Advised to apply for SSDI by my doctor and very scared.

Everyone above has helped me. I have started a process that has a long way to go, but, at least I've started. Your replies above have helped me start. A hug to each of you.

I am 41, I swim, and I always feel inspired by middle-aged men and women in the pool. Some even come with walkers. It is one of those exercise activities that can be available well into the golden ages. Please keep it up, it will do wonders for you.

The law firm is moving things along. That is really a good thing for me. Without them kind of pushing me, I would still be at square one.

Emotionally, I am not doing well at all right now. I feel like I am a fraud. I feel like lots of people work hard at tough jobs, despite having considerable problems. I feel like I just gave up. Still, it was my primary care doctor, who first brought this up as an option.

I'm very isolated. I feel extremely alone. I am very depressed.

If your doctor brought up the idea of disability, trust your doctor..he's had more experience than even you know about your own illness, about how hard you have tried, remember- you can still work once you receive disability (like I do) it just makes things easier, and easy is what you need now

I feel very capable and like I am contributing to society, on disability yet working with children, disability does not define who I am- I am a wonderful friend, a great singer, great with children, a leader in my church, encourager at my support group...

Our support group is FILLED with wonderful, creative, fascinating people on disability...

PM me, I want to extend my friendship and love to you

I really recommend you start the process with Binder and Binder. They win like 95% of the time and only take money if they win for you and its from your back pay. Social Security has a limit on how much any lawyer can take and you should find that out.

I know you want to do it on your own but its a hard process and very few people get their benfits working on their own. It will be so much faster and easer for you if you have a lawyer.

I used Binder and Binder. They won my case for me in 6 months and took I believe something like 10 or 15% of my back pay or whatever it is social security allows. They made it really easy for me and set up everything I needed to do to make sure I got the benefits I needed.

Rmdctc -

Thanks very much for sharing your experience. I' glad things went as well for you as they did.

I decided that I did not want to do it on my own. Lots of law firms say, "Go put in the initial application and then call us when you get that first denial." Even a local non-profit advocacy agency said that. I talked to a lot of law firms on the phone. I think Binder and Binder was one of them. I settled on Heard and Smith out of San Antonio, TX. They are similar to B&B. I don't live in Texas, but this firm takes claims from all over, and they gave me the most information on what to expect.

I've researched the subject. Social Security Administration allows the law firm to take 25% of your back pay, but no more than $6000. The check to the law firm comes direct from SSA to the lawyers, and SSA has to approve that it seems reasonable. So they all charge the same because that's all they can charge. I noticed that all the big nationwide firms that specialize in social security say that they win over 80% of the time. Basically, they turn down cases they think they can not win, and they pretty much know what will win. It is against the law (federal) for any of them to take money from a client unless, and until, they do win.

I didn't know any of this until I started doing some homework, and I agree with you that a claimant should find out the rules before starting. Between feedback from PC and reading a book and researching on the Internet, I am informed enough to not feel as scared as I did.

6 months was pretty quick, and I'm glad to know that it can go that quickly. I was afraid that the lawyers would stall so that their 25% would be from a bigger pot of back pay. You've helped me see that they don't necessarily do that. Hearing that means a lot to me.

That is interesting information, Rose! I think I would go to a lawyer, see if they would take my case, if they would, would assume I could win and then do it on my own and save the $6,000, LOL. The turn down lawyers who say call after the first turn down are interesting too; as most of the work would be done the first time and many get turned down the first time (including those represented by law firms) but the law firm just keeps going and gets it on the second. So, instead of doing the first one that would be the majority of the work, they come in on the second and maybe make more money for "less" work?

But, I would like to have the "company" of a paralegal to talk to and work with too, I guess. And, I assume the lawyers make you sign a contract of some sort before they tell you whether or not they will take your case so you can't do the "we'll take it"/"Oh? Never mind, I'll do it myself" trick.

That's a clever notion. Cause they don't take cases that they don't see merit in. Anyway, I've already signed the contract with Heard and Smith out of San Antonia. I was so leaden, they helped enormously in getting me going. I would still be mulling it over, without them.

They tell you first about whether or not they will take it, before sending you the contract to sign. It's a big firm that just does this. They have a department of clerks who specialize in just bugging and bugging the pdocs, until they send in the medical records. It can be a tug-if-war, especially at the mental health center where I go and I don't trust them.

Today, however, I talked to my primary care doc, an internal medicine specialist, and he is one prince of a guy. He's behind me all the way. I can't tell you how nice and kind he was to me today. It meant so much to me. He said he will write a letter describing my ordeals with depression and anxiety AND he said he would write it "with passion." I'm thanking Heaven. I feel so less bad about myself.

