[Biteplate]

I have Schizoaffective disorder and I was wondering what my chances are of being approved for disability? I'm so stressed with this process. I have filled out lots of paper work and its taking months.

[eyesclosed]

Hi from what I know 33% are approved the first time I don't know if it includes the review or not. DVR at your local job center can help for free. Look under your County and State government also to see if you have any free programs. I also believe your local SS Office will help. Don't try and do it on your own.

[~Christina]

Do you have a history with a doctor and Therapist ??? Lots of paper trail showing your inability to hold down employment ?

Unless a doctor approves and agrees you can't work it's virtually impossible to be awarded.

[Bluesday]

I went all the way to a hearing and was denied, even WITH my psychiatrist saying I couldn't hold a job. It's tough, but if you get the right judge you can get it. I have heard schizoaffective is easier to be approved for. Good luck!

[cakeladie]

Get a disability attorney they will help you and they do not get paid unless you are approved

[Biteplate]

Thank you folks for the advice! My therapist is writing a letter. I hope that helps and I have lots of records of my history and 3 past hospitalizations.

[Rose76]

I strongly encourage any and everyone to hook up, right from the get-go, with a law firm specializing in helping people get disability.

Some law firms won't take you, until you've been denied. Others will take you right from the beginning. I got one of those firms. I was approved in 3 months. The law firm didn't make a dime because there were no back payments owed to me. And they were fine with that.

The people who make the decision only care about one thing: Why can't you work? Why can't you hold down a job? So it's not enough to say I have such and such disorder. Lots of people who are depressed or have bipolar disorder have good paying careers. They won't hold that against you. They need you to make very clear how your psych problem has gotten in the way of you being successful at working. They have to see that you've tried to work. They have to see that you've gotten all the treatment available and still failed to make a go of a job.

You need a diagnosis from a psychiatrist. Just seeing a therapist isn't enough. Most lawyers will tell you that the best help is a doctor who believes you can't work.

The younger you are, the harder it is to get approved.

[misscath007]

Agree with all of the above. I took 2 years to get approved, I am 56. Denied 2 times, went to administrative review and approved. The older you are, the better a chance you have. You need to have a history of failed work attempts, something to show that you cannot sustain employment. Also a medical doctor, not just a therapist, must certify you are not capable of working.

FYI, the more diagnoses you have the better. I was approved because of my Bipolar, chronic migraine, anxiety disorder, and Aspergers.

You need to be patient, this can be a long process.

[Rose76]

You know something: we've all (after a certain age) got more things wrong with us than we even realize. Besides my main problem - recurring major depression, I put down every ache and pain I had that ever bothered me at work. They sent me for x-rays to check out that stuff. Turned out I had scoliosis in my back and degenerated disks in several areas of my spine, neither of which I had any idea of. Turned out I had degenerative changes in my knees and feet. They don't tell you what made them approve you, but attorneys on-line advise to list everything . . . and relate everything to how it hampered you at work.

[Perna]

I'm thinking you might be in Maine? Good info: Maine SSDI Disability Statistics: ALJ Approval Rates, Wait Times and More | ssdfacts.com

[seesaw]

Originally Posted by Rose76

I strongly encourage any and everyone to hook up, right from the get-go, with a law firm specializing in helping people get disability.

Some law firms won't take you, until you've been denied. Others will take you right from the beginning. I got one of those firms. I was approved in 3 months. The law firm didn't make a dime because there were no back payments owed to me. And they were fine with that.

The people who make the decision only care about one thing: Why can't you work? Why can't you hold down a job? So it's not enough to say I have such and such disorder. Lots of people who are depressed or have bipolar disorder have good paying careers. They won't hold that against you. They need you to make very clear how your psych problem has gotten in the way of you being successful at working. They have to see that you've tried to work. They have to see that you've gotten all the treatment available and still failed to make a go of a job.

You need a diagnosis from a psychiatrist. Just seeing a therapist isn't enough. Most lawyers will tell you that the best help is a doctor who believes you can't work.

The younger you are, the harder it is to get approved.

I disagree with this. I was 34 when I applied, on my own, with no help, and got approved on the first try.

The key is having the paper trail, and being very thorough in your application and having all your doctors on board with your application and in agreement that you can't work.

Yes, the judge you get and the social worker who does your paperwork can help tremendously, but it does come down to being thorough with the first application. I wouldn't say you have to get a lawyer right from the get-go. Since so many applications do get denied the first time, I wouldn't waste the money on the first application on a lawyer. I would get all the documentation from your doctors together on your own and fill out the form being very thorough. Then if you get denied, then you get a lawyer to help with the appeal.

Good luck,
seesaw

[Rose76]

There have been applicants who were approved at age 24. It is entirely possible to get approved at any age. But the Social Security Administration does consider being older to be a possible impediment to getting trained for something new, if one can no longer do what they were doing. Here's a link: Is Age a Factor in Social Security Disability Claims? | Disability Secrets

An excerpt:

"Social Security has set up age categories to help with the disability decision process. Individuals who are 18 to 44 are considered young individuals, those 45-49 are "younger" individuals, those 50-54 are considered to be closely approaching advanced age, individuals who are 55 and over are considered advanced age, and individuals 60-65 are considered closely approaching retirement age. . . . . . .

Social Security medical-vocational rules, however, are most favorable to individuals who are 55 and older. If an individual is 55 or older and is limited even to light work, or less than a full range of medium work, they may be approved for disability even if they have a high school education and their prior work was unskilled or their skills are not transferable. Social Security expects a worker to take on very little vocational adjustment at this age."

It is also very true that many individuals have gotten approved without any help from an attorney or advocate. However many, many individuals get turned down because they don't understand what the SSA needs to hear, or they miss deadlines for getting certsin things done. Here's an article supporting the wisdom of having an attorney: https://www.disabilityadvisor.com/so...rity-benefits/

An excerpt:

"Attorneys who are experienced in claims for Social Security Disability can be invaluable to your success in being awarded Social Security benefits for disability. They are experienced in communicating with your physicians and past employers to facilitate collection of information pertinent to your claim.

They know the law, so when they review the facts of your case—your medical history and your work history—they see clearly which aspects of your situation meet the requirements of Social Security Disability law. As a result, the details that count get emphasized in your original claim, raising the likelihood of your being approved and avoiding having to appeal."

I totally agree that having a good paper trail is a big asset that helps with having success in the process. Some people have great skill at being well organized and gathering all the available documentation. Being depressed can reduce a person's efficiency and ability to stay highly organized. The clerks at a law firm can be very helpful at doing the grunt work of contacting all providers of treatment and pestering them, until they comply with rewuests for records.

Here's a link that I think makes a good point: Can a Social Security Disability Attorney Speed Up a Case? | Disability Secrets

An excerpt:

"An attorney or disability advocate's expertise in knowing what Social Security is looking for can help to increase your chances of winning at the initial application process. If you can find an attorney to represent you at this stage, the lawyer can:
fill out your application so that it clearly demonstrates how you "meet a listing" (or equal a listing) or are not able to perform any work
gather proper medical evidence to show that you have the medical impairments you claim to have
request aid from your doctor in a way that will help your case. (Social Security looks for specific terminology; an attorney can make your physician aware of such terminology so that the doctor can use the terminology, if medically appropriate) . . . . . "

[seesaw]

Originally Posted by Rose76

There have been applicants who were approved at age 24. It is entirely possible to get approved at any age. But the Social Security Administration does consider being older to be a possible impediment to getting trained for something new, if one can no longer do what they were doing. Here's a link: Is Age a Factor in Social Security Disability Claims? | Disability Secrets

An excerpt:

"Social Security has set up age categories to help with the disability decision process. Individuals who are 18 to 44 are considered young individuals, those 45-49 are "younger" individuals, those 50-54 are considered to be closely approaching advanced age, individuals who are 55 and over are considered advanced age, and individuals 60-65 are considered closely approaching retirement age. . . . . . .

