Seams:

Five years ago, when Alan could not longer feel the pedals on the car, I made him quit driving. That day, he appplied for Social Security Disability.

During the application process, they make you go down to their medical department (at least that's how Alan did it).

When the guy gave him the emg, he absolutely was amazed that Alan felt nothing in his feet. They didn't even ask Alan to come down again. He was never denied, he never had to re-apply. Now I just asked him about his experience and this is what he said:

"I applied, I was sent down to their medical center, I was given the emg. The guy was fascinated that I felt absolutely nothing in my feet. The guy must have written all this down on the paperwork. Alan got the approval letter 6 months after he first applied. But, they held back the money, (It was different than when I applied for it years ago, they gave you the money retro-actively).

But in Alan's case, when he was approved and he got the approval letter, they hold back the money, and he never got it. He just got his first check (for that particular month), well he got the first check 7 months after he applied for Social Security Disability. They did not give him 6 months worth of checks. They explained "that's how we used to do it, but we don't do it anymore like that". Now this is New York City. I have no idea if this is different in other states. But since Social Security Disability is run by the government, I don't see where it would change from state to state.

So you must apply immediately, get all doctor's notes, etc. You will be given an appointment time to come in and be examined. They will send you to a room for an emg, they will also send you to a psychiatrist (that's how they did to me, and to Alan). The psychiatrist asks you if you are depressed, you fill out forms, (a lot of questions). Then the psychiatrist asks you to remember numbers, and say them backwards (both Alan and I had to do this).

Now this is 5 years ago for Alan, and 15 years ago for me. Who knows what the process is now, and if they have changed their interview and examination procedures.

Oh, every few years (at least that's how it used to be), we would get letters from the Social Security Administration, asking us to come in and get re-evaluated. Happened to both of us. We both got re-evaluated and re-approved. You don't lose any benefits during this time period.

HeyJoe gave you excellent information and that link. Click on it and get going. You'll do fine.



Melody