does anyone have experience with Social Security/disability claims?

[w8liftinglady]

I am meeting with them tomorrow to begin my application.What is the interview like?

[Altoid_Cyclist]

1. Mine didn't go very well.

The SS person kept yelling that he didn't want any long answers because it was only another 90 minutes or so until he was supposed to go home. Of course, it was denied.

Right now I'm waiting to see if my appeal will be approved (with the help of a lawyer of course). SS called my Lawyer a couple of days before the end of December and told him that they were going to recommend that I be allowed to retire as soon as they receive and finalize all of the paperwork.

The funny part was that they didn't even know that I had just had my second heart attack in three years about 10 days ealier. Now I just have to sit and sweat it out until we receive the (possibly) final judgement. The heart attack sucked, but it should help my case if they were already leaning towards approving my appeal. I am so glad that I am already on Meds for anxiety and the heart Meds help me relax a little also.

Good luck with your meeting and just hope that you don't get a jerkwad like my initial meeting. Don't be discouraged if it gets turned down the first time. You just have to keep fighting and get a good Lawyer if that's what it takes.

Attached is a useful link if you haven't seen it before.

http://www.disabilitysecrets.com/

[w8liftinglady]

2. thanks for the link..

my caseworker was ecstatic that I did my application online.She did,however,tell me it would be 120 days before I'll hear something.I'm lucky-I have ltd from my job.It would suck if I didn't.

[Altoid_Cyclist]

4. You're welcome. This will give you a good laugh to start the day.

I didn't mention the face palm part of my application process. I also did mine on line and went to the SS office to confirm that they had received the application and to set up the initial interview appointment.

They said that my information was there and everything was all set and scheduled the face to face appointment. The sticking point was that when I showed up for the appointment, it turned out that they actually didn't have my on-line application because I had somehow forgot to hit the submit button. I saved all of the information and printed it out, but I forgot to hit submit!!!! And how stupid did I feel at that point you ask...... pretty darn stupid!

I offered to reschedule the appointment at a later date so that I could go home and submit it (properly this time) since all of the information was saved, but that was deemed to be a waste of time since I was already there. That's why we had to do the whole thing from start to finish in the office.

It was a little nerve racking trying to remember the names, addresses, phone numbers and dates of service of probably around 20 or more Specialists, Therapists, Hospitals etc... when I'm being reminded every 5 minutes that the examiner has to go home at 4:00.

This was all because I forgot to hit one button that would have submitted all of the information. Not exactly the apex of my computer experiences.......

[marybourg]

3. Most people find it's best to have a lawyer-one who specializes

in social security disability. Ask around and/or call your state bar association so that you're ready if you're denied on your first try (most people are).

[alfredo]

6. My union gave great advice. If you work at a union shop

and your condition has any link to your work, their help can make a difference.

[alfredo]

5. Documentation, and more documentation. Be kind to your case worker, it

pays off in the end. Be patient, but persistant. I got two very strategic opinions that helped my case. Both were neuro surgeons, and each hated the other. Their diagnosis agreed. That impressed the shit out of my case worker.

Documentation to support your case
patience and persistance
be kind to your case workers
be smart about building and presenting your case.

Always be truthful

[Akoto]

7. I wish you the best. I was rejected twice, and am coming up on 1yr waiting for a judge.

My year will be in May, so I believe they're obligated to at least give me a date by then. I have high hopes that an actual person listening to and seeing me will be more effective than dealing with some paper pusher.

As others have said, documentation is very important. So is being persistent. If you aren't fortunate enough to have one of the conditions they auto-approve for, they may reject you the first time, but people who stay the course and have valid issues usually get there.

A lawyer can be very helpful, too! I have one. They can only collect if they win your case (clerical fees aside), so it's in their best interests to do so.

[Irishonly]

8. I went through hell

I ended up with a hearing. By the time the hearing came I finally got a lawyer and I would encourage you to do so. My hearing was strange. Most of the time the judge was apologizing for all the system had done to me.

My husband flew through his filing and his case worker was shocked at how quickly he was approved. What he had going for him was my awful experience and we had documentation and more documentation.

[onecent]

9. My husband had to apply for disability in 1994 and his

ex-sister-in-law (who works for the ss administration) told him to MISPELL everything on his application (which wasn't difficult, lol) and to play dumb.

For what it's worth. He did get it, but had PAD and they didn't even send their doctors as his medical records indicated poor circulation.