home

Easy Forms with Steps & Tips*

Here are forms, letters, and information to help you collect and send information to Agencies. These forms are legal documents that have places that you only have to add your personal information in. And read the "Tips on Sending Forms & Letters"
Forms and letters are PDF files and require the program called "Acrobat Reader" to fill them in and print the form out.
Download by clicking your mouse on "Get Acrobat Reader" picture here:

Tip on Sending Forms & Letters	Freedom of Information Act
Good Record Keeping	Privacy Act
How to get Medical Records	Medical Records Confidentially Act
How to get Court Records	Legal Forms
Questions & Answers

Questions & Answers

Can I authorize my physician to release my medical records to another person?
Yes. You may want to authorize the release of your medical records to someone other than yourself or another health care provider. The general rules of the Confidentiality of Information Act will apply.

How do I arrange to view or to get copies of my medical records?

To view or to get a copy of your medical records, you need to give your doctor a written request.

Generally speaking, all current and former adult patients, minor patients (in some circumstances) , parents of minor patients (with exceptions), patient guardians or conservators, and deceased patients' beneficiaries or personal representatives are entitled to inspect and make copies of the patient's medical record information upon written request and payment of reasonable clerical costs.

Although any written request signed by a person entitled to exercise the patient's right of access is considered sufficient, you may want to use a form for this purpose.

What is Certified Mail?

Offered through the Post Officel, you receive a receipt stamped with the date of mailing. A unique article number allows you to verify delivery online. As an additional security feature, the recipient’s signature is obtained at the time of delivery and a record is maintained by the Post Office. For an additional fee, you can request a copy of the signature record before or after delivery with Return Receipt.

What types of Certified Mail is available?
You can use Certified Mail with:

First-Class Mail - Send letters, envelopes and small packages inexpensively with First-Class Mail. Items may weigh 13 oz. or less.
Priority Mail - Your mail is delivered in an average of 2-3 days.

You can use Certified Mail with the following Extra Services:

Restricted Delivery - When you need to make sure your mail is received by someone specific - and only that person - choose restricted delivery.
Return Receipt - You get a postcard sent to you, signed by the person who accepted your package.

Why is it best to have my letters and documents notatized?

Notaries play an important role in their capacity of acknowledging documents since County Recorders are prohibited by law from accepting most documents for recording unless they are acknowledged (notarized), the primary exceptions being certified court documents and federal, state and local tax liens.

By certifying that the parties to the transaction actually appeared and identified them- selves, the notary's acknowledgment is an effective fraud preventive. The possibility of fraud is further lessened by the notary's duty to assure that the parties entered into the transaction knowingly and that they are aware of the significance of the document. Without the service of notaries, courts could be overwhelmed with litigation to nullify transactions based on allegations of forgery or parties alleging lack of understanding of their actions.

If you have a mental health condition, learning difficulties, crippling illness, physically challanged, etc. try to have two witnesses with IDs with you to sign the docucment. This will leave little questioning of your condition against the document in legal matters.

What forms of ID is excepted by a Notary?
Notaries except most Photo ID's that are current and not expired. They include Photo State Driver License, State Photo ID, military ID, US Passport.
Some State Notarties will also except the followinng: Food Stamp ID, Please check with your Notary or the "Notary Laws" of your State for what is excepted as ID.

Does notarization make a document "true" or "legal"?
No. A notarization typically means the signer acknowledged to the Notary that he or she signed the document or vouched under oath or affirmation that the contents of the document were true.

May a Notary give legal advice or prepare legal documents?
Absolutely not. A Notary is forbidden from preparing legal documents or acting as a legal advisor unless he or she is also an attorney. Violators can be prosecuted for the unauthorized practice of law, so a Notary cannot answer your legal questions or provide advice about your particular document.

Can a Notary refuse to serve people?
Only if the Notary is uncertain of a signer's identity, willingness, mental awareness, or has cause to suspect fraud. Notaries may not refuse service on the basis of race, religion, nationality, lifestyle, or because the person is not a client or customer.

Where do I get a document notarized?
You can look in the phone book, call or stop by a bank, real estate, mortgage, or financial services office.

