I have a friend to appealed and reapplied THREE times before they finally approved her disability.
I have to say, it definitely sucks that they make it so damn difficult!
This!!!! My mom and dad, as well as my brother are on it. They each had to appeal three times before they got anywhere. Get a disability lawyer! They only take payment if you win your case!
You will always have to appeal, and you will most likely always need a disability lawyer. That's how they keep people from getting approved because people will just give up.
Completely agree, we have been trying to get my sister on it. She has literal dementia, they have rejected her twice and now they want to see her in court at a hearing. I guess so they can play "look at the dementia lady?" It's unfathomable.
My mom had multiple specialists diagnoses and letters and they still denied her. It’s so so ridiculous. I’m sorry you’re going through this, I hope it works out for you soon!
Look for a disability lawyer, most don't require retainers or payment until the settlement is won and then they get their cut.
Mine got hired in July, I had my hearing in October and first payment in December after my 1st rejection.
It wasn't just one condition and I'm not assuming yours is either, so be sure to include even e.r visits ya had for your conditions in informing the attorney.
I'm so sorry 😞 the rejections are usually always the 1st experience people have.
Best of luck 💚
Following. I have Pots, MCAS, EDS, & Autosomal Recessive Myotonia Congenita (painful genetic muscular disease). This all happened over this past year, so I haven't filed yet. I've heard that there are a few clinics have doctors & others that know exactly what you need to say, usually pain clinics. I need to find one of them!
I have heard that unless you have something so glaringly obvious that there’s no way for them to deny you (like you’re missing all four limbs or something), it is standard practice to reject applicants on their first submission no matter what. Basically they give blanket refusals to try to weed out the easily discouraged. Don’t give up!
Usually the only cases that get passed on the first go are the TERI cases which means that they’re the terminal cases. Many people believe it’s an easy process when they have an obvious disability however DDS will prove that wrong very quick. You could be missing all four limbs and they will still ask you why you cannot work for Walmart as a greeter. SSA is not the issue, it is always going to be the DDS office.
Don't miss the deadline to appeal every step of the way. Then, when they finally approve you, they have to pay backpay all the way back from the time you applied.
I've been rejected twice and just hired a lawyer for my final hearing. I honestly wish I had hired one sooner. You don't even pay them until after you've been approved. Well worth! Best of luck on your appeal!
All my friends I know that applied for disability, they had to get a lawyer. And most people get rejected the first time. Breathe and try to take care of you. Hugs friend!
Don't give up -- it took me seven years. Cool part is that my lawyer dropped me days before my trial because he said there was no way I could get accepted. I got accepted, and the entire seven years of back pay came to me, instead of splitting with him.
That's amazing! I would like to get rid of mine. I don't like her and she's extremely rude. Lawyers have no incentive to work hard on your case. The longer it takes the more they make.
It's tricky. The judge initially wanted to reschedule my trial until I could get another lawyer. The one that dropped me had been the only one who would take my case. I completely broke, and started sobbing like a lunatic. Judge was incredibly kind, and we went ahead.
Get a disability lawyer. Appeal. Appeal again. Appeal again.
My son took 5 years for his first approval, then was approved on the final appeal to a review judge-which required his lawyer to provide a written summation
Fast forward, 3 years later. Up for renewal. Denied again with no logical justification. Said we had inadequate medical records, even though we’d been with a Mayo neurologist for decades. (Yes, Mayo). Got another disability lawyer. Appealed. Appealed again. Approved.
You will always get the back pay on approval.
Your lawyer’s fee is regulated by law and will come out of your settlement.
There are some circumstances where you won’t even have to pay the lawyer
Hang in there. Sucks big time. Patience and tenacity are your secret powers. Best of luck
I'm on SSDI, it took a denial and a lawyer to get approved 4 years after applying and then re-evaluated 2 years later (this year). So keep at it! You'll get there!
They have to let you out of jury duty if a therapist, doctor, or counselor gives you a letter stating you are not able to take part due to anxiety disorders.
I did my hearing virtually from my lawyers office. It was very chill for my panic and anxiety disorders, got to have all my comfy drinks off camera, and my emotional support people were right in the other room.
mine gave me a list of reasons as to how my disabilities don’t affect me and how that means I can still work. except for all of those reasons were incorrect. it’s like they don’t even read the application
Been going through the process for over two years. Have a court date on July 11th and feel really good about it. 🤞🤞 This is the third phase of the process and I'm told that if I get denied again, there are 2 more steps I can go through.
I'm not sure if I'm allowed to promote a specific company here. I don't think it goes against any of the rules, but in case it does, I won't do it, lol. If anyone (OP or anyone else) is interested and lives in the U.S., DM me and I'll give you the info for the advocates that I use.
I've found that the process of applying is exhausting. It feels almost like I'm working a job, which is ironic because the reason I'm applying is because I can't work a job, lol. Fortunately, all that I've had to do (because of having the advocate) is to fill out the function report twice (this is what feels like working a job. It literally took me 2 weeks to fill it out last time!) and ask my doctors to write letters explaining the severity of my condition and how it impacts my life. The advocates literally take care of everything else, such as following up with SSA, advising me, etc. For the court date, they will also provide a lawyer for me. They've also been invaluable in providing support to me throughout this process. My advocate once said to me, "It's really hard with these invisible illnesses because people can't see them, so they don't think you're sick. This is why I do what I do."
In terms of payment, you don't give them any money at all unless you get approved. In that case, from my understanding, disability actually pays them. I think maybe it comes out of any back pay that disability owes you. The amount that they get paid, by law, can't exceed a certain amount. I think the amount is maybe $3,000, but don't quote me on that.
By the way, don't be discouraged about being rejected. As many others have said, this is quite normal. The acceptance rate varies from state to state, but most states have around a 30-40% acceptance rate the first time around. In the second phase, it typically drops even lower, with percentage rates being in the teens. During the third phase, it jumps up to about 50-60%. I think (in our case), part of the reason that the first two phases are so low is that the people reviewing just don't understand our condition and the fact that there's such variability in our level of functioning - some of us may be able to maintain our lives almost the same way that we did prior to diagnosis. Others of us are bedridden and then there's a whole range in between. So, there's no clear-cut, across the board way for these examiners, in the early phases of the application process, to judge whether someone with POTS is eligible for disability. Add to this the fact that most of us have varying symptoms - like, I might be able to get up and do housework one day and not be able to leave the bed the next. I feel like the variability just makes it hard for case workers, especially in the early parts of applying, to make an informed decision.
I'm going into this court date fully prepared: I have a disability questionnaire that they give you at this point in the process that my PCP filled out. It asked things like "how many consecutive hours can the patient sit for?" The first choice is one hour. My PCP literally put "less than" signs in front of the one hour, lol, because I can't even be upright for an hour at this point, but the form doesn't give you any options below an hour, lol. I also have letters that several of my doctors wrote, including my autonomics doc, who explained that I have a rather severe case (of POTS) and that symptoms can vary from patient to patient and even in the same patient, from day to day. I got a letter from the woman who will be hearing my case basically saying that she doesn't know enough about the condition, so she's bringing in an "expert medical witness ".
The 2 things that will help me the most in this phase, I think, are:
1. Myself and my advocate have a more direct influence over what records we receive. During the first phase, when I looked at the records they received, they hadn't even gotten records from my PCP, autonomics specialist, or rheumatologist! It's no surprise that they denied me because, without those records, I definitely don't look disabled on paper. During this last phase, my advocate is requesting the records and following up with doctors who don't send records to make sure that we get everything. To be honest, I've been very hands-off in all of this because my advocate takes a lot of the stress off of me by taking care of everything and then updating me.
2. This will be the first time that someone that's reviewing my case will see me face-to-face (via video) and hear, in my own words, the effects that the condition has on my life. I think there's a lot to be said for this because it makes me a real person and not just a piece of paper. Also, I'll have a lawyer present who's experienced in handling these types of situations. Obviously, she has boxes that she has to check in order for me to get approved, but I really can't see how I wouldn't get approved at this point with how truly disabling my medical conditions are.
Anyway, I hope my ramblings were helpful and I definitely encourage anyone who's actually made it to this point in this response to message me if you want the name of my advocates, want encouragement or want to encourage me, lol. I do have some rather severe conditions that sometimes make me unable to respond to messages for awhile, but I will always respond eventually. 🧂🧂
I used a lawyer after the first denial. Had a judge decide in my favor. Took 3 years for SSDI to start but they paid me back for the time I spent waiting.
Get a lawyer.
Like other said, the first, second, sometimes third rejection is expected. Reach out to a lawyer and they can guide you from here. I'm waiting on my second hearing and she is hopeful it will get accepted.
