Hi all, I am a first time visitor. I have found this site after searching all over the internet and thought I would ask someone on here to see if they had any insight. I have been on SSDI for Bipolar 1-Mixed and OCD for 6 years. First time ever I am being reviewed. I did get the short form and filled that out. A month later I got the Long form which for a Bipolar person is impossible to not think about every waking moment. Finally started to relax and forget about it a bit and then yesterday got a functional form like the one I got from the start of the application process 6 years ago. I am so concerned that I will lose my benefits since they are going through all of the forms. I have read not many people get this functional form during a review. Can someone please help me so I can try an get through this long weekend. Much appreciated

Hi and welcome

we have a forum for help with all things related to SSDI http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum28.html

as well as one for Bipolar
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum38.html

you may find more responses to your post there, so would suggest you post again on both of those boards

all the best

Your response is just what they want. They want to frighten you, wear you down and you give up. It is more difficult to get the disabiliity than it is to keep it once they declare you disabled. I assume you are unable to work. Hang tough and come in here for support any time.

Yes My cycling is sometime paralyzing. OCD, big crowds, panic attacks, and bouts of many other issues. It has been very tough to go through each step from short form to long form and now this. I have seen my doctors the same ones for over 6 years. Take my meds and do everything that I am suppose to. It is so paralyzing to go through this weekend with these forms sitting and the obsessive compulsion to research it til my eyes bleed. I wasn't sure if anyone that has been on disability for mental has experienced this same thing. The thought of going into the workforce after 6/7 years is more paralyzing then anything else.

Welcome to Neuro talk. There are always dicussions on this subject of SSDI and reviews. I am due ,review also very soon. From what I understand, most on SSDI will come up for the review between 6-8 years. As long as you have kept your doctors appts. and have kept up with therapy, I don't think this will turn out in a negative way. I was concerned as I dropped a pain killer, that I would loose my benefits. I was told "no" by my doctor as the condition I had been approved for is not going to go away, even if the pain subsides for awhile. Please check with others too, who know more than I do on the social security forum. Keep posting your questions, and someone will be along to give support. It is scarry to go through this process, but most turn out ok. I do wish you all the best. Feel free to talk in any of the forums. Welcome again. ginnie

I was awarded disability for major depressive disorder back in 1995. My doctor had me file based on the depression rather than the back pain because it was easier to get approved for depression at that time and I didn't have the big chart full of back documentation then.

I was reviewed five years out. They jerked me around a bit but I refused to give in to the fear. I had tons of tests that had been done, several surgeries and a few pain related psych hospitalizations. I didn't mind the review. I think we should all be reviewed occassionally until it becomes appearant that we are not going to get better but there is no reason to torment a sick person and that's how I felt.

I finally contacted my congressman's office and sent them copies of all of the correspondence and my records, asked them to study it and contact SS. They did and I got a letter of appology from their Ombudsman. I haven't been reviewed again. Hang in there. This, too, shall pass. Prayin' for ya!!!

Double post. Bad girl.

I too was review for other reasons (spinal related) but it was a real pain (sorry for the pun) but it took me forever to complete the forms! Plus sitting all that time completing them was painful!

After I sent them back, I never heard from them again. I was first approved in 1998. I had my first review in 2001. That's the last time I heard from them. Thank God!!!

Save a copy of everything you send to Social Security.

Your SSA-455-OCR-SM form should have 3 scanlines. On the 2nd scanline there is a determination of either high, medium, or low. Depending upon which one you are, the SSA will review your responses differently.

Example: If you are a HIGH or MEDIUM, and you answer the question that your condition is the same, you will be scheduled for a full CDR Review (CDR = Complete Disability Review. If you are a low, the reviewer will go to the next question.

Same goes for the next question of whether you talked to your doctor about returning to work. If you didn't, and you are a HIGH/MEDIUM, you will be reviewed and have to undergo a full CDR.

If both questions are answered that you have not discussed it with your doctor about employment, and that your condition is the same, along with the fact that you haven't had any further treatments. The beneficiary will lose their benefits.

It is always good to talk to your doctor about your employment, or future ability to be employed.

It is always good to have your doctor on board when you say your condition is the same, or worse. For the sake of disability, worse is best for you.

Finally on the 2nd scanline is a score, 9999 is the hightest. If you have a low score, then you are a low and you most likely will be continued in your disability. Do the math on your score. 9999 = 100%; your score X 100% divided by 9999 will give you your %. A low percentage is good for keeping disability.

These reviews are going to be part of your life now. Get used to it. Know what is going on with your scanlines, how to answer the questions truthfully, along with the ramifications of your answer.

I wish you the best.

Yes, I did talk to the doctor when I dropped one of my pain killers. Spoke about the what if's about SSD. She said she would continue with another medication, and that working would not be an option for me. She knew I was afraid to stop a medication as SSD would consider that getting "better"
My neck is fused, I can't look up or down, with or without meds. Even typing Can't look down at the keyboard to type etc. I think as long as the origional condition is there, and there is no hope of recovery, that SSD will continue your benefits. The problem I see, is they look for any old excuse, to get you off the rolls, as this system is broken, not solvent financially. This is a problem for all of us with permanent conditions. I agree, keep all records, and a chart of the symptoms you experience. I didn't know the Lingo for SSD, so thank you for that information. ginnie