[bewise93]

I applied for SSI as I don't have enough work for ssdi. Anyways, the guy who's the main one that works with my case told me today that the doctor said I didn't need to come in to a social security office because there's enough medical records that show I'm disabled. For some reason, it has to be reviewed by a second doctor, but is this good news?

[~Christina]

Social security make you see there doctor when apply for any kind of help. It’s typical.

[Sunflower123]

Sounds like your case is moving through the system. Good luck.

[NolaMae]

I took early retirement from my job because I simply could not do it. The stress and anxiety of deadlines, inability to concentrate, outbursts of anger on the job, medical absences, memory loss from my meds, etc., etc., contributed to my decision. I wanted to be able to retire early and receive my retirement benefits before they fired me, because I was really afraid that would happen. Money was really, really tight, though.

It took me 14 months to get my disability. I won't lie. It can be a long and arduous process. I used a disability lawyer from the get-go. If you don't get disability, you don't pay him anything. If you do, they take his fee (I think it was about $3500) from your back pay award. My monthly amount is $1633 and when I was finally awarded, I got over $10,000 in back pay, because if you are disabled, then they count back to the time you first filed and then award you the back pay. The $10,000 was after they deducted my lawyer's fee.

I got denied the first time. Almost everybody gets denied the first time. Even though everything was documented from all my doctors, and through my employer about the many leaves of absences I had to take, they sent me to one of their doctors before they made their decision. Their doctor was an absolute joke. Dirty lab coat, inside seam of her pants splitting down her leg, and she hardly asked me any questions. Her report came back saying I was able to do manual labor lifting 50 pounds a day. Really? I have arthritis in my hip and knees and I'm supposed to lift 50 pounds several times a day? I was furious. I filed a complaint with social security about her and got back a letter saying they were investigating her.

So, my lawyer and I filed an appeal. After answering many more questions and filling out more forms, I finally received disability about 8 months later. They classified me as totally disabled, not likely to improve, and I will have reviews of my status every 5-7 years.

I don't mean to discourage you, because in most cases getting disability is worth the hoops they make you jump through, but I do want to let you know it can, in many cases, be a long, drawn out process.

[Wild Coyote]

From what you have shared, it sounds like your claim is doing just fine.

Congrats!


WC

[WildcatVet]

It sounds like it's moving right along...my hospital initiated my application and it was approved immediately based on my history/medical records.

[neverending]

I filled out my own paperwork, never required to see a doctor for approval, and was approved within 3 months. They also back paid me a year because I had been out of work longer than that. And they used that instead of my application date. Plus I had pysical and mental reasons for the disability. So every case is different. I never consulted a lawyer. It has also been said that approval ratings can be easier or more difficult depending on the state you live in.

[stopchewinggum]

It means they are being thorough, and that's a very good thing! Generally, if it's an going to be an "easy no" they won't bother going through with the extra work on their part. If anything, it means they are considering it, which is a good thing. A lot of people's disability are put flatly in the "no" category.

[raspberrytorte]

I applied and was approved in five months. I went in and had someone at the social security office do the paper work for me. I didn't get a lawyer or anything. Not everyone is denied the first time. Good luck!

[stopchewinggum]

raspberrtorte has a good point. One has to consider that, yes a lot of people get turned down, at first, but this is because, a lot of people who apply aren't actually qualified in the first place. Unfortunately for those of with real cases, looking at the stats can be unnerving. I got my disability within thirty days.