By William Powell of Powell & Denny | Published April 3, 2026 | Posted in Social Security Disability | Tagged Tags: social security disability, SSD | Comments Off on What Should I Do—and Not Do—at a Social Security Consultative Examination?
What Should I Do—and Not Do—at a Social Security Consultative Examination? If you have applied for Social Security Disability or SSI benefits, you may be scheduled for a Consultative Examination (CE) with a doctor selected by Social Security. Many people are understandably unsure how to handle this appointment. What should you do? What should you Read More
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What Is a Consultative Examination (CE) in a Social Security Disability Case? If you have applied for Social Security Disability or SSI benefits, you may receive a notice from the Social Security Administration asking you to attend a medical appointment with a doctor you have never seen before. This is called a Consultative Examination, often Read More
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What Is “Past Relevant Work” in a Social Security Disability Case—and Why Does Social Security Only Looks Back 5 Years into Your Work History? If you are applying for Social Security Disability benefits, one of the initial questions you will be asked is about your “past relevant work.” Many people are surprised to learn that Read More
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Why Did Social Security Send Me to a Mental Examination? Few things surprise disability claimants more than receiving a notice from Social Security scheduling them for a psychological or mental health examination-especially when their claim for disability benefits does not center on mental disabilities. Many people immediately ask: “Why am I being sent to a Read More
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What Is “Residual Functional Capacity” (RFC) in a Social Security Disability Case? If you are applying for Social Security Disability benefits, you may hear the term “Residual Functional Capacity,” or “RFC.” For most people, that phrase does not mean much—but in reality, it is one of the most important parts of your disability case. What Read More
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What Is a Functional Capacity Evaluation (FCE) in an Alabama Workers’ Compensation Case? If you have suffered a serious job injury—particularly to your neck, back, shoulder, hips, or multiple body parts—you may eventually be told that your doctor has ordered a Functional Capacity Evaluation, commonly referred to as an FCE. For most injured workers, this Read More
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What Is a “Severe” Impairment in a Social Security Disability Case? If you have applied for Social Security Disability benefits, you may hear that your condition must be considered “severe” in order to qualify. This raises an obvious question: What does “severe” actually mean? In everyday language, “severe” usually means something extreme or very serious; Read More
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What Are the “Grid Rules” in Social Security Disability Cases? If you are applying for Social Security Disability benefits, you may hear the term: “the Grid Rules.” This sounds complicated, but the basic idea is actually fairly simple—and for some people, it can make the difference between being approved or denied. What Are the Grid Rules? Read More
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What Does It Mean to “Meet a Listing” for Social Security Disability? When applying for Social Security Disability benefits, you may hear the phrase: “Do you meet a listing?” For most people, that question means very little—but it is one of the most important parts of the disability process. What Is a “Listing”? The Social Read More
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What Are the 5 Steps in a Social Security Disability Claim? If you have applied for Social Security Disability benefits—or are thinking about applying—you may hear that your case is evaluated using a “five-step process.” This process is how the Social Security Administration decides whether someone is legally disabled, and w2hile it may sound complicated, the Read More
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