Waiting For SSDI decision!!!

[candobrandy]

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Hi all! I talked with my attorney, who has helped me with my disability reconsideration. I filed this at the end of September. He said he talked with the person handling my case, decision has been made, and I am now just waiting to hear from them what the decision is! Whew! I first applied in March, on basis of having fibromyalgia, got denied in July, hired a lawyer. On his excellant advice, to get a current diagnosis of fibro (my las tdiagnosis was made 4 1/2 yrs ago), anyway, saw a rheumatologist and in October found out besides having fibro, I also have lupus, also currently still an ongoing problem with carpal tunnel syndrome, newly having bursitis in myhip, and the still ongoing anxiety. Well, i sure hope I get it!! I can't imagine feeling any worse than having these crazy health problems and being told I am fine to work!

Please keep me in your prayers, God Bless!
Brandy

[londonteatime]

I'm offering my very best wishes, Brandy, for a favorable decision!!!! Don't you just wish that the people who make these decisions could see firsthand what we deal with daily?

I'm about to apply for the first time. I have RA and Lupus, FM, degenerative disk disease, spinal spondylitis, bursitis, sacroiliitis, high bp and arrhythmia and wonky kidneys. I've spoken with three different disability lawyers -- all of whom say I have a good case -- but I wonder how long a "good case" will take? Sigh.

I hope you are approved PRONTO!

Julie

[macfamily53]

Dear Brandy

I just want to wish you the best of luck. I know what ti si liek to sit and wait for that final answer. Wow Julie that is so true if only they knew what we have to go through on a daily base. Well that is the goverment for you unfortuantely they do not care. I just want to say brandy hang in there it will happen for you i am sure of it or i am praying for that for you. Like we would not work if we could duh. You know what that is our money that thye take out while we are working. You hang in there and let us know what you find out. Good luck with everything your health and the dissabilty.

Tammy style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wub.gif

[jude mack]

Hi Brandy

Good luck, I know how it feels waiting for that final decision, it seems to take forever. Julie your right,
if only these people walked a mile in our shoes, they would soon change their tune.

Take Care
Jude style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/clover.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/clover.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/clover.gif

[candobrandy]

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Thank you so much for your replies. I got another denial letter today. I am going to appeal. I guess, according to the letter, this is to go in front of a judge I think? Kind of upsetting. They did not even include lupus as something they considered when reviewing my case, and they did not talk to my psychologist, and did not get the report that diagnosed my carpal tunnel syndrome!! Aaarrgh!! Oh well, I guess, atleast with the judge, I can personally be there to make sure he/ she getsall the information. A bit disappointed that they can't seem to do things right there, true, if they had to deal with these horrible problems, there would acceptance letters in all our mailboxes!

That's okay, God is still good, and He knows the truth, I just have to believe He is working all of this out to turn out favorably to me.

God bless,
Brandy

Back in the ring for round #3!!!

[Rene]

Brandy, I am sending many many prayers your way!!! I HOPE YOU GET IT! I went through this. I was denied twice. SSD called me and asked me if I was mental.I am not kiding. I said no. They denied me!! I guess all of my impairments didn't matter to them style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/mad.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/hissy1.gif Anyways I hired a attorney and he sent my file to the judge and by the grace of GOD, I did'nt have to go to court! My attorney told me that the judge took my file home and looked over and said APPROVE! Now why coudn't SSD do the same style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/mad.gif I had to pay my attorney 25% back pay and we really needed that money!!! I am not complaining because I thank God that there are SSDA attorneys. Without them there would be no hope. If the judge could read and approve me with the exact same records, then why couldn't SSDA???Imagine that??? style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/blink.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/ohmy.gif I hope they approve you!!!! But if they don't then please don't give up!! LUPUS is serious! and most of us on here have more than lupus.!! GOD BLESS! style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wub.gif

[dudley]

Brandy

Best of luck. Make sure the judge knows how all your problems effect your every day life.
make sure to also tell him how all the drugs you are on effect you to.

Post again when you get a court date and we will all chime in.

Good Luck

Elaine

[Richard McGee]

Brandy,

Good luck. Why is social security "going broke"? Barely anyone gets approved for SSDI/SSI. Maybe congress should check into the number of personnel they use to create reasons to deny people who really need it, their high salaries, great benefits, and pension plans! I went all the way to Court to get SSI for my son (Took 12 months to get to the hearing) and found out from my attorney that Social Security was claiming that they did not have all of the info they had requested. It was not true, my attorney refuted it, present the judge with the info, and with proof that it had been sent to Social Security by his psychologist, medical doctor, etc. The judge approved it within about 10 minutes. Not a whole lot of discussion needed. By the way, in the state of California, the hearings are very informal, nothing to be worried about (except the results, of course). Another thing, my attorney (a good one), chose a day that we would get a sitting judge that was reasonable and compassionate toward disabled people. There is one judge in the Sacramento District who disapproves EVERYONE. He thinks everyone should work if they can sit in a chair without passing out. So, unfortunately, it can sometimes depend on the judge you get. I had a great attorney who checked the "track record" of the four or five judges that sat for those type of cases, and chose a day that she was sure it wasn't the bad one, and we ended up getting the best of the bunch. Hope it works out for you. Bet you've paid thousands upon thousands into social security, now you need it, and they won't give it back! Did they give you a choice when they "took it out of your check"? Good luck, and "good attorney and judge" I hope.

[raggedyann1]

Hi all,

Brandy yes APPEAL. Make sure you appeal within the time frame allowed. That way your original disabled date stays good. The amount of time it takes to see a judge depends on the state you live in. Some are 4 months some as long as 16 months. Your attorney can also request on On The Record Decision once he is sure your file is complete. An OTR can speed approval up sometimes.