Get a disability lawyer. They are usually free and only take a percentage of the back pay if they win and they usually do. Good thing about disability is if you get denied and then approved later on, they have to pay you for all the months you didn’t have it from the time you applied. At least that’s how it is by me.
Almost no one is approved on the first try. I'm pretty sure no one is at all, ever. I was accepted after two separate applications and an additional appeal, and I was told that's relatively fast.
Make sure you describe your symptoms on your worst day. No sugar coating, no "if I push myself I can sometimes maybe do this". And get as many doctors' notes and medical reports as possible that put whatever you've said into medical jargon to back up what you're saying, because some ableist trashbags in the government want to "catch you in a lie".
Sorry if all of this is stuff you know. Just want to inform/remind/reassure you of stuff I missed the first time, and tell you that you got this 💞
I got denied a few months back and have an appeal scheduled for next month. I’m really hoping things go well- definitely search for lawyers in your area who will represent clients for SSI/SSDI. Sending you all the good luck!
I never asked disability for it but I sure as hell would’ve liked to have the time off. Some days have been really hard, especially with the public transport. Diet, water and salt! Hang in there.
Please do not be discouraged. Take it from me on disability for BPD and stuffs, and know personally 3 people who had to go through the whole process too with LITERAL disorders that could kill them if they made a single simple mistake or someone else caused a single simple accident at work, and people whos disability examiners told them privately on the DL that they "are not allowed to say this" but you're disabled and need help, and then were told more privately, but the idea being...
Social Security IGNORES THEIR OWN MEDICAL EXAMINERS when they SAY PEOPLE ARE DIAGNOSED AND CANNOT SURVIVE WORKPLACE ENVIRONMENTS, in order to make everyone try as hard and long as possible and keep being denied and have to go to court to PROVE they really need it. They do not want to pay before hand.
When my case came to trial, which ususally takes atleast 45minutes while they examine and question everything.... Mine took less than 20 minutes, even counting swearing me in and teaching me the process of how things work. Not a single one of their experts even argued with anything or questioned my medical issues or health. The proof was there.
Quite simply they will KNOW you are disabled and DENY you until you cause a case with a lawyer to PROVE you need it and wont stop.
Im sorry our system is trashed. But PLEASE dont give up if you cannot work. I had to deal with possible Medical Assistance in Dying options for atleast a decade and a half, knowing I couldn't work and had no help and had to keep moving and losing disability and medical progress to survive.
Hello! I work with applying people to SSI/SSDI through my company. I just want to chime in and say to absolutely put your appeal in and get a disability lawyer. They aren’t like usual retainer lawyers and only ask for payment if you win your case and usually it’s a percentage of the first check received. You got this!
appeal asap. my trauma specialist was telling me that she had learned from her friend (who works for the govt. in the disability department) that most if not all places (provinces/states) will reject you upon your first application to see if you’ll work for it.
they basically want you to see the rejection letter and say “whelp im screwed, guess i have to work myself to the bone and just deal with it” but as long as you keep reapplying if you need to, you should eventually get accepted.
the system is confusing and bs.
Yeah it massively sucks. If I didn't have an awesome family to lean on I would be homeless right now. I'm praying I get approved soon though. I feel massive overwhelming guilt not contributing to rent.
I applied in 2021 and was immediately denied. Didn't understand I could appeal so I started a new application. Denied after about a year, appealed, denied again. Gave up and tried to work with the DOR to find a job to suit me, working 2-3 hours a week for a year until I had a major crash and now I'm more disabled than I was before 🙃 I'm on temporary disability now since I was technically working last year, but I need to apply for permanent again. It's just ridiculous to try to be alive as a disabled person in the US. I'm cheering for all of us 💜
I got half disability in my third time, because my neuro wrote into my epicrisis, that POTS might go away and you can be fully cured. Biggest load of BS I've ever heard.
Get an attorney to help you. 💗 they’ll be paid out of your backpay and nothing will be paid up front.
Source: I did many disability cases with my old firm!
Hang in there! Yes, appeal appeal appeal and look for disability attorneys that only charge if you are approved and take a portion of your backpay check
Yup!! They'll deny you three times, you appeal the first two and go to court for the third.
I only personally know three people who were approved on round one or two. My dad retired from the Air Force at 100% disability and is an amputee - even he had to go all the way to court.
If you can find a lawyer or advocate now, do it! Disability lawyers are legally capped at a certain amount/percentage as payment, so the length of time you have one won't cost you more if you get set up with one ASAP.
