Is this unusual?

Basically today a lady from Social Security called and said that I was approved and that they were going to call me back a couple days from now to discuss back payment.

My uncle thought this call was suspicious, especially since I didn't get any letter in the mail. I called the number back and I got a message saying "This is an outgoing only line from ----- social security office"

The US social security people say it's not on my record I got approved.

Is this concerning? Should I talk to the lady on Thursday?

I dunno how they normally contact people

At times they will call to see if you are home during the day as you would normally be if you are disabled. Such calls are not unusual just unfair,

Rhiannon

Don't worry. If the lady said that, she will very most likely be working on it.

The reason you didn't get a regular telephone answer most likely is exactly because it is the social security office. They do that for privacy. If they call you at your number, and then anyone tries to find out who you just called, that person would be unable to know what business you have with them. It's about privacy for you.

Sadly, our health systems are swamped with tons of applicants, new and ever-changing laws, and sometimes the letter does not coincide with the time you talk with someone working there, or vice versa. The lady may not have entered into the computer yet what she told you about the back payment.

Still, keep in touch with her, while also not nagging her. Just make sure she keeps you informed and the two of you stay in touch. Ask her when she will be sending out a letter...

This is normal sounding. Just stay up with it!!

Best Wishes,
Wildflower88

It sounds good to me; like Wild Flower points out, the people calling you Thursday wouldn't know anything if they weren't from SS. If you are still worried, I would ask the Thursday people how to know it's them, ask them something that is in your file that only you and SS would know? The name of your doctor? Something like that? But I don't think they'll ask you any more questions (they know your name, address, phone number, all "their" information they need), they want to "give" you something and I always listen to people who want to give me things, LOL.

Guess what happened today... I got a REJECTION letter in the mail! I don't know what to do about this... it goes against the phone call! They said they would talk to more tomorrow at the appointed time, but I don't know what to do whatever they say tomorrow.

Hi again, Birdcrazy.

Did you happen to catch the name of the lady who called you? If I had this happen to me, I would relate the entire incident to social security, and ask them to please check or verify their information for you. They are human, too. They are capable of mistakes. And if this lady that called you was a hoax, if that is so, social security should be alerted to it. I'm so sorry this happened to you. It's quite a whirlwind to go through. But, you can appeal the final decision. So keep that in mind. Take care.

Best Wishes,
Wildflower88

I'm with wildflowers88, above. Explain everything that has happened to SS, but personally, the phone call you got sounds fishy to me. Can you go to a local SS office to explain your situation. The # I have for SS is:
1-800-772-1213. Although I do have to go through a bunch of automated responses [you can sometimes short cut this by repeating "Representative" or dialing 0], I have never received the type of automated reply about an "outgoing #" like you did. In these hard times, scammers are abundant, and I would be wary of anybody wanting to discuss retroactive benefits with me that could not subsequently be contacted. Please don't give them any personal information, esp your SS#. I think that calling the above # can help you straighten things out. Re your letter of rejection: reapply, being able to state, in the "extra comments" section, how your disability[ies] prevents you from being able to hold any type of job. Best of Luck - billieJ

Hi Birdcrazy, you can call 1-800-772-1213 between the hours of 7am and 7pm eastern time, and ask them. this is the social security main office helpline. they will have record of your claim. I got a letter from them notifying me. good luck !!

Actually the phone call did come from my local SS office, I confirmed it already. When I called my local office, they said I'm talking to the same lady today.

Okay, they explained it to me, the letter was for SSDI, I was approved to get SSI.

Congratulations Birdcrazy. Good job getting SSDI

Whew!
and
Congratulations, birdcrazy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yay!!!!!!!!!!!

~Wildflower88~

Hello Birdcrazy,

What is the difference between SSI & SSDI? I'm not in the US so I wouldn't have a clue. Are you going to go for the SSDI is it a better cover? I don't want to be rude just wondering what the difference is and if you can appeal that decision?

Rhiannon

What I learned was that it all depends on when and how many years you worked. If you didn't work before you applied and got disability, you get SSDI, which is less money because you didn't contribute to the economy. Whereas if you worked for 20 years before you got disability, you contributed to the economy much more, and therefore receive a higher monthly income through SSI. Now if you worked 5 years before receiving disability, you would receive SSI, but probably not at as high a stipend per month as the person who worked 20 years before disability. So, most often, it would be better to receive SSI than SSDI, but either way, it's government aide, and considerable help! Hope that helps to make it clearer! It's awesome you are curious to learn what the U.S. does. What are things like regarding help from the government where you are, Rhiannon? I'd be curious!! Hope you have a great night!

