flowergarden
03-16-2006, 10:31 PM
I just talked with the wonderful man who helped win my "on the record" decision.
To back up, I was able to draw long-term disability through my former employer. They pay more than SSDI does, but if I also get SSDI, they only have to pay the difference. So it was in their best interest for me to get SSDI asap. They hired a company that specializes in SSDI claims to help. I don't have to pay this company, but all my backpay goes to the LTD co. This is fine with me, because they have been paying me for a year and a half now.
The first application was turned down, as was the appeal. They said I did not meet the definition of "disabled". At this time, my application was moved to a different department of the claims company. The rep here had worked for the SSA for 27 years and got down to work quickly.
This is what he told me today. He gathered up all my info., combined it into a creditable history, tied it to the requisite SSDI regulations, and wrote it up clearly for the administrative judge, knowing what he would look for. It's written in legalese (or should I say "social security-ese"). All the ALJ had to do was look it over and make a decision. The work was done for him. The rep said in his experience this results in more favorable results.
I am really impressed. The date of the receipt of my first application to the date of the favorable decision is one year minus 9 days.
For those of you, like me, who had no idea what an "on the record" decision is, now you know! style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif
To back up, I was able to draw long-term disability through my former employer. They pay more than SSDI does, but if I also get SSDI, they only have to pay the difference. So it was in their best interest for me to get SSDI asap. They hired a company that specializes in SSDI claims to help. I don't have to pay this company, but all my backpay goes to the LTD co. This is fine with me, because they have been paying me for a year and a half now.
The first application was turned down, as was the appeal. They said I did not meet the definition of "disabled". At this time, my application was moved to a different department of the claims company. The rep here had worked for the SSA for 27 years and got down to work quickly.
This is what he told me today. He gathered up all my info., combined it into a creditable history, tied it to the requisite SSDI regulations, and wrote it up clearly for the administrative judge, knowing what he would look for. It's written in legalese (or should I say "social security-ese"). All the ALJ had to do was look it over and make a decision. The work was done for him. The rep said in his experience this results in more favorable results.
I am really impressed. The date of the receipt of my first application to the date of the favorable decision is one year minus 9 days.
For those of you, like me, who had no idea what an "on the record" decision is, now you know! style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif