SSI Question

ok, i applied for my ssi and they said i would be told by august, but today i recieved a ton of mail. they have scheduled me appointments with a rhuemy and a psych for aug 21. i guess its their "approved" docs or whatever, but has anyone else had this happend, i mean is this the usual progression or is this a bad sign? thanx!

It did not happen to me but it is a common practice.  Seems like some states require it more than others.  It is a sign that you did not get summarily turned down.  On my first and second applications I did have to fill out a lot of additional paperwork.  I think they just want to give you the opportunity to say something that will disqualify yourself and most people can't resist saying too much.  Answer the questions briefly and don't editorialize.  The standards are pretty simple....you must be totally disable and unable to return to work for at least 12 months.  Anything you say will be held against you.  They should give all applicants a modified Miranda warning but they do not.

However, be aware that the whole process is more designed to deny than approve.  Most of us had to apply at least 3 times before getting approved.  The first time I applied I was a quadriplegic and still in the rehab hospital but they decided that I would be OK and return to normal soon.  Next time they invented a new career for me.  The third time I got a lawyer and the judge took one look at my case and approved it without a hearing or any additional hearings or information.

Bill

I had the appointments and their doctors blew off my combination of problems and my symptoms and minimized the affects of my illness on me to make it possible for them to deny me the first time. My state goes from 1st denial to ALJ hearing so I had to wait over 2 1/2 years to get my positive decision but if you take copies of records from your doctors to their doctors and make it clear your problems are compounding each other maybe someone will listen- very slim chance but hey it can happen. My ALJ wrote in his decision that the state agency IGNORED MEDICAL EVIDENCE AND FAILED TO DO THEIR JOB- basically he chewed them a new one for a huge long half a page paragraph of my approval letter. He said everything they did wrong and why I should never have had to go to a hearing in the first place. Sad thing is more than 2/3 of applicants are denied on the 1st try. If they have a reconsideration only 1 in 10 of those will be approved but 2/3 of cases seen by an ALJ are approved. Tell me the system isn't screwed.