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SSI/Disability Benefits

IContainMultitudes

IContainMultitudes

Well-Known Member
V.I.P Member
Does anyone here have any kind of advice to share on applying for SSI/disability benefits in the United States? It's something I was recently advised to look into.
 
You went to the SSI website?

I may have to put Waldo's picture back up cause this picture looks too much like me when I get up in the morning!
 
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nurseangela said:
I may have to put Waldo's picture back up cause this picture looks too much like me when I get up in the morning!
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LOL....but I love Grumpy Cat! Now if someone could just have Grumpy Cat in a video up on the Kremlin Wall, stoically waving to people on May Day. :bounce:
 
Sad to say, but you'll have to find a lawyer; it's almost impossible to get on one's own. I think I was rejected twice before I found an attorney. It's a bit of a racket, really, and I suspect a lot of the time, the lawyers are in bed with the disability offices. Regardless, I strongly recommend getting legal help. Try and find a lawyer who won't try to rip you off too much--the way many of them are paid is by taking a cut of your back-pay, and some of them (most all of the ones who advertise specifically as disability attorneys), rather than trying to speed up the process, will intentionally delay so they can get a larger cut. The good news is, once you do find an attorney to help you out, your chances of getting benefits positively skyrocket.

Good luck with all this, ICM.
 
Call the SSA 800 number. Don't ask for "disability." Say that you want to know if you qualify for any kind of help.
Do the intake interview over the phone. When your papers come, be extremely thorough when describing your situation. Write so that whoever reads your application gets a vivid/clear/accurate picture of what it's like to be you.
Don't gloss over any difficulties.

I thought I would be denied, but instead SS started me with Presumptive Payment, before I had even been to the physical or mental exam.
I wrote a follow up letter to the administrator in charge of my case, after going to the exams.
I get SSI. I did not use a lawyer.
 
I'm going to discuss this with the psychiatrist who dxed me tomorrow, hoping something useful will come out of that.

Thanks for your input wyv and tree.
 
Absolutely, get an attorney versed in ssa and developmental disability law. Despite what is said above, according to my attorney, SSA appeals are running more than a year backlog, no thanks to sequestration. Besides, Disability attorneys usually work on a contingency basis, meaning they don't get paid until you win. Further, their payment is limited, by Law, to 25% of your back pay, up to $6000.00. If 25% of your back pay is more than $6000.00, they can only collect $6000.00. In addition, some attorneys may charge you for record copying fees, which is permissible under SSA law. However, they are limited to 25.00 for each request of records, which is again set by SSA.
 
I had a good meeting with the psychiatrist on Monday, she thinks that I have a good shot at getting disability benefits and that I would be a deserving recipient but also added that it's hard to predict who will be accepted and who won't. She thinks that one thing I have going in my favor is that I have shown a good-faith effort to try to find a job through the state disability services without much success and thinks that I have shown an extraordinary amount of patience with that extremely slow, frustrating process. I put in an application for benefits online a couple of days ago, so we shall see how that goes.
 
IContainMultitudes said:
I had a good meeting with the psychiatrist on Monday, she thinks that I have a good shot at getting disability benefits and that I would be a deserving recipient but also added that it's hard to predict who will be accepted and who won't. She thinks that one thing I have going in my favor is that I have shown a good-faith effort to try to find a job through the state disability services without much success and thinks that I have shown an extraordinary amount of patience with that extremely slow, frustrating process. I put in an application for benefits online a couple of days ago, so we shall see how that goes.
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Good luck sweetie. I know that it can be frustrating to do anything government related. Oh also just make sure you keep copies of everything. I mean everything because they can loose stuff. Hugs. I hope it works out dear.
 
Social Security Disability. Secrets & Advice To Win Benefits. Apply & Appeal SSDI & SSI | Disability Secrets

My female friend and I have helped a few of her relatives get disability. This website was first started by a Doctor [I think] and then a lawyer? took it over. It's VERY in depth and gets VERY detailed including linking into the USA SSI/SSD website quite often. 1) get a lawyer who specializes only in SSI/SSD as soon as you get rejected.

This website talks about everything and links everywhere including to forms, reviews, SSI/SSD Official terms etc etc. Good luck!!!!!!!!!!!! You have to be very proactive and read between the lines...email me if you need help. I used to work for a law firm and you need to build up a medical/legal brief.

There's also a good Yahoo Groups SSI/SSD website with someone there who knows the route. But it pales far in comparison to the website above. Just google Social Security Disability. Secrets & Advice To Win Benefits. Apply & Appeal SSDI & SSI | Disability Secrets On google its call disability secrets.com. It includes denials, appeals, how to work with your lawyer, includes the STATES standards/rules on what disability for your situation is, etc etc.

There's a Science to the madness...and you need to beat the odds by being informed. Simple as that...the quicker you get it the better for you. Don't let any attorney do all the work; you MUST be a partner, do research and ask questions. You might qualify under both mental and physical reasons. Unless they closed that loophole.


IContainMultitudes said:
Does anyone here have any kind of advice to share on applying for SSI/disability benefits in the United States? It's something I was recently advised to look into.
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Here's some of their information: you can see it can get very detailed with links and sub links to forms and then more links etc. It's a link happy website!


Social Security Disability Information
 
Had I known then, I would have hired an attorney versed on SS prior to my retirement at age 62. Now that I am receiving SS, and have because of economics moved to Mexico. It is too late. Although I am self proclaimed I realize that I could get a local doctor here to for lack of a better word "Certify" me. SS will only accept documentation performed in America and any interviewed must be done in there local offices.

I am new to all this, even with all the evidence, I don't feel any different and kind of, sort of in denial. All of my research is given me answers to questions that I have had and thought were mine alone. I am learning that although A/S is not an excuse for my behavior, antic, disposition, nor is it an apology, it is to me; The why.

Whether anyone I know or have ever know ever find out is of no consequence to me (recon' that's the A/S speaking out) for I have finally answered the MY question as to, Why.

Though I have recently became a member of this forum, I have been an ovserver, reading numerous retorts until finally joining the herd. Finding this site has been for lack of a better analogy (I'm a Taoist) "A Godsend". I can rant and rave in complete understanding with out any of the name slaying.
 
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