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Human
Member Since Apr 2014
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#21
I have ssdi for PTSD. It took me a couple of months, I think. But I had private disability insurance that had already approved me so SSDI was easier to get because a third party had already ruled me disabled.
From what I hear from many people is that is takes up to 6 months for a decision but typically people are turned down on the first try and then have to get an attorney to appeal the decision for them. It can take a couple of years to work its way through the appeal system. __________________ What if I fall? Oh, my dear, but what if you fly? Primary Dx: C-PTSD and Severe Chronic Treatment Resistant Major Depressive Disorder Secondary Dx: Generalized Anxiety Disorder with mild Agoraphobia. Meds I've tried: Prozac, Zoloft, Celexa, Effexor, Remeron, Elavil, Wellbutrin, Risperidone, Abilify, Prazosin, Paxil, Trazadone, Tramadol, Topomax, Xanax, Propranolol, Valium, Visteril, Vraylar, Selinor, Clonopin, Ambien Treatments I've done: CBT, DBT, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), Talk therapy, psychotherapy, exercise, diet, sleeping more, sleeping less... |
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Betty_Banana
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#22
Thanks @seesaw.
I've been reading that most people are denied so that's what I'm expecting. I'm not sure if I will pursue it any further after that. This is all just too anxiety provoking for me. |
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Elder
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#23
So sorry you are having so much pain. It was hard for me to emotionally accept my SSDI. I did not want it. I had worked my entire adult life. I had a great IT job and I knew it was their fault for my autistic meltdown that cost me my job. But I also had to recognize that I "actually" have mental health issues. Sure, they did not know how to handle my outbursts, my PTSD, and my dissociative identity disorder. And switching personalities at work scared the heck out of my coworkers. Not having any idea what the boss told one of my alters was not good when the boss asked me about the work and I was clueless. Put it all together, and I finally had to accept that the company had only one choice after the multiple HR visits and short term disability incidents over the years. But it was MY job of 16 years and it was a part of who I was. Loosing that job was a death to me. And going on disability made me feel like I had failed in life.
But the truth is that I know I need to be on SSDI. I am mentally unwell. Now, I work hard every day to do things that will help me heal. I study art and do art therapy. And I continue my personal therapy and take my medications. But I know it will be a very long time before I feel safe enough internally to return to work of any type. I was denied the first time. It was expected because I heard how difficult it was to be approved. But I had to try again because I was just not able to work. So I hired a lawyer who worked for free until I was approved. They only took a small amount from the back pay. It was worth it. I got approved with only the first appeal. But I had to do my own leg work... I asked my therapist to release all of my paperwork to them. Sure, it was surrendering my truth to strangers... but I needed to have money in order to live and I could not work. So he sent them copies of everything he had. I also had to make sure my psych doc sent in her info on me. It was actually a lot of work for me to get those things back to the SS office. And I had to send the info to my lawyer as well. But I know that I had to do those things if I wanted to be approved. You must fight for what you need. It may be difficult emotionally to accept the fact that you need help from others. It is a huge bite out of my pride to have to accept disability. But I have no other choice. You are going to be anxious in the process. I encourage you to document everything and continue therapy. Let them see that you are fighting for your sanity. And let the doctors in your life stand up for you. Just be sure you ask the doctors for what you need from them. They will send their paperwork directly to SS, but you can ask for a copy of the letter. Hope this helps. __________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~ |
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unaluna
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Betty_Banana, unaluna
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#24
Hi, WePow!!
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WePow
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WePow
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#25
Are they even processing applications for SSDI during this pandemic?
All the offices are closed and the site says they are doing the "critical" work,but IDK if applications would even be considered critical or not. I doubt it. |
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#26
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Legendary Wise Elder
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#27
Its possible there is going to be weeks delay in the processing due to COVID 19, You can call your local SSA office and ask about your claim...
__________________ Helping others gets me out of my own head ~ |
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Betty_Banana
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#28
Yes, they are, but overload = delays
__________________ "I know you believe you understand what you think I said, but I'm not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant." |
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Betty_Banana
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Elder
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#29
I had a hearing scheduled for April 21. It was postponed and they have to give me 75 days notice for the next hearing. My lawyer said I could be waiting quite a while. It has already been 2.5 years since I first opened the case.
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Betty_Banana, BeyondtheRainbow, unaluna, ~Christina
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Betty_Banana
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#30
Write what you can if lot of other issue surface then you can always claim lack of patient education. The important thing is the claim the benefit.
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Betty_Banana
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#31
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Member
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#32
Motion for telephonic hearing?
__________________ "I know you believe you understand what you think I said, but I'm not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant." |
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#33
I got a call from SSA this morning, the woman said she is the one handling and deciding my disability application.
She was very rude,abrupt and negative. I didn't even get a chance to answer any questions because she cut me off mid sentence. She didn't ask anything at all about my condition, just wanted to know if I'm currently seeing a mental health professional and as I was trying to explain my financial and insurance situation she cut me off and said there's not anything they can do for me.Then she said they will see what my records say when they receive them. And that was it,she hung up.I feel like crying right now and feel humiliated over the way she treated me. I don't even want to pursue this and I don't care whether I get approved or not.By what she said I'm denied anyway,without them even seeing my records. Fml |
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#34
Well as hard as I tried not to,I am crying now.I didn't deserve to be treated with such disrespect.I understand that their main objective is to not have people on SSDI but still,there's no reason to treat people that way.
I feel so humiliated.It was hard making the decision to apply in the first place,I wish I hadn't applied at all. |
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Elder
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#35
I am sorry social security made you feel that way. They were horrible with me on the phone also. The first thing I did was hire an attorney which has made this whole process easier. I am still waiting on a hearing date. I would not have been able to do this without an attorney. They only get paid if you win.
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Betty_Banana, unaluna
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Elder Harridan x-hankster
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#36
That is good advice. The lawyers help you take all the unnecessary emotional stress out of it.
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Betty_Banana, Guiness187055
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#37
I just don't want to deal with it again,at all.
I will figure out an income some other way. It's not worth taking a chance on being treated like that again by anyone. |
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Guiness187055
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#38
Today I got forms in the mail to fill out in reference to my work history.
I'm confused.If I was already told that there's really nothing they can do for me why did I get these forms? The person that had called me pretty much told me I was denied. |
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Elder Harridan x-hankster
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#39
I think she meant that there was nothing more she could do for you over the phone, besides answer a couple of questions about if your case was still being processed, which she did. She said they would be able to evaluate after they got more info. Dont give up! I know it is maddening and discouraging.
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Betty_Banana
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Elder
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#40
It's a long process. They try to make it as difficult as possible to get benefits. Stay the course and hopefully all will be well.
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Betty_Banana, unaluna
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