Form SSA-827: How to Fill Out Your Disability Medical Release Form

Applying for disability benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA) is a multi-step process. One of the most crucial steps is when the SSA and a partner agency called Disability Determination Services (DDS) attempt to verify your qualifications for disability benefits. To do this, these agencies need your consent to review your medical records. That’s where Form SSA-827 comes in.

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What Is Form SSA-827?

Form SSA-827, officially titled the “Authorization to Disclose Information to the Social Security Administration,” gives the SSA permission to obtain your medical, psychological, educational and other relevant records. The agency uses this information to evaluate claims for disability benefits, ensuring it has a complete picture of your health and ability to work. Because the SSA cannot legally access private records without your consent, this form is a critical part of the disability application and appeals process.

When you sign Form SSA-827, you authorize healthcare providers, hospitals, therapists, insurance companies and even schools to share records that may help the SSA verify your condition. The form is broad by design, allowing the agency to gather information from multiple sources without requiring repeated authorizations. This streamlines the review process and helps speed up decisions for disability applicants.

Although the form grants access to personal records, it does not give the SSA permission to share your information with others outside the agency’s evaluation needs. Federal privacy laws still protect your data, and the SSA must handle it with strict confidentiality. Understanding this distinction can help applicants feel more comfortable signing the authorization.

Why do You Need Form SSA-827?

In order to qualify for disability benefits from the SSA, you have to demonstrate that you’re unable to work consistently for at least one year. More likely than not, part of that demonstration will involve listing the symptoms and/or injuries that are keeping your from working. However, the agencies aren’t going to just take your word for it. The SSA and DDS will want official medical records. Specifically, they’re looking for records that verify the injuries and symptoms that you list in your initial application.

Before any hospitals, clinics or therapists can release any medical records, though, you have to give your consent by signing Form SSA-827. Without signing and submitting the form, neither agency will be able to properly review your application for benefits. This means you would almost certainly receive a rejection.

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How to Fill Out Form SSA-827

If you are applying for disability benefits through the Social Security website, you will be prompted to fill out and sign the SSA-827 after you have submitted the rest of your application. The form is fairly short. You’ll need to supply your name, address, phone number, Social Security number and date of birth.

Elsewhere in your application, you’ll need to provide contact information for any the places the SSA will need to obtain medical records from. These could be hospitals, clinics, therapists’ offices or schools. You’ll also be prompted to list information like patient ID numbers, dates of treatment or examination and the names of medications and who prescribed the.

Some states and some medical centers require that the form lists the specific source of medical information by name. This would require you to sign a form for each individual source. If that’s the case, the SSA will contact you.

One wrinkle of Form SSA-827 is that your signature needs to be witnessed. This just means you need to complete and sign the form in front of another adult. You’ll then have your witness sign the form as well and provide his or her contact information. The witness is necessary to ensure to the SSA that you are signing the form yourself.

How to Submit Form SSA-827

You can submit your signed Form SSA-827 in one of two ways. If you’re applying for disability benefits online, then you can sign an online copy and submit it with the rest of your application in your mySocialSecurity account. The benefit of applying online is that you can apply from home as soon as you become disabled. This way, you can start the process of getting benefits sooner.

If you are applying in person at your local Social Security office, you can bring a signed copy of the form with you to the office and submit it with the rest of your materials. If you can’t find a witness, you can sign the form at the Social Security office, and one of the employees can serve as your witness.

How to Find Your Social Security Office

Locating your nearest Social Security office is simple, and doing so can help you get in-person assistance with applications, benefit questions or documentation needs. The fastest way is to use the SSA’s office locator tool, which asks for your ZIP code and provides the closest office address, phone number and operating hours. This ensures you get accurate and up-to-date information before planning your visit.

You can also call the SSA’s national helpline if you prefer to speak with someone directly or need help identifying the right office for your situation. Representatives can tell you which location handles your type of request and whether an appointment is recommended. For those who live in remote areas or have limited mobility, the SSA may direct you to alternative service options, including online tools or phone-based support.

Bottom Line

Your medical records will most likely be the most convincing portion of your application for disability benefits. However, they won’t be of any use to you without a signed Form SSA-827. It’s important that you properly give your consent for the SSA and DDS to review your records so that your application process can go on without delay. That way, you can start receiving the benefits you need as soon as possible.

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