What if I am indigent or without adequate funds or insurance to pay for my medical care, is that a grounds that an ALJ must consider in denying my benefits?
Yes. An ALJ cannot just deny you benefits because you have had no medical care as a result of poverty or other circumstances outside of your control. For example, if you think the ALJ was unreasonable in not sending you out to be medically examined by a doctor on the SSA list, you may allege that “The ALJ erred in not having me evaluated medically by a medical doctor”. or
“The ALJ erred in failing to comply with SSR 96-7p in discrediting Claimant for Claimant’s failure to obtain treatment without considering Claimant’s valid and undisputed reason of lack of funds.”


