Everyone has given great information. How I started was going down to the local social security office and filed with a case worker. She did my original application and I just followed through with each request I got. I was denied the first time then got an attorney and was approved. It took total about 2 and 1/2 years. Each social security office is different I have been to ones that are a nightmare with my grandmother in the pass but I live in a rural area of NJ, yes NJ has a rural area, so it is not busy at all. My caseworker was so much help throughout the whole process and I still call her if I have a question about something.

When and if you decide to get an attorney as everyone has said it should be a disability attorney. Believe me when I tell you this is just like any other business the more the attorney knows how to get around and knows the correct people who make the decisions in your SS District the better off you are. I never had to see an independent SS doctor, never went to court, just got a phone call from my attorney one day and said if you do this, and it was about the amount of backpay I was getting, then you can get approved immediatly. I had to give up some of my backpay not much though and things just started to roll in 30 days from that phone call.

For me making that decision was very hard I had been hurt and got RSD and waited 5 years before I even applied. I just didn't want to give up working but I hadn't worked in 5 years and I just couldn't do it Full Time. Oh, also you can still work with SS. There is a set amount of dollars you can make before they start to deduct from your monthly check, I believe it's $980 a month gross. So currently I work PT only 2 day sometimes 3 and it's done wonders for me just getting out on a regular basis, doing business, seeing co-workers it just makes me feel better.

Wish you the best.

gabbycakes