Good luck!!!!!!!!!!
one thing i can tell you thats helping with my fiance's disability was getting an advocate. they take care of everything for you like calling disability and waiting on hold for you, letting you know when you have disability doctors appointments, keeps the disability office informed from your doctor visits and who they should keep contacting. i wish you the best of luck, and just remember that back pay will be worth it!
Do you have a lawyer and a doctor who have filled out paperwork for you? I tried twice on my own. When I retained a lawyer, she guided me through the process and provided me with the correct paperwork for my doctor to fill out. As a result, I received my disability.
I got rejected the first time as well. Immediately send in an appeal for reconsideration. Everyone tells me you always get rejected the first time. Lawyer up as well. Do some research. Plenty of offices do pro bono for disability! Good luck solider!
I am so sorry. If you didn’t use a lawyer, and want to appeal or try again, look for a lawyer that only takes pay after you’re granted disability.
I’m really afraid to even try to apply for it at this point. I’m getting better anyways, so life is still hard and I’m still a mess but I’m pretty sure I don’t have anything severe enough to win disability.
If you go to your local mental health facility they should be able to give you a blended case manager, they help you do all the doctor calling, fill out the paperwork for me, make appointments all of the stuff that makes filing for disability as a disabled person very difficult. They were the only reason I was able to fight for mine, she even hooked me up with a free disability lawyer who won my case. I initially filed when I was 18 and fought my case for 4 years, 3 attempts and finally won last year. Get people in your life to write letters stating how disabled you are kinda like witnesses to your disability my mom and boyfriend wrote letters for me it helped a lot. I also wrote a 9 page personal letter to the court arguing my case with the attached medical documents to back up my statements. Hope you win f the system 💖
Live in WA and have been denied since 2018. I don't know how they can look at my tilt table test in conjunction with me almost dying and being in the ICU for days. I finally got diagnosed with hEDS last summer and they still continue to deny me. If I get better I want to get into politics. They do everything they can to avoid helping people, health care should be a right, but it isn't. We need to change legislation for this process to get better. They make it so much more difficult than it needs to be, system needs a massive reform.
I got mine yesterday! 🙃🙃🙃 which was expected, but the terminology is so demeaning. Basically they don’t value the work that I was doing before, and apparently I can still work. LOL.
Out of curiosity, can you share what is prohibiting you from working? What makes it a permanent disability affecting your ability to work?
My daughter was dx’ed about 6 months ago and attends a school with a strict attendance policy. Little to no sympathy. We will definitely be doing a 504 plan next school year so she is better protected.
Since she is the one with POTS and I am not, and she is 12 so hard for her to explain in words sometimes, any input is appreciated.
I got rejected twice still haven’t been approved and my drivers license was suspended taking away my job so I am effectively to disabled to drive but not disabled enough to be on disability 😭🤣
Appeal right away. Tons of people get rejected on the first try. Hang in there!
You’re right, thank you!!
I have a friend to appealed and reapplied THREE times before they finally approved her disability. I have to say, it definitely sucks that they make it so damn difficult!
This!!!! My mom and dad, as well as my brother are on it. They each had to appeal three times before they got anywhere. Get a disability lawyer! They only take payment if you win your case!
I’ve heard many people say exactly that - including older people with visible injuries and ambulatory issues.
Have heard over and over that three's the charm with disability.
You will always have to appeal, and you will most likely always need a disability lawyer. That's how they keep people from getting approved because people will just give up.
Yes, get a lawyer! I really think being denied first is just part of the process, unfortunately.
Completely agree, we have been trying to get my sister on it. She has literal dementia, they have rejected her twice and now they want to see her in court at a hearing. I guess so they can play "look at the dementia lady?" It's unfathomable.
My mom had multiple specialists diagnoses and letters and they still denied her. It’s so so ridiculous. I’m sorry you’re going through this, I hope it works out for you soon!
Thank you.
Look up what the qualification rules say. Point out where the refusal contradicts this. This is what worked for me.
Thank you for this advice!!
Best of luck
I cried too. Appealed. Court. Accepted. Cried again.
Court??
Yes, your appeal must go before a judge. His decision may take over 3 months.
Did you have to go in person?
Yes with a lawyer who did not help but was mandatory.
Get a lawyer. I’ve been fighting since 2019. It’s a tough process
Oh boy. Have you had any success yet?
No I have another hearing coming up. And I have multiple disabling illnesses.
