Social Security Says, "A Medical Decision Has Been Made". Change ), We are sorry that we are unable to respond to comments at this time. Reconsideration appeals have an even less likelihood of resulting in an approved disability claim. My application was a full ream thick. Before applying, Plumeria collected her medical records and prepared a cover letter and medical synopsis. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! If you are able to collect extra materials and submit them at the same time as your reconsideration forms, you may be able to increase your chances of quick approval: How Poppy Won Her Disability Reconsideration, Whenever you send things into Social Security, it’s a really good idea to check directly with your Disability Examiner and confirm if they have received everything, and see if your doctor’s records are all in your file. Social Security Says, "A Medical Decision Has Been Made". This is very helpful. I put them in order chronologically and put a page number on each page. Trying to waltz into your local SSA office for the first time expecting to get approved right off the bat, is setting yourself up for failure. The denial of Disability benefits are quite common in Social Security, especially when learning how to apply for Disability benefits for the first time and hoping to get approved. ”, Dr. Rowe’s Outstanding Letter for POTs and ME/CFS, How I Got Approved for Disability Using Compassionate Allowance Rules, Buttercup Makes the Best Application Ever Seen, Disability Tips from a Former Social Worker, Daisy Helps Her Mom Get Approved for Disability, How Poppy Won Her Disability Reconsideration, How to Stay In Touch with Your Disability Examiner, How to Help a Friend Get Approved for Disability, Stimulus Checks for Adults Who are Dependents, Three Places to Sign Up For Stimulus Checks, How to Get Groceries Delivered with SNAP Food Stamps (EBT), How To Get a Stimulus Check if You Don't File Taxes, Stimulus Checks Tips for Parents (Including Parents of Adult Disabled Children). Please comment below with your questions, stories, input and ideas. It’s never too much. “It took weeks of work on my part and I needed help along the way. . I have a ruptured disc and get cortisone shots. Before I applied, I collected four written letters from doctors. “Although I was was very seriously ill and could not cook, clean, shop, drive, or even walk down the street, most of my tests had come back “normal.” I could not afford special tests and was not well enough to travel to see more doctors. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. (HUD, Section 8 & Low Income Housing).  Art on this page by Robin Mead and Elizabeth D’Angelo. Even going by the Social Security Administration’s own statistics, they show that less than 40 percent of people who apply for Disability benefits will get approved. Increase Your Chances of Getting Approved the First Time You Apply, How to Have Doctor Visits That Create Accurate Records, Laurel Gets Two Great Letters and Two Great Forms. I’ve attempted to take my life 2x and had 20+ years of hospitalizations. Even for medical conditions that automatically qualify for disability (and there are only a few), there are financial or legal requirements that need to be met before someone gets approved for disability. I was approved after 7 months with no denials or court. You have a couple different ways to apply for disability benefits. I really followed most the advice on this site. If you don’t get approved the first time, don’t despair. The suffered along with me. I sent that info because it does affect me working. it took them 8 months from the time I saw the judge til now to approve me, I am relieved. This has some very useful info that I needed! Speak Up. Send everything you can. Can A Lawyer Help Me Get Approved More Quickly? You are still welcome to leave comments and we hope that other readers will come by to reply. If you have the right kind doctor and the right kind of medical documentation right from the beginning, there is a much better chance you can get approved the first time you apply. If you don’t, you’ll receive a nonmedical, or “technical,” denial. You get a second chance! I collected all my medical records myself up front. Does a Lawyer Help a New Disability Application? If the onset date they choose is the same onset date you asked for, this is … The typical disability application takes 2-3 years. That seemed more appropriate to me being a layperson. If you apply in person or by phone, your disability interview will likely occur at that time. This date may or may not be the same date you think you became disabled. When Will It Come? Others wait until they at the hearing stage. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. How Sweet Pea Got Approved, “The caseworker told me to collect two years worth of my medical visits and lab tests. Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. Everything listed above also applies to the Reconsideration stage. Keep appealing. Common misconceptions about SSDI claims You can do this by making an appointment at your local Social Security office. Also: kindly let us know if any links on this page stop working. They will fill out basic paperwork, but most to do not make extra effort early in the process. I would also add that it’s great if people can request all their records through the records manager at their doctor’s office. They received the standard percentage for it. Thank you so much for writing such helpful articles! I’m asking because this site said ” They can sometimes receive nothing. I would much rather put the work in on the front end than to be denied and have to wait for a hearing. ( Log Out /  I have CFS and hope to soon have a diagnosis. The first thing I did was download and print out the application. However, there are special forms you can bring your Social Worker that can help: Can Anyone Else Help Me Get Approved More Quickly? About 75 percent of all SSDI and SI applications are turned down on the first review. How Much Time Off Do You Get With Short-Term Disability? Magnolia used to work at Social Security making decisions about disability applications. 5. There are exceptions as there should be but that is for cases with special circumstances and such. It’s an incredible labor of love. Amaryllis is a former Social Worker. Thank you so much for posting this. I am thrilled! I worked in the court system for many years, and I assure you there is nothing an attorney can do for you that you cannot do yourself. It’s just so hard to tell strangers all this so they can judge you. Getting approved isn’t easy, so make sure you know what you’re getting yourself into. My doctor said something that helped me. Where Can I Find a Good One? Amaryllis Gets Approved in Four Months. You can earn a maximum of up to four work credits each year, or a total of one credit per quarter. Last year more than three million people applied for social security disability benefits and that number is expected to rise each year. But, bear this in mind: My experience was that when I was at my most desperate and I lashed out at either Social Security or my Advocate or both, they were beyond sympathetic. She helped hundreds of people get on disability and services. Have not moved away from my laptop since! I learned yesterday that I was approved! Can I Help Myself Get Approved More Quickly?  How and Where to Apply for Disability – How to get started. If you are truly devestatingly ill and can no longer work – theses advocates are worth their weight in gold. Attorneys can get up to $6,000 (sometimes higher at higher levels). How is My Rent Calculated? I got approved last week!!!!!! But what if you don't have recent evidence? So do both no matter what. I got copies of all my medical records. The doctors do not tell people this but… records that people view online are not the full records, so many people think they are seeing everything their doctor writes and later discover they haven’t been. 3.) How Can Friends or Family Help My Application? This site is such a huge blessing. That is how long it took me to gather every record and every piece of information. If the CPP does not approve your application, you can appeal. Maybe. To qualify, you must have worked in a job that withholds FICA taxes for 5-10 years first. She started a new application and got approved in just six weeks!” Ivy Starts a New Application, Seven things Marigold did to help her application: Described her symptoms and limitations; Asked for help; Went to 10+ doctors; Found doctors who were good at documenting disability; Had regular, recent doctor visits; Documented both mental and physical health; Got letters from friends and family; Got letter from former employer. Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. Wonderful post! Instead, she found a super smart way to get approved anyway. Before I applied, I collected four written letters from doctors. Don’t get discouraged. After seeing the sequential evaluation process, it may make more sense there would not be a lot of Social Security Disability approvals the first time someone files for disability. My mom thought we could still prove that I was sick and she was right! How to Have Doctor Visits That Create Accurate Records, “Thank you to everyone on this fabulous website. I was diagnosed with Congestive Heart Failure (non-ischemic, 18% ef..) a little over a year ago. Updated January 2019. Disability Application to Hearing. Social security wants to make sure you are actively getting medical care. To get your disability approved, make sure you are seen by your doctor or doctors regularly. Just don’t give up! This is dependent on how your condition affects your ability to perform the basic activities of daily living (BADL), not by rigid definitions of medical conditions or disabilities. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. My approval letter arrived a week later. Recently, she decided to try again. “I waited four months before applying. I was feeling really anxious when I was looking it up, but it’s so great to have access to articles like yours that lay out so clearly how to do things–that list your options and can break down what you need step-by-step. Two weeks later, I received my first disability payment. Learn about the medical-vocational allowance and the RFC you need to be found disabled. ” How to Get a Great Disability Letter, Many of our readers had great records but then discovered their most important documents were either lost, overlooked, placed in the wrong file, or never received. It is cruel and helps no one to make folks trying to help you feel unnecessarily bad. 2.) You can do it!! Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. Even if an individual does not meet or equal an impairment listing, they still may be approved the first time they apply for disability if they are able to get through the five-step sequential evaluation process that Social Security uses on every disability case decision. The attorney attached their name to my case and didn’t have to do anything to get it. Epic Master List of Disability Accommodation Letters for Housing. Were you or someone you know approved for Disability on the first try? daunting! Read Amaryllis’ Disability Tips from a Former Social Worker, “Ivy spent two years applying for disability and got denied at a hearing. The … Most SOAR programs work with people who have a diagnosis of serious mental illness. Carmen Gets Approved in Two Months It’s important to do both physical and mental RFC forms. Susan discovered she had an illness on the Compassionate Allowance List, a special list of conditions that are approved quickly. Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. While there are no guarantees in this world, and it does not work in all cases, many of our readers have found that by taking steps to improve their applications at the very beginning, they were able to get approved in 6 months or less. Blog and have to see for reference SSDI is kind of like taking retirement benefits early—and if approved it... Doctor and the atty fee would have increased before i applied, i collected four written letters from.! Snapshot of your disability advocate complex and time-consuming for instance, mine is for mental but! Approved for disability on the first time, some states have a diagnosis serious! To put in the first review backpay would have increased see the Security! Be very important, POTS, or much about your condition then added what to. Her application, but there is very real hope is part of the listing several times on application. 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