Disability

How I Navigated the Social Security Disability Process

October 19, 2015 • By

Reading Time: 2 Minutes

Last Updated: October 19, 2015

screen shot of the faces and facts of disability page

I’m on Social Security disability insurance (SSDI). Okay I said it, and, I’m also very thankful for it. I might sound somewhat perplexed, because it’s all new to me and isn’t what I had expected to deal with in life. Yet, I am realistic and understand that “things happen” to all people.

You hear about the horrifying, multi-year process involved when applying for SSDI benefits. These stories are in the media and everywhere, but I didn’t have to pay close attention, because I never expected I’d need SSDI.

I’ve always strategically planned for the unexpected. I’m a former corporate vice president of operations and international business leader of more than 30 years’ experience. My husband and I, together, had a significant income, owned a home in a country club, guard-gated community in Southern California, and were extensive travelers, etc. Then, the season changed – unexpectedly.

In 2012, I started to show medical symptoms from an old auto accident that had caused a brain injury. I had difficulty walking, memory loss, etc. My neurosurgeon explained what was occurring, and that major brain surgery was required for me to continue living. My first brain surgery was performed in July 2012; my second brain surgery in September 2012; and between 2012 and 2014, I underwent five brain/skull surgeries. My husband became my full-time caregiver, and our financial safety net was all compromised due to my health.

With that said, it was time to apply for SSDI. Friends recommended that I hire an attorney, but I went directly to www.ssa.gov and read the disability application requirements, and felt strongly that I could do it on my own via the website. I wasn’t in the best mental state to tackle an extensive application (I was in between brain shunt implant surgeries), but, was determined to apply for SSDI to help exercise my brain. When I got to the site, I found the SSA disability determination website amazingly user-friendly! I was able to, independently, apply online with the easy step-by-step instructions.  When my mind needed to rest, I was able to save my information and, the next day, continue from where I left off.  I did everything online — not once having to step foot in a field office to complete my application; and I received my disability benefits in four months!

What a decision to make! I always said that if I could work through the disability determination process successfully on my own, I’d publicly share my story to assist others.  I continue to fulfill that promise every day, and as it turns out, I’m not an anomaly.  The risk of disability is larger than we think: A 20-year-old worker has a 1-in-4 chance of needing disability benefits before reaching full retirement age!  So, after 30 years in the workforce and contributing to the Federal Insurance Compensation Act (FICA), I sure am glad my disability insurance was there for me in my time of need.

Honestly, I get tired of hearing the negative stories about SSDI. It’s time for everyone to hear a good truthful story about the Social Security disability determination process and how it works in favor of claimants and truly serves the public.

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About the Author

Jarita (J.D.) Davis, Social Security Disability Insurance Beneficiary and published author and blogger

Jarita (J.D.) Davis, Social Security Disability Insurance Beneficiary and published author and blogger

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Comments

  1. Dave m.

    mr fernandez my wife needs help its been about a 3 year fight already and dont have any answers my wife had her hearing september first 2015 its now been 6 months and no desicion plz explain the hold up here because we truly dont understand we are in jeopardy of losi g our home and possesions and judge will not reply to inquiries my wife has worked from 16 years old to 49 please enlight me of how to get the desicion already or what could possibly be delaying the desicion

    • Ray F.

      Hello Mr. Myers. Unfortunately, your question is a bit more complex than we can handle in this forum. For security reasons, we do not have access to information about your wife’s account in this venue. In this situation, we encourage your wife to contact the local office, and if necessary, ask to speak with the manager to see how we can help resolve your inquiry. If she is unable to visit the local office, she can call our toll free number at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778. Representatives are available Monday through Friday between 7:00a.m. and 7:00p.m.

    • Ray F.

      Hello Mr. Myers. Unfortunately, your question is a bit more complex than we can handle in this forum. For security reasons, we do not have access to information about your account in this venue. In your situation, we encourage you to contact your local office, and if necessary, ask to speak with the manager to see how we can help resolve your inquiry. If you are unable to visit the local office, you can call our toll free number at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778. Representatives are available Monday through Friday between 7:00a.m. and 7:00p.m. Generally, you will have a shorter wait time if you call later in the week. Thanks.

