Question on ssdi file

[Justmehere]

Google "social services" and the name of your city or county. That hopefully will bring up social services in your area. If that doesn't work, dial 211 from any US phone and that will connect you to the United Way and they can help find the number for social services.

You can also go into social security themselves and they can help complete the forms too in many cases. I'd also consider hiring an attorney, or at least consulting with one. They legally can not charge you to consult with you, or to take the case. They get paid directly by social security if they win your case, and they get paid out of the backpay. They are the best source of figuring out what legal records you will need or not - and this may be a complex process to sort out, especially when talking about sealed court records.

 

[Prough]

I filed a ptsd claim with ssdi in 2014. At that time the defenition of ptsd was slightly different then it is now. I think you have to prove a stressor now. It doesn't have to be court documents though. If a doctor says you do have a stressor, and you submit documentation to that effect, then the burden of proof shifts to them to prove you don't. Ss is not meant to provide meaningful diagnoses or treatment, at least not the claims department. Ss is meant to look at a wide range of factors that affect your quality of life and ability to obtain employment. They get court documents, termination letters, eviction notices and whole hosts of other things from applicants attempting to more holistically demonstrate thier disability to the state.

That said they also work for the government and look to their own for final medical judgements. The best rule of thumb is to provide every scrap of relevant information in your possession. Anything that they feel is irrelevant, they will just toss. Better they have that information and not need it, then get denied.

 

[Cannottakethis]

I don't think you need those records at all. Social Security wants your medical records proving your diagnosis of ptsd/cptsd. They don't need proof of the event causing it.
If they don't have enough info they'll send you to their psychiatrist. They are trying to see if you are truly incapable of working.
For social services, it's usually by county, try googling the name of your county and "social services "

If that doesn't work, I used Binder and Binder. They only charge if you win and they literally do everything for you and their payment comes out of your lump sum back pay. It made something very scary into something much more manageable.

Good luck!

 

[Deleted member 8714]

Actually I do believe that the Social Security office nearest you can help you fill out the forms. They can't discriminate against anyone. So if you're overwhelmed by filling out the forms they have to help you. Ask and find out.

The therapist I had at the time helped me fill out my forms. I couldn't get this one therapist to help me at all, instead she wanted to commit me, thinking I was nutso big time, as she never saw symptoms like mine.

SS wants your medical proof that you're disabled; symptoms/signs, how you function at home as well, not just in the work setting.

 

[EveHarrington]

Sorry, I didn't mean to make it seem like I was questioning if you had PTSD! :hug: