Can't tell me by phone?
 

I recieved a letter last week asking me to go have an evaluation at a Doctors office, and today I recieved a letter cancelling that appt. I called my social worker, and she told me a decision had been made, but she couldn't tell me over the phone. I am figuring I was denied...anybody have anything like this happen? From what I understand, they actually call if you are approved.

Thank you,
Jessica

you really cant tell one way or the other if your appointment was cancelled. I have read of it going both ways after that. Also the fact that they wont tell you is pretty standard wether ultimately approved or not. Take it for what its worth but i think it would be more likely you would be approved after having your appointment cancelled. In other words they have enough information without that evaluation to make a decision which should point to approved most times.

Well...thanks for the input, but I got ahold of my local social worker