  2. Dwight...

    The Federal Government took over 4 trillion dollars from The Social Security Fund to Fight The Wars in The Middle East. It seems to me that they’re hoping a large Number of people DIE so as not to be able to collect their Social Security Disability…

    This is your Tax Dollars At Work… It seems the sicker you are? The Least likely you are to be able to collect Social Security Disability… Or, If you worked on HARD LABOR JOBS Your entire life? You also will find in difficult to collect Social Security Disability..

    They’ve rigged the system to pay for the wars… And, the way things are going? IF you do live to be 62 years old. Social Security wont be there for you. Because they’re now trying to raise the age to get social security to over 70.

    Making sure that if you’re now in your 50’s and to ill to work? You’ll probably die before you’re able to collect social security. How you DIE? The federal Government doesn’t care. as long as you are Unable to collect Social Security benefits…

    I suggest you commit a crime that will send you to jail in your old age. Because the way things are going? your choices will be limited… But at least you wont be living on the streets in a cardboard box.

    Or, take what little money you have now and start a business, and rob people blind legally…. The Choice Is Yours…

  3. Shelley

    We are filing for my husband with a TBI. I find it key to call in and talk to the person who is assigned your case to ask questions like where are we in the process? What documentation are you waiting on? My husband had to go see a SSD doctor. I called doctors office to see when they sent the report and I called to see if the caseworker on husbands case received it. Low and behold he had it but didn’t know he had it because in his words there wasn’t an alert that it came in. I also called in another time to talk to his supervisor to find out why a 15 page report on my husbands TBI was being overlooked it seemed they were more focused on husbands Arthritis. Talking to the supervisor we were able to clear up what was happening and she informed me she would get on the caseworker to call me to administer a test of sorts over the phone to move to the next stage. Had I not called things would still be in limbo. You don’t have to hire a lawyer…..look in your area to see if there’s a disability advocate in your location.
    I highly recommend reading the website thoroughly. Great information. Stay in contact with your caseworker. Ask questions. Be sure you fall in the guidelines for disability and know what they are.

  4. Annette

    why does it take so long to finally get the approval letter and award ? Denied twice had a hearing in December 3 and its February and i still haven’t heard a thing. Applied back in 2013. ADJ approved me at the hearing.

  5. Kirk D.

    Im 55 y.o. and have been on ssdi since january 2007. I was divorced after one marriage where i had a child dependent. Anorher child out of wedlock in 1991. They recieved 340.00 each, in care of their mothers. They have since grown and stopped recieving the allotments. I make 1240.00 and really struggle like all hell to make it. Is there any other relief funds i can take advantage of since my full family allotments have stopped(due to my children coming of age?) I have spinal disease with multiple surgeries, emphysema. I cannot work to supplement myself due to these conditions. Please help. Thank you!

    • Ray F.

      Hello Mr. Davis, individuals receiving disability benefits may also be eligible to receive additional assistance from the state in which they live. These services include Medicaid, free meals, housekeeping help, transportation or help with other problems. You can get information about services in your area from your state or local social services or welfare office. You can also visit the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) web page for more information. We hope this information helps.

  6. Rose

    Hello,

    I forgot to ask in one of my other comments… but.. Can someone tell me why there is such an incredibly long wait to get a hearing with the ALJ (administrative law judge)? I was told my wait is approx. 1.5 years. If that is the case, I have 8 or 9 more months to go.

    Now, I do understand that there’s probably a lot of disabled folks waiting, so I can see how it would take a while, but it just seems that these waits are longer than they need to be? How many applicants a day do the judges hear? And do they hear these cases all day, kind of like a 9 to 5 sort of thing? I would be appalled if only a few cases are heard a week. I think there are at least 2 judges in my city, but there might be a couple more than that. I don’t know.