The right doctor can make all the difference. My pdoc said that if I didn't get approved, he'd eat his shoes! And they were nice Italian ones at that! I hope it all goes smoothly for you.

My doctor, who is very smart and very supportive of me, has just told me that how hard it is to get SSDI varies greatly from state to state. I was kind of shocked to hear this. I had thought that it would be the same through out the country, since it is a federal program.

NOT SO. I believe he knows what he is talking about. He is very smart. He told me that the state I live in is one of the really tough states in which to get a claim approved. I had no idea of that.

Does anyone else have any knowledge about this supposed variation among states in how high they set the bar for what they consider disability? I'm getting a bit anxious, since hearing this.

Even though Social Security is a Federal program, the initial decisions are made at local state offices. It really boils down to which Disability Determination Agent you get. They have common standards they have to meet, but after that, I'm not sure what the difference is.

Here's a little more information on the process:
http://www.ssa.gov/disability/determination.htm

If you google "disability determination service" and your state, you should be able to locate the office in your area. Tread very lightly in contacting them, though. They are human and don't appreciate feeling badgered. The agent I was in contact with in my state was very nice and moved things along as quickly as she could, but sometimes their hands are tied depending on what records need to be received.

Hi you can hire a lawyer to apply for ssdi that is the best way here in ca its 5,000 which you dont pay until u win plus u get back pay. so google ssdi lawyers and try that u may get turned down at first but they will do all the work for you and u dont pay until u win and it will come out of ur retro pay gl

keli449,

Thank you. I have reached that decision, and I have signed a contract with a law firm. That rule about how much they get paid, and when they get, it is pretty much the same in all states. Federal law controls it.

I'm told by someone in a position to know that California is one of the easier states to get approved for SSDI. At least, it's easier than some other states - like the one I'm in.

I did take it as an encouraging sign that every law firm I called (lots) were all eager to work on my claim. I have a very long and well-documented history of treatment for depression. Currently, I'm on a slew of meds. The lawyers seem to particularly like that.

keli449,

Thanks. I've already signed the contract with a law firm. I agree that, if I get approved, it will be well worth the money. What the lawyers get is the same in every state. I talked to a lot of law firms, and they all seemed to be eager to take the case. So I do feel encouraged now. Plus, my primary care doctor said he will do everything he can to help me.

He happens to be from California, and said that your state is one of the easier ones in which to get a claim for SSDI approved in. I hope my claim doesn't get denied due to living in the wrong state.

I got a packet from Social Security Administration. It asks for a detailed account of what I did at all jobs I held over the past 15 years. All the questions seem to relate to physical capabilities. I don't see how that helps me establish the rationale for my claim.

There is a questionnaire that asks what I do every day and seems to be relevant to my problems with depression. But I feel like I don't know how to respond. One day in my life can be extremely different from another day.

Mainly, I feel like I didn't really get much by signing that contract with the law firm. So far, I got a big friendly "come on" from the Intake Para-legal, then the clerk who called for info for the initial filing sent in a half-baked initial claim. They didn't even get my address right.

I don't believe the lawyer at this firm has any interest in whether my claim gets approved early. 40% of claimants get approved in the beginning. Yes, that is a minority, but it's a big minority.

I don't believe the law firm is going to give a dang how I fill out all this paperwork. If I were to get early approval, they wouldn't make hardly any money at all. I guess if they get after medical providers to forward medical records that would be something, but I am getting skeptical that they really put much effort into anything.

The DDS understands that psychiatric disorders are a good day/bad day type of thing. They want to hear about your bad days. The days you can't get out of bed, or shower, or think clearly enough to balance a checkbook. The days you feel so lethargic that you can't drive to appointments or maintain social interactions. The days when your mind is racing, or you are hallucinating. They understand that there will be days when you can do the grocery shopping or the laundry. They want to know about the days you can't. Those are the ones preventing you from working.

As for the service you're receiving from the attorney's office - it sounds like you need to have a serious discussion with the attorney, letting him know that so far you're unimpressed. I'm not sure what kind of recourse you have in terms of firing this firm and finding another - it depends on how much work they've already done for you. Check your contract to see if there is a way to cancel it before a certain point if you're still not happy after discussing it with the attorney.

Oh, and as for the physical aspects of your job - I know for me, bipolar disorder is very physically debilitating. Whether I'm too leaden to move or my mind has slowed down to the point of not being able to do simple calculations - or maybe you have a lot of pain with your depressions - or you become so physically agitated during mania that you can't sit still or can't safely start an IV. I think you'll find that there are more physical symptoms than you realize. Break it down: I know I can barely lift a laundry basket when even moderately depressed - there's no way I could lift a patient. Could you calculate an accurate med dosage during mania? I might be able to - but then I'd become so distracted by something else that I'd forget it.

