[eskielover]

My husband filed for disability a few years ago & was denied....instead of appealing, he was glad that they told him he wasn't disabled because he didn't want to admit that he really was.

We finally got him to understand that he really was disabled & he filed for disability again. They have been going over his paperwork & had him go in for the psych review....which was a complete joke. All the person did was tell him 3 words, talk to him a few minutes, ask him to spell "world" backwards, then ask him to remember the 3 words he had told him at the beginning.....that lasted at most 10 minutes & didn't even talk to him about what was really going on with him. My husband was frustrated, thinking that was going to be the determining factors in whether he qualifies or not.

Then today, he got a letter telling him to come in & discuss whether he is going to get SSI (supplimental security income). SSI isn't what he applied for at all & there is no way that he even comes close to qualifing for SSI since we own our house & even if he were to sell the house, all you can have to qualify for SSI is $3000 (if married) $2000 if single.

He applied for SSDI which is what he should be getting. I think they are trying to get out of paying him the large amount of disability that he deserves considering disability is based on the salary you last had when you were working....& he was working as an engineer consultant that last year he was working. Either that, or the letter was a mistake. I told him to take care of it before the meeting time so that they don't waist his time or theirs for something that is incorrect.

Will be interesting to see what they have to say about what they are trying to pull on him.
Debbie

[Maven]

Oh, yeah, the government makes getting SSDI a pain. They usually reject you the first time, to weed out those who are faking their disabilities.

Sometimes you can get SSDI and SSI both, but I just looked at some stuff regarding SSI when I went to update Social Security on my new address, and I believe you're right concerning those amounts. In any case, I don't understand why they're doing that to you and your husband.

Get a lawyer. I had to.

hi.... I had to apply for SSI and SSDI at the same time, part of the process.. manatory... you may then be turned down for SSI, but granted the SSDI...I am not sure why they make you appy for both ... but they told me that the two are not connected, however to apply for SSDI you must also apply for SSI. I recevied approval the first time for SSDI..

The process... was the most frustrating.. thing I have ever, ever gone thru. I can still remember the "interview" with the psych. person... and well just like you described it.. grrrrrrrr..
The three words, that I needed to remember..

And the whole process, took a very long time.. for the determination to be made, for benifits to start..

if I can help, pls let me know..

[heyjoe]

freewill is as usual correct. They have to make sure that you arent eligible for ssi before they process your ssdi. It has nothing to do with trying to lower your payment.

the amount you are paid is not based on your last year. it is a mathematical formula which encompasses many years that you have worked from which an average is derived. The last statement from social security that everyone gets everyyear about what their benefits would be if, for disability and regular retirement is usually close to what you will get. If your husband hasnt worked in the last year it would lower that number, if the last year was higher than previous years it would help raise that number.

[eskielover]

I have been on disibility for so many years now & got it without any hassle at all....I don't even remember the process, so I'm not much help with that. I don't remember anything about dealing with the SSI.....they know we own everything, so that doesn't make any sense to waist time on that.....I'm sure when he calls on Monday, they will realize that. The income from SSI is so much less than what he would get from SSDI. I can't imagine how anyone can manage on that....especially in California where everything costs so much.

Thanks for the input,
Debbie

[heyjoe]

its just a process that they have to go through as well as making sure that there arent any offsets from workers comp. the main thing is to get approved and the rest will work itself out.

[bebop]

yeah they always see if you can get ssi first along with the ssdi

[seeker1950]

I hope your husband is successful!
I have know two people with very different situations who had different results: One was my cousin, now deceased, who had an inoperable brain tumor, and was denied, the official telling him he could find some sort of work. The other was an alcoholic/addict who used the money for gambling and drugs! (I reported him!) Sometimes the people who just know how to work the system, are least deserving, end up being the ones who benefit!
Patty

[WinterRose]

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
filing for disability is a pain

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AMEN!

And once you're on it doesn't get any better dealing with them. I actually had to go to court about an independant medical examination request with them. (I won the appeal.)

The whole thing is a mess to deal with. I think they make it hard on purpose. I was actually glad to get off disability finally because I was tired of dealing with it.

[Irine]

my Dad also applied for that. sometimes it`s really uneasy process. he got it. i hope he gets what he needs.

i`m sorry you are going through this. the Goverments is such an annoying thing!

good luck