Mar 19 2009
Social Security Disability Is Not as Cut and Dry…
as some people would like to make out.
And, SSDI is not all about us old folks either.
Social Security Disability [SSDI] is more difficult to obtain than it should be. The system is set up to discourage and, discourage many of the people who deserve it, it does.
Many people in the United States believe that Social Security Disability is akin to Welfare. I’m here to tell you it is not.
SSDI is insurance money the government took out our pay checks our whole working lives. To the point, this is our money.
Unlike Supplemental Security Income [SSI] which is welfare for the disabled who never paid into SSDI.
Don’t get the two mixed up.
90% of Americans who apply for SSDI are turned down the first time they apply. It’s about the same number of people that are turned down the second and third time. Then they’re finally forced to go before a judge to fight their case.
What I want to make clear is this: the Social Security system doesn’t give a rats-ass about any of us. Yes, I mean the “us” who have paid our hard earned dollars into the system.
When something catastrophic happens [a disabling accident, a chronic disease etc…] to take us out of the work force, Social Security then becomes our enemy.
They ask all about your medical history and what diagnoses you have. Guess what, it’s all a sham.
There was a man who was in the last stages of prostrate cancer. He applied for SSDI and was turned down. The man died before he received a penny of the money he paid into the system. Not a penny of his money.
The only thing SS cares about is whether you can work or not and why. It’s simple as that.
SSDI is our money folks. Don’t let their system keep you from getting what’s yours.
It takes years to finally wade through the Social Security bog.
It took me 3 years of not working. I suffered through evictions, utility shut-offs, standing in lines at the food pantry and depending on the kindness of my friends.
My Advice:
1. Persevere — they’re hoping you go away or die.
2. Consistency — keep going to the Doctor. Make sure your Doctor annotates your records about how your disability is affecting your every day life. Get your Doctor to strongly state that you cannot work.
Make sure all tests and diagnoses are in your records.
a. Tell the Doctor you can’t sit long.
b. Tell the Doctor you can’t stand long.
c. Tell the Doctor you must stop to take frequent naps.
d. Tell the Doctor your boss is threatening to fire you because of your loss of productivity.
e. Tell the Doctor about how you can’t get out of bed.
f. Explain about your consistent and chronic pain.
3. GET A LAWYER — You see them on T.V. advertising. They can help and they do. When you get the lawyer, you won’t have to pay until they win your case. When they win your case their payment is capped at $5,300 [or less]. SSDI will take the lawyers earning right off the top of your back pay.
4. Call your Congressmen — Some states are worse than others. You made need Congressional help.
5. Don’t be afraid, demand what’s yours. When they turn you down a second or third time — APPEAL!
What ever your condition make the Doctor annotates your records. Don’t be afraid to demand help from your Doctor.
If your Doctor is one of those who’s afraid to fight with SS then, find another Doctor who will listen.
SS needs to be revamped. The best way to revamp the system is to get those on SSI out of the SSDI pocket.
Personally I resent all those who receive SSI. Why, because they’ve never paid into the system.
I believe that it’s the SSI recipients who have taxed the SSDI system and have made it difficult for those of us who have paid into it.
Am I angry? Yes, I’m angry. I was one step away from being homeless. Now that the ordeal is over, I’m relieved.
Patience is truly a virtue when it comes to applying for SSDI and worth the aggravation when, all is said and done.
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As a former social worker I can attest that everything you stated in this article is correct. I used to advise clients to apply for SSI and also told them they had a 60% chance of being denied. I then told them to appeal, appeal, appeal. With each appeal the chance of getting it increases. I think the program gambles that x amount of people will not know to do that or how, so that’s less money they pay out. An attorney is not always necessary. There are disability advocates out there if one searches. They can walk the client through the process and not get a piece of the money pie.
askcherlock
I was so upset for over 3 years waiting for my approval.
The system is an abomination to the people who’ve paid into it.
You who dislike the SSI program and/or recipients may want to get down from your high horse attitudes! Do you think our medical situations are less debilitating than yours; do we not deserve help? Don’t you think there are just as many rip-offs with SSDI as there are with SSI?
I had been denied group insurance due to just one of my disabilities, but continued to work until I could no longer manage the pain and was afraid of causing damage to patients because of my own disabilities.
When I filed for SSDI, I was informed that I was not eligible; yes, I had the required amount of work credits but unfortunately, not in the required years. That left me applying for SSI… 26 months later with ruined credit, and barely able to walk or function mentally, I was awarded the below poverty level income that SSI provides, but I am grateful for my $674 a month and the medicaid benefits that bit by bit are allowing me to continue walking and functioning.
Without these benefits suicide would have been my best option; how was I to manage my disabilities when I was unable to work any longer, and had no insurance through work due to just one of my disabilities? What would you have me do? Perhaps we all should be shuffled off to the cookie factory, including SSDI recipients, saving SS for retirees only. But hey that would cost tax dollars also and then ya be bitchin on that one!
Do you think we SSI recipients enjoy this life? I can’t even rent an apartment as the average rent is more than my entire monthly income, and I have been on the housing list for over a year now. If it weren’t for friends I would be among the homeless, living in my car or on the streets.
But, yeah man, I enjoy this SSI life that doesn’t allow me to earn more than $85 per month without being penalized, doesn’t allow me to even receive Christmas or birthday monetary gifts without penalty, doesn’t allow me to live out of the country where life is more affordable as SSDI recipients are allowed, doesn’t allow me to rent housing other than HUD housing (and only once my name comes up on the list), and I could go on, but to what point.
Being an SSI recipient has taught me a valuable lesson on many levels; one you may want to consider yourself! There but for the grace of God go I…so you who have a “hate on” for SSI, may want to thank God instead of judging those on SSI and what you know nothing about!