[yikeslife]

My application was turned down and I am feeling a bit discouraged. I want to find out the experiences of others who've applied for benefits.

1). How long did it take? (or if you haven't won your case, how long has it taken so far?)
2). How old were you when you applied, approximately? (feel free to skip if you want to keep this private...I only ask because Social Security often denies cases based on age)
3). What condition(s) did you apply for?
4). What convinced you that benefits were necessary?
5). If you received a rejection at any stage of the process, what reasons were cited?
6). any pointers?

[jelly-bean]

I applied for Disability for my husband and it took about 3 months but we were approved right away. He had a stroke and was left with left side hemiparesis. Of course, something like that is obvious and there was no way they could turn him down.

[gayleggg]

I'm 62. I filed about four months ago and was approved first time out. I applied due to bipolar/depression. I wasn't able to continue working without becoming a danger to myself. I don't really have any pointers. I don't think I did anything special, but I did have the support of my pdoc and my therapist.

[pnw1]

I was in the my late 2rs and I was 20's, been seeing a Pdoc for years and was accepted first time. I must really be crazy! Had 4 conditions. I hear that most folks need a few tries. My Pdoc said since 2008/2009 almost everyone gets denied the first time, if you re apply and are qualified, you will be ok...

[Mindful55]

I am 56. I applied in June 2014 and approved in October.
My dx: bpd, gad, and major depression.
I had a long work history basically doing the same type of work. Both my T/pdoc sent their assessments in. I am grateful.

[Rose76]

I got approved in 3 months. To be honest, I really don't think my case was more compelling that a lot of cases that get turned down initially. I see two things as being big factors in my success.

#1) I had a great paper trail of having been treated.

#2) I did that long thing they send you by myself. It's the thing where you talk about your daily life and your job failures. I watched a lot of videos by lawyers giving advice and I read a lot. Here's the main thing to understand. The SSA doesn't care how severe your diagnosis is. Lots of people with serious diagnoses hold down jobs. All they want to know is: HOW DOES YOUR CONDITION INTERFERE WITH YOU WORKING? I was able to go over a series of job failures and say how I screwed up on the jobs in ways related to my diagnosis. I was willing to present myself in an unflattering light.

[truthinessorbust]

i just got accepted into SSDI in november; applied in July. I'm 40. i'm beyond grateful and relieved and also deeply angry and resentful. i had NO income for more than 9 months and wound up "camping" for more than 9 weeks with my cat while hoping to be accepted and knowing it could have been years, or not at all. I received no help or support from my family or close friends, i'm sure in large because they were embarrassed that my disability wasn't "physical." i intend to be engaged in social/economic advocacy regarding what happens to people while they're waiting for help in this country. it's inhumane, especially considering the fact that when you are accepted, you receive a fat check representing "back-pay," as though you were (or should have been) receiving the benefits all the while. not that receiving that chunk of change wasn't fantastic, but i seriously had trouble surviving my time as a homeless, anxious, depressed outcast, and i certainly could have used some of that help when i most needed it...

re what might have helped me.... i was very thorough in getting all of my previous providers and board and more than two wrote letters of my behalf. i also have a wonderful dear friend who wrote the personal support letter and is also an MFT. and I was honest in my personal statement. saying, "i wish so very much that this weren't necessary. that my life hasn't shrunk and my capabilities withered. assembling all of the information for the application was a very sad and overwhelming endeavor, but it also helped me to be rid of any remaining doubt i myself had as to whether or not i qualify for SSDI per the guidelines. this was both a relief and a terribly said realization to arrive at. i wish you the best of luck with your application and hope that you are managing ok and receiving support in the meantime.

[Fresia]

1). How long did it take? (or if you haven't won your case, how long has it taken so far?)
It took 14 months. The first application was denied. Filed an appeal. It was denied. It went to a Judge for review/hearing and was approved. The Judge had me in his hearing room all of 5 minutes, saying he was actually sorry this had come before him. This was a clear cut case with all the extensive documentation going back over a decade (same documentation sent in with each filing). He asked me 1 question and seemed genuine, "how I was doing now?", told me not to give up hope, that this would be approved, and sent the attorney and I on our ways. Attorney said he had his mind made up before we got in there; he'd never been in court for such a short time ever. Documentation is the key.

2). How old were you when you applied, approximately? (feel free to skip if you want to keep this private...I only ask because Social Security often denies cases based on age) 30

3). What condition(s) did you apply for? Major depression & PTSD

4). What convinced you that benefits were necessary? I could no longer function after trying several jobs, failing out of school, and my last job being out on short term and then long term disability insurance, then FMLA. I could not return to work. It was treatment resistnt despite being compliant, I was seriously struggling, no hope, and just could not function at all.