Social Security medical-vocational rules, however, are most favorable to individuals who are 55 and older. If an individual is 55 or older and is limited even to light work, or less than a full range of medium work, they may be approved for disability even if they have a high school education and their prior work was unskilled or their skills are not transferable. Social Security expects a worker to take on very little vocational adjustment at this age."

It is also very true that many individuals have gotten approved without any help from an attorney or advocate. However many, many individuals get turned down because they don't understand what the SSA needs to hear, or they miss deadlines for getting certsin things done. Here's an article supporting the wisdom of having an attorney: https://www.disabilityadvisor.com/so...rity-benefits/

An excerpt:

"Attorneys who are experienced in claims for Social Security Disability can be invaluable to your success in being awarded Social Security benefits for disability. They are experienced in communicating with your physicians and past employers to facilitate collection of information pertinent to your claim.

They know the law, so when they review the facts of your case—your medical history and your work history—they see clearly which aspects of your situation meet the requirements of Social Security Disability law. As a result, the details that count get emphasized in your original claim, raising the likelihood of your being approved and avoiding having to appeal."

I totally agree that having a good paper trail is a big asset that helps with having success in the process. Some people have great skill at being well organized and gathering all the available documentation. Being depressed can reduce a person's efficiency and ability to stay highly organized. The clerks at a law firm can be very helpful at doing the grunt work of contacting all providers of treatment and pestering them, until they comply with rewuests for records.

Here's a link that I think makes a good point: Can a Social Security Disability Attorney Speed Up a Case? | Disability Secrets

An excerpt:

"An attorney or disability advocate's expertise in knowing what Social Security is looking for can help to increase your chances of winning at the initial application process. If you can find an attorney to represent you at this stage, the lawyer can:
fill out your application so that it clearly demonstrates how you "meet a listing" (or equal a listing) or are not able to perform any work
gather proper medical evidence to show that you have the medical impairments you claim to have
request aid from your doctor in a way that will help your case. (Social Security looks for specific terminology; an attorney can make your physician aware of such terminology so that the doctor can use the terminology, if medically appropriate) . . . . . "

Excellent advise here. This should be a sticky note.

Seesaw

[amandalouise]

for the original poster. the odds of being awarded SSI or SSDI is different for each state. some people go through a long process and others get approved right away....

what I can tell you is my location (New York City) is being very strict on this. why because of the fact that NYC is a sanctuary city and the president has stated that sanctuary cities will lose their federal funds. he has not state what federal funds will be with held to those in sanctuary cities. there are many different views on the internet some saying yes SSI/ SSDI will get affected and other websites state no it wont. bottom line is until the president decides what federal funds he plans on with holding any and all federally funded grants are being looked at in my location and how our state is going to manage with out all these federally funded grants like SSI/SSDI, K-12 school grants, federally funded student aid for college students...

my point here in my location how and when a person gets approved for SSI/SSDI is changing to meet this possibility of no federal funds coming in.

the best advice I can give to anyone applying for any federally funded grants is to contact those agencies you are trying to get the grants from. they will be able to tell you what to expect in your location for things like odds of getting approved or denied or what the process is and how long you will need to go through the process.

[Cocosurviving]

I first applied for SSDI for my bipolar 1 and depression. I was denied (2012). I appealed and got an attorney. We went to court and I lost (2013) I was told I was too young to not be able to find some type of job. I had been hospitalized a few times and it still did not matter. I waited a few months changed mental health agencies. Then was re-diagnosed with schizaffective disorder, panic attacks and intermittent explosive disorder. I waited to get more documented treatment then re-filed using the new diagnosis. A few weeks later I was approved. I received my letter in Oct 2015 but my check did not start until Jan 2016. My letter said I met qualifications for schizaffective disorder. That because my condition has such a severe impact on me it keeps me from working. I was approved at the age of 39 and I did not use an attorney the last time I re-applied. I just filed the papers out and wrote out a statement. I gave them permission to gather my records from my mental health provider (I listed all the contact information.

