Disability... Arghhh

[Smile]

I have been denied... Again. Next appeal will bring me in front of a ALJ. Any points/tips/hopeful outcomes?

Also, how important is it to hire an attorney?

Thanks so much... Being denied kills me each time. I know it's not personal but each time makes me feel like I'm just a whiner :(

 

[Deleted member 20978]

Get an advocacy agency. IMHO it's how the whole presumably corrupt system works. Worked for me.

 

[Deleted member 20978]

Sorry, just realized elaborating *might* actually help. My initial claim was rejected, with a lot of explanation amounting to "you seem reasonably smart". I ran out the appeal period dealing with my mother's issues. When I got around to reapplying, I used a disability advocacy agency. I did nothing else different, and never learned of anything else that changed, but 3 months later I got an approval letter. They automatically took out part of my backpay (I believe in US, this legally maxes out at $6K). No muss, no fuss. YMMV.

 

[KwanYingirl]

@Jemini. Did you use the states Disability Rights Center? It would be helpful for Smile to get a more specific name of the advocacy group you mention. After the passed the Americans With Disabilities Act, part of the legislation was the creation of a Disability Rights Center in each state. They do all sorts of advocacy and might be able to send her to the right people.

FYI @Smile I won my disability after 2 years and got paid retroactively. Also, my children received checks monthly til they turned 18. I was never specifically told just exactly what part of my medical history supported my claim. I was deemed permanently disabled due to a chemical exposure by my doctors. Also I have Major Depressive Disorder, PTSD, and I have a feeling it was my mental state that they accepted.

I belong to another support group for medical people who were poisoned by the same chemical that I was. Many of them did not get disability until they hired a lawyer. All I know about that is that the law limits what the lawyer can charge you. It's a percentage of the retroactive benefit. Sorry I just can't remember.

Good luck. I still work part time and as long as I don't make more than a certain amount, I get my disability pay. I hope this helps you.

 

[KwanYingirl]

Oh, one more thing @Smile I've had medical reviews over the years and my therapist said the more psychological problems you have, the more likely you are to continue receiving checks.

 

[Deleted member 20978]

Link Removed. Did you use the states Disability Rights Center?

No, I used Citizens Helpline. I don't know enough to recommend one place over another, though sounds like they all have the same basic contract of working for free and then taking a pre-determined percent of backpay.

 

[Smile]

Thanks guys! So if I understand cogently, Google states Disability Rights Centers? Are these lawyers?

 

[deephousejunkie]

I've been on disability for 3 years and it's been a horrible process waiting for approval, payments..but not the actual approval itself. Having a good doctor to help with the applications is important to emphasize how much you need the time off. It helped me..

 

[Deleted member 20978]

@Smile part of the reason I don't have much more info is because I could almost never get a straight answer to even basic questions from the Social Security people. But with the advocates, they did all the footwork and made sure SS contacted providers, etc. Whatever they did, they told me explicitly I didn't need to do anything unless they contacted me, which they only did a couple times with forms to fill out. It definitely took the pain out of the process. The first time SS didn't even contact my providers beyond pdoc before rejecting me. But take everything I say with a grain of salt because I'm paranoid and the government!!

 

[Changing4Best]

I didn't have to get a lawyer, but I only applied twice. The first time I was denied, because I did not have enough "quarters" of work to become eligible. The second time I applied for SSI, and I got it in a year. A lady from Social Services helped me to fill out the forms. She had apparently done this for a lot of folks, so she knew exactly how to fill them out so I would get my SSI. Sure enough, I did, so I waited for my SSI for only about a year.

Then, when my husband died a few years alter, I got my Disability on his SS number. It is a pretty decent one, because he was a workaholic. He made all the hours I didn't, I guess.

They say "opposites attract." I suppose that was true in many ways. He was short, I was tall. He was South American, I am North American. He had dark features, I light. He was good at working with his hands, I loved to paint pictures.

 

[KwanYingirl]

@Smile the Disability RightsCenter has pro bono lawyers. They get a synopsis of your issue and go from there. So yes, if they so Social Security Disability cases it will be done by a lawyer. If they don't take SSDI cases, they will advise you of the best course of action.

 

[Smile]

Thanks all.

Just had a session with my T. She said she researched it & spoke to some colleagues who said that it's not surprising at all that I was denied with the prognosis I have.

She said she's confused why that doesn't make me happy... That there's hope for me. Why??? Because I'm EXHAUSTED! I need time to get better. Not a ticking time bomb where work is constantly looming over my head!

I just want to go off the grid. Live in my car, let all my payments go to debt collectors. I just don't give a f**k anymore