Just some examples there to help....

Massachusetts is 21st :-) Easier than my Maryland, LOL

http://www.ultimatedisabilityguide.c...ial_rates.html

Wow. Minnesota is ranked 46th on there. I am VERY lucky apparently

Good for you, Nicoleb. You've inspired some hope in me. My state is way down like yours is. But I guess that is not a reason to despair.

I'm glad for you that things worked out for you.

I have become very depressed. I had a friend over for Easter, and our being together did not go very well. Christmas had been similar. One good thing is that I refuse to let the next major holiday that comes along be a reason for me to jeopardize my mental health.

Up through Monday morning, I had been doing pretty well for weeks. I was moving along on what I need to do about my claim for SSDI. I have quite a bit of paperwork to do now. I became very depressed over not getting along with my house guest. Now I am down in that pit again. I tell myself that I will not be here forever. I always do recover. But it takes time. I am feeling awful right now.

I have the responsibility to do what the law firm needs me to do to advance the claim. Tonight I won't be doing anything. This can't keep up. I am disappointed in the law firm. That makes it even more important for me to do my part. I have to get over being this dispirited and move on. I know from experience that it takes me time to recover. I can't take forever. I can't mope around for a few weeks. Things need doing.

PC has helped me in the past. I hope that with the kind support of the many at PC who have helped me before that I can speed up the process a bit and get on with things.

I figured the best way to have good relations with the law firm that is representing my claim is to not bother them.

Some concerns have been building up and building up. I decided today to call them. The client services manager told me I seem to be "nit picking." He also said that I can be let out of the contract I signed with the law firm. I feel like I was told that they don't need my business and don't even want it, if I'm going to start questioning things.

This firm is one of these big operations that represents claims nation-wide. I do clearly understand that the five or six thousand dollars that they might earn from my claim is not a lot of money to them. It becomes less and less of a profit to them the more of their time I take up. So I avoided bothering them till now. I didn't mean to be bothersome. I did voice my concerns, and the message I got was to be called a nit picker. They made mistakes on the form they submitted to SSA. Not even my address was correct.

Last time I saw my pdoc, I was complaining about all the meds I'm on, some of which don't seem to help. He said that if I was going to be non-compliant that maybe I better stop going to the psych center.

I see a similarity between what the pdoc said and what the client services manager at the law firm said. Sounds like they both said "Get lost."

I am extremely depressed. My PCP told me that my state is hard to get SSDI in. I feel a sense of despair that I won't get my claim approved.

So what states besides CA are easier to get disability in?

Hamster - look at Perna's reply above. Click on the Link in blue. When you get to the site, go down a bit and you will see a list of all the states lined up in order of what percentage of people get approved. That will basically answer your question. It's very good info to have.

When you put in a claim, it first of all goes to a "Disability Determination Services" agency and lands in the hand of an agent there. The DDS agency is a STATE agency funded by the federal government. As a STATE agency, it is a child of state politics. Just to give you an example, TEXAS is the hardest state to get approved in. (Not where I live, thank Heavens.)

Iowa, Kansas, and Missouri are the best states, as far as having high approval ratings. This could mean that they are the best states to live in, if you are trying to get SSDI.

One could look at it another way. Maybe the good people of Iowa, Kansas, and Missouri are so darn determined to work, come heck or high water (mid-western stock and all), that they have a low rate of spurious claims, which would mean that people there don't apply unless they really, really have a spectacularly good claim. That would, also, bring up their approval rating.

One thing I noticed in the line up was this. States tend to have approval ratings similar to the states that neighbor them.

If I sound kind of hyper on this issue - it's because I AM.

I am oscillating between profound despair, thinking that I probably don't even have a chance, and thinking that all these lawyers and doctors and therapists telling me I have a good basis for a claim wouldn't be encouraging me to file if I didn't have a good shot.

The uncertainly has me half out of my mind. I almost wish they would just turn me down with finality, and then I could figure out what to do next. Get some pencils and a tin can and go on the corner, or whatever. My pdoc tells me I am "kind of funny." There is NOTHING about this whole process that amuses me in the least. I often truly wish I were dead.

Rose, the only time I had contact with my lawyer was the first meeting to see if they would take my case. They where not amused that I did the paper work by myself.

Anyways, I didn't hear or see anyone from the law firm until the court proceedings.

Thank god, we won! No questions asked. Part of my claim was for depression.