Need your Soc Sec Expertiece

Hey all,

I applied for SSD based on my 3/3 liver (50% necrosis with bridging fibrosis) as well as for my rheumatoid arthritis.  I filed on May 22, saw social security's psych on July 31, for the memory/brain fog issues.  I saw the Social Security MD the following week for eval of the Hep/Liver and the RA (don't understand why they didn't use specialists for these issues)  4 weeks after seeing the MD I got a phone call from the MD and had to go back because they forgot to draw blood.  That was 2 weeks ago Tuesday.  

I logged on the SS web site on Tuesday and it said that a decision had been  made in my claim and that I would receive it by mail. Anybody got any ideas on how long it will take me to receive this?  I know I'll probably get turned down the first time but a gal can  always dream  right? I thought the appointment with both docs went well and in my favor.  My knees actually popped and cracked for them, I had some redness and swelling going on in my foot and struggled with the doorknob.

I have read where some people have actually got a telephone call from a SS rep to talk about their condition.  I didn't get one of these phone calls.

What experiences to ya'll have?

Mouse
Genotype 1a, Stage 3, Grade 3
Finished 48 wks of tx on 4/13/07
Hoping for SVR on 9/20/07
(7+ days and counting!)

[tumbleweed1999]

First off, yes you will probably be denied the first round.  Most (not all) do.  Then you just appeal and most times it goes thru if you have any case at all, which  you do.  Then again, in your case, you may just get blessed real good and have it go thru the first time.  That would be awesome and is what I hope happens for you.

You are asking how long it will take a gov't. entity to mail you a letter?  LOL   I'm sorry, if  you saw it online then I would say a week to 10 days.  Typically.

Don't feel slighted 'cause you didn't get a phone call -:).  I didn't either - just letters.

Hope this helps.  You knew most of it anyway, huh! -:))  Like you said - "A girl can dream".

Let us know as soon as you hear anything.  K?

TTYL

Geri
Geri

[tumbleweed1999]

P.S.  

We are counting down with you..  WhooPeee!!

[susan400]

I am on Soc. Sec. Dis.  It was not just based on the Hep, but on the mental/brain fog thing, too.  (Like yours)   I was turned down 3 times and finally, pursued it with a Soc. Sec. Dis. Lawyer.  They only make you pay out of your back pay, if they win.  It's not that huge of a percentage (at least mine wasn't), compared to how much easier it is to win it.  I used a guy in Orlando that advertises on T.V.    I'll try to write it, but it may get deleted!  His colleague came over to Melbourne for my hearing.  Anyhow, his name is Mark Nation of the Nations Law Firm.  Since he is already advertising on T.V., I see no harm in putting this down.  But, of course, MedHelp might not see it that way.  

Susan

[seabean]

I was turned down twice, then hired a lawyer.  It took me two years to finally win my case.  I supposed to get my first check this month.  My case was not based on the HCV but all the other problems as well.  

Good Luck!  See ya at Dixie Crossroads.

Judi

[FloridaMouse]

I got my rejection letter from Social Security today.  And this is what it said ...

"You state that you are disabled and unable to work because of rheumatoid arthritis, liver disease, malaise and concentration problems, hypothyroidism, hypertension, hepatitis C, history of leukemia and fatigue.  We have reviewed the medial records and it shows that you may not be capable of working at this time". ..

"We have determined that your condition is not expected to remain severe enough for 12 months in a row to keep you from working".

Although I was expecting to get turned down, I was not expecting them to go with the thinking that in 12 months time my liver would reverse itself and they would find a cure for RA.   .   (actually 6 months for a cure if you take into consideration I've already been out of work for 6 months).

I'm fortunate in that my husband has a good enough income to take care of us, but I feel so sorry for those that are not in a decent financial situation.

I've got 60 days to file an appeal and I'm going to wait to do this until after I get my 6 mos. post PCR results.

Mouse
Genotype 1a, Stage 3, Grade 3
Finished 48 weeks of tx on 4/13/07
Hoping for SVR on 9/20/07
(6+ days and counting!... holding my breath too!)

