A claimant's school records can often provide valuable evidence in a Social Security claim. Obviously, in a child SSI claim, the school records are always necessary. In an adult child disability claim, the school records may help to establish that the disability existed prior to age 22. Likewise, in a case involving listing 12.05, school records may contain an IQ test or other evidence that the mental impairment existed prior to age 22 – a requirement of the listing.

But school records can come in handy unexpectedly. Sometimes the claimant doesn't tell you everything. Occasionally a straight-on physical impairment case takes on a new dimension when the school records are obtained. You just never know. So get the school records.

School records are also easy to obtain. Just send a polite letter to the school requesting them, along with an information release signed by the claimant.