Take care,
~Wildflower88~

Right that sorts that then...I'm glad you got higher birdcrazy.

Over here in Oz Wildfower it is all the same. If you are assessed as disabled you are placed onto the DSP which is the disability support pension which is higher than the unemployment support. Also while on disability one doesn't have to search for work but on unemployment support one must, and must prove they have been looking by getting signatures from prospective employers.

Also if accepted as disabled you are entitled to a full time carer who is paid by the government to care for you and support you. In my case it is my partner who had to give up work to look after me, take me to medical appointments, do shopping, etc.

Disability pensioners also get free car registration (although we must pay insurance but we still save $hundreds per year), free medical, hospital & medical specialist care, and free dental care, free physiotherapy, free psychiatry services etc. We have rental support and a very heavily subsidised electricity supply, our bill is about $57 in summer and $87 in winter per quarter but we don't watch tv until 6pm at night, no microwave oven or other devices that drain a lot of power (Morgana refuses to eat food cooked in a microwave, she claims it causes the march of blood, which to her is cancer), and I must admit that since we listened to her and gave ours away, our food tastes so much better.

Though for all the free care we have insurance to ensure prompt treatment and the drs of our choice; we also think that we are blessed to receive so much so the least we can do is pay our way with heavy medical expenses by being insured. Gave up smoking and put the money to insurance, best thing we ever did, so our medical and dental are paid by insurance not the taxpayer. We have both worked over 30 years non stop and were in higher tax brackets. The saddest thing is that our savings have been eaten away over the years by the cost of living. But by budgeting and spending less we have been able to save a little per fortnight to ensure we have a cushion to land on if we need it...

Thanks for being interested

Okay, Birdcrazy will be getting Supplemental Security Income; it's not related to Social Security (other than it is a Federal program that SS administers it but it does not come from Social Security taxes). It's to supplement disabled persons who don't have enough income, helps them with extra for food, rent, etc. It's not enough to live on, it's a supplement.

Birdcrazy got a letter disapproving Social Security Disability Insurance. That's only for those who have worked X years and paid SS taxes and then become disabled.

Birdcrazy,
Congratulations on getting through the process and getting assistance. This will be a great relief.

Wildflower88,

When I went through the process of applying and was awarded SSDI and in dealing with the state Medicaid office since for other matters, the OPPOSITE was explained to me. If you have WORKED to contribute towards the benefit, SSDI is awarded and is higher than SSI. SSI is if you do not have enough work experience but qualify for reasons: low income, dependents/ low income, medical illness or disabilities and WITHOUT a work history or enough of one, and is usually less than SSDI.

The Soc Sec office and attorney explained even if you do have the required work history (which I cannot remember what qualifies for it) and meet all of the other requirements, the claims are still denied 96% of the time. It is important to go through the appeal process if this happens.

If Birdcrazy was awarded SSI, instead of SSDI, there was a reason (and the denial should say why or can inquire) but a good sign that qualified for SSI instead, as sometimes cannot qualify for either. The assistance is welcome whichever route it is from.

Sorry - my bad!

Below is an excerpt from a hospital program that is taught to individuals either coming out of a hospital setting or preventing themselves from going into one concerning SSDI and SSI:

SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY INSURANCE (SSDI)
If you worked in the past and contributed to Social Security (or your disability started before you reached the age of eighteen) and are currently unable to work full-time because of mental illness, you may be eligible for SSDI. It is a federal program, and you can apply for it at the Social Security Administration Office. After 2 years of being eligible for SSDI, you might be eligible for Medicare health insurance.

SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME (SSI)
If you have not worked in the past (or are only eligible for a small amount of SSDI), are currently unable to work full-time because of mental illness, and have very limited financial resources, you may be eligible for Social Security Income (SSI). It is a federal program, and you can apply at the Social Security Administration Office. If you receive SSI you may also be eligible for Medicaid health insurance.

Thanks, you guys!!

Yes, what people say is acurate for sure. Although I was approved for SSDI and get the same amount as the people who they give SSI to because I was able to work so little in my life. AND when I did work, I was paid very little, or sometimes nothing, as I often volunteered when I could. So SSDI does not always pay more than SSI. But usually it does. My case is unusual.

hmm... medicaid, I already have sort of it, it's a plan through my county from Social Services, but it only covers me in my county.