no you do not have to sign the release of information forms allowing your doctors to give SSI\SSDI information from your records that said if you dont allow SSI/SSDI to contact your doctors then the only thing they can do is either deny your application or consider you to not be disabled or send you to their own specialists on the Social security approved treatment providers list for evaluation.

they cant decide with no information whether you are disabled or not. what happens in that case you get a denial letter saying due to lack of information and determination of your disabilities they have to deny giving you SSI/SSDI grants. that when your situation changes you can reapply or ask for a hearing.

at the hearing they will ask you if you will give them permission to contact your doctors and if you are willing to see the specialists that SSI wants you to see. if you refuse they again deny your application.

the best thing to do is give SSI\SSDI as much information as possible that way they will have all that they need to decide whether according to social security standards you qualify for receiving SSI.

my suggestion is sign the release forms and give your doctor the forms that SSI needs filled in, then if SSI needs more information they will send you a letter telling you what specialists Social security wants you to see. you contact those specialists (psychiatrists, medical doctors and others) schedule the appointments and go to them. they report to SSI what they have found are your disabilities.