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Anyone that's dealt with SSD process?

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Posted 9/20/2011 7:39 PM (GMT 0)
I just spoke with my advocate today and they told me that they won't do a brief for an on the record decision due to lack of evidence. WHAT? What do they want, me to be in a death bed? Anyways, is this a true negative towards me? Does this mean I'll have a REALLY hard time at my hearing? I was hoping to get the on the record decision but looks i'll have to wait for the hearing. Which is better for most as far as time wise. However, with trying to live on one income right now it's getting sooo difficult which is just causing more stress! I just need to know if my chances are looking dimmer and dimmer or should i continue to have hope?
Posted 9/21/2011 5:36 AM (GMT 0)
I am a little confused on what you are trying to say. Hope you can hang in there. It was worth waiting for me. I was on my death bed before I stop working. I still struggle to do the daily things at home.
Posted 9/21/2011 7:23 AM (GMT 0)
You can appeal it. SSD and SSI will always reject for the first few times. It took me 7 attemtps. It says lack of evidenc,e so go to your doctors and gewt more documentation
Posted 9/22/2011 12:38 AM (GMT 0)
In PA, you skip right over the reconsideration stage. I already got my first denial. PA goes straight to the hearing status but what my advocate can do is what is called "an on the record decision", which they write a brief up on my behalf and send to the Judge to see if there's enough evidence to award before the hearing. It is something that is done by the advocate. It's something the advocate does if they feel you have enough evidence. Apparently they feel they don't and now I definitely have to wait for the hearing unless something else pops up. I was just really discouraged because I thought I had a chance at the "on the record decision" and apparently I don't. If the advocate feels I don't have enough evidence then how will the Judge? I don't understand! life is so unfair!
Posted 9/22/2011 1:15 AM (GMT 0)
I found out it really matters if your Dr. Has a real strong input on your side. Documentation is very important. After receiving disability myself I have seen DR's put wrong info. on my paper work accidentally. They get so busy and forget your disabilities . I have to look at the paper work before they send it off. I never had to go the path your having to go on. I can just tell you to do your homework on your case. Good luck.
Posted 9/22/2011 10:17 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks, angel!
Posted 9/23/2011 7:44 AM (GMT 0)
It is true that they turn you down the first time. I actually got mine put threw the first time with tons and tons and tons of documentation..tons..did I say tons? Ha ha
Posted 9/23/2011 6:47 PM (GMT 0)
I understand about being turned down the 1st time. I already got my denial letter that stated I could work 5 hrs a day working as a cashier. UM, one of my biggest problems is repetitive use as I had Ulnar Nerve surgery on both elbows and have a 6inch scar to prove it. Yes I did that stuff before but....that was before I had my SECOND surgery taking out the other arm. I didn't get 100% recovery from the surgeries so I have many residual affects from that. I am on the hearing stage now and am awaiting that but I was HOPING that I could get "the on the record decision" and not have to go to court. I felt like I should had had enough evidence for my advocate to have done up a brief on my behalf and hopefully had gotten the award early. I'm just completely disappointed at this point!
Posted 9/30/2011 6:25 PM (GMT 0)
I know exacting what your dealing with.  My hearing is coming up in October and just found out that the doctor I was seeing for my Fibromyalgia was not supporting me the whole time!  My Attorney called and told my that the functional test that the doctor filled out was not going to look good at all for me.  He wrote in there that I can lift up to 50 pounds!!!! Can you believe that!  I couldn't lift that when I was healthy!!!!  All this time I thought he was supporting me and now this will definitly hurt my case.  I even told him I was filing for disability and he noticed at all visits how bad and weak I was.  I thought by going to a specialist I had a better chance but I guess I was wrong.  My Attorney still is waiting to get the medical records and see what he wrote in there.  My advice to people out there is Make sure you ask you doctor if he is willing to support you!!!!!!

 

Posted 9/30/2011 7:24 PM (GMT 0)
Try not to get too discouraged when you get denied the first time. You can appeal the decision about three times before you see the administrative law judge. It isn't that intimidating. You aren't even in a courtroom setting, at least I wasn't. It is a huge table with you, your attorney, the judge and a guy that tried to determine if you can work. I got denied, but then a few years later I worked a job. Which was fantastic. Sometimes you get better with fibromyalgia, once you find what you need for pain and fatigue. Keep trying, don't give up. You will get there, it is just a long drawn out process. They really don't want to give you that money. Even though you have earned it.

Best wishes,

Hugs, Karen
Posted 10/3/2011 2:16 AM (GMT 0)
Anxious, that's why I tell ALL the doctors I see that I'm applying for SS. Before I applied asked my dr if she would support me. She was hesitant because of my age but said she would help me. Now my Psych said yes she'll support me because I definitely need it. Then I saw a Rheumy and told him the same thing, that I was applying. He basically said there's nothing he can do for me and that he agrees with what my PCP is doing and he told me he would stand behind me with only one visit. So, hopefully it all works out for the both of us. I totally understand the lifting part. I can't even pick up a pitcher of ice tea anymore. This whole process sucks and with the gov't the way it is, they sure don't want to give out the money. Especially when u're young. I just need a few years to get my health better (hopefully) then maybe I can do at least part time but i can't do any repetitive use so that always remains the problem. Hang in there! I would talk to your doctor and ask why he/she feels u can lift that much and etc. If you don't like the answer then get another doctor who will back you up. I have Dr's tell me that I'm even lucky to have mobility in my arms due to my Cubital Tunnel. Like all these dr's know how bad that is and then ADD all my other ailments. Like what the heck am I suppose to do? I have 6 inch scars on both arms to prove it if they want! Try and keep your chin up! I guess that's all we can do but man is it frustrating!

Sher, I know and I appreciate the positivity but I'm sure you know it's just so frustrating. I try to be positive but....Between my health and marriage falling apart it's so hard!
Posted 10/3/2011 6:44 AM (GMT 0)
Getting by, in CO I was turned down once, appealed it, and was scheduled to go before a judge. After I appealed, I got all the files they had about me on a disk, and that is when I found out that my doctor personally wrote a letter to SS saying I was a malingerer and could work if I wanted to. Since he wrote that letter and he also had a horrible documentation system (electronic medical record and they never updated the actual physical exam part of the study), I was told by my lawyer that I should drop the case and then re-file later.

You know what the irony of all that is? This physician (and I'm using the term loosely) hurt his neck and had to have neck surgery, and I'm sure he now has chronic pain, but at the time I filed I was told he didn't "believe" in chronic pain. I have since changed doctors.
Posted 10/3/2011 2:47 PM (GMT 0)
It seems like its getting harder and harder to get approved everywhere. I'm in Canada and applied 2 years ago and finally have trial in November. With all of my test results coming back normal and I actually feel worse than I did when I applied, the only thing that has changed is my medications and the treatment for my back I am finally being referred for surgery. I hope and pray they approve me because I have bill collectors calling me all the time and this just adds to the stress which of course adds to the pain.

I wish you the best of luck bubbaryn, I have had people tell me to go in as I am do not put on make up and try to make yourself look or feel better, I have no clue if that helps but it couldn't hurt.
Posted 10/3/2011 10:35 PM (GMT 0)
Rose, LOL, I already do that! I rarely do my hair but it's curly so I just wet and go anymore. Stopped with the makeup! It's just ridiculous. Now I have to wait 2 weeks to go see my doctor as I've been having all this cracking and ringing in the ears causing hearing loss at times. Here go more tests! Even IF I could work, I would NEVER be able to get my health back together with all these doctors. I feel an ENT coming on and another CT Scan of my adomen on up. I want to get my lymph nodes looked at again, find out why I'm having all these problems with my ears. I saw somewhere that Fibro could be a cause but I'm not thinking that but hey, who the heck knows. I have to wait until Nov to get my eyes checked and make sure Glaucomas hasn't set in as I was on the verge of that last year. Sorry for going on and on, I'm just really depressed right now! All this stuff is driving me crazy!
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