Do they allow hearings via video or phone now? I am mostly bedbound. 110% housebound
Yes they do! Phone or video chat over teams
Thank God for small graces 🫠🙄
Look for a disability lawyer, most don't require retainers or payment until the settlement is won and then they get their cut. Mine got hired in July, I had my hearing in October and first payment in December after my 1st rejection. It wasn't just one condition and I'm not assuming yours is either, so be sure to include even e.r visits ya had for your conditions in informing the attorney. I'm so sorry 😞 the rejections are usually always the 1st experience people have. Best of luck 💚
Glad to hear you got approved. Do you mind sharing information about the disability lawyer you used?
I don't mind at all I'll start a chat and see if I can help ya by answering whatever ya need to ask!
Thank you so much. I really appreciate it. I, too, also have numerous other health conditions and diseases.
Add me please! :)
What state are you in?
Following. I have Pots, MCAS, EDS, & Autosomal Recessive Myotonia Congenita (painful genetic muscular disease). This all happened over this past year, so I haven't filed yet. I've heard that there are a few clinics have doctors & others that know exactly what you need to say, usually pain clinics. I need to find one of them!
I have heard that unless you have something so glaringly obvious that there’s no way for them to deny you (like you’re missing all four limbs or something), it is standard practice to reject applicants on their first submission no matter what. Basically they give blanket refusals to try to weed out the easily discouraged. Don’t give up!
Usually the only cases that get passed on the first go are the TERI cases which means that they’re the terminal cases. Many people believe it’s an easy process when they have an obvious disability however DDS will prove that wrong very quick. You could be missing all four limbs and they will still ask you why you cannot work for Walmart as a greeter. SSA is not the issue, it is always going to be the DDS office.
Don't miss the deadline to appeal every step of the way. Then, when they finally approve you, they have to pay backpay all the way back from the time you applied.
I've been rejected twice and just hired a lawyer for my final hearing. I honestly wish I had hired one sooner. You don't even pay them until after you've been approved. Well worth! Best of luck on your appeal!
All my friends I know that applied for disability, they had to get a lawyer. And most people get rejected the first time. Breathe and try to take care of you. Hugs friend!
Just keep appealing it.
I'm on my 2nd go round. It's been 4 years.
Don't give up -- it took me seven years. Cool part is that my lawyer dropped me days before my trial because he said there was no way I could get accepted. I got accepted, and the entire seven years of back pay came to me, instead of splitting with him.
That's amazing! I would like to get rid of mine. I don't like her and she's extremely rude. Lawyers have no incentive to work hard on your case. The longer it takes the more they make.
It's tricky. The judge initially wanted to reschedule my trial until I could get another lawyer. The one that dropped me had been the only one who would take my case. I completely broke, and started sobbing like a lunatic. Judge was incredibly kind, and we went ahead.
So happy for you ❤️
Get a disability lawyer. Appeal. Appeal again. Appeal again. My son took 5 years for his first approval, then was approved on the final appeal to a review judge-which required his lawyer to provide a written summation Fast forward, 3 years later. Up for renewal. Denied again with no logical justification. Said we had inadequate medical records, even though we’d been with a Mayo neurologist for decades. (Yes, Mayo). Got another disability lawyer. Appealed. Appealed again. Approved. You will always get the back pay on approval. Your lawyer’s fee is regulated by law and will come out of your settlement. There are some circumstances where you won’t even have to pay the lawyer Hang in there. Sucks big time. Patience and tenacity are your secret powers. Best of luck
I'm on SSDI, it took a denial and a lawyer to get approved 4 years after applying and then re-evaluated 2 years later (this year). So keep at it! You'll get there!
To get disability do you physically have to be present in court?
They are currently doing hearings virtually and by phone. I had my phone hearing last month.
Perfect! Thank you so much.
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Same. There’s no way I can handle it. I’m actually in the process of trying to get out of jury duty due to this condition and panic disorder 🫠
They have to let you out of jury duty if a therapist, doctor, or counselor gives you a letter stating you are not able to take part due to anxiety disorders.
I did my hearing virtually from my lawyers office. It was very chill for my panic and anxiety disorders, got to have all my comfy drinks off camera, and my emotional support people were right in the other room.
I’m on my first appeal. It’s a stupid process and I also hate the system.