Just a reminder for those new in the application process; a good attorney will tell you to wait till you are denied twice to hire an attorney. I was blessed and approved on initial application. I did make sure I kept my social security clerk updated with any new meds, doctors or tests. One way to do the medical record thing is to have a complete file yourself and make a copy of it for social security. Just make sure the rules of the clerk you are dealing with allow you to provide your own copy.

Karen

[flowergarden]

The company that is applying for SSDI in my name told me the other day that they will send in two nearly identical cases, and one will be denied for no apparent reason. They also said that in many cases the applications aren't even read thoroughly--just quickly scanned.

The appeals court is not made up of SSA employees, so they have more latitude I believe. It seems stupid to me for the SSA to allow employees to NOT look over files carefully, then make the process take so much longer and be more expensive. Trust the government!

In my original application I had a neuropsych report that should have won the case. The doc said she has almost never had a report like that be turned down. Other docs agreed that it was likely to win. But then there was a question as to whether the SSA really got the report or not. They said they did, but couldn't find it. Is this efficiency???

Anyhow, Brandy, you're not alone in wondering about the why's of the system. Why does it have to be so hard for those of us who are already suffering? I do realize that there are those who see SSDI as a free ride and spoil it for the rest of us. But there must be some way to make this better!

Good luck! style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/clover.gif

[Kande]

Hi Brandy,

First of all let me wish you all the luck in the world and now I will tell you to brace your self and give them a good fight don't give up I have been fighting them for 5 years YES 5 and of all things there own Doctor's were blown away that they turned me down my case is now siting in a federal appels court in virgina. I live in florida. I have spoken to some people (like my mom ) who were approved on the first round and some of us have to kick and scream my law team as I call them keep telling me you have to put it right under there nose for them to see it . like everyone said if they could only live with it for a day they would be looking for us instead of dening us.



good luck and best wishes
Kande style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/cool.gif

[Jigs Wife]

Good luck on your appeal......just to add a little humor here, my last letter of denial boldly stated that my condition (sle) was "expected to improve in 6 to 12 months"!!!! That was not an opinion that was stated by my doc, but by the social securtiy administrtion!! And here I have spent all of this time and money on going to a specialist!! Had I only known to ask the ss folk, they could have cured me 2 years ago when I was dx!!! Wonder what the co-pay for that one would have been....Sometimes ya just gotta smile and press on. I hope you hear something soon! Heck, I hope I hear something soon! style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif


JiGs.......

[nannurse]

Hi Brandy, I am on disability and luckily I was approved the first time I applied. I think alot of it had to do with the documentation that was provided. I have Lupus, RA (mixed connective tissue disease) fibro, crohns, and some mental health issues such as anxiety, panic attacks, and depression. *whew* isnt that enough! I have a excellent rheumy, and psychologist, that provided excellent documentation for me. But I was an ICU nurse and there was no way I could work. I know how stressed I was thru the process of application, my heart goes out to you, but once you get to the judge I think you will approved. I was lucky I guess, I didnt need an attorney but my DH was wonderful with the paperwork, and helping me fill it all out. I wish you the best of luck and all my fingers are crossed for you. Please keep us posted on your outcome, as someone said before if only these people who make the decisions could be in your shoes for one day! Hugs, Nancy.

[rwager]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(candobrandy @ Jan 5 2006, 04:44 PM) Quoted post</div><div class='quotemain'>Brandy I will keep you in my prayers! I hav been through the prosess and I was lucky in one sense that the man I spoke with at SS told me some tips and that was be very spcfic and I had doctor records to back it up and I did as he told me and I didnt have an appeal process. It is a shame for me to be on SS at 39 but this has affected me so that I cant work,I willbe here if you need anything iI can help you with God Bless and dont give up! Robin
style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/notlook.gif
Hi all! I talked with my attorney, who has helped me with my disability reconsideration. I filed this at the end of September. He said he talked with the person handling my case, decision has been made, and I am now just waiting to hear from them what the decision is! Whew! I first applied in March, on basis of having fibromyalgia, got denied in July, hired a lawyer. On his excellant advice, to get a current diagnosis of fibro (my las tdiagnosis was made 4 1/2 yrs ago), anyway, saw a rheumatologist and in October found out besides having fibro, I also have lupus, also currently still an ongoing problem with carpal tunnel syndrome, newly having bursitis in myhip, and the still ongoing anxiety. Well, i sure hope I get it!! I can't imagine feeling any worse than having these crazy health problems and being told I am fine to work!

Please keep me in your prayers, God Bless!
Brandy
[/b][/quote]
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[tinygirl336]

style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/hissy1.gif I know exactly how you feel. I have been waiting for two and a half years and am about to scream. I had my hearing two weeks ago today and I had a major panic attack and thought I was gonna freak out. I couldnt breath and my chest started hurting really bad and I just about got up and ran out but I made it and after I got out I was sick for three days. Good Luck and I will hopefully hear from mine soon.

[lazylegs]

Definitely appeal. During my research it seemed that most people have better luck with the judge. Make sure you provide as much information as possible. One key component is to have your doctors firmly on your side and have the list of all your appointment dates and phone calls if possible. Letters from coworkers go a long way. Their insight of how you were before or how you are in the morning as compared to later in the day helps. Also document the considerations they have made for you in the workplace. I had tried part time, flex time, taking work home, working every other day, deligating tasks to others, etc. Plus I documented the problems with each task I had to do. We are always trying not to complain, but this is one time you need to lay it on thick. Mountains high thick. My husband and I took 3 weeks to fill out the initial forms. Each time we reread it we said it wasn't enough and added more detail. Fortunately I got it the first time. My age may have helped also. The younger you are the more they seem to deny you. I can't imagine having to do it again. The stress just compounds your existing problems.
Good luck,
Lazylegs