In the midst of applying for Social Security benefits, alot of people spend a great deal of time going to doctors, taking tests, taking medications, and following their diets.   Unfortunately, most people find themselves in a very unique position of not having very much money, very few resources and, alot of times, a very difficult time trying to maintain a way of life. When you are applying for disability benefits, despite all of these problems you may have, you still bear the burden of proving that you are disabled.   Unfortunately, alot of people tend to be their own worst enemy.  Here are some things you may want to think about when you say that you can't afford your medication or you have reasons for not doing what the doctor told you: 1) I can't afford to buy my medications but I smoke cigarettes! Now, you gotta follow me on this logic.  You have been given a prescription for medication.  However, you say that you can't afford your medication.  Then you say you smoke a pack of cigarettes per day or per week.  Now, think about what I just said.  You got money for cigarettes but you don't have money for your medication.   hmmmmmm! Now, don't start tap dancing now and say "Well, my friends get them for me or my family will get them".  And again, I say, you will get your friends and family to buy cigarettes for you but not your medication. 2) The lovely S.O.A.P. acronymn and LET's focus on the S! Ladies and gentlemen, this acronymn is commonly utilized by doctors when treating their patients.  The letter "S" stands for symptoms or subjective comments.  In other words, this letter is what YOU say is wrong with you.  The letter "O" stands for objective as in objective medical evidence.  This letter usually refers to test results, labs, x-rays or any other evidences used.  The letter "A" is the doctor's analysis and assessment.  The letter "P" is for plan.  This letter describes what the doctor intends to do to correct the situation.  The reason I focus on "S" is this is usually the part that catches a lot of people off guard.  During the course of the time you are getting treatment, you may go to the doctors a lot of times.  However, you may not remember specifically remember everything you say.   I can't tell you the number of times people trip up and don't remember the little things that happen to them in the past.  For instance, a judge may ask you if you've had a drink in a year (even though you're not supposed to) and you say NO.  Then, if you look in the records, you were admitted to the ER due to cramps after drinking alcohol.  OOOPS!! Now, you are sitting there looking crazy! 3) The doctor can't read your mind:   FOOD. How many of you have been placed on a diet that you can not afford??  However, when you go in front of your doctor, you don't tell him or her that you can't afford the diet.  The doctor asks you if you are following your diet and you  just 'no'.  Guess what?  That's called "NON compliance".   If you don't tell your doctor why you can't eat the foods that he or she is telling you that you should eat, how are they going know?? 4) The doctor can't read your mind:  MEDICATION. Recognize, the doctors put a lot of information in their treating notes.  This information is crucial towards following your treatment.  How many times have you taken medication that just DIDN'T make you feel any better?  So what did you do?  You stopped!!  Of course, what happens!  Instead of notifying the doctor WHEN you were having problems, you go 2 or 3 months until the next visit and THEN, you say something.  WRONG!  Remember, the doctor doesn't know it doesn't work if you don't tell him or her. 5) The doctor can't read your mind:  EXERCISE. Sometimes, doctors don't talk to each other.  I am not saying that they don't get along.   It's just that if you're going to see your primary doctor for diabetes and your orthopaedic doctor for pain issues, they may not talk with each other.  More importantly, if you haven't told your doctors about the other doctors, how can ensure that your doctors are aware of your problems?    Think about it.  If your primary doctor is telling you to exercise to lose weight but your orthopedist is telling you to stay off your feet, what are you going to do now??? I know it is not easy to follow the treatment regiment of your doctors when you have low income and not a lot of resources.  However, it's important to understand that you play a crucial role in the disability process and so you have to take every step to make sure you do what your doctors say.