Another one denied SSA

Got the letter yesterday. I knew this would probably happen (statistically), but wasn't prepared for the anxiety/disappointment this would cause anyway. As an aside, this entire process is ridiculous and directly inconducive for helping folks that have mental health issues.

Absolutely no idea, based on SSA own description of disability, how I was denied. My reasons are anxiety, agoraphobia, and major depression. These keep me from leaving the house, dealing with stress, communicating reliably over any medium, or even reliably turning up for work/deadlines at all. I have no college degree. I have a personality disorder. My husband has to take off work to drive me to my frequent appointments. My psychiatrist and my counselor support me fully, have solid records, and submitted extra statements of support. I have a freaking genetic test positive for serotonin transporter abnormality - what more concrete evidence is there for mental health disability? ....SSA thinks I'm still capable of some kind of work - I'd lovvvve for them to give me an example of just what job they think accommodates random attendance, not leaving the house, rage, and not being able to communicate. Just completely baffled and furious. I know I shouldn't dwell much on it and that this happens to many, but effing A, OCD is part of the entire problem - I can't help it! I mean, did they read anything at all?...

Anyway...I am appealing of course, and have started the application, which is ridiculous in itself. However, I wanted to see if anyone had any personal advice for how to go about the appeal process - things that seemed to make a big difference or that you realized you left out in the original application, et cetera. I realize ideally that getting a lawyer would probably be best, and I've certainly not ruled that out, but am curious if there is anything beyond that, something I can do myself or be sure to include. Thanks for reading.

Edit: Also, should I make some sort of statement in the review/remarks section? ...If passive aggression is allowed, I'm doing it. :P

My advice is to not make any passive-aggressive statements, even if you feel that way.

The main reason that most applications are denied on the first try is that they are trying to weed out people who are malingering and manipulating, as those people wind up draining the system and taking away resources from people who really need it.

A passive-aggressive statement will likely come across as a manipulative attempt to intimidate them, and could push them in the direction of thinking you are trying to abuse the system.

Try to just be patient, determined, follow procedure and strongly consider the option of getting a lawyer.

#1 - Get a lawyer.

#2 - Read a book on the process and watch videos on Youtube of lawyers explaining what the SSA looks for.

There's tons of free and low cost info out there. Proving you have a psych diagnosis gets you nowhere. You have to offer evidence that it interferes with you working. Getting fired from a string of jobs helps. You have to also show that medical treatment did not make you more employable. The younger you are, the harder it is to get disability.

My advice is going to sound really basic, but your future self will thank you if you set up a file folder solely for forms/questionnaires/documents submitted to SSA. This is so when you are completing the next 10-page questionnaire, 2 years from now when they review again - you can easily access what you've sent them before. Use past answers to help with your current answers -- this will help prevent accidentally messing up & not emphasizing a symptom at least as much as you did before.

You don't want them to get the idea you have improved just because you messed up an answer compared to your last answer. They will work off of your past paperwork. They ask the same question in three different ways to try & trip you up.

& review your day in your head -- & don't minimize anything you can't do anymore. It's not the time to be shy or hold back --

Of course, if your papers are too complete -- it's best to list that someone assisted you in completing forms.

Age and support system (your husband) make a difference too. I don't know if you were hoping for SSDI or SSI but it does not sound like you have the work credits for SSDI and maybe your husband's income is too great for you to receive SSI. Just being disabled is not the only criteria for being refused.

That's unfortunate. I'm sorry to hear that. I'm trying to figure this stuff out too. I've checked out Nolo's guide to social security disability. I've only read a little bit, but maybe you would like to check out a similar book. As mentioned earlier it would help to get a lawyer as if you do not have one it seems as if SSA perceives you as "weak" without one and are likely to just sweep you under the rug.

I'm going through the same thing. I have a lawyer who filed an appeal. Now I wait.

My psychiatrist reported that I had PTSD and bipolar 1 with psychotic features, including visual and auditory hallucinations.
But still I got two letters basically saying, " so what? You can still work."
Lol. Okay, whatever.

Have you tried contacting an advocate from your local ARC? If they come with you to your SSA meetings and write a letter on your behalf, it might help winning an appeal. If I wanted a good lawyer, I'd get one that lists helping people on the spectrum and other developmental disorders win their appeals.

Thanks for the tips, everyone. It's all very helpful. I've decided to get a lawyer for sure... I don't like the idea of getting denied again and regretfully thinking at that moment, "I should have got a lawyer."

I'm applying for SSI - my husband's income is below the max. Living with family now :/

Update, too: It so happens that my eating disorder has gotten bad enough to a point of scaring me and, I think, my therapist too. They are currently putting together a list of specialists that would be more well-equipped, and I will be starting ASAP. I feel like it is the obvious choice to put this development on my appeal, but thinking something is "obvious" to SSA so far has been dubious at best.

Considering an eating disorder of my severity would not put me out of work on its own, I'm wondering if it's just an extra detail that will throw things off. I've heard that what appears to be a "shotgun" approach can be detrimental to a case in that it may be seen as manipulative somehow. The eating disorder is, however, greatly influenced by my depression and anxiety though - it's not weight/body image related.

That considered, I've also read SSA take into account the difficulties imposed by different issues combined/coinciding together that may make things worse as a whole. (For instance, being blind may allow you to still work, but being blind while also having even minor mobility issues in combination is much more difficult.) I'm sure my future lawyer will provide me sound advice too, but the more the better.

Thanks again, everyone.

You need to start reading a book about applying. The one I read was put out by lawyers. I think it was from tha "Nolo" series. One of those books will tell you: Put down every single ailment you've got, mental and physical. Relate every one to a "functional" inpairment - meaning the ailment interferes or makes it harder to get things done.

They will also want to know what you've done to get treatment for whatever is treatable.

Get a lawyer ssa will pay for it once you are approved. Hire the people advertising during the day on TV. They can afford the commercials because the win - a lot!

Good advice above. You don't need a dime to hire one of these law firms. They get paid out of your settlement, if the case goes on long enough for them to owe you back payments (back to the date marking the onset of your disability.) If they approve you quickly and there are no back payments owed to you, then the lawyer gets nothing. And the top disability law firms are okay with that.

You might owe some minor fees, but the top firms will agree to charge you nothing, if they can't get you approved. Most of the work isn't even done by the atorneys, but by clerks. They know what they're doing. It's mainly handling paperwork.