Social Security Disability Question

Koko2 · Jan 31, 2014, 11:27 AM

Is it better to apply for the one disability that's most likely to be approved or to apply for multiple disabilities in the hope that one of them will be approved? If you haven't seen a psychologist in the past for your mental disability, will they take the view that you don't have the disability?

And any tips for the phone interview? How long does it last, and do they immediately let you know whether they think you qualify?

Alone & confused · Jan 31, 2014, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Koko2

Is it better to apply for the one disability that's most likely to be approved or to apply for multiple disabilities in the hope that one of them will be approved? If you haven't seen a psychologist in the past for your mental disability, will they take the view that you don't have the disability?

And any tips for the phone interview? How long does it last, and do they immediately let you know whether they think you qualify?

I didn't have enough sense to know which one to apply for.
I just let them tell me what I qualified for. I had been out
of treatment for awhile, just gave up cause it wasn't working.
Tips: Don't try to "hide your crazy" so to speak. I was apprehensive
about "being judged " but was completely open & honest about how I
felt & what I was going through & got it after talking to one of
Their drs. It helps to provide any other med records you may have too.

newtus · Jan 31, 2014, 08:39 PM

i had a phone interview for ssi and they immediately told me if i qualified. but thats for ssi. im on ssdi though now.

UnderRugSwept · Jan 31, 2014, 11:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Koko2

Is it better to apply for the one disability that's most likely to be approved or to apply for multiple disabilities in the hope that one of them will be approved? If you haven't seen a psychologist in the past for your mental disability, will they take the view that you don't have the disability?

And any tips for the phone interview? How long does it last, and do they immediately let you know whether they think you qualify?

I am waiting for a decision on SSDI. I know a lot of it varies by state...in my state you literally have to be dying to get approved; otherwise you are stuck waiting to get a hearing (which I am waiting for now after being denied in the first two rounds). When I applied, I provided them every way in which I am mentally/physically impaired to work. All of my "complaints" are backed up by drs: my pdoc (my lawyer said they take his diagnosis the most seriously since he is medical dr); my 2 therapists (who backed up my pdoc's opinion of my psychological diagnosis); and one medical specialist (as I have one physical condition affecting my ability to work...specifically, to do any job that requires standing up or walking for any specific period of time).

I assume a phone interview must be an SSI thing?

I had an evaluation by an "outside" therapist that was a joke...he wrote down things I never said and got a bunch of information completely incorrect.

Yoda · Jan 31, 2014, 11:40 PM

I have been on SSDI since 2000 and never had to do a hearing. My employer did hire attorneys to represent me (that lowered the amount of money my employer had to pay me for my long term disability after my SSDI was approved). I had a T and a pdoc before applying and they had to submit paperwork about my condition but I was never evaluated by anyone else face to face.

Koko2 · Feb 01, 2014, 01:45 AM

I've never sought professional help for my mental disability other than indirect, general counseling that happened a long time ago. I guess I'm probably going to be rejected for SSDI unless they refer me to meet with their own psychologist.

thickntired · Feb 01, 2014, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Koko2

I've never sought professional help for my mental disability other than indirect, general counseling that happened a long time ago. I guess I'm probably going to be rejected for SSDI unless they refer me to meet with their own psychologist.

I was approved for ssdi with an atty representation who took 25% of back pay. Medical records are important as they went back 3 yrs for all my medical transcripts. Also, my pdoc wrote a statement that read I was unable to work. The phone interview was very basic and didn't ask essay questions. The mental evaluation was more in depth. I used psychological and physical issues in my case. Also I was unemployed and had been laid off twice in the past 3 yrs. If you're employed or on unemployment it shows a willingness to work. My approval took 6 months which is unusual, and it was in 2011 before we were in as bad of a recession. I read that a high number of white collar workers are applying for depression when the unemployment is finished.

Tnt

Tnt

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Feb 01, 2014, 03:46 PM

If you haven't pursued treatment for an issue consistently the SSA is very likely to take the stance that there is little to no proof that it is truly disabling. Which kind of makes sense. That is no personal judgement about your specific circumstance but if you aren't recieving consistence treatment for something, you don't know what your actual limitations would be if you were getting the help that would be appropriate for whatever is problematic.

reesecups · Feb 09, 2014, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Koko2

I've never sought professional help for my mental disability other than indirect, general counseling that happened a long time ago. I guess I'm probably going to be rejected for SSDI unless they refer me to meet with their own psychologist.

If you are not actively 'working' to help your condition, if you do get it, you won't have it for long. This is SSDI.

Faking sane · Feb 13, 2014, 02:52 PM

But what if you just don't have the money to pay for a lot of doctor visits, therapy, medication, etc.?

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shortandcute · Mar 22, 2014, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Faking sane

But what if you just don't have the money to pay for a lot of doctor visits, therapy, medication, etc.?

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Unfortunately, they don't care about that. I've known people who went through the same thing--they didn't have the money to see the doctors they needed to see and so that was used against them. That kind of puts people in a catch 22. Is there any kind of public assistance you could apply for in your area that might be able to help you somewhat?

RTerroni · Mar 22, 2014, 06:12 PM

I applied for SSD in October 2010, I was declined, have gone through several appeals, and have yet to have been awarded it.

thickntired · Mar 22, 2014, 08:03 PM

My paralegal told me their firm had a case where the client had terminal cancer and was denied??!! That is so F'up

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Mar 22, 2014, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thickntired

My paralegal told me their firm had a case where the client had terminal cancer and was denied??!! That is so F'up

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...There must have been some really special circumstances.
That's pretty much a guaranteed approval, so there are probably details not everyone is privy to in that situation.

Faking sane · Mar 23, 2014, 05:38 AM

It's really killing us. All our "disposable" income is getting used up in medical bills and gas for appointments!

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Faking sane · Mar 23, 2014, 05:52 AM

BUT, Vocational Rehabilitation is getting me a complete neuropsych evaluation for FREE, so that's a big plus! Dr. just sent me for a lumbar spine x-ray. Don't know how that will turn out. Neck x-rays were normal. Makes me feel like a complete hypochondriac when that happens. AND I've had a ortho-rad doc once accuse me of factitious disorder (not to my face, but in his notes to my ortho) so I'm paranoid of how people really see me underneath their professional smiles anyway. But hopefully all of that will get figured out in this exam and I can get the right kind of help. Personally, I feel like GP's aren't really qualified to handle psych meds without psych supervision. And I don't believe every pain without an obvious physical cause is fibromyalgia, or if it is, at least create a test for it (now that they know that hand vein thing) and PROVE it, so I can at least feel validated. Maybe that's greedy, but being unsure of myself causes most of my depression that leaks through the meds...

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dillpickle1983 · Mar 23, 2014, 06:22 PM

I got SSDI very quickly, although I was hospitalized over 12 times between 2011 and 2012. It is easier to prove a mental case than physical according to my friend who works at the local SSA office. However that being said, I had a ton of formal documentation, PDoc reports, med reports etc from all the hospital stays. Now since then my formal diagnosis changed from Bipolar to Schizoaffective. I currently work, very part time using my ticket to work. I wish you the best, but you really need a lot of documentation when it comes to a mental case with the feds.

Hellion · Mar 25, 2014, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Koko2

Is it better to apply for the one disability that's most likely to be approved or to apply for multiple disabilities in the hope that one of them will be approved? If you haven't seen a psychologist in the past for your mental disability, will they take the view that you don't have the disability?

And any tips for the phone interview? How long does it last, and do they immediately let you know whether they think you qualify?

Use all you suspect....if you don't have medical records then they will have you see one of their psychiatrists/doctors and evaluate. Though in my experience the ones they send you to arent usually very good and seem too look for anything that might disprove your claim. And usually you get a letter after the phone interview to go to the doctor they appointed for evaluation then a while after that you get the decision there may be some other letters before that(not sure) and if you get denied it tells you how to appeal.

Aside from that it would be good to look into other resources or places that might assess for mental health conditions for an affordable cost...its good to try and get as much medical records as you can going to therapy can be used as medical evidence but not sure if they offer anything low cost around where you live.

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Social Security Disability Question

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