[seabean]

Sorry to hear about your rejection letter, but no surprise.  They pretty much said the same thing to me.  I had just been taken off treatment because I was close to dying.  Both of my doctors told me I was the sickest patient they had ever had except for cancer patients yet the government says so sorry you can work.  I think the problem is the people reviewing the cases have to go by certain conditions and do not have the authorization to approve anything out of the realm which most HCV patients are.  I believe the only way to get approval is to an attorney.  When I went to my hearing the Judge was so kind and understanding.

In 6 days you WILL get the good news you've been waiting so long for.

Good Luck to you on both.  Have and nice weekend.
Judi

[ponyshel]

I am also going to see the ssi shrink on the 19th...wish you luck...

[susan400]

Get an attorney.  I've had this personal experience that I stated above, but have talked to SO MANY other people who have been turned down over and over again.  The general consensus is that they 9 times out of 10 will reject you.  I wish I had gotten an attorney from the first rejection instead of having to go through 3 yrs of prodding through rejection.  Their own S.S.D.I. doctors said I was disabled.  I had gobs of reports and a letter from my physician and I had a witness (my sister who is nurse), who I brought with me to the hearing.  But, without going to an SS attorney who specializes in Soc. Sec. cases, it's very hard to win it.  The benefit to it, too, is have the Medicare coverage as an added insurance.  In my case, my husband's company has under 100 employees in it, so the Medicare is primary.  The insurance I have through his company (United Health Care), is my secondary.  It helps so much with the Dr.'s visit and the labwork, I can't even begin to tell you how much easier it is for me now, as far as medical bills.  But, my husband and I decided to not go with the Medicare Part D (prescription drug coverage), because when we looked into it, the Medicare plans don't cover a lot of the interferon/Ribavirin type of drugs, whereas we get pretty good prescription drug coverage through the United Health Care.  My husband doesn't get Medicare because he's not on disability and so he has to be on the United Health Care anyway.  Neither one of us is old enough to qualify for being Senior Citizens yet, so we can't get Medicare through the retirement part.  Anyway, my advice is to pursue it.  Call up Nations.

Susan

[Forseegood]

Course we are all different, and have different stories, but as a general overview, I found this guy's site to be informative...i hope it is for you anyway...

http://heppie2000.tripod.com/index-3.html

[Forseegood]

One of my best friends is a Social Security lawyer, or used to be...he's the one who has told me so much...the reason that it's good to have a lawyer specializing in SS is because it's kind of a racket...most institutions need to be able to perpetuate themselves, and this one isn't any differentt...so this instititution is run by doctors, attorneys and judges...

what they try to do is weed out people upfront if they can, and you can't blame them too much, if everyone asked for it that thought they needed it it would bankrupt the system to give it to everyone, so they count on most people not really knowing what to do, and then getting frustrated w/ the whole process and dropping out, etc....and maybe they think the people who hang in there after all the BS, probably really do deserve it...(that's another reason to get an attorney, so you won't keep getting denied, hopefully)

it's kind of like any other hearing or trial, they don't look at you favorably if you don't use a lawyer in most cases, most of the social security trial judges that adjudicate your case used to be SS lawyers themselves....if and when anybody does get a SS lawyer, you have to realize they take their fee from a case that is won, (they get a percentage of the settlement that's won) so you have to present a good case to a good social security lawyer in the first place, or a good lawyer won't take your case possibly....that means you do a lot of your own footwork in getting doctors and psychiatrists to disable you with letters, questionarres, etc...then present all this to the attorney...

The attorney is basically just doing the paperwork to send in, and showing up at your hearing, they usually don't keep talking to you through the whole case, etc...you deal with their assistants for the most part....

Also, ask the attorney the percentage of cases he or she has won, etc...a good one knows all the Fed judges, or most of them, like i said, it's kind of a racket...if you have a good enough case though, and some doctors and psychiatrists letters...a good advocate could maybe win it for you as well....for some reason, they validate depression even more then other diseases, and if you have depression with the disease you have, more points...remember, they don't award disability for having hep c per se, it's how much whatever disease you have has disabled you and your ability to work...