SSI appeal process?

From my understanding I will be finding out what the decision is on my SSI in the next couple months. Though I was able to submit a lot more medical records and had a psych ward stay to add to the collection, that still may not be enough to be approved.

So, I was just wondering if anyone has appealed a denial, and has any advice/information about it or just personal experience. I just want to try and prepare myself some in case. Last time I applied I didn't end up appealing which I probably should of.

I think once you get denied it's easier to give it to a lawyer specializing in it; they'll look at the whole and know whether there's a chance of you getting it (their making money) or not and be able to move forward faster and easier if there is. Some of the law firms specializing in it actually want to wait until you get denied to get involved as all the initial paperwork has been done and it's easier to see why they might have denied you and "fix" that, etc. Having bigger guns in there to help doesn't hurt either :-) Too, if the law firm won't take it, they'll explain why and you'll better know why you don't qualify at all and won't waste more time/effort/hope in trying that path.

Well I suppose all I can do is hope for the best then, and I should qualify, if not though then I am kind of screwed. But that is why I am not getting my hopes up too much since if I can't go on it since that would leave me with some not so wonderful options.

I think a lot of it depends on where you live, and the disability itself. I applied originally in November of 2011. I was denied 4 different times, and finally I met up with a lawyer in June of 2012 for an appeal. I haven't gotten a court date yet.

If I get denied I will for sure appeal, but yeah it probably does sort of depend on that. I suppose I do get how it works, have to get a dissability lawyer or whatever and from my understanding they only get paid if I win the case or whatever then it would come out of the SSI money which is fine with me. I am just kind of stressing about it I suppose.

Everyone gets denied when applying. I had a fantastic lawyer in Phila PA area and we appealed my denied application in 2004. Took 6 mths for trial. I applied for 1 yr of back payment because that's when I stopped working (and disability started). Judge only gave me a partial favorable: gave me SSDI and 6 mths back payment. So we appealed again for the other 6 mths. Took another 6 mths to go to trial. Judge denied my appeal. Every decision goes to the Appeals Council for review and the Council overturned Judge's decision and gave me second 6 mths I wanted. (Judge did not look at all of the evidence: ie paystubs, work absence).

fyi: My lawyer told me the first time I talked to him that he would rather take a mental disability case than a physical disability case because latter is usually harder to prove.

(And the Judge called my application documents "voluminous". They were about 12" high. My PDOCs notes were completely unreadable and my PDOC told me I had a "mediocre" case. F him - I was on SSDI in mid 90's after ECT for one thing. The Judge was one nasty SOB but my Lawyer was very sharp.)

not everyone gets denied when applying.

i filed for SDDI one time and got it. in 2 1/2 months. no lawyer.

i had a long paper trail too - so to speak. lots of documents basically.
maybe lucky a little. but i dont think luck really played a part in it.
but i DO think many people are unlucky and unjustifiably denied.

If you wish you can read my thread in this forum
http://forums.psychcentral.com/insur...e-daymare.html
I wish you the best of luck. Blessings!

Well, I've been officially denied so I guess i have to deal with the appeal process. I will probably look around for work a little bit to in case that does not work out. I am frusterated about it but I think I could make a good appeal...maybe, i don't really know.

(((Hellion)))

I was told many times not to depend upon my case being approved before an appeal process ~ almost all cases are initially denied, for some unknown reason.

I got lucky, I guess, and my case was approved when I first applied. No appeal needed! This is very rare though (I was told that by many different people). I just want to warn you that the appeals process isn't particularly speedy either. Be careful not to bite off more than you can chew with work, as that won't look real good in your appeal. It's a tough position to be in, I know. Just remember that there are several different community programs that try hard to accomodate the disabled people & our limited income's. Take advantage of that resource to help you get through too!

wow

why is it so rare?

whats different about the ons that get accepted immediately versus the rest?

I doubt I'll end up biting off more than I can chew, I mean now I don't even feel like looking for anything. It would probably be too much stress on top of that whole process. Its intresting yesterday I got the letter and was pretty calm feeling didn't really react, but now I can kind of feel the stress build up and I just hope I can handle it alright.

Also not sure how to access such things, I do go to a therapist but aside from that mental health center I really don't even know what else there is or how to find out. I have a rather significant appointment coming up with a neuropsychologist or something so maybe they will have some helpful information about resources or something.

