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| From:  Phillip99621 (Original Message) | Sent: 7/31/2008 6:57 PM |
Hi everyone,
I posted a reply to a message I saw from Tami about waiting for SSD benefits but I never recieved a reply, so I went ahead and tossed up this new topic in relation to SSD Benefits. Currently, like Tami, too am waiting for the decision of whether or not I can recieve SSD / qualify for it. I've not recieved a yes or a no yet. My stepmom was disabled for 6 years and just returned to work, and she was turned down the first time and had to appeal it, so I'm somewhat familiar with the possibility of this happening the first time I apply. As to the rest of my story/situation, I'll try to make this short and sweet, but I need to explain my situation. I'm trying to avoid writing a novel. Believe me, just as it makes ya'll fall asleep reading it, I nod off more than you do just writing it! LOL
SO, I applied for SSD benefits / Started the application process in the middle of April 08'(this year). This was the soonest I could do it because even though I've not worked since Feb of 07, I have received compensation via the Calif. Temporary Disability program via the Employment Department. I qualified for through the employment as it gets based off of your previous year or so's salary and situation too, and fortunately I qualified for the max amount of benefits. You are able to collect these benefits until you either go back to work, 1 year has passed, or you've exhausted the total amount available, which is usually 1 years worth. At this point, when you can't collect anymore and you are still unable to work, this is when they send you a form stating you completed collecting temp. benefits from them and can no longer do so, as well as that you are still unable to work. At this point, I became eligable then to apply for SSD benefits.
Like I said, in April, I started the online application process, and I've submitted the required info, and paperwork. I've also gone to the field office to give them more things in person to help speed things up. I've also received and completed 3 packets of info related to my ability to function on a day to day basis. I also had to have another person fill one out about me as well. Anyway, I also gave them a release for all my medical records for the multiple doctors I've seen, or am currently under care of, for RSD/CRPS, and a few other issues as well. At this point I didn't hear anything until the beginning of July, when I was requested to goto a clinic to receive a mental and physical examination. Unfortunately the clinic rescheduled on me 5 times so far. I've let my case worker know every time too. Last week I finally got my physical exam done, and today I go in for my mental exam. I asked my case worker why this was necessary and she said it was mandatory and standard procedure. I see that they like to triple and quadruple check everything...
FINALLLY...... My question is:
1.) How many more steps is there going to be before they make a determination??? I know each case is different, but given all of the packets of info submitted, the medical records, and soon to be completed both physical and mental exam records, I hope they can then make a decision!!! Don't you???? I'm just starting to worry and get a little bit inpatient as I've not had any income since the beginning to mid April and it's got real old already.... I hope this won't be another 5 months of waiting!!! Is this realistic of me to think that after all of this they have enough to make a determination???
I guess I"m just naturally frustrated over the "hurry up and wait" cycle the that govt. is so great at playing as a result of being sick like this. Thank you in advance for any replies related to my situation / questions. Take care everyone!
~Phil |
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Hi there Phil,,,,,, wowooww u r brave too fill that out all byself there. O well,,,, u do what u got to do. I would have had my drs filling out n stating all those forms they are suppose to be up on the up on those forms. It is my understanding they can refuse as many times as they want too. I had one friend that got refused,,,, unreal times ,,, then her dr sent her to a another dr. that dr is one tht done the test n got the checks coming. THEN ALL THE BACK PAY TO DATE COME IN ALSO. PLEASE NOTE HERE:::: ONCE FILING N DENIED BENEFITS KEEP THE APPEALS UPTODATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! In no way let the appeals go or be dropped. Keep the appeals uptodate n filed. Do not let that get outdated. Am sure that drs signature would help you get accepted n going alot faster. Huggzzz. |
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I received bck disability from social security in June 2006 that was back dated to 1996. I applied in 1996, of course, and was turned down. All that time and there was no choice but to wait. Because I worked for the state of Colorado and was, fortunatle, vested, I received disability from Pera and worker's comp. I had almost always worked two jobs and had enough quarters to qualify for disability from SS.What I couldn't afford was health insurance, as you can well imagine. W/c paid disability health care and treatment, but there was nothing to help with anything else. The greatest benefit from SS was health care.
Despite my long wait, 7 years, take heart, because, my daughter, in 1991, became ill with failed kidneys, and was approved immediately. My experience, after the first denial, was that my case file was so large, that it lay on the desk of a SS rep for a long time just because someone didn't want to plow through everything. Then, after I intervened, he passed it on to a supervisor, who managed to decline my app based on 2o minutes with a doc who decided that since I could raise my arms, touch my finger to my nose and other stupid stuff, and then she miscalculated the quarters that qualified me to apply. The other issue was the case worker said he didn't have all medical ecords, which was bs, because my attorney sent the stuff, and I sent it as well when they asked me to submit anything else I had. Someone just didn't put it where it needed to be, or didn't go through the file thouroughly. The file was huge.
Much may depend on whose desk your file lands, and as encouragement, I believe my case was the exception. I have known soooo many people that have been approved in less than one year. My Attorney was diligent, and why not, he got a whopping percentage, but it was worth the wait in the end. The anxiety and stress were the worst thing.
