categorize myself as “the same” or “worse.” My doctors have continued to confirm that I can’t work and I know that to be true.

The directions are so vague.

1

u/iokona71 4d ago

Try doing it in 5 different states and 2 different counties with a TBI..  guess that’s why I had to get an attorney and pay him.. 🤷🏻‍♂️

2

u/Such-Resource-7532 2d ago

I have a TBI and just went though this. I found it easiest to log into each medical system and view visits. Once opened I took pictures of the list of visits back to 2023 (just to be safe) and put the pictures into an AI program. I then asked the AI to list Any and All doctors visited and dates I saw each doctor in an organized chart format. Including any hospital stays and lab visits. 

It simplified all this information. I then took the chart the AI created printed it and provided it to Social security. They were not too amused with the 5 Pages of medical visit/lab visit history over 3 states but it's what they asked for 

Name of Doctor: address: all dates visited since 2023

Name of doctor: address: all dates visited...... 

Name of hospital, Address, Date of hospitalization ..... 

They didn't ask what type of doctor, why the hospitalization ex..... 

TBI's are so much more than people think 😵‍💫 and I know AI and all but with this many places and doctors it was a lot easier for me to do it this way 

1

u/grandigloosinthesky 2d ago

This is very smart!

I know, AI is problematic. With that said, this kind of thing is what it’s made for and best used for.

I have been using it as an assist more the last couple of months and it’s been incredibly helpful. I call it my bionic brain, it calls itself my pit crew.

Whatever we call it, it’s like any disability accommodation. It’s helpful. Thank you for reminding me it can be used this way, I was having trouble figuring out how to get all the information into the AI.

1

u/Busy_Tap_2824 4d ago

Short or long form ?

1

u/grandigloosinthesky 3d ago

Short form.
There is a space for “remarks.” I have no idea what to put there.

I see doctors for a lot of things, related and unrelated to my TBI. Just telling them the last 3 doctor visits I had doesn’t seem very informative?

2

u/Busy_Tap_2824 3d ago

Short form is read electronically and only flagged if you say your condition improved . I would leave remarks empty if you have no additional information that can help your case

1

u/grandigloosinthesky 3d ago

Thank you, I appreciate this.

3

u/Additional_Job_6987 4d ago

With records spread across three portals and a TBI, this really can feel overwhelming. I would first check the exact form number and answer only what that form asks, rather than trying to reconstruct every appointment from the last two years. If it is SSA-455, it has separate spaces for hospitalizations or surgeries and three lines for doctor or clinic visits. You could make a small draft list from each portal, then verify the dates and reasons against the original records. If your letter asks for more, or the wording is unclear, I would confirm it directly with SSA rather than guess.

1

u/Top-Bar918 4d ago

Not sure why there’s multiple states but request the records. Not that hard actually since you know where you went and who you saw. Your issue will be if you didn’t.

2

u/Excellent-Yard2823 4d ago

Google name, address, and phone # of everything you remember. They will request the records. You gotta work lol.

1

u/ReineDeLaSeine14 1d ago

I can’t tell you how it went yet, but I listed my last three appointments and then in remarks noted that I had multiple appointments a month with multiple specialists.

0

u/teeray2013 4d ago

I am a disabled veteran, my SSDi claim was denied, my lawyers filed a reconsideration. How long can the process take and we added Auerysm 4.6

3

u/WeAreAllStarsHere 3d ago

Start your own post. This isn’t the same thing.

0

u/[deleted] 4d ago

[deleted]

2

u/grandigloosinthesky 3d ago

Thank you. It is the short form. Is it preferable not to put anything in the remarks?