Usa ssdi

This is a good point. In my situation, I had become very ill - essentially a massive, awful bipolar mixed episode (floridly psychotic and suicidal, too) while I was still employed and I'd never been fired before, "clean" work history.

That episode kept getting worse and my employer didn't know about my condition, at all. I became psychotic at work and yelled at some support staff, which is very unlike me. My mom was terminally ill at the time ... the impetuous for my episode.

Long story short, I was impatient for five months. My husband told my employer I was taking an extended absence due to "being depressed" after my mom died. Six months, I'm home and I'd been told by the psychiatrist and therapist at the hospital to apply for disability so that's what I did. I resigned and applied for SSDI. They wanted me back at work, my employer, but they wouldn't have really if they knew my diagnosis. I couldn't do the work anymore. I was a professional and there was no room for error. I wouldn't hire me, I thought. No way. I had become unemployable.

Just a coincidence, I have serious back and neck problems, too. They were secondary (to me) in my SSDI app. Bipolar disorder 1 with psychosis and several diagnosed anxiety disorders are truly what keep me from working. And I still can't work. I just got out of the psych hospital a few days ago. I hate it.

Keep us posted, my post was lengthy but I wanted to mention a clean job record is OK...or at least it was in my circumstances. My mental health careened down very quickly and severely...so I had a good work record until my health declined.

Good luck.

No, my initial application was denied and then a judge approved me on-the-spot during my appeal hearing.

I had no diagnosis, just my initial statement that I could no longer work. No doctor would help me, and then the two doctors the SSA sent me to see were antagonistic. So where your case and mine might have been greatly different in regard to documentation, the bottom line is still identical.

I had remained on the sane side of my psychotic tendencies, but your story and mine are very similar. Glad to know you are home again.

I went on-line and filled out the basic form. Two days later an attorney's office called me. They asked for the names, addresses and phone numbers of all my providers and then they requested the records themselves. The attorney asked me a battery of questions and sent me a form to complete. Once all the information was gathered they submitted it to SS. I was denied after the first attempt(which is normal) but, after the second request I was approved. Even after you submit the application continue to see your providers and take your meds. I was fortunate that I had ten years worth of medical/psychological records to back up my claim. Overall there was very little I had to do. The attorney will collect either 25% or 30% of any back pay directly from SS and if you are denied you pay nothing.

I have Bipolar II and I'm having serious problems at work: focus, memory, meltdowns, crying, snapping at people, making frequent mistakes due to anxiety, lateness. I'm 50 years old. Meds don't work well on me. I may have to apply for disability this year if things don't improve.

What do you think?

Is having one job for 20+ years a bad thing, versus being fired from several jobs along the way? Although, I was on short term disability twice (3 and 6 months) during this time. I just got off of 6 months SDT in August. I can probably get a letter from my workplace that I have been gradually unfit for work over last few years. They have been tolerating me for the last year, but I suspect they're not happy with me.

Also, I only have one psychiatrist for the last 10 years and I was never hospitalized. Does that matter? I'm also seeing a psychologist, but only for about two months. The psychiatrist will definitely help but the psychologist probably won't want to be involved at this time. Unless I see her more.

And if I decide to apply for SSDI I can to go on a long term disability which is handled by an insurance company, CIGNA, and they are supposed to help me with the SSDI paperwork. They will pay my LTD until I get SSDI approved. This is one of my benefits from my employer. BTW, anyone has any experience with CIGNA?

Thanks.
Z.

CIGNA LTD is terrible. You have to keep hiri g lawyers every 3-6 months even if you are already determined eligible for SSDI. Do not believe they will help you get approved for SS, but they will tell you that you have to do so. My lawyer said in all her experience they are the worst to deal with.

They were OK when I was on STD but yeah, LTD is different and I've heard bad things too.

I've been fighting for my SSDI for 8+ years now. ALJ in 2 application appeals hearings & most recently federal remand hearing have ignored my treating dr's from 2 states. No WEIGHT given to dr notes, RFC, test results nor symptoms of emotional fragility, which ironically is getting worse.

I am furious by the sarcastic, condescending comments at the hearing and in documented decisions (as are my current attorneys). The fact that my decision contains details that appear to be someone else's case is considered standard operating procedure and totally acceptable. Just because it is the us gov and we don't have to be accountable! I feel like I'm being penalized because I have a level of intelligence and education...as if the uneducated suffer most than educated people. WTF?

My medical evidence was being ignored before the Physicians Rule went into effect on March 27, 2017. US District Ct remanded because judge ignored medical. Remand hearing date was Dec 14 & I knew he had already made his decision before hearing by some of the ??? he slung at me with a lot of sarcastic, condescending & demeaning energy! I got the decision on Dec 22. I don't think this judge or any for that matter at this particular ODAR office has EVER rendered a decision that FAST. It is not part of their job requirement to be efficient and timely.

My attorney sent me email stating "I just don't believe the judges in this office believe in mental health cases. After reading decision, I feel like he had already decided before we got there". I could complain to Divsion of Quality Services @SSA, but I'm just too tired of fighting and I'm getting the impression that as far as gov is concerned, the mentally ill are not fit to survive and should just give up!

Besides, I've been homeless since Feb 5, 2017 & I don't have enough funds to live on for another freaking appeals council delay. My lawsuit was filed May 5, 2016 & the hearing was just Dec 14, 2017. I've spent all holidays alone for the past 4 years, so when I got the decision on Dec 26 @7:30AM it was like a message from the universe.TIME TO GO! You are no longer worthy in this universe.

If I wasn't 57, I'd consider what few funds I have left and go directly to Geel, Belgium to seek a foster family! One place in the whole world where generations of families have considered it an honor & a privilege to embrace the mentally ill for over 700 years.

My ALJ was so much more knowledgeable than my treating dr's that he added DX that I had never had. Also stated my testimony was "too subjective". I cry every day and can no longer control my emotions, but I can drive a car "even get on a plane to go to Caribbean to attend a wedding and do my grocery shopping" so I can work. My work attempts in 2013/2014 were used as examples of ability to work even though they were not sustainable and failed because of emotional break down, melt down, failure, etc.

I know I am not going to survive PTSD, MDD (that so far has been untreatable) and I accept it!