You will win, I just know it. My phone call to SS gave me knowledge of where my file was in the process, and maybe you can find out where your case is in the process. Hope that that will give you some peace of mind if you can find out.
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Hi Phillip, I applied for SSD in may of 2000, I was only 46 years old and my Lawyer told me that any one under 50 is almost always denied the first time and I was in 2001. When I went to Court a few months later in Sept of 2002 I won the maximum with medicare and was paid the arrears from when I filed in 2000, I was 49 then and am 55 now. I know there are new laws now concerning RSD and I believe its in your favor having RSD. That waiting time can be quite un nerving! I had more than RSD, I had a total of 23 different diagnosis...im a mess. What helped me the most was a report from my pain speciaist explaining that I would never be able to keep any kind of regular schedule and he gave a list of restrictions several pages long...both of my arms have had 7 nerve surgerys between them and #6 triggered RSD and #7 spread it. Franknberrrie |
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I have had ssd for a while now.
It took going in front of a federal judge to get mine but that was back in the day!
Hang in there but dont expect much.SSD is no fun! |
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Wow, thank you both for your responses. The same day I posted the message I went and had my mental evaluation at their clinic done. It only took 3 reschedules to get that one done. Fortunately the physical and mental are now done. I did actually remember to ask the people in the office how much longer they though I'd need to wait. THe doctor couldn't give me any info, but the people working in the clinic told me that after you have an appointment there, the doctors have 7 days to respond with a report to your case worker. I was informed that after you get the mental/physical appointments finished and the report(s) are submitted, then within approx 2 -3 weeks I'll hear a response one way or another from the case worker.
The great thing for me is that I've had packets of info sent out to me, and my doctors were asked to submit all records and both of my pain and psychologist are in total agreement that at this point in time I'm not able to work, but that may change a minimum of 12 months from now.
So everyone is on my side as far as doctors etc, it's just a matter of everything coming together on the states end so they can make a decision and let me know.
Thanks for the info. I know that my stepmom got denied the first time and I've had other friends/relatives get denied over 4 times too.
I'm just going to keep my fingers crossed. I seriously don't know how some people in worse situations than myself make it... I just want this sit and wait nightmare to be over with! Thanks again!
:)
~Phil |
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As of March 2008 there were over 750,000 disability cases pending on the SSA books. The average waiting time was 499 days and with the first of the baby boomers applying for social security the caseloads are increasing. This increase is affecting the waiting time on ALL cases including disability.
In one report there is one ALJ (administrative law judge) that has not completed a case in 7 years and another had only completed 40 last year which is far below the 400 to 500 what is expected to be done every year by every ALJ. This dramatically slows the system down. The average is that about 30% of the ALJ's completed less than 400 cases last year. The minumum number of new ALJ need to be hired to make it possible to make the system work like it is intended is 1,250. In a 2006 fiscal report ALJ caseloads averaged from a low of 40 to a high of 1805. So how long your case takes depends largely on how many cases your ALJ has on his/her desk.
There is an article about this and these numbers were taken from that article posted from the Washington Post/ 03032008.
Hugz, Normalee |
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I'm not sure how much help I'm going to be to you but, I read what you wrote. I too went thru the whole SSD thing... I was very lucky at first or so I thought. Like You I did all the paper work and medical release forms from my doctor... I got approved within 3 months I'd say. My worker's comp laywer couldn't believe himself, probally because he wasn't getting a cut. So I only qualified for a very small amount because I was recieving a worker's comp check.... Well they were trying to settle my case so..... between SSD, my employers insurance compnay they are now going back and forth with who paying what and I'm getting only my worker's comp checks and not my SSD. So, to you I say ..... Do everything they want and you'll get it... Yeah I know you have to wait... I hear ya.... Your hurting and tired of waiting... It sucks. Here's hoping you get a quick response. Michelle |
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hi phil, it took 3 years for me to get ssd. i was turned down first time. my own psych helped me because she has known me for years where the ssd one only knew me for 30 inuites! she wrote a very detailed letter for me and interpreted my tests correctly. the ssd psych found that i could work something. it was ridiculous! that's why i always encourage anyone with chronic pain/illness to establish themselves with a psych that specializes in chronic pain/illness. zap |
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| | | From: Jean | Sent: 9/7/2008 3:56 PM |
I left work in 1996 and was turned down by disability...they said I wasn't disabled enough....go figure....(This is in Australia). I applied again in 2006 and I got it....but have to be reassessed every two years. Have been assessed was sent a one line letter saying. "We have decided to keep pay you disability"...makes you feel pretty low...... |
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Hi Jean, Getting a disability check is nothing to feel low about. Here in the US we all pay a Social Security tax, its held out of our paychecks and in many instances it equals what we pay in federal taxes. I paid social security taxes for 27 years and the last 1/2 of that time working I paid in excess of $10,000 a year in just social security....I feel pretty damn good that I am getting it back! I feel fortunate that here in the US that our government actually set it up for all of us tax payers, I dont know where I would be if it werent for Social Security benifits! So dont feel low about it...you deserve it! Frank |
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