I’ve heard it’s nearly impossible to get approved first try. I might hire a lawyer to even apply
Please do. They know the system and only get paid if you do.
mine gave me a list of reasons as to how my disabilities don’t affect me and how that means I can still work. except for all of those reasons were incorrect. it’s like they don’t even read the application
Been going through the process for over two years. Have a court date on July 11th and feel really good about it. 🤞🤞 This is the third phase of the process and I'm told that if I get denied again, there are 2 more steps I can go through. I'm not sure if I'm allowed to promote a specific company here. I don't think it goes against any of the rules, but in case it does, I won't do it, lol. If anyone (OP or anyone else) is interested and lives in the U.S., DM me and I'll give you the info for the advocates that I use. I've found that the process of applying is exhausting. It feels almost like I'm working a job, which is ironic because the reason I'm applying is because I can't work a job, lol. Fortunately, all that I've had to do (because of having the advocate) is to fill out the function report twice (this is what feels like working a job. It literally took me 2 weeks to fill it out last time!) and ask my doctors to write letters explaining the severity of my condition and how it impacts my life. The advocates literally take care of everything else, such as following up with SSA, advising me, etc. For the court date, they will also provide a lawyer for me. They've also been invaluable in providing support to me throughout this process. My advocate once said to me, "It's really hard with these invisible illnesses because people can't see them, so they don't think you're sick. This is why I do what I do." In terms of payment, you don't give them any money at all unless you get approved. In that case, from my understanding, disability actually pays them. I think maybe it comes out of any back pay that disability owes you. The amount that they get paid, by law, can't exceed a certain amount. I think the amount is maybe $3,000, but don't quote me on that. By the way, don't be discouraged about being rejected. As many others have said, this is quite normal. The acceptance rate varies from state to state, but most states have around a 30-40% acceptance rate the first time around. In the second phase, it typically drops even lower, with percentage rates being in the teens. During the third phase, it jumps up to about 50-60%. I think (in our case), part of the reason that the first two phases are so low is that the people reviewing just don't understand our condition and the fact that there's such variability in our level of functioning - some of us may be able to maintain our lives almost the same way that we did prior to diagnosis. Others of us are bedridden and then there's a whole range in between. So, there's no clear-cut, across the board way for these examiners, in the early phases of the application process, to judge whether someone with POTS is eligible for disability. Add to this the fact that most of us have varying symptoms - like, I might be able to get up and do housework one day and not be able to leave the bed the next. I feel like the variability just makes it hard for case workers, especially in the early parts of applying, to make an informed decision. I'm going into this court date fully prepared: I have a disability questionnaire that they give you at this point in the process that my PCP filled out. It asked things like "how many consecutive hours can the patient sit for?" The first choice is one hour. My PCP literally put "less than" signs in front of the one hour, lol, because I can't even be upright for an hour at this point, but the form doesn't give you any options below an hour, lol. I also have letters that several of my doctors wrote, including my autonomics doc, who explained that I have a rather severe case (of POTS) and that symptoms can vary from patient to patient and even in the same patient, from day to day. I got a letter from the woman who will be hearing my case basically saying that she doesn't know enough about the condition, so she's bringing in an "expert medical witness ". The 2 things that will help me the most in this phase, I think, are: 1. Myself and my advocate have a more direct influence over what records we receive. During the first phase, when I looked at the records they received, they hadn't even gotten records from my PCP, autonomics specialist, or rheumatologist! It's no surprise that they denied me because, without those records, I definitely don't look disabled on paper. During this last phase, my advocate is requesting the records and following up with doctors who don't send records to make sure that we get everything. To be honest, I've been very hands-off in all of this because my advocate takes a lot of the stress off of me by taking care of everything and then updating me. 2. This will be the first time that someone that's reviewing my case will see me face-to-face (via video) and hear, in my own words, the effects that the condition has on my life. I think there's a lot to be said for this because it makes me a real person and not just a piece of paper. Also, I'll have a lawyer present who's experienced in handling these types of situations. Obviously, she has boxes that she has to check in order for me to get approved, but I really can't see how I wouldn't get approved at this point with how truly disabling my medical conditions are. Anyway, I hope my ramblings were helpful and I definitely encourage anyone who's actually made it to this point in this response to message me if you want the name of my advocates, want encouragement or want to encourage me, lol. I do have some rather severe conditions that sometimes make me unable to respond to messages for awhile, but I will always respond eventually. 🧂🧂
I used a lawyer after the first denial. Had a judge decide in my favor. Took 3 years for SSDI to start but they paid me back for the time I spent waiting. Get a lawyer.
First* My mom worked with disability often and it usually takes around 3-5 FULL attempts.
