Back in October of 2006, one year ago, I applied for Social Security Disability Benefits. I have arthritis in both knees and can barely walk let alone climb up subway steps. I need to lug around my shopping basket to lean on just to get to the corner pharmacy. How would I lug up a shopping basket two stories to catch a train to get into Manhattan and then what would I do with it once I got there?
So I applied one year ago. I filled out the forms they sent me. I sent them my doctor's notes, I filled out more forms they sent me, and then filled out yet more forms. In December of 2006 I had to go to a health center where Social Security would examine me. I had more of their forms, more doctor notes, and ex rays from my orthopedic surgeon showing my arthritis.
In January Social Security denied me benefits because my knees were "only stiff" and my high blood pressure was only slightly elevated. My blood pressure at their office was 190/110 - that's slightly elevated?
In March of 2007 they sent me more forms to fill out so I can appear before one of their judges with a lawyer so they can look at my case again. I sent the forms back to them.
In August of 2007 they sent me a letter saying they received my forms from March.
Today I received a letter saying that I better call them "immediately!" or my request for benefits might be delayed. What about the fact that I applied for benefits a year ago? I sent everything to them exactly when I was supposed to. I did exactly what I had to do "immediately" and they took their own sweet time getting back to me. Now I have to drop everything and contact them "immediately" or my benefits might be delayed! Delayed for what, another year until they get their act together?
Well, I'll show them! They mailed the letter yesterday and I got it today (a miracle from the post office which will most likely never happen again). I'm going to wait until tomorrow to call them back! Yeah, I'm tired of being pushed around by some bureaucrats. Tomorrow I'll call them and ask if that was "immediate" enough for them.
I'm really waiting for tomorrow because I think they want to ask which dates I'd like them to hear my case and I have to check my calendar.
Honestly though, what's with all the forms they send out? And the forms are all asking the same questions. Does anyone read them except for the people applying?
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Comments: 22
When they sent me the denial they also, by mistake, put in a denial to another woman who applied. She was going blind and was operated on many times. She had doctor notes and everything proving it. SS denied her because they said she could still perform her job - she's a seamstress!! Yeah, real easy sewing when you're blind.
I wonder if SS ever realized she never received her letter.
It was recommended that claimants not write legislators because it just tees them off. But another source said claimants could write their legislators and they should ask for better SSD funding so they could hear claims more timely. Then it wouldn't work against your case. It puts a "Congressional Flag" on your SSD file, though I've no idea if that's good or bad or what it means? If you find out, please let me know?
I've heard a typical SS Disability claim can easily take five years. Sometimes I think they try to outwait you, hoping you'll die first? But you might as well consider the paperwork and more paperwork as a government norm and go with the flow. The best you can do for yourself is to keep your medical records updated and submitted.
I wish you well ... .
PAY IT FORWARD
PAY IT FORWARD
I have a lawyer who happens to be just across the street from me and she does SS cases for free! She doesn't take a cent.
As for the seamstress, I called SS when I first received the letter. I'm sure they sent her another letter ... at least I hope so.
PAY IT FORWARD
Letting you know the panel is made up of business men not Doctors.
I had numbers of doctor who were very clear of my need to be on disability. I also had a good representive who helped me. I was denied the first time but after a phone call and a reasonable judge it was decided in light of my "volumnous" medical records it was clear I was not able to work. I felt fortunate to only be denied once.
Every so often I would have to be evaluated. The irony was just before I would land in the hospital in respiratory distress. The last time the letter revoked the need to evaluate me at that time because I had been in the er numerous times. I haven't heard from them since.
It was the hardest for me to accept getting money from the government. Then I had a wise friend who told me that I had paid in money, just like I paid into insurance.
I wish you the best and strongly suggest you get a knowledgable advocate like a lawyer who does SS cases.
Please keep us posted.
Kieran - I agree that abusers of the system make things harder for everyone but I can't believe that there are more people who abuse it than really need it. At least I hope that there are fewer people who abuse the system.
Vickie - Yep, you're right, a good lawyer is needed. So many panels are made up of businessmen and not doctors, like Health Insurance companies. Where's a doctor when you need one?
And -- While I was working wasn't money taking out of my paycheck for something like this? Now that I can't work shouldn't I get some back? Even if I never worked shouldn't I be entitled to some money to live and survive? I get some Public Assistance, $182.00 a month that they pay directly to my landlord for rent. I get nothing else from them except for constant threats saying that they're going to take the $182.00 away from me. But that's a whole other story.
It's sickening that people who cannot fight these things because of sickness are being denied the help that they need.
When I go with my sister when she gets her chemo treatments all I hear around me are people complaining because they cannot get the assistance they need. People are being sued by bill collectors, my sister and I are one of those people, because they just don't have the means to pay all their bills and cannot work.
I worked for a long time, paid my taxes, and did everything that I was supposed to do believing that if things ever turned bad my government would help me out. I was a fool!
My health comes and goes. Ah the nature of chronic illness. Sorry things are looking so bad for you Sharon. Illness in never easy. I will send you much positive energy.
And yes, they do read all of the forms. That is why I am saying that you must be consistant the whole way through. It is all logged in and if you have to go before a judge he goes over all of it, too. He will actually refer to certain sections that were filled out, etc.
Good luck.
I was very fortunate...it only took 11 months to get mine...
but my significant other had to wait 3 years... go figure...
I pray that you get yours soon...
There is something wrong with this. I'm not advocating that every slacker be given disability, but they deny way too many way too often that are legitimate. His second appeal was denied when the judge didn't like the clothes his attorney was wearing. That is not a joke.
I know another guy who has terminal lupus. It's a nasty condition in which your body's natural defenses attack your internal organs. He was denied despite sometimes spending as much as five days in bed wracked with pain during one of his uncontrolled attacks. He eventually got his when his doctor actually appeared before the court. The SSA had said that Lupus was not mentioned in his diagnosis. The doctor pointed out over 500 repetitions of the word in the medical reports, each of which he had taken the time to highlight.
This seems to be yet another stupid government game to hurt those who are most helpless and most unable to defend themselves.
Another problem is the attrition that's happened in the agency--it ain't homeland security(which receives the highest # of new employees). Although government has grown under Shrub & co., the agencies that assist American citizens have not. Vacancies are not filled which means that the claims representatives, claims/ benefit autorizers are now processing 100-150 claims daily rather than 50-75--quick to rubber stamp "denied" if the document isn't perfect or if something doesn't add up easily.
This point is spot on! I have seen this happen many times. If you can, it's useful to have an a layer read over the forms. The lawyer can point out inconsistencies and show you how your words can be misinterpreted to mean something completely different from what you intended.