Re: Disability Advice

[Guest guest]

Teri,

Do you mean you are going to open a NEW application with the SSA? If

so, I recommend you do it on-line/electronically through the SSA

website http://www.ssa.gov/applyfordisability/adult.htm

Did you ask your attorney WHY he/she recommends a NEW application, and WHY

he/she suggests you go to your SSA office in person, instead of submitting new

info/medical info, vocational info, etc., to the ALJ for either an 'on the

record' decision (without you present) or to meet privately with the ALJ and

your attorney in the Judge's chambers, or to have either a formal or video

hearing?

You already filed a Request for Reconsideration, right? Were you

denied on that also? Then did you file a Request for an ALJ Hearing

or not?

If you open a NEW application, you stand to loose any back due

benefits. If you're already in the " process " it makes more sense to submit more

medical info and reasons WHY you are unable to work, along with the nature of

your severity.

It just seems odd to me that an attorney would suggest opening a brand new

claim.

~ Gretchen

[Guest guest]

Gretchen,

Hello! Hope all is well with you. As for your reply, my lawyer wasted over 8

months since I was initially turned down. Nothing was done by him so I have to

start over with the process.

He feels it would be best to go in person so they could see me and interact with

me. I have all my papers and medical records ready to take down with me.

Why would I lose back benefits? I thought that if I applied again within the

year deadline of the last denial that if I was approved the second time that I

would receive the back amount?

This is all so confusing to me!

Teri

[Guest guest]

Hi Teri,

OK, now I get it. Knew I forgot some of your background on this.

(lol, hard to 'remember' everything that our members are doing.)

Now that electronic filing can be done, we recommend this. It can be

quite a stressful hassle for some persons going to their SSA office,

and I am not a fan of stressing already stressed people! Also, the

reps at the SSA office have NOTHING to do with 'deciding' if you

receive benefits. As for seeing you in person, it is your choice,

but consider that your attorney did NOTHING for you in 8 months and

NOW wants you to appear in person at the SSA office!

The reps push papers, collect all your medical files, forms,

letters, etc., for the next 'level' of Disability Determination

Analysts or whatever they are calling themselves now. Essentially,

no one at the face-to-face level makes any decisions about your

claim - except later in front of a Judge if your claim goes that way.

If you have all the info, papers, and medical records, you can file

a claim electronically, print off the requirements at the end, AND

attach all your papers, send it ALL in together - signed certified

mail receipt. Keep a copy of the whole enchilada at home in a safe

place. Along with all your other SSA papers.

If you go to the local office in person, take notes about what the

rep says, get his/her name, etc., when you come home, type up those

notes and put in your home file. (Make copies of the info you give

to the rep) SSA has 'problems' with loosing papers, and the reps

aren't real friendly folks, but like I said, it's your choice.

However, if I had an attorney who did nothing for me in 8 months, I

surely wouldn't take any more advice from him.

You may not loose the back benefits - for some reason I was going by

a 60 day deadline on the RR and mixed that up with a year-

application time.

I hope this helps.

~ Gretchen