One theory I have is I may not have been descriptive enough about how my symptoms would prevent me from working...its hard to describe it with the way they word the questions on the form. So maybe its a matter of difficulty providing adequate information. For the appeal though I will have to make sure there is enough detail about that.....I mean I guess its hard to only focus on negatives thus its easy to make it sound like you're a little better off than you are.

Go to your local county offices & apply for social services.

You will quickly see a social worker there, who will go over your incoming & outgoing cash. They may determine you to be eligible for food stamps, cash assistance, and other programs. You can also ask to be appointed a social worker who can assist you with available & applicable programs in your area.

Mine has been very helpful to me in many ways! I recall that it seemed to take a few weeks (I think??) before my social worker was given my case & up until that took effect I just had to suck it up and wait. It's been several years though, and my memory is pretty shoddy, so go in tomarrow! The sooner, the better.

If I can figure out how I will, not sure what the local county officies or social services really is or where I go for it. I don't think its the social security office I had to go to for the SSI...because that's jsut for SSI and SSDI. BUt yeah if I could figure out how to access help outside of SSI for now since I have to appeal it I would.

I would go tommorrow but I don't know where to go, so I will have to figure that out.

Do you have a local phone book?

In the beginning pages of phone books, there are lists of all sorts of things, like: local hospital/s, parks, local organizations, and government pages. Go to the government pages & look up your county. There will be an alphabetical list of departments. Go to Social Services, which should be under Community Services. Call Adult & Family Services to make an appointment, and get directions to their offices.

Social security and social services are completely separate entities (despite their similar names). You need to go to the county for Social Services. I believe that the social worker that gets assigned to a person's case comes from a different part of social services, and that would be public health services. Social services could certainly refer you to the accurate department though, so be sure to ask them.

Best wishes!

I have a rather important part to add, and I am not asking to be judged though I know some people do. I think in order to do this, I have to stop doing something that helps me for a while at least. I use cannabis to mellow out my symptoms and its become clear there are ways in which that can interfere. Apparently according to my denial letter it lists polysubstance and cannabis abuse and implies if I don't use any substance my symptoms wont be as bothersome as they are in remission.' So One idea I have is I quit for a while, that way it will probably disprove that it makes things worse...then maybe I can be approved for MMJ...I have no problem doing it all legitimately.

But then I wonder would MMJ be something that would disqualify one from being approved...or would it then not be an issue. Obviously it will take some effort on my part to try and even have it recommended.

Aside from that not sure it would help with changing the decision at all, that cannabis is legal to smoke for those over 21 so I could question that it's 'abuse' when it's legal.

I am just afraid of giving up what's helping me get through all the stress and bad ***** in my life and mind...feels like I am sentencing myself to another trip to the psych ward just because I have to prove the point I am worse without it.

I am just torn on what to do, I really need the SSI at least it seems the only viable option...but I also need proper relief from my symptoms its all so frustrating.

I cannot exactly deny the past polysubstance abuse.....but that is in the past, I don't really do that anymore. I smoke cannabis, drink a bit of alcohol here and there and smoke cigarettes. Not really looking to go out get hammered, eat some psychedelic mushrooms and take a couple adderalls.

I have also decided I am not showing my mom the denial letter, the last thing I need is her complicating the issue when I just want to know how to approach this process with that as I know I am not going to be getting SSI if it is determined my only problem is 'drug use'. So perhaps quitting the cannabis, and risking the psych ward due to overwhelming symptoms without enough relief is my best bet...and if I am wrong about all this I will find out.

Sorry for the long ramble post, its rather hard to talk about that sort of thing too much. Also though as far as I know I've only been treated for Depression, Anxiety and PTSD still waiting on a potential diagnoses of being on the autism spectrum, unless something else accounts for what appears as that. I have not been treated for any substance related issues aside from being taken off of medications that had bad effects.

Alright I will look into that, I will have to wait till later though as I am a bit too tired to comprehend anything like that right now as its 1 in the morning and I've been feeling overly stressed today.

It all feels like way too much, can't shake the feeling....not even sure I have the cognative abilities to call the SSI place to get some claim number thing that was supposed to be on the letter that isn't, try and contact any social services or even figure out how to find information on the internet without getting confused with social security, don't know where a phone book is.....then I have to somehow find a representative for the appeal. Then I have a neuropsych appointment which hopefully my mom scheduled.

I am pretty stressed about general family drama and just don't know how to keep up with all this. Maybe I just shouldn't bother, though I realize at this point that wouln't be a smart choice since I've gotten so far and only need to appeal.......but what if they deny the appeal anyways.