5). If you received a rejection at any stage of the process, what reasons were cited? I do not remember there being reasons given in my denial letters, only the denial and what information I could do next the process if did not agree with the finding.

6). any pointers?Get an attorney; he gathered all the information necessary and filed the paperwork when it needed to be filed and where. I could not have done it as I could not put one foot in front of the other at that point as getting out of bed was my challenge at that point let alone anything else was a monstrosity.

[worthit]

Took me a record 4 months. My T and pdoc signed the paperwork. I'm sza and PTSD.

[jesusplay]

22 at the time.
out of work for 6 months when applied 13 months when SS exam was scheduled for lack of evidence.
approved 7 months after applying.
bipolar and GAD.
6 months to a year of medical records.

[ellis8989]

Wow. I was SLAMMED with a trauma.

Fought it hardl Major denial. I'll be fine. LOL I filed, but moved thru 3 states. Total time-
3 and 1/2 years.
Almost starved. Denied twice. Let the appeal lapse. Ugly.I was early 40's, high education. I'm automatic decline.
I didn't bother to take it seriously until the ALJ.
But I had 8 years- same mental health team, same neurologist.
Besides the standard form-
Actually have your psychiatrist write a letter.
My patient meets the requirements of SSA... 12.04 or whatever you qualify for IN THE SSA BOOK OF CONDITIONS. and then have the doctor spell it out and sign and date it. I had my psychiatrist and therapist do that. Court was literally 2 seconds.
Get an attorney.. Attny said according to grid- under 50- you HAVE to be in the book or it's auto decline to ALJ level...

BUT now I can't afford insurance to cover all the stuff I need.

[ThisWayOut]

I applied and was approved the first time, but I also had a huge paper trail of being very successful prior to decompensating, then being totally unable to function outside of a hospital environment for over a year and a half... twice. I also had contact with the case manager that was reviewing my case and compiling the documentation. I have no idea why she was so sympathetic, but she was. She helped make sure I get everything in, and even followed up with any medical records that did not make it in a timely manner.
Aside of having a lawyer for appeal, I would recommend trying to get in contact with the case worker assigned you. Personal connections can go a long way, even if it's just hearing your voice over the phone.
Good luck. It can be a difficult, lengthy, and grueling process, but it is possible.

[Flyer]

Took me atleast 6 mos.

I swear the first time is a lottery of which most are denied, saving them money. Out of those they deny, not all will appeal, saving them even more money. And so on with every denial.

I was denied a second time and retained an attorney. Having an attorney was a big relief. Seems like most attorney's [or the good ones] will not take you until you are denied the 2nd time.

Somewhere in between denials they sent me to a dr. So, in preparation, I tried to recall all of my history with MI. The dr I went to, tested my shoulder, not my head.

The third time, they required me to see an administrative law judge, I believe was his title. 1. I lived out of that state that would have required 5 hours of travel, one way. 2. Just the thought of going in front of a judge fueled my symptoms into a panic state. My man called the attny and explained what was going on. The attny contacted the judge and I was approved without having to attend.

In all cases, it was obvious that those who were denying my claim were not reading the medical records they were sent by my providers. Duh. Extremely frustrating and mind boggling.

Tips: Retain an attorney. Complete paperwork in a timely manner. Do not break the 'chain' of the proccess by doing nothing, which ppl often do. Once the chain is broken, the proccess starts all over. Take good care of yourself. It's like all parts of your disability being thrown in your face all at once, under a microscope, and can make you feel like a real loser. This will pass once you don't have to focus on them anymore.

The bright side of it all is: There is a limit to how much an attorney can charge. Back benefits are paid from the date you first applied.

Best wishes.

[newtus]

1). How long did it take? (or if you haven't won your case, how long has it taken so far?)

i got in in 2 1/2 months. on the first try. no lawyer.

2). How old were you when you applied, approximately? (feel free to skip if you want to keep this private...I only ask because Social Security often denies cases based on age)

i was 21

3). What condition(s) did you apply for?

Schizoaffective disorder

4). What convinced you that benefits were necessary?

i was in the hospital a lot. i couldnt care for my daily needs let alone a job

5). If you received a rejection at any stage of the process, what reasons were cited? doesnt apply to me

6). any pointers?

like a few others said here - i had a long paper trail. going back since i was 13 years old. ive been hospitalized many times a year. average about 3-4 times a year. all in all had about 20 hospitalizations.