Originally Posted by ballerina

How absolutely absurd that you had to endure such treatment. That must have been an emotionally devastating experience that you will never forget. I hope you never have to endure that again.

An emotionally devastating experience? Regarding my experience at the depo? Not hardly, they lost all credibility and it hurried things along. I'd much rather be confronted with allegations than the more common disrespect "we" face of snide comments, being talked about behind your back, smirks, etc. If you haven't faced this yet, I hope you don't, but it is reallllly common. And with RSD, if you can pass for "normal" and do everything in your power to not draw attention to your condition--that will convince some that you're faking it or exaggerating.

As regards my former neighbor my husband and I never got involved. Since my husband is a psychologist we both wondered, if my neighbor might and claimed RSD because that was more socially acceptable than a psychiatric problem. A few days before my neighbor moved, however, her daughter who lived with her came over to say goodbye. Her daughter expressed her extreme frustration because she claimed that she had accompanied her mother to doctors appointment for years for treatment for RSD but knew her mother was faking it, based on the same observations that we had. We did not comment because it made us quite uncomfortable. She also indicated that she could no longer live with her mother or participate in her mother's life because her conscience was causing her extreme anxiety. She reported being alienated from her father because although he knew his wife was faking it stated that they needed the money and his wife refused to work.

Why in the world didn't you report a fraud concern at that point then?

When I applied for SSDI the case worker explained to me that the paperwork and application process had recently been tightened up. I did not question her but was fine with that due to the experience with my former neighbor. I found the application process stressful and arduous but fair. I was glad to see a system that seemed accountable and I did not view any of the questions or requests for medical records unreasonable.

By tightening up the process, they probably are able to deny more applicants, but I'm not convinced it can weed out those trying to work the system, the con artists will do whatever they need to do to submit a savvy application. It is the naive people expecting it to be a fair system, thinking that doc reports will be enough, that will face delays and be hit hardest by denials.

A PT I knew once went to an ALJ hearing for a bed ridden patient who could no longer speak, and whose limbs were curled so that he was in a fetal position. Had the PT not gone in person, (the patient could not attend) the PT felt they would have denied him even with medical records showing how severe his disability was. It took 2-3 years to get that approval.

My point is that folks who have beaten the system make is hard on the folks who physically cannot work. It is because of my experience with this former neighbor that I believe SSDI requests should indeed be scrutinized.

SSDI requests are and were scrutinized. Approval and Denials are not cut and dry. There are a bevy of human judgement calls and random factors along the way that can sway decisions. And with my first application I had an approval overturned in quality review. It is rare, but it does happen.

My guess is those applying for SSDI with RSD likely have an easier time than they did let's say five years ago, due to the increase of media attention. For those claims that are legitimate, that's great news. For those faking an illness like RSD and fraudulently collecting SSDI benefits, every day citizens are the last stand to document suspicous behavior.

So, I kind of feel like you lose any credibility to gripe about your neighbor when at the time you did nothing to see her held accountable for an alleged crime. The only thing that's changed is that you've become personally invested with the issue.