What is the charge for a notary?
Mos Notaries to not charge a fee for their sevices. And there are some that charge for each document. Most States have laws that governs the fees for which a Notary can and can not charge. Please check with the "Notary Laws" of your State.

What can the notary can do?
The notary’s responsibilities vary from state to state, but may include the following:

Acknowledgments (certifying that the signer personally appeared before the notary, was identified by the notary, and acknowledged signing the document)
Jurats (as found in affidavits and other sworn documents, certifying that the signer personally appeared before the notary, signed in the notary’s presence, and took an oath or affirmation from the notary)
Oaths and affirmations (an oath is a solemn promise to God; an affirmation is a promise on one’s own personal honor)
Copy of notarial record
Certified copy of power of attorney
Depositions
Proofs of execution
Protests
Witness signatures
Verifying vehicle identification numbers (Florida)

What information do I need when applying for Social Security Disability Benefits?
Blue underlined words are links to SSA pages and their forms. SSA forms should be printed on 8 1/2" x 11" white paper. You must print the form with blue or black ink to be acceptable to SSA.

When you apply for disability benefits, we will ask you general questions about yourself and questions about the medical condition that prevents you from working.
Your name, gender and social security number;
Your name at birth (if different);
Your date of birth and place of birth (State or foreign country);
Whether a public or religious record was made of your birth before age 5;
Whether you or anyone else has ever filed for Social Security benefits, Medicare or Supplemental Security Income on your behalf (if so, we will also ask for information on whose Social Security record you applied);
Whether you were ever in the active military service before 1968 and, if so, the dates of service and whether you have ever been eligible to receive a monthly benefit from a military or Federal civilian agency;
Whether you or your spouse have ever worked for the railroad industry;
Whether you have earned social security credits under another country's social security system;
Whether you qualified for or expect to receive a pension or annuity based on your own employment that was not covered by Social Security;
Whether you are currently married and, if so, your spouse's name, dates of birth (or age) and social security numbers (if known);
Whether you have filed or intend to file for workers' compensation or any public disability benefits;
The names, dates of birth (or age) and social security numbers (if known) of your current and former spouses (if any);
The dates and places of each of your marriages and, for marriages that have ended, how and when they ended;
The names of any unmarried children under 18, 18 - 19 and in secondary school or disabled before age 22;
Whether you have a parent who was dependent on the worker for ? of his or her support at the time you became disabled;
Whether you have had earnings in all years since 1978;
The name(s) of your employer(s) or information about your self-employment and the amount of your earnings for this year and last year; and
Whether you received or expect to receive any money from an employer since the date you became unable to work.
Medical Questions Whether you have been unable to work because of illnesses, injuries or conditions at any time within the past 14 months (if "Yes," we will also ask when you became unable to work and whether you are still unable to work)
You will need to complete a form SSA-3368 "Adults" Form & Instructions & SSA-3320 "Child" Form & Instructions providing information on your disability including your medical sources, medications, and how your disability prevents you from working.
They will give you the Disability Report Form and other forms needed to process your claim.

Are there other forms that require other to fill out on my child?
Yes, forms are sent to the child's teachers and shhools. You can look at the forms through these links to get an idea what information SSA is asking them for. Worth reading!
SSA-5665-BK "Teacher Questionaire" (10 pages)
SSA-5666 "Request for Administrative Information" (2 pages)

What time limit is imposed when appealling a Social Security Disability Claim?

Most of the time limits are imposed upon the person who is filing for Disability Insurance Benefits and not on the Social Security Administration. In many cases the Social Security Administration (SSA) will deny the persons claim at some level and then the burden shifts to the applicant for the benefits to file a written appeal of that denial.

If the person does not file his appeal within the allotted time frame then his case can be closed or dismissed by the SSA. There is no corresponding requirement on the SSA to either approve or deny a disability application within a certain time frame. The SSA moves as efficiently as it can but there are thousands of new cases filed each year. The decision making process by the SSA can be very lengthy and frustrating to the person seeking the benefits.

