[ScooterBug]

Hi everyone!

I was just assigned a hearing date for my disability claim. Has anyone gone through this? I want to be prepared. The lawyer sent me a DVD but it focuses on physical disability, not mental. I have to schedule a day to review my questions and answers with my lawyer.

I guess I'd like advice from someone that has been through it and has Bipolar to let me know what to expect and prepare mentally.

[lunarpariah]

I just went through mine a couple days ago. Not sure if they do it the same way in FL as they do in LA but here's what I had to do:

On the day of my hearing I met with a single individual who took all my information (All Doctors names/phone numbers/addressed, prescriptions).

He asked for all my financial information (source of any income, how much was in my bank and/or savings)

I had to sign a release form for them to gather all my Doctor's notes and such.

That was pretty much all that happened that visit. The individual was very polite respectful.

Shortly after that my Doctor's received requests for information regarding their treatments, dx, and prescriptions.

I then received a questionare in the mail that asked in great detail how BP affected my life in the listed areas (cooking, cleaning, bathing, shaving, driving, relations to people)

I had ten days to mail or fax that in to be considered as part of my disability request.

My therapist has advised me that they will likely send me to a state requested pyschiatrist for evaluation and after considering all the information the request will either be approved or denied.

I was told that the process could last anywhere from 30-120 days.

Again, I do not know if it's handled the same way in FL but the process here in Louisiana has felt professional and non-invasive.

I hope you have a similar experience. My experience was nearly as bad as I dreaded it would be.

Good Luck! We are with you!

[ScooterBug]

Originally Posted by lunarpariah

I just went through mine a couple days ago. Not sure if they do it the same way in FL as they do in LA but here's what I had to do:

On the day of my hearing I met with a single individual who took all my information (All Doctors names/phone numbers/addressed, prescriptions).

He asked for all my financial information (source of any income, how much was in my bank and/or savings)

I had to sign a release form for them to gather all my Doctor's notes and such.

That was pretty much all that happened that visit. The individual was very polite respectful.

Shortly after that my Doctor's received requests for information regarding their treatments, dx, and prescriptions.

I then received a questionare in the mail that asked in great detail how BP affected my life in the listed areas (cooking, cleaning, bathing, shaving, driving, relations to people)

I had ten days to mail or fax that in to be considered as part of my disability request.

My therapist has advised me that they will likely send me to a state requested pyschiatrist for evaluation and after considering all the information the request will either be approved or denied.

I was told that the process could last anywhere from 30-120 days.

Again, I do not know if it's handled the same way in FL but the process here in Louisiana has felt professional and non-invasive.

I hope you have a similar experience. My experience was nearly as bad as I dreaded it would be.

Good Luck! We are with you!

I actually already did all that part. I hired a lawyer and have been fighting this for almost two years.

What I am finally doing is going to a live hearing in front of a judge.

[kindachaotic]

I live in TN &got denied twice, then asked for a hearing before a judge. All this without a lawyer. Advise is have all your paper work in order & with every part of the whole ordeal, be VERY honest in the paper work & in the questions they ask you at the hearing. It may be embarrassing to be saying this stuff to the judge, the court recorder & even your husband, (who was at the hearing with me), but it may make THE difference in his/her decision in your case. The judge also asked my husband some questions& he was brutally honest. I also have some physical problems, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia & a couple other autoimmune disorders... A good judge who's done this awhile can see thru any BS. You are also filmed during this whole time & I'm sure the judge reviews the footage as part of the decision. I was so nervous I left felling defeated as they just tell you the decision will come in the mail somewhere between 90 & 120 days. From starting the paperwork to getting my first disability check & backpay was 2 years& 4 months. Just be patient, it WILL happen. Good luck, hope this helped.

[dragonfly2]

I know it's been a while since this thread was opened, but I was wondering if you've had your hearing yet. I also had to go through an ALJ hearing to get my disability award. If you haven't had the hearing yet, I'll give you the advice my lawyer gave me: just answer the questions. Do not elaborate, just stay to the point and only answer what they ask. And expect some odd questions - the judge actually asked me my weight. I'm overweight and he was probably trying to see how honest I would be. He had my weight on record from one of my hospitalizations, so he could see how honest I was being.

Hope things go well....