How I Navigated the Social Security Disability Process
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: October 19, 2015
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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Tags: Disability, online services, social security, SSA
See CommentsAbout 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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John S.
I find it simply perplexing because, since your were born, a million dollars is given to the state you were born in for each year you are alive. If you think I am making this up then go to https://tatoott1009.com/2014/02/01/your-birth-certificate-was-made-into-a-bondits-worth-billions/ . I thought it was a nutcase conspiracy theory until I talked to a couple of private attorneys generals that confirmed what I read. There is no shortage of money for anything the government wants to fund. It boils down to whether or not some bureaucrat decides you live or die. Go to the website and scroll down to “Proof ALL of Your Debt is PRE-PAID!” His site is very spastic, yet includes the information most Americans will never see.
Shannon
I filed for disability in June 2011 after my life was turned upside down. I had always taken my health for granted, never imagining that I would ever become too ill to work. After all, I was only 33 years old when my health began to fail me. I had given birth to a baby girl in December 2008 and within three to four months of her birth my body started going through some unsettling changes. I was always nauseous, tired and weak. Then I started losing strength on the left side of my body. It was difficult to even prepare bottles for my infant daughter because my hands were in so much pain.
To make a VERY LONG story short…. I was passed from doctor to doctor for a year and a half until I was finally diagnosed with severe Rheumatoid arthritis, Fibromyalgia, Pernicious anemia, Degenative Joint Disease and Degenative Disc Disease. It was bitter sweet because it was terrible news, but at the same time it was a difficult year and a half of the unknown.
During this health crisis I continued to work full time as the Head Director of a before and after school child care program. It was my dream job. I worked very hard to advance from an Assistant to the Director to become the Head Director. I thought that I had the support of my staff, fellow teachers, and Principals. But I couldn’t have been more wrong! On February 12, 2010, I was called into the Superintendent’s office and I was fired on the spot. I was told that I was not up to performance any longer. I was devastated!!
Although I didn’t want to admit that I wasn’t able to work anymore, I had my family doctor and my Rheumatologist telling me to file for disability. It took me a little over a year to finally except that I was very ill and could not work. I filed online by myself initially and I was quickly denied. I decided to hire an attorney and start the Reconsiderations, etc. Finally the time came to go before an ALJ. I waited about a month and got my denial letter. It basically stated that I was too young and too educated. (TRY TELLING MY BODY THAT!) My attorney and I filed an appeal….. Denied… I was finally at the Federal level when I fired my attorney. He said “Good luck finding a new attorney who will take your claim to Federal court!”
After researching attorneys in the next larger city, I found a great one! He took my case and was determined to find justice. And that he did…. We got my case remanded in Federal court. On June 6, 2016, we won a bench decision!!! On June 16th I received the judge’s approval letter and he approved my onset date of February 2010!! Yay!! Today is August 21, 2016 and I’m still waiting for my back pay. I haven’t received a monthly payment yet either. It’s very hard to remain patient when I have been dealing with SSA for over six years.
I spoke to someone at the Baltimore Payment Processing center on Friday and she said that tomorrow will be sixty days since they started working on my case. She said that their goal is to pay out by sixty days and to watch for a deposit this week. * I’m crossing my fingers!!!!
#tootiredtobeexhausted
Elise
Congratulations!! Keep the faith and be strong!
S7475
I was told that the judges receive bonuses for the amount of denials they have each year. I have been fighting for 4 years and now must refile because all appeals have been exhausted. Wondering if I should hire a new attorney?
Rose R.
To S7475,
? I seriously doubt that. As for you claiming “I was told…”
SMH. TOLD by whom?
ErikaVazquezAguilar
I was born with a neurological disorder. I was not diagnosed until 2011, after my symptoms became more apparent; headaches which lasted for days, neck pain and stiffness, back pain, leg/arm weakness and numbness, balance issues, spouts of vertigo, dizziness, nausea, double vision, ringing in my ears, hearing loss, fatigue, weakness, and other symptoms. I had brain surgery in 2014 to ‘decompress’ my brain. But, the symptoms of my neurological disorder, Chiari Malformation Type 1 are still present. I applied for disability but was denied.
I truly do not understand how the SSA decided that. They concluded that my symptoms are not severe enough to keep me from working in a different job other than what I was working before. I am trying to do that, but my symptoms are so unpredictable, that it is extremely difficult to keep a steady schedule.
There’s only so many times one can call in sick. There are only so many times one can get away from not completing tasks.
I am very frustrated with the system that is supposed to help.
Beth
My lawyer stated that ALJs, and folks at the disability offices, are not under ANY incentive to take the time to read carefully through your file/medical records. There are not enough people at SSA to do the job, they are often underpaid (except the judges), and they are expected to push “x” amount of cases through each month. The only incentive they have to keep their jobs is to move paperwork through as quickly as possible. This is also true at the AC level. Unless your case is fairly clear cut, like cognitive damage, brain surgery, severe damage to your heart or kidneys, cancer, blindness, etc., expect long, long delays. It’s only at the federal (judge) level that you may have an excellent judge who will spend the time necessary to really look into your medical records. This is helpful, especially if you have a lot of “lesser” things wrong with you, such that when added together, these problems create a major disability. ( If the judge is in your district, it also helps if you’ve hired a qualified, fair, well known lawyer with a good reputation who is also in your district.) To suggest that perhaps some people who have applied for SSI or SSDI are experiencing hardships because they may not know how to fill out an application for SSDI or SSI correctly, on line or otherwise, is ridiculous. It is also laughable to suggest that some people are “gaming” the system and that’s why they have such negative experiences. There are always a few people that are going to game any system, but the majority of people who are applying for Social Security disability are not doing so. The security disability system was set up to be very difficult “to get” when it was originally formed in the 1950s. It is still that way today. You have to meet a lot of different criteria: such as, you usually have to be over age 50, meet very stringent guidelines about how disabled you are, be unable to work for a year or more due to these disabling conditions, or you have to be expected to die soon in some cases. To get SSDI you have to have worked and paid intro the system, and even then, the SSDI award is designed to be a rather paltry amount. The majority of people, even today, who are awarded social security disability, if you do the research you will find, are indeed often over age 50. Also, most have met the stringent medical criteria necessary for SSDI awards. Most are unable to ever work again and so have given up often fulfilling, lucrative careers for 1200.00 – 1300.00 per month SSDI payments. About 20 to 25 percent of those who do receive SSDI or SSI die within 5 years of their award. And often, most people who apply for SSDI have gone years without any income while waiting to hear from the Social Security Administration. Therefore, they have lost their homes sometimes; they have lots of loans that they have taken out from relatives and others that they have to pay back with some of their award money. They often have back taxes or other sources of funds, charity that they must repay somehow if awarded SSDI, finally. So, it’s not like you’re receiving a great deal of money even if you get backpay when awarded. Why would anyone go through all of that just to scam the system? Yes, I think there probably are some bad apples out there, but not a ton as many people suggest. The negativity comes from the very real frustration of floating through an ocean of bureaucratic rules, regs, red tape, paperwork, unbelievable wait times ( in our technological age), and often dealing with overworked and often underpaid SSA staff—and never expecting this from your own government—not from the applicants’ inability to fill out forms swiftly and correctly, and not from hundreds of thousands of applicants who are clogging the system by “faking it”.
ErikaVazquezAguilar
I completely agree
Rose R.
Beth,
Excellent and spot on. I also completely agree with you. ??
LeslieM
For SSI application status- what is the confirmation number?
ALSO, as a NYC resident should I try to apply for Food Stamps or will that be part of my SSI benefit?
R.F.
Hi Leslie. Generally, you get a confirmation number after you apply for regular Social Security disability benefits (or SSDI) online, you then need to complete the application for Supplemental Security Information (SSI) benefits at a local office. Please continue working with your local office for status on your application. For information about the food stamps program, also called the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), you will need to contact your local SNAP office. You will also find a list of States that allows you to apply online. We hope this information helps!
Joans
I was diagnose of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) 2 years ago, my family doctor told me there is no cure but it can only be controled. Ever since then i have been running heather scepter looking for a solution to my problem because i was going to lose my Job if i dont get better, until i ran into this online testimony of Mrs Stacey who have been cured of COPD by this herbal clinic in Johannesburg (Ejiro Herbal Clinic), i immediately contacted them via their email, to God be thy glory i bought this COPD herbal remedy and was cured within 3 weeks of usage, at last this is a break through for all COPD patients contact this herbal clinic via their email ejiroherbalclinic(at)gmail(dot)com or call +27617403481 (Please write email in right format)
Rose R.
Joans,
??This is not the right site to try and sell that snake oil. ☢️⛔
Soledad
The lady who wrote this was an educated executive who had to have brain surgeries due to an accident. Number one, her social status helped her, and number two, she had five brain surgeries… of course they approved her in four months. I have several things wrong with me, but according to the social security people I have to prove I can’t function according to their guidelines… It doesn’t matter that I have been going to doctors for 15 yrs. It doesn’t matter that I’m seeing several different doctors and they don’t take into consideration that with several illnesses, if one’s not bothering you as much 3 days a month, one of the others probably is… I’ve known people who’ve had several back surgeries and had to fight for years to get it. I’ve known people with cancer who had to appeal and appeal to get it… I spoke to an attorney. The attorney told me that I had all the criteria I needed to apply, but I have a full time job right now… even though I’m out on FML right now.. They won’t even consider me for disability if I make over $950 a month. I am not married. I have no family to take me in and keep me up. How can I survive on $950 a month? And, she said the average wait period is 2 1/2 years. She said unless you are blind or are terminal it’s near impossible to get disability the first time you apply. She said most people are turned down twice and then have to go in front of a judge. People say… work part time, get food stamps… News flash.. Adults who are not already classified disabled, are not elderly, or don’t have children can’t get food stamps. They might get $20 a month. You can’t do much with that. They say get help with bills, but the only help you can get is maybe from a church or a community outreach where they pay a utility bill, but they will only do that one or two months a year, that doesn’t help the rest of that 2 1/2 year waiting period. So, this lady’s story is not typical. I think it’s wrong to make people wait this long. I understand they are trying to deter people from trying to draw, but how fair is it on people to do that? Especially people with mental disorders who are trying to survive, but the more they have to wait for resolutions, the more chance they have of committing suicide.. And there’s no help. You would think with the attention suicide got when Robin Williams killed himself, and everybody wished they could have helped him… or you would think with all the people with mental disorders losing it and shooting people, they would try to get them resolved quickly… As to not put more stress on them, but nope. If they are going to deny people twice, why can’t they do it sooner so people can figure out what they are going to do with themselves… In reality, it shouldn’t take 2 1/2 years. That’s just ridiculous. It should be criminal to do people that way. They don’t care how we have to survive. In the meantime, I will go back to work soon because I can’t afford not to. I will hurt, I will get in trouble for being slow, I will probably get fired for having to miss work.. because, let’s face it, even if you have FML, companies have a way of finding ways to get rid of you if you aren’t satisfying them… Good luck everybody! And if you figure something out, let me know on here…
SD
I recently was denied by SSA and I don’t have anything positive to say about them. They ignored most of the medical evidence in my file, including reports from six different doctors, and actually told me, “you have pain and can’t concentrate but you can still do any work.”
I’m appealing, but who knows how long that will take…and in the meantime, since I really cannot work I have no income at all. I wish SSA would realize that when they take a year to decide someone’s case, and ignore medical evidence as they did for me, they are destroying lives.
Hurt a.
I am in the process of my appeal. I am not sure what else they want from me. I was injured at work tearing my right rotator cuff. Two surgeries (and 3 years) later, I stil don’t have full use of my right arm. My hand constantly goes numb. Now I am having issues with my left hand going numb. I have been seeing a psychiatrist and have been diagnosed as bipolar, severe depression, panoc and anxiety disorders and agoraphobic. I also have osteoarthritis in my knees and back and often am in so much pain I can’t walk. I have been prescribed a psychiatric service dog but don’t like taking him with me because people mock me. It’s not fun to be in this condition and I don’t know what else to do. I have contemplated suicide several times. I don’t have money and am relying on my mom to help with my bills. This is very hard to deal with and I don’t know if I can take much more.