What are the steps to an appeal?
Remember you must file your appeal within 60 days from the date you got the reconsideration determination. SSA assumes you got the reconsideration determination within 5 days of the date shown on that notice unless you can show us you did not get it within the 5-day period. Blue underlined words are links to SSA pages and their forms. SSA forms should be printed on 8 1/2" x 11" white paper. You must print the form with blue or black ink to be acceptable to SSA.

Forms needed: If you are requesting a hearing on the denial of a claim for disability benefits, you must complete and sign additional forms. These forms are the following:

HA-4486 Form & HA-4486 Instructions is "Claimant's Statement When Request for Hearing is Filed and the Issue is Disability"
SSA-827 Form & SSA-827 Instructions is "Authorization to Disclose Information to SSA".
HA-4631 Form & HA-4631 Instructions "Claimant's Recent Medical Treatment"
HA-4632 Form & HA-4632 Instructions "Claimant's Medications". If you have worked since you filed your application for disability benefits, complete
HA-4633 Form & HA-4633 Instructions "Claimant's Work Background". You may also need to complete a form
SSA-1696 Form & SSA-1696 Instructions "Appointment of Representative", if you are appointing a representative. Your representative should also sign the SSA-1696 before you send it.

Reconsideration by another person at SSA. A reconsideration is a complete review of your application by someone who did not take part in the original decision about your benefits.
A hearing in front of an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ), a legal professional who had no part in either the original or reconsideration decision in step one. The ALJ will make a decision based on all available information, plus any new information you may be able to provide. You (or the person for whom the appeal is being made) will usually be required to appear before the ALJ. At this time, the ALJ may ask questions of the person who is appealing. You may also have advocates or a lawyer present to assist you. HA-501Form & HA-501 Instructions "Request for Hearing by Administrative Law Judge"
Review by the Appeals Council which is part of SSA's Office of Hearing and Appeals (OHA). OHA reviews the ALJ's decision to determine if the judge followed proper procedures in denying you benefits. Most of the time the OHA agrees with the administrative law judge.
Filing a lawsuit in the Federal district court. There is no guarantee that appealing at each level will overturn a denial of benefits. However, statistics show that people who appeal a denial stand a good chance of eventually getting the denial overturned.

Are there some points to keep in mind when both applying for SSA benefits and when appealing a decision?
Yes there are. Keep in mind the following:

Try to put all your communications with SSA in writing instead of by telephone in case there is a disagreement later.
Some people have reported that they have been told over the telephone not to apply for disability benefits as it "appears" they are not eligible. If for some reason you are told on the telephone that you are not eligible for disability benefits and you think you are eligible, then you should still insist on a written application form and apply. You have the right to file a written application.
Make sure you keep copies of all correspondence with SSA, including the mailing envelope with the postmark date that SSA mailed the correspondence.
Applications for SSDI or SSI are most often turned down because of insufficient or incomplete medical documentation. Medical records submitted with your application for benefits should be clearly written and legible.
There must be evidence documented through the medical records that 1) a physical or mental impairment exists; and, 2) that the physical or mental impairment interferes with the basic work-related activities for adults or comparable condition for a child.
Medical records often only indicate the existence of a medical condition and not how that impairment affects work activity for an adult, or a comparable disabling condition for a child. If a child's school records are used, the record may indicate only how well a child with a disability is doing in relationship to his or her own Individualized Education Plan (IEP), not how the child performs in comparison to peers of the same age. If the medical or school records do not indicate both aspects of a disability, then you should seek to have these records more fully developed or clarified by your treating physician or educational professional.
If you are applying for SSI and have a monthly income above the allowable limit of $446 ($669 for a couple) but still have a physical or mental impairment, you should become familiar with some of the Social Security work incentive programs that reduce the amount of income that SSA counts when determining eligibility. The programs can help people with disabilities who are working establish or maintain SSI/Medicaid.
Always appeal if you think you are right.

*The information contained on these pages are for informational purposes only. The pages were created per requests received by our visitors. Remember, when needing legal advice, please consult an Attorney. We are not responsible for any typos, nor for the outcome of usage.