Approved....Waiting for letter!

[mkerpics]

I telephoned the toll-free SSA number yesterday and was told that my reconsideration for disability was approved on 3/23/07. She told me that my date of onset was determined to be Sept 2005 which was just a month or so after what I remembered it to be. I am absolutely thrilled. I spoke with a representative once before to check the status and was told that they could not give out any info over the phone. I guess it depends on who you talk to.

I did not have a lawyer but I have two doctors that supported me and wrote letters for me in addition to the usual stuff that they have to fill out. One of them officially removed me from work after I told her that I had been taking additional amounts of prednisone to prevent my symptoms while I was at work.

Interestingly....I was not diagnosed with Lupus until about 6mos ago but my onset date was determined to be shortly after I truly became unable to work based on my medical records. They did contact my employer and request my work records so be accurate with your dates. For those of you without a diagnosis....I believe that there is still hope. At that time of my onset date, my only diagnosis was urticaria/angioedema. It was SEVERE enough however to cause me to be unable to work.

It took about 4 and 1/2 months to process my redetermination. The examiner worked on my case herself for 3 and 1/2 months. I've read lots of posts about examiners being pressured to make quick decisions but apparently that not always the case. My case had to be approved first my the examiner, then my the medical examiner and ,as if that wasn't enough,.....my case was chosen for federal quality assurance review so it had to be approved again by another examiner.

I thought that I would share this info with those had read my other posts and provide some hope for those who were applying or waiting to hear.
Have a Happy Easter
Mary

READ BELOW FOR CHANGE IN DECISION. THIS IS DEVASTATING

[mamascan]

Hi Mary,

Big congrats to you!! Yippppeeeee! As soon as you get your letter call your local SS office for an appointment to get all your paperwork filled out. My backpay arrived the day after I went to fill out my paperwork. I guess the process was started faster than I could get in to my local office.

Hope this makes your life a little easier.

Michelle

[macfamily53]

Dear Mary

I am so happy for you as it is nice to hear of someone not having to wait forever to get the money that is theres in the first place.It sure does take some of the stress away for you im sure. Good luck and hope you are feeling okay these days.

Tammy:)

[leahb133]

YAY I was approved also, I know how happy you are!

[Mootie]

Hi Mary,

I am glad that this part of your journey is over. What a relief for you and now you can just concentrate on feeling better with less stress.

Look after yourself.


Mootie

[mkerpics]

Thanks for the support and thanks A BUNCH for all of the help that everyone gave me while I was filling out my paperwork. I know that I posted many questions and many of you took the time to give me thorough answers about what I needed in my paperwork. I truly don't believe that this could have happened if it weren't for all of you. I would have continued the appeals process but, if I was denied again, ...that could have been years down the line. Many of us have so many symptoms that we don't mention the severity of all every single symptom. Because of your advice...I really took time to answer every single question thoroughly. Thanks again to all of you!
Mary

[mkerpics]

OK...So I'm in total shock. I waited almost two weeks for my approval letter after speaking to the representative so I called back again. I asked if I could find out all of my benefit info at my appointment for my children's benefits. At first she said yes.....then she said that she couldn't see where I was approved. She saw where they made me an appointment to file for benefits on behalf of my children so she searched through screen after screen. She could not find the approval.
She said that the last thing she saw was where the quality assurance examiner returned my file back to the state stating "possible error". I called my examiner and she said that my file was on the way back to her but it had not made it yet. She insinuated that the QA division was trying to overturn the decision.
She couldn't believe it when I told her all of the approval info that I was told. I still acually have an appt for this Wed to file for my children's benefits and get their backpay. They sent me a letter of confirmation of the appointment. The letter has my claim # on it proving that their benefits were being paid on my behalf. I have contacted my State Senator's office and should hear something back shortly I hope.
I have barely slept since hearing all of this.
THIS IS INCREDIBLE!!!!
Mary

[Mootie]

Hi Mary,

This is terrible, I can't believe that this could happen. Will you will get some legal advice?

Does this mean you are expected to go back to work?

Wishing you the best of luck as you fight this, I will keep you in my thoughts, good luck.


Mootie

[mkerpics]

Thanks for your support Mootie
I'm not sure what to do. I've come this far without an attorney so I don't have one right now. One of my local legislatures recommended that I show up for the appointment that they scheduled for Wed and see what they say. Maybe I should call an attorney. I can't go back to work. It's not even an option. I'm too sick now....and when I asked my Dr. about when she thought that I could return......she said that it just depends on how I respond to the meds. She said that I may need further immunosupression. She said that we could discuss it in 9-12mos.
Feeling pretty bummed.
Hopfully we will get this worked out. I'm waiting to hear back from the examiner that initially decided my case about how to proceed.
Mary

[Mootie]

Mary,

This is a little devious but don't take your medication for that day and give them a visual of what you go through. I hope you have someone to drive you to your appt.

For one of my appts I did this and my feet and arms were swollen. The thing is, people want to see something, they want evidence.

Your Drs might even write some more letters on your behalf. Some other members here are sure to have some good advice.

Look after yourself Mary.

Mootie

[raggedyann1]

Mary,

Personally I wouldn't go get an attorney quite yet. You haven't received a letter saying that you are not approved. You know the agent is getting your file back so wait and see what happens. There is nothing an attorney can do for you right now except collect 25% of your back pay.

When I thought I was going to receive a letter saying I was not approved I called one of my old clients. They were an attorneys office specializing in SocSec disability. They told me not to get an attorney until I had been declined a 2nd time.

In the end I didn't even have to appeal I was approved on my initial application.

Hang in there,
Karen