I agree with that. I had a spinal cord injury 3-13-02. A month in the hospital, two surguries and then in a turtle shell or flat in bed for three months.
After my first denial I got a Benefits Advocate. I got denied a second time and "WE" requested a hearing before an ALJ. After four years I got a hearing date which was found Fully Favorable with a "Bench Decision" which as most of you know is an unusual finding. Typically you end up like Dan with another 2 to 6 months waiting for the decision.

You can look at my other posts to get my health status. Things are getting worse for me. My Doctor had to be changed as he had Parkinson's and could not practice and my new Doctor is questioning my med usuage everytime I turn around. I have tried everything to help with the pain but the only thing that works so that I can be a human being is meds through the mouth.

All I can say is get and Advocate or Lawyer. One that has been in the system or wants to become and ALJ. Ask the individual what their winning percentage is and the percentage of people they accept.

Please don't take this the wrong way but there are people out there that are trying to scam the system. Some are in denial about it. This is coming from my Advocate. She has been in the system over 35 years and worked for SS at one time in her career. It is those people that have caused a lot of the backlog for those of us who deserve it and really need it. Don't be too quick to blame the government.

She takes 2 out of every 10 people that come to her and she wins 95% of her cases. I asked if that was just to make her life easy and she stated that there really are that many people who can work who just don't want to.

So use that information. Get an Advocate, I can't stress that enough as I am sure Dan can testify. Get a good one. Make sure they have access to ALL of your medical records and that all of the records get to them.

I have every confidence, Dan that you will win your case. My Advocate warned me that it is not unusual not to recieve a decision at the hearing and that typically you will hear afterwards.

Best of luck and God Bless. I know how difficult it is to live without knowing and how hard it is on the individual as well as the family.