1. SSA is a government bureaucracy that attempts to both pay out benefits that are legally due claimants and safeguard taxpayer dollars at the same time. *edit*

2. There is a TON of information that SSA attempts to disseminate through the website. This is a program that affects nearly every American in one way or another. The specific answer to your question may be based on a variety of regulations that have to be considered. There is no one size fits all answer. Also, it is TOTALLY FALSE that EVERYONE is denied on the first application. And if you had not sugarcoated (your word and a good one) your symptoms on your initial application, you might have been one of the 35-40% approved on the first try.

3. Kids are expensive. But having kids is also a choice. And they probably give you the most love and the most grief you'll ever have. And I wouldn't give them up for anything.

4. It is hard for claimants to not be emotional. This is their life and the requirements of SSA seems like a big hassle. It can be hard for some of the staff to not react emotionally also, either with empathy or irritation. We are all human and all need to treat each other with respect. Much more is accomplished when we all just focus on what needs to be done.

5. Saying that no one told you that work is a factor in entitlement to Social Security is like saying that no one told you that you have to pay taxes or pay your water bill or enroll your child in school. If you don't pay attention or ask questions or read stuff that comes in your mailbox or listen to public service announcements on TV, you may not know much about how this American society works.

6. Always helps to have medical sources that corroborate your statements. Wait, it is REQUIRED to have medical sources in order to prove disability. Your word is not enough. If you don't have your own, SSA will pay for a one-time snapshot consultative exam. Not the most comprehensive, but it is an exam. *edit*