[lostandscared54]

Well, I got my denial letter in the mail today. Based on my age, work experience, etc I can work a job, according to SSA. According to my doctors, I cannot. I don't know who to listen to. I have schizoaffective d/o, bipolar type and PTSD. The nature of my illness makes me often attempt to forget I am ill. When someone tells me that I am not disabled, I tend to cling to that and pretend that everything is fine, until I end up self-destructing. I just don't get it..........

[RRU96]

I am so sorry you are having to go through all of this. Unfortunatly, I do not have the personal experience of dealing with the beurocratic red tape. I do have a website that I found that may be able to give you and your doctors a little insight. Hopefully, they can get a better understand of what exactly they are looking for. I would recommend reading this site, then maybe even printing it off and talking with your doctor about it.

http://www.marthachurchill.com/ssmibasic.htm

This is apparently from a lawyer who specializes in Mental Health cases for people applying for SSI or SSDI. Hope it Helps.

[grizmom]

Is this your first denial? They almost always deny everyone the first time. I got denied when I applied, my first appeal was denied, and then I got a lawyer and at the hearing I was accepted. I found out they had denied me because of my IQ. The best advice I can give is to find a lawyer; the one my family found for me didn't charge up front, she was paid a portion of my back-pay.

[lostandscared54]

Thank you for this insight. I just don't get how I got denied when I meet all of this criteria.

[jennaorgana]

HUGS, im sorry that it fell through.

[phlashback]

I am sorry to hear that, I personally would appeal. Good luck!

<Grizmom>
Wow denied because of IQ, now that is insane... I am assuming you are on the higher end of things... It seems that people who are above average tend to be more likely to have mental health issues so.... I guess they figure we are smart enough to lawyer up in a pinch

[perpetuallysad]

I got denied for my first time and my appeal. I have about 2 weeks left to file my final appeal, but I am so scared I cannot even make myself contact a lawyer. I fit all the "criteria" as well and my pdoc is baffled that they would deny me. Though he did say that right now with budgets being so low that they are going to try to deny everybody no matter what...I guess that doesn't help, but I wanted you to know you aren't alone.

[thinker22]

Sorry to hear. I got the same denial letter about 2 weeks ago. I've already appealed it online. My docs too are baffled as to why I didn't get accepted. I'm giving them the 4 areas of functioning (that link that RRU96 gave you) to my docs for their second letters. I meet all the criteria, but I think they don't even read your docs letters or anything. They just wait 6 months and automatically deny you 99% of the time.

My range of life is extremely grim. Can't focus to read books, watch long TV programs, write, or do anything fun. I get nervous when I leave the house so I don't go out unless I have to, like for therapy or my one day of work a week. Of course everyone who's applied for SSI & SSDI knows that they aren't doing it just for fun, it's painstaking and humiliating. Then they basically say it's no big deal, get back to work you lazy ****. It's cruel what they're doing to save some money. If we wind up in the hospital and tax money has to cover it, how are they saving money when they could do preventative measures like medication for so much less?

I'm just as frustrated and upset as you are. You don't have to analyze yourself. We all have functional days, but we have more bad days than good, and you can't work a job when your emotions and physical symptoms are this unpredictable. I'm constantly exhausted from my meds and my depression. Most jobs aren't accommodating enough to give you a week or a month off for an episode. I'm lucky my job lets me come in one day a week and switch the day if I need to, but that kind of income is not enough to live on.

I don't know you personally, but I believe that you're like me. Disabled with some functional days, but not enough to keep a job that can sustain you. Don't give up. They're trying to weed out people who aren't determined enough to continue. And that's what sucks because our frame of mind is so bad after we get such a letter that we wonder if it's worth the hurt to try again. If you need, ask someone to help you with the appeal. I know it's overwhelming, but don't give up.

[grizmom]

Originally Posted by phlashback

<Grizmom>
Wow denied because of IQ, now that is insane... I am assuming you are on the higher end of things... It seems that people who are above average tend to be more likely to have mental health issues so.... I guess they figure we are smart enough to lawyer up in a pinch

My lawyer said it happens a lot to anyone who has an above average IQ; and I'm just barely above average anyhow, I'm not a genius or anything lol! I don't know what the process is like now, but back when I applied in 1994 I had to take a bunch of tests; math, english, history, etc. plus an IQ test. I still don't know what that has to do with my ability to function. I can't reason my way out of depression or mania! Sorry if I got off topic!

But back on topic, if you get denied, definitely get a lawyer and appeal. IMHO the government needs to take some money out of other areas and place it into Social Security and such. Not going to get specific, but some of the places our money is going...I don't get it.

[Anneinside]

I haven't had to have an evaluation for SSD but I did for my disability insurance. I saw a psychologist for a few hours and took psych tests. In his report he said I could do a job in which I worked alone, was not supervised, and didn't have stress. I wonder where you could find a job like that? After additional letters from my pdoc and tdoc they reversed the decision.

[IndigoRose]

Originally Posted by perpetuallysad

I got denied for my first time and my appeal. I have about 2 weeks left to file my final appeal, but I am so scared I cannot even make myself contact a lawyer. I fit all the "criteria" as well and my pdoc is baffled that they would deny me. Though he did say that right now with budgets being so low that they are going to try to deny everybody no matter what...I guess that doesn't help, but I wanted you to know you aren't alone.

Make sure you file the appeal and dont be afraid to fight for what is rightfully yours. They deny everyone. Chances are, they never even read your file. Some states have lawyers that are paid for by SSA, and you're not charged a cent. Most people do not lose in front of a judge.