    I told my lawyer months ago that there was a good chance that I would be homeless before I got to talk to a judge, and he simply said that “if that happens, call me and I’ll see if I can get a hearing sooner.” That’s pretty frightening. Currently, I am not homeless, but it’s still a very good possibility. Imagine spending each & every day wondering if you will be able to get or borrow money to pay rent & utility bills. Imagine every night trying to sleep but you can’t because, well, pain is my # 1 reason, but being so stressed that it takes hours to fall asleep because you’re so worried about what the next day will bring. If it weren’t for my food stamps, I would literally have no food. I am so grateful for the small amount I get, and I am careful how I spend it. My eating habots aren’t the greatest, and I also can’t stand on my feet long enough to cook good food. I try, and I can do simple stuff like scrambled eggs (even that’s tough) but anything longer than that, I have to sit down. I have to do things in shifts, so to speak. Like resting before I can do the meal clean up. So I end up getting inexpensive frozen stuff that I can microwave, or I will make a quick sandwich. It’s rough.

    I’m one of those people who have fallen through the cracks. I’m 60, not quite blind, have no dependents, so I’m out of luck with trying to get Medicaid. This is one of the states that did not take advantage of the Medicaid expansion when Obamacare came into effect. And as grateful as I am for ACA, you have to meet some income criteria or you can’t even *get* ACA. So in other words, if you don’t have a dime to your name, you can’t get Obamacare’s tax credit. Then you end up not having health care, and then when tax time comes, you have to pay a fine. I’m still looking for work, but I am extremely limited for a number of reasons. 🙁

    It’s scary and shocking that I would have to wait until I am living in my car in order to “speed up” the process. Thinking about living in my car, among other things, brings me to tears almost every day. Don’t misunderstand; I would not want to “cut in line” so to speak. The LAST thing I want to be is homeless. I just want to know why wait to get a hearing is so long.

    Anyway, *whew*… I think I have digressed from my original question! Sorry for being so verbose. So if someone from SSA would know the reasons for the long waits (I’m sure there’s more than 1 reason), maybe they can help me understand. If it helps to know my location, I am in Idaho (I really don’t like to give out location information, etc) but I’m making an exception today.

    Thanks for reading, and best regards.

    Rose

    • Rose

      I also have OCD, and finding typos in my posts and not being able to edit the post to fix the typos… well, It’s pretty upsetting.

    • Ray F.

      Thanks for sharing your comment in our blog, Rose. The length of time it takes to get a hearing can vary from state to state. We attempt to resolve all claims promptly, but there may be delays due to the volume of pending appeals in your area. The good news is that we are trying to conduct many of our hearings through video teleconferencing (VTC) to speed up the process. Visit our “Hearing And Appeals” web page for more information, and continue working with your attorney and local hearing office on specific questions about your case.

      • Rose

        Mr. Fernandez,

        Just wanted to say thanks for your responses. This blog (and your other duties) must keep you pretty busy).

        Have a good day!

        Rose

        • Charl

          Taking the ovwevier, this post hits the spot

  7. Desi

    After reading responses to the blog, I found out many of the questions are answered from a resource available on the author’s website. The author (J.D) shares how she applied for SSDI online — on her own — and with no attorney assistance; and received her disability back-pay and benefits in 4 months. She shares “how to do it” in DETAIL, just like she did. The website is: http://www.applyfordisability-on-your-own.com. Thank you for sharing and helping others J.D.!

  8. Stephani S.

    Starting this process again for the second time. Denied the first time. My problem is bipolar with memory problem and confusion. I was an RN. This is such a humiliating process i just wonder from reading these posts if its even worth it if they deny mental conditions 🙁

    • Courtney

      Yes. I am on SSDI for being an emotional basket case, so you CAN get benefits on just your mental health status. Best of luck to you!

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  10. Lisa

    I have a friend who is unable to do her job in a medical office due to her own permanent health issue caused by cancer. She has been told to apply for SS Disability. She did and was turned down. We’ve heard you will be turned down at least twice and will need legal representation. Is this true? Thank you,

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