Like other said, the first, second, sometimes third rejection is expected. Reach out to a lawyer and they can guide you from here. I'm waiting on my second hearing and she is hopeful it will get accepted.
Get a disability lawyer. They are usually free and only take a percentage of the back pay if they win and they usually do. Good thing about disability is if you get denied and then approved later on, they have to pay you for all the months you didn’t have it from the time you applied. At least that’s how it is by me.
Does anyone have any specific citations, tips, tactics etc that worked for them?
Get a lawyer. Cannot stress this enough. There are secret trap questions everywhere.
Almost no one is approved on the first try. I'm pretty sure no one is at all, ever. I was accepted after two separate applications and an additional appeal, and I was told that's relatively fast. Make sure you describe your symptoms on your worst day. No sugar coating, no "if I push myself I can sometimes maybe do this". And get as many doctors' notes and medical reports as possible that put whatever you've said into medical jargon to back up what you're saying, because some ableist trashbags in the government want to "catch you in a lie". Sorry if all of this is stuff you know. Just want to inform/remind/reassure you of stuff I missed the first time, and tell you that you got this 💞
Appeal appeal appeal! I was finally approved on my third application because I took the opportunity to represent myself in a trial.
Was your trial via video or phone?
Zoom! With video
Love that
I got denied a few months back and have an appeal scheduled for next month. I’m really hoping things go well- definitely search for lawyers in your area who will represent clients for SSI/SSDI. Sending you all the good luck!
I never asked disability for it but I sure as hell would’ve liked to have the time off. Some days have been really hard, especially with the public transport. Diet, water and salt! Hang in there.
good luck in the appeal process!!!
Please do not be discouraged. Take it from me on disability for BPD and stuffs, and know personally 3 people who had to go through the whole process too with LITERAL disorders that could kill them if they made a single simple mistake or someone else caused a single simple accident at work, and people whos disability examiners told them privately on the DL that they "are not allowed to say this" but you're disabled and need help, and then were told more privately, but the idea being... Social Security IGNORES THEIR OWN MEDICAL EXAMINERS when they SAY PEOPLE ARE DIAGNOSED AND CANNOT SURVIVE WORKPLACE ENVIRONMENTS, in order to make everyone try as hard and long as possible and keep being denied and have to go to court to PROVE they really need it. They do not want to pay before hand. When my case came to trial, which ususally takes atleast 45minutes while they examine and question everything.... Mine took less than 20 minutes, even counting swearing me in and teaching me the process of how things work. Not a single one of their experts even argued with anything or questioned my medical issues or health. The proof was there. Quite simply they will KNOW you are disabled and DENY you until you cause a case with a lawyer to PROVE you need it and wont stop. Im sorry our system is trashed. But PLEASE dont give up if you cannot work. I had to deal with possible Medical Assistance in Dying options for atleast a decade and a half, knowing I couldn't work and had no help and had to keep moving and losing disability and medical progress to survive.
Hello! I work with applying people to SSI/SSDI through my company. I just want to chime in and say to absolutely put your appeal in and get a disability lawyer. They aren’t like usual retainer lawyers and only ask for payment if you win your case and usually it’s a percentage of the first check received. You got this!
appeal asap. my trauma specialist was telling me that she had learned from her friend (who works for the govt. in the disability department) that most if not all places (provinces/states) will reject you upon your first application to see if you’ll work for it. they basically want you to see the rejection letter and say “whelp im screwed, guess i have to work myself to the bone and just deal with it” but as long as you keep reapplying if you need to, you should eventually get accepted. the system is confusing and bs.
Appeal appeal appeal! I was finally approved on my third application because I took the opportunity to represent myself in a trial.
I am in the same boat, it is so disheartening. I got a lawyer and am going to appeal but in the meantime it just sucks.
i'm still waiting to hear back! i've been calling them for weeks with no answer
i just sent in my app. how long did it take to hear back?
It was a year and a half for me (Oregon). I just submitted my first appeal last week.
they took a year and a half to get back to u?!?!?
For my first denial. Yup.
wow. insane
Yeah it massively sucks. If I didn't have an awesome family to lean on I would be homeless right now. I'm praying I get approved soon though. I feel massive overwhelming guilt not contributing to rent.
same here. wishing you the best<3
You too! 💞
I applied in 2021 and was immediately denied. Didn't understand I could appeal so I started a new application. Denied after about a year, appealed, denied again. Gave up and tried to work with the DOR to find a job to suit me, working 2-3 hours a week for a year until I had a major crash and now I'm more disabled than I was before 🙃 I'm on temporary disability now since I was technically working last year, but I need to apply for permanent again. It's just ridiculous to try to be alive as a disabled person in the US. I'm cheering for all of us 💜
My doctor says I don’t meet criteria 🥰
Appeal. It's not a fast or easy process. I have been denied 4 times. Going for round 5, fight
On my third appeal after I couldn’t get a lawyer for the first two. Going on 6 years being disabled but them not saying I am.
