Chicken Soup & the Truth About Your Symptoms: Why Full Disclosure Helps Win Your Disability Case
By Debra Shifrin aka “Nana” | Nana’s Nuggets – October Edition
Hi dear friends,
It’s Nana again! I am back in my kitchen, cooking up something warm, healing, and full of heart.
This month, we’re making a classic: chicken soup with matza balls. It’s the kind of comfort food that generations before me made when someone wasn’t feeling their best. And while it warms the body, I want to talk about something that strengthens your disability case: telling the whole truth about your symptoms.
The Recipe: Chicken Soup with Matza Balls
Nothing soothes the body and soul like a bowl of homemade chicken soup with matza balls. Warm, comforting, and filled with flavor it’s often called “Jewish penicillin” because of its healing powers.
But here’s the truth: just like soup only works if you put in all the ingredients, your disability case only works if you tell the full story of your symptoms. Leaving things out or downplaying your struggles can weaken your case.
Ingredients:
- 1 whole fryer chicken (about 4 lbs), cut into pieces plus 1 package of chicken bones
- 12 cups water
- 4 peeled carrots
- 3 celery stalks
- 1 large onion, quartered
- 1 leek cleaned
- 1 parsley root peeled or turnips and parsley
- Salt & pepper to taste
- Fresh dill
- 2/3 cup matza meal
- 3 eggs
- 1/3 cup vegetable oil
- Salt and pepper
Instructions:
- In a large stock pot, combine chicken, water, carrots, celery, onion, leek, parsley root, and dill. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 2 to 3hours.
- Strain broth, discard solids (or shred chicken for serving), and season with salt and pepper.
- For matza balls: Mix matza meal, eggs, oil, and salt and pepper. Chill 30 minutes.
- Roll or use a cookie scoop to make balls and simmer in water for 30–40 minutes until cooked through.
- Clean and chop 4 carrots and boil for 40 minutes until soft.
- Add everything to the strained broth, heat, and enjoy.
Why Telling the Whole Truth Matters in Your Disability Claim
I’ve been a Social Security Disability lawyer for over 40 years, and if there’s one thing I want you to hear loud and clear this month, it’s this:
“Don’t hold anything back from your doctors or your legal team.”
That means:
- Talk about your pain even if it comes and goes.
- Mention your mental health: anxiety, depression, or memory issues.
- Don’t skip over sleep problems, side effects from meds, or fatigue.
- If it impacts your ability to work or care for yourself, it belongs in your file.
Many people worry about sounding like they’re complaining, but this is not the time to be polite. This is the time to be honest and complete.
The Bones Metaphor
You know what makes this soup even better? Bones.
They may seem insignificant, but they help flavor the broth. Just like that symptom you might think isn’t worth mentioning.
That dizziness in the morning?
That feeling of panic in crowded places?
That struggle to focus for more than 10 minutes?
The details matter. They make your story real. And they help us and the Social Security Administration understand what you’re really going through.
Nana’s Checklist: What to Share at Your Next Doctor Visit
- All physical symptoms (even the embarrassing ones)
- Mental and emotional struggles
- Side effects from medication
- Changes in sleep, appetite, or mood
- Difficulty with everyday tasks like cooking, cleaning, or concentrating
- Pain levels, flare-ups, or day to day limitations
Pro Tip: Write it all down ahead of time so you don’t forget anything.
Bring someone with you if you feel overwhelmed.
Why Liner Legal Cares About This
At Liner Legal Disability Lawyers, we don’t just file paperwork, we fight for the truth of your experience. That’s why we created Nana’s Nuggets. Because we know that the process is overwhelming, and too often, people feel like their story doesn’t matter.
But I promise you, it does. And we’re here to help you tell it, fully and fearlessly.
Ready to Take the First Step?
This Month’s Nugget of Action
- Write down all your symptoms for your next appointment, nothing is too small.
- Save this recipe for the cooler weather or to pick up whenever you are not feeling well.
- Share this blog with someone who needs the reminder to speak up.
- Need support? Book a free consultation with our team today. We’re ready to listen.
Final Thoughts from Nana
Just like every ingredient makes a difference in this soup, every part of your story matters in your case. You deserve to be heard, fully and clearly. So don’t hold back, speak your truth, and let us fight for the benefits you need to heal and move forward.
With love (and soup),
Nana (Debra Shifrin)