[Rose76]

Originally Posted by amandalouise

for the original poster. the odds of being awarded SSI or SSDI is different for each state. some people go through a long process and others get approved right away....

what I can tell you is my location (New York City) is being very strict on this. why because of the fact that NYC is a sanctuary city and the president has stated that sanctuary cities will lose their federal funds. he has not state what federal funds will be with held to those in sanctuary cities. there are many different views on the internet some saying yes SSI/ SSDI will get affected and other websites state no it wont. bottom line is until the president decides what federal funds he plans on with holding any and all federally funded grants are being looked at in my location and how our state is going to manage with out all these federally funded grants like SSI/SSDI, K-12 school grants, federally funded student aid for college students...

my point here in my location how and when a person gets approved for SSI/SSDI is changing to meet this possibility of no federal funds coming in.

the best advice I can give to anyone applying for any federally funded grants is to contact those agencies you are trying to get the grants from. they will be able to tell you what to expect in your location for things like odds of getting approved or denied or what the process is and how long you will need to go through the process.

I'ld like to see a source for what you're saying about states with sanctuary cities having less funds for SSDI, if federal funds are withheld.

SSDI is not paid by the states. SSDI is paid by the federal government. The funding for SSDI has nothing to do with the states, or their budgets.

SSI is a little different. Many rich states add to the basic amount. They might add less if they were experiencing a budget squeeze. The basic SSI amount is paid by the federal government out of federal funds. That's unaffected by state budgets.

The approval process is delegated by the feds to local state agencies. That's why ease of getting approved is said to vary from state to state. But the checks for SSDI/SSI,basic are cut by the federal government. Every U.S. citizen has equal access to those funds, regardless of where they live. A recipient can move from state to state to state and the check moves with them because it's federal.

[Cocosurviving]

I agree with Rose. SSDI is federal. It is money paid in from people that worked and paid taxes. SSI is a form of welfare. It is state money that was not unearned by the recipient. I receive SSDI and I can move to whatever state and still get it. Because I paid in my taxes while working.

[Rose76]

Yes, Coco, SSI is a form of welfare. It's available to people who never worked a day in their lives and paid nothing into the system. However, it's basically federal, not state, money. States can add a bit to the federal benefit, and rich states - like Connecticut and New York do - but the basic SSI benefit, for a person with no assets and no other income, is $735. That's what the federal government will pay to any destitute elderly person (or younger destitute disabled person who didn't work enough to get SSDI.) That is true in every one of the 50 states. So SSI is unearned money, but it is paid by the federal - not the state - government. Some states (most actually) will also add a state payment to anyone getting SSI. The richer the state, the more they add. Here's some sources:

https://www.ssa.gov/ssi/

https://www.ssa.gov/ssi/text-benefits-ussi.htm

When you apply for SSDI, you are automatically also applying for SSI.

[Rose76]

Originally Posted by amandalouise

the best advice I can give to anyone applying for any federally funded grants is to contact those agencies you are trying to get the grants from. they will be able to tell you what to expect in your location for things like odds of getting approved or denied or what the process is and how long you will need to go through the process.

I'm afraid just about nothing in the quote above is true, especially what I put in bold. The agencies will certainly tell you what the process is, but they absolutely will not tell you what to expect in terms of odds or how long you will need to go through the process.

Think about that for a half a minute. Could you imagine the trouble that civil servants at state agencies would create for themselves and for their agency, if they went around quoting odds and predicting timeframes. No employee at an agency is going to touch such questions with a ten foot pole.

If you want someone to give you feedback on your odds, there is one way you can get that . . . and only one way. Call a law firm. If they offer to represent you, it means they think you have about an 85% chance of getting approved. If they don't want to represent you, then that means they don't think you've got a great chance of getting approved.

[Biteplate]

Just got approved for SSI! They said I will get another call about how much it will be and when the payments will start.

[BeyondtheRainbow]

That's great news biteplate! It's a huge relief!

[Rose76]

Glad that it worked out for you.

[Unrigged64072835]

Congratulations! Glad that it worked out for you.