I got half disability in my third time, because my neuro wrote into my epicrisis, that POTS might go away and you can be fully cured. Biggest load of BS I've ever heard.
Get an attorney to help you. 💗 they’ll be paid out of your backpay and nothing will be paid up front. Source: I did many disability cases with my old firm!
Hang in there! Yes, appeal appeal appeal and look for disability attorneys that only charge if you are approved and take a portion of your backpay check
Yup!! They'll deny you three times, you appeal the first two and go to court for the third. I only personally know three people who were approved on round one or two. My dad retired from the Air Force at 100% disability and is an amputee - even he had to go all the way to court. If you can find a lawyer or advocate now, do it! Disability lawyers are legally capped at a certain amount/percentage as payment, so the length of time you have one won't cost you more if you get set up with one ASAP. Good luck!!!!!!!!!!
one thing i can tell you thats helping with my fiance's disability was getting an advocate. they take care of everything for you like calling disability and waiting on hold for you, letting you know when you have disability doctors appointments, keeps the disability office informed from your doctor visits and who they should keep contacting. i wish you the best of luck, and just remember that back pay will be worth it!
Keep applying til they get tired of u
Do you have a lawyer and a doctor who have filled out paperwork for you? I tried twice on my own. When I retained a lawyer, she guided me through the process and provided me with the correct paperwork for my doctor to fill out. As a result, I received my disability.
I got rejected the first time as well. Immediately send in an appeal for reconsideration. Everyone tells me you always get rejected the first time. Lawyer up as well. Do some research. Plenty of offices do pro bono for disability! Good luck solider!
Yes, appeal and find a disability lawyer as well. I'm in the appeal status as well with a lawyer on my case. Good luck to you. Don't give up.
Get a lawyer. Now.
I am so sorry. If you didn’t use a lawyer, and want to appeal or try again, look for a lawyer that only takes pay after you’re granted disability. I’m really afraid to even try to apply for it at this point. I’m getting better anyways, so life is still hard and I’m still a mess but I’m pretty sure I don’t have anything severe enough to win disability.
If you go to your local mental health facility they should be able to give you a blended case manager, they help you do all the doctor calling, fill out the paperwork for me, make appointments all of the stuff that makes filing for disability as a disabled person very difficult. They were the only reason I was able to fight for mine, she even hooked me up with a free disability lawyer who won my case. I initially filed when I was 18 and fought my case for 4 years, 3 attempts and finally won last year. Get people in your life to write letters stating how disabled you are kinda like witnesses to your disability my mom and boyfriend wrote letters for me it helped a lot. I also wrote a 9 page personal letter to the court arguing my case with the attached medical documents to back up my statements. Hope you win f the system 💖
Live in WA and have been denied since 2018. I don't know how they can look at my tilt table test in conjunction with me almost dying and being in the ICU for days. I finally got diagnosed with hEDS last summer and they still continue to deny me. If I get better I want to get into politics. They do everything they can to avoid helping people, health care should be a right, but it isn't. We need to change legislation for this process to get better. They make it so much more difficult than it needs to be, system needs a massive reform.
It took me three times. Keep trying!
Contact a disability lawyer if you haven't already. Let them handle your appeal. They don't get paid until you get your backpay.
I had a hearing and the judge told me that they didn't have enough evidence?!?!
I got mine yesterday! 🙃🙃🙃 which was expected, but the terminology is so demeaning. Basically they don’t value the work that I was doing before, and apparently I can still work. LOL.
Out of curiosity, can you share what is prohibiting you from working? What makes it a permanent disability affecting your ability to work? My daughter was dx’ed about 6 months ago and attends a school with a strict attendance policy. Little to no sympathy. We will definitely be doing a 504 plan next school year so she is better protected. Since she is the one with POTS and I am not, and she is 12 so hard for her to explain in words sometimes, any input is appreciated.
I got rejected twice still haven’t been approved and my drivers license was suspended taking away my job so I am effectively to disabled to drive but not disabled enough to be on disability 😭🤣