About these disabil's hearings

January 30, 2008

Hello all of you who are out fighting for the government to give you something

that is already yours---

I fought for disability many years ago and finally got it-- usually you are

denied at least two times that I know of --- the government tests your

perserverence and their right to keep your money, of course. After all who has

more, you or them?

Anyhow, have ALL paper work in top notch order. If you use an attorney make

sure he/she has ALL medical records and Dr's reports, work related days of

months out--- and if it is through worker's comp, hang on for a longer duration.

My disability hearing was humiliating for it was for mental disease--- manic

depression as it was termed in those days--- and I could not walk from severe

depression and was down to 90 pounds and cried all the time--- but a friend and

I did the entire thing alone--- no attorney and in 6 months( after being denied

once) I was awarded SSI--- which is basically what it is called. Social

Security Insurance Disability which awarded me medical benefits and a small

stipend for not being able to work anymore. I get " better " from time to time but

then I have a depressive episode and it slams me down and takes me months to

crawl back out.Now of course my physical issues are beathiing out my mental

problem. And they both are interactive on each other. The cervical stenosis and

ridiculopathy has made me quite depressed.

The " fight " is worth it if you know that you can never gain full employment

without any medical problems again.

The hearing itself consisted of a judge and he had a court appointed

psychologist. I had a cache of records, many statements from my DR, and years of

evidence showing that I was not well. I was turned down the first time but

succeeded the second time. There was a year interim and I was awarded that back

money in one lump sum. They deposit the Disability check into your account and

they can check the amount anytime as in an audit-- to see if you have no more

than you are supposed to-- for if they find out that you have more than you ever

stated under oath then they can penalize you monetarily. Once you get disability

and stay on it, you can only own a home and car but not have life insurance or

" work " to make extra monies unless you want to be owing them for the money that

you make over the stipend they expect you to live on each month. I get 650

dollars a month and if I want,

food stamps---- but the best thing about SSI disability is that you receive

medical benefits as in medicaid and though it is socialized medicine and clinic

settings usually you do not have to pay for Dr's or your meds. Perhaps you might

have a small co pay.

I don't know if this helps anyone--- I have such shame for what has " happened "

to me-- being ill whether it be physical or mental and not being able to be a

full participant in the life- system is an inflating failure for me, personally.

I used to be a professor and/but when I was diagnosed with my condition it

finally explained what was " wrong " with me all my life.

If my testimony has offended any of you I am sorry, I thought that I would

share with you how disability insurance has helped me. I am so grateful and feel

blessed.

Good luck to all of you and keep up the good fight.

PS-- For the marine in the group--- my father is a Bataan Death March survivor

and now is 88. He was a POW for 4 1/2 years in a JAP camp in the Philippines. He

walked that terrible march and was tortured by those heinous JAPS. His stories

are incredible. I am indebted to men who have made this country great and one of

them is my own father!

God bless you for your service.

A poet is, after all, to see

---------------------------------

Never miss a thing. Make your homepage.

January 31, 2008

I am in awe, your father is an amazing man. I wish I could hear some of those

stories. and thank you for sharing yours. I understand the feeling " ashamed. "

I'm still trying to sort everything out. take care. Tell your father " semper

fi " for me please.

rob<html><div>No greater burden can be borne by an individual than to know no

one cares or understands. </div></html>

neck pain@...: gatorma1@...: Wed, 30 Jan

2008 05:12:45 -0800Subject: About these disabil's hearings

Hello all of you who are out fighting for the government to give you something

that is already yours---I fought for disability many years ago and finally got

it-- usually you are denied at least two times that I know of --- the government

tests your perserverence and their right to keep your money, of course. After

all who has more, you or them?Anyhow, have ALL paper work in top notch order. If

you use an attorney make sure he/she has ALL medical records and Dr's reports,

work related days of months out--- and if it is through worker's comp, hang on

for a longer duration.My disability hearing was humiliating for it was for

mental disease--- manic depression as it was termed in those days--- and I could

not walk from severe depression and was down to 90 pounds and cried all the

time--- but a friend and I did the entire thing alone--- no attorney and in 6

months( after being denied once) I was awarded SSI--- which is basically what it

is called. Social Security Insurance Disability which awarded me medical

benefits and a small stipend for not being able to work anymore. I get " better "

from time to time but then I have a depressive episode and it slams me down and

takes me months to crawl back out.Now of course my physical issues are beathiing

out my mental problem. And they both are interactive on each other. The cervical

stenosis and ridiculopathy has made me quite depressed.The " fight " is worth it

if you know that you can never gain full employment without any medical problems

again. The hearing itself consisted of a judge and he had a court appointed