[bipolar_militarywyf]

I go soon and wanted to know what to expect. I have a lawyer who will prep me but this is causing me so much anxiety to think about. I need to be convincinig to verify why I cannot work. If you have been through this as a bipolar, PTSD, hallucinations, please help me.

[HALLIEBETH87]

I didn't have to go to hearing but I understand the anxiety of it. I was thinking and worrying about it nonstop...and I had only appealed once. I hope it works out for you. I don't know any advice to give you other than to spill all the ugly details of your disease. Good luck!

[RTerroni]

When I had my first hearing about 2 years ago (I have another one scheduled for August), I met with my lawyer shortly before the hearing, I then went into a small room with the judge and 2 other people (someone who was transcribing the hearing and another person who was analyzing all of the information), it didn't really last that long and afterwards I met briefly with my lawyer and we recapped how it went.

I would say that it lasted less than 2 hours in total.

Originally Posted by RTerroni

When I had my first hearing about 2 years ago (I have another one scheduled for August), I met with my lawyer shortly before the hearing, I then went into a small room with the judge and 2 other people (someone who was transcribing the hearing and another person who was analyzing all of the information), it didn't really last that long and afterwards I met briefly with my lawyer and we recapped how it went.

I would say that it lasted less than 2 hours in total.

That pretty much sums up my experience except there were two witnesses. A doctor and a vocational specialist. I barely needed to speak.

[RTerroni]

Originally Posted by George H.

That pretty much sums up my experience except there were two witnesses. A doctor and a vocational specialist. I barely needed to speak.

At my hearing it seemed like a spoke a lot (probably the most of anyone besides the judge).

I know... it doesn't seem like there is any uniformity there. I recall in my thread somebody mentioned the importance of making eye contact. There was barely any eye contact by anyone at my hearing.

[Hellion]

I almost went to the ER before my hearing because I was so overwhelmed by stress I just couldn't take it and was worried about potentially harming myself in some way because it was unbearable.

But i sort of rode that out, and still went to the hearing and it wasn't so bad. I didn't even do a whole lot of talking, and when I did I was rather confused about how to word things and probably came off as confused and slow to process things...which I don't think hurt my case. But yeah the lawyer answered most of the specific questions and a medical professional was called in over the phone who the judge asked some questions to and then after that he essentially implied I'd be approved(they can't usually tell you 100% for sure if you're approved till you get the letter from my understanding)....and soon after got the approval letter.

I'm still waiting for a letter. Until then I have a hard time believing,

[RTerroni]

Originally Posted by George H.

I'm still waiting for a letter. Until then I have a hard time believing,

The law office told me that I will get something in the mail to fill out before my August hearing but told me that it might not come for a little while.

This was before your hear? Because I thought you'd had it already and won your case. My lawyer told me at the SS office I'd won. Otherwise I wouldn't know anything lol. There is so much codespeak involved. My lawyer was kind of funny in an unintentional way. There was a question asked directly to me and as I was answering it she was hitting her knee against mine. Not nudging... hitting hard.
I'm surprised everybody didn't hear it

[RTerroni]

No I have yet to win, I think that my lawyer told me that we have really exhausted all options with SSD, and this SSI appeal might be a last ditch effort for me.

Good luck. I hope you win!

[providence1]

My attorney has just requested a hearing. Given the length of time I'd have to wait and the financial stress I've experienced in supporting myself to date I have to wonder if it's all worth it? At face value I think sometimes that I appear perfectly able to perform "as the Romans do" in the workforce. But the fact is I've had little interaction with people when working and I've still been considered unpredictable and volatile due to my bipolar. I know I can't work full time and I have a failed work attempt as part of my recent record. People I've asked who've gone through it suggest I "dumby it down" when communicating and that I should check myself into a hospital even if I'm not in crisis (as if I have the insurance). I told my lawer that a.) Social Security already seems to portray me as a fraud and b.) that I feel this process will in the end make me sicker than I already am. Just trying to rebuild a "shattered me"...the "me" who has payed PLENTY into the system until now!

[RTerroni]

It does take a lot of time (for me I have been going through appeals for a few years) but it is better than the alternate which is not to have the insurance at all.

Originally Posted by providence1

My attorney has just requested a hearing. Given the length of time I'd have to wait and the financial stress I've experienced in supporting myself to date I have to wonder if it's all worth it? At face value I think sometimes that I appear perfectly able to perform "as the Romans do" in the workforce. But the fact is I've had little interaction with people when working and I've still been considered unpredictable and volatile due to my bipolar. I know I can't work full time and I have a failed work attempt as part of my recent record. People I've asked who've gone through it suggest I "dumby it down" when communicating and that I should check myself into a hospital even if I'm not in crisis (as if I have the insurance). I told my lawer that a.) Social Security already seems to portray me as a fraud and b.) that I feel this process will in the end make me sicker than I already am. Just trying to rebuild a "shattered me"...the "me" who has payed PLENTY into the system until now!

Let your lawyer and the system decide that My case went on forever. I lost interest. I didn't even know it was still an open case until I got a letter from SS about a hearing, and I was very doubtful about attending considering that SSA overruled my doctor and the doc they hired to evaluate me. Keep at it... it may work out.

[bipolar_militarywyf]

Originally Posted by RTerroni

When I had my first hearing about 2 years ago (I have another one scheduled for August), I met with my lawyer shortly before the hearing, I then went into a small room with the judge and 2 other people (someone who was transcribing the hearing and another person who was analyzing all of the information), it didn't really last that long and afterwards I met briefly with my lawyer and we recapped how it went.

I would say that it lasted less than 2 hours in total.

2 hours? OMG. that seems like forever for me. did the judge talk to you? ask you questions?

[HALLIEBETH87]

2 hours does seem like along time...

[bipolar_militarywyf]

thank you everyone. I think I am just nervous because the first doctor I had was old as dirt and did not update my records to report (I do not believe) my complaints and feelings so for the first doc there is not much. my new pdoc I have only since once so I guess the next few years will be spent on making up records that should have started in junior high with my depression.

[RTerroni]

Originally Posted by HALLIEBETH87

2 hours does seem like along time...

It goes by quick and I bet that includes the time you are waiting.