Thank you so much for this info ILADVOCATE. My sister is getting ready to apply for disability because she has rheumatoid arthritis, which is getting much worse. I hope she can get some help from the sites you gave.
What I don't understand is during the wait for disability you can have no income. She is eligible for unemployment insurance since she was let go at her job. But she's heard that she can have no kind of income during the wait. How are people supposed to eat, pay for meds and rent?
Thanks again for the info you give all of us.I wrote these sites down to give to my sister. Remar
Yes its essential to obtain quality representation but also to have the information on your disability, full records from all treating physicians and hospitals (if you went) entered into the case file. Lawyers should help with all this but some don't. As well since by Soc Sec law, any documentation from any treating physician has greater weight than a Soc Sec physician, make sure to have full documentation from all treating physicians on why you are unable to work at this time. At the same time they need to write up a letter as to exactly why the initial denial was wrong. For more information Google "Disability Secrets" which has some helpful information. Also go to ssa.gov which is the Soc Sec website and has general questions answered as well as specifics about different disability listings and many other questions. They have a very complete questions and answers question and very specific information on laws and regulations. Don't be concerned if this has to go before a soc sec judge because the higher the level of appeal the greater the chance of winning. You just need to be prepared.