Prepare Your Medical Records Before the Appointment

Social Security will schedule you for a medical exam with a doctor they choose and pay for. This exam—called a Continuing Disability Review (CDR) exam or a medical consultative exam (CE)—is not your regular doctor's visit. The doctor's job is to report back to Social Security about your condition, not to treat you. Bring copies of all medical records from the past 12 months: hospital discharge summaries, specialist reports, lab results, imaging reports, and medication lists. If you see multiple doctors, call each office now and request records be sent to you or held for pickup.

Write down the names, phone numbers, and addresses of all doctors and clinics you have visited since your last exam. Include mental health providers, physical therapists, and any emergency room visits. Social Security may contact these providers directly, but having the information ready speeds up the process. If you have been hospitalized or had surgery, bring the operative report and any follow-up notes from your surgeon.

Key Takeaways

  • Bring original or certified copies of medical records from the past 12 months, including test results and specialist reports, because the exam doctor will review them before seeing you.
  • Write down all medications you take, including the dose and how often, because Social Security needs to know what treatment you are currently receiving.
  • Arrive 15 minutes early with a photo ID and your Social Security card, and bring someone to drive you if your condition makes driving unsafe.
  • Answer the doctor's questions about your daily activities honestly—how you bathe, cook, work, and manage pain—because Social Security uses these details to assess your ability to work.
  • Request a copy of the exam report after your appointment so you can check it for errors before Social Security makes a decision.

Bring a Complete List of Your Current Medications

Make a list of every medication you take, including over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, and supplements. For each one, write the name, the dose (for example, 10 mg), and how often you take it (once daily, twice daily, as needed). If you are not sure of the exact dose, bring the bottles themselves. The exam doctor needs to know what treatment you are receiving because medication changes can affect Social Security's view of your condition. If you have recently stopped taking a medication, note that too and write down why you stopped.

If you use medical devices—a cane, walker, wheelchair, CPAP machine, or oxygen—bring them or bring photos showing how you use them. If you have had recent changes in your condition or treatment, write those down with dates. For example: "Started physical therapy in March 2024" or "Increased pain medication in January 2024." These details help the doctor understand your current situation, not just your medical history.

Understand What the Doctor Will Ask and Observe

The exam doctor will ask detailed questions about your daily life: how you bathe and dress, whether you can cook and clean, how far you can walk, whether you can lift or carry things, and how you manage pain or symptoms. They will also ask about your work history and why you stopped working. Answer these questions honestly and specifically. Do not minimize your symptoms to seem stronger, and do not exaggerate to seem weaker. Social Security compares your answers to your medical records, so inconsistencies hurt your case.

The doctor will perform a physical exam: checking your range of motion, strength, reflexes, and ability to walk or stand. They may ask you to touch your toes, squeeze their hand, or walk across the room. They are not testing whether you are "sick enough"—they are documenting what your body can and cannot do. If something hurts or you cannot do it, say so. If you need to sit down or take a break, ask. The doctor's job is to report your actual condition, and that includes your actual limitations.

Bring Identification and Arrange Transportation

Bring your Social Security card and a photo ID (driver's license, passport, or state ID). Bring your insurance card if you have one. Arrive 15 minutes early so you have time to check in. If your condition makes driving unsafe—severe pain, dizziness, cognitive problems, or seizures—bring someone to drive you. If you use a wheelchair or walker, make sure the exam location is accessible before the appointment; call ahead if you are unsure.

If you cannot attend the exam, call Social Security when ready at 1-800-772-1213. Missing the exam without contacting Social Security can result in your benefits being stopped. If you have a legitimate reason you cannot make that date—a medical emergency, a scheduled surgery, or transportation that falls through—Social Security can reschedule, but you must ask before the appointment date.

Know What Happens After the Exam

After the exam, the doctor sends a report to Social Security's medical consultant, who reviews it along with your medical records and work history. This consultant writes a summary for the claims examiner who decides whether you still meet the definition of disability. The whole process usually takes 2 to 4 months. You will receive a letter in the mail telling you whether your benefits continue, whether they are reduced, or whether they stop.

Request a copy of the exam report from the doctor's office before you leave. Review it for errors: wrong dates, medications you do not take, or descriptions of your condition that do not match what you told the doctor. If you find mistakes, write to Social Security and ask them to correct the record. Include copies of your medical records that contradict the report. Errors in the exam report can lead to a wrong decision, and correcting them early is easier than appealing later.

What to Do If You Disagree With the Exam Findings

If Social Security denies your benefits or reduces them based on the exam, you have the right to appeal. You have 60 days from the date on the letter to request reconsideration. At that stage, you can submit new medical evidence—recent test results, new specialist reports, or a letter from your treating doctor explaining why the exam findings do not match your actual condition. If your condition has worsened since the exam, that new evidence matters.

If reconsideration is denied, you can request a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge. At a hearing, you can testify about your condition, your doctor can testify, and you can present medical records. Many people win at the hearing level after losing at reconsideration. You do not have to hire a lawyer, but many people do; a lawyer can review the exam report, identify errors, and help you gather evidence to rebut it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I bring my own doctor to the exam?

No. Social Security schedules you with a doctor they contract with. However, you can bring your own doctor's records and ask the exam doctor to review them. After the exam, you can submit a detailed letter from your treating doctor explaining your condition and why you cannot work, and Social Security will add it to your file.

What if the exam doctor seems to rush through the exam or does not listen?

Write down what happened—the time, what was skipped, what was not examined—and include it in a letter to Social Security. Request that they order a second exam or give extra weight to your treating doctor's records. If you believe the exam was genuinely inadequate, your appeal can challenge it.

Do I have to answer questions about my mental health or substance use?

Yes. Social Security needs a complete picture of your condition, including depression, anxiety, PTSD, or past substance use. Be honest. Mental health conditions are legitimate disabilities, and treatment history helps the doctor understand your current functioning.

What if I have a new diagnosis since my last exam?

Tell the exam doctor about it. Bring any records from that diagnosis—test results, specialist reports, or hospital records. After the exam, send copies to Social Security's local office with a cover letter explaining the new condition and how it affects your ability to work.

Can I record the exam?

Laws on recording vary by state. Some states require all parties to consent; others require only one party to consent. Call Social Security before the exam and ask whether recording is allowed in your state. If it is, tell the doctor at the start of the exam that you are recording.