SSI Symptoms Report

Hi DonniesGirl!
The SSI stuff is really overwhelming, isn't it?! Just try to fill the stuff in as honestly, but thoroughly, as you can. And, be consistent with whatever answers you wind up sending in. Best to make copies of everything, too, because SSI often will deny your first request. You want to be absolutely sure what you said on the first round in case you get a second, and slightly different, set of papers. Consistency seems to be a biggy. I went through two sets of stuff, got denied again, got a lawyer and appealed. Never had to go to court, though, because one of their judges reviews your papers beforehand and VERY frequently, as in my case, gives you the SSI at that point. (Even the couple of doctors they sent me to said I should be on SSI, but it still got denied at first. It's almost routine with them a lot of the time. So don't give up!) If you do wind up getting a lawyer, they don't get paid until you do and their fee is set by law. For SSI anyway.
(((hugs))) and good luck on getting a decision quickly, or at least reasonably quickly!!!
Shash

DonniesGirl,

When I was filling out my papers (for the first time), I tried to be as honest and thorough as possible. In my opinion, you can never tell them too much. However, I was denied my first time I applied (shocker! ). Instead of getting a lawyer, I got someone from the Mental Health Department to help me reapply. She is an "Entitlement Specialist." Her job is to help people apply for SSI. Anyway, I was completely honest again, but she helped me word things in a better way. BTW-if you get declined the first time, be sure to let them know if anything has gotten worse between the time you applied and the time you were denied. Oh, and I don't know what state you are in, but be prepared to wait. It took about 4 months for my first denial, and I reapplied about 3 months ago. When I called to find out what was going on with my case, I found out that they were so backed up that my claim hasn't even been assigned to anyone yet! LOL-if they'd just give some of us SSI in the first place, we wouldn't have to wait so long! BTW-some of the reasons I was declined are because of my age (37) and my education-I have too much! I just don't understand our government! Good Luck!

patheral,

I was considered too young. I know of a few "more mature" people who were close to 65-and Medicare-that have gotten SSI. I am not a single mother and I'm not pregnant, so I don't qualify for Medicaid. I can't get a lot of assistance because I don't have kids. Actually, I don't get any assistance-except for my mother. I did qualify for food stamps. I suppose that I'll be able to live on $122 a month.

I don't want to bring anyone down, but I just don't think that the "system" is fair. If I didn't have my parents to support me (and I'm very thankful that I have them), I would be living on the street-there's not a doubt in my mind.

So what do people like me do when they can't get help from family? It's really very sad and very scary!

I'm sorry I don't have any ideas. I am trying to read all the postings about SSI or SSDI that come across this site. Keep us posted please.

HARA

Do you have to be unemployed for 6 months before you apply or can you apply and not actually draw until after 6 mths if you are approved? I work right now, but my work perofrmance has declined and not sure how much longer I will be able to. I also heard that they considered you disabled if you can not do the type of work that you have done for the last 15 yrs. anyone know about this? I don't mean to hi-jack your post.

MAKE SURE THAT YOU KEEP ANY APPOINTMENT THAT THEY SET UP FOR YOU!

If you have any depression issues going on, this is supposed to bolster you claim. My hubby had to see a physc. dr. and also another therapist, but the dr. said due to all the pain he was going through his depression was normal and the therapist they had discounted much of his symptoms, but we had documentation of all that was going on, so it held up in court.

Go into as much detail in your pain and symptoms as honestly as you can. You need to paint it truthfully, but not rosey as well. Explain that each day it is different.

My husband was 47 when we first put in the claim. They said he was 'young' so it took longer, but due to all of the documentation that we did, they found that there was no other job even as a WalMart Greeter that he was able to do. They do not look for something in your field, but anything you could do as a working income.

My husband was a computer tech/support call center person. There was nothing doing in computer related field that he can now do due to his mental fog, disabilities and how this affects him to be around people.

Some of the questions, I even had to use the back of the form or extra paper to answer thoroughly. I also started keeping a pain journal and how his mental depression was on a day to day basis and how many pain pills he was having to take and how often.

This was all submitted into the record for him. Some states it can take 2 or 3 years to go to court. If you have a dire need as in about to lose your home, you can appeal to the court after your first denial for a dire needs session to hear your case.

I wish you success and hope that some of this info can help you get the process started.