Some good news to report for once

I got an early morning call from my Social Security attorney.  I have been approved for perm. Social Security Disabilty at 100%.

I was just at my attorney's office yesterday, and they thought it would take another 1-2 months to get a hearing.  She said the judge took one look at my file and said "it was overwhelmingly a no-brainer".

So I never had to see a judge in person.  The judge backdated my case so that I am owed benefits all the way back to January of 2009, that's 30 months if my math is right.  Since I have already met the 24 month period for Medicare, I will be entitled to Medicare immediatley.

This doesn't make me one day better with my PC, but it take a huge financial load off my wife and I, we have been struggling since I have been unable to work.

My advice to any of you contemplating applying for SS Disability, you will get turned down the first  time, its expected, but when you do, immediately get a good SS attorney and let them handle the first level of appeal.  I  didn't, at the advice of my local SS office, I did the first appeal the way they said, wasted about 8 months or so, and got rejected.  Then I got the attorney.  Lesson learned.

David in SC

 

David,

Great news!  Glad to hear it worked out in your favor.

Jerry1

 

Good news, glad you got it. That lump sum will make you a rich man---for a little while- so spend it foolishly...

That's great! The financial aspects of this disease can be worse than the disease.

Great news for a change. It's great when a deserving person gets to use the system the way it was intended. Have a ittle prime beef with some of the money. It's especially good charbroiled!!!!! Squid.

David, I read all your posts and remain amazed at the level of support you provide to so many people. I have been silently rooting for you since I joined this board late last year. I even agreed mightily when certain posters went to far and you corralled them in.

So good for you! Great news and I hope that it helps you and your wife get to relax a bit through this continuing ordeal.

David,
Good omen for your date at Gibbs. Stay positive!

RalphV in Phoenix, AZ

Thanks, one and all, all my brothers and sisters here at HW. While it is a small victory for my family, it is still a victory for all of us here as we fight the PC beast.

I should add this very important distinction in my favorable ruling. I did not get approved because I have PC, not sure they would have approved for that alone. I got approved because of all the perm. damage that was done to me as the result of my SRT, leading up to the Urostomy surgery. It was the damage from the radiation that left me unable to work. Not saying some of you couldn't get it approved for PC, but my lawyer said it was all the other mitigating damages that were done to me. If others of you, still in normal working ages, need to apply to SS like I did, by all means try.

The records from my Uro played a big role in this favorable ruling. With all that said, it still took nearly 3 years to win this.

My VA claim for Agent Orange is still in limbo in Washington, DC, but since, I have now the personal help of my local U.S. Senator, Lindsey Graham (You see him on national news all the time). He is interceding for me on that matter.

Also, this victory with SS will further add credibility and fuel for my Malpractice Attorney, as we continue suit against the radiation clinic for causing the damage. The attorney said that since SS is a tough nut, and since they consider me 100% disabled for life, it will make the case he is building even easier. He is not expecting this matter to ever make it to a real trial.

None of this helps my actual PC situation, I am still in the beginning stages of Advanced PC, but knowing that my poor wife can be relieved of some of our financial burdern means the world to me. I have always been the provider all these years, and it has slayed me to be sitting it out as a perpetual patient the past nearly 3 years.

Today was a good day. And thanks to each of you guys and gals, for the heartfelt support you show toward me, the feeling is absolutely mutual in every sense of the word. Even when some of us disagree, it never distracts me from the brotherhood here. We are all in this mess called PC. Many of us will make it, some of us won't, but we need to stick together, no matter what.

David in SC

Congratulations on the good news. We've been waiting for some good news for you for far to long. Hopefully this is a sign that your luck is finally changing.

All the best to you.

Mag

Hi David, I just checked in and saw the great news!  I'm really happy for you 'bro.  I know this doesn't erase the pain and suffering but (as we say in the South) it's better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick!

Anyway, congrats and the drinks are on you today!

Tudpock (Jim)

Purg- gag me with a DRE gloved finger that is great news and yeah my friend got a back years check in the mail too.  Maybe we should call S.S. care= Salvaged Security in PCa terminology (LOL).

That was a wise move and investment Dave, and my friend was age 49 a few years ago, had emergency heart related issues and made it just in time to the hospital, got orignally 7 stents (9 now)....he got an S.S. attorney cause he didn't have the strength to work anymore and lots of blood thinners, punching him out could even kill him perhaps. Well it took almost 2 yrs. to win, but they backdated the check....it was a large payment and very nice monthly payments, has wife and two kids. Blessing in disguise at the time, he was self employed and not making that much.

Post Edited (zufus) : 5/17/2011 12:01:59 PM (GMT-6)

David,
Congratulations! I'm sure this is a load off your mind - and wallet. Too bad an attorney now gets a cut of something that you deserved. If the judge thought "it was overwhelmingly a no-brainer" why did you have to go through all that nonsense.

I wonder if anyone has ever checked to see if all cases are refused just so attorneys would be involved and they can pay off someone. Just an admittedly suspicious thought.

Jeff (Wondering Guy)

David - bravo on winning the SS battle! I was a claims rep for them many years ago; the bureaucracy can be maddening.

Far as I know, the retroactive 30 month payment is NOT taxable. Hope your attorney isn't taking too big a bite of it. And the Medicare eligibility is also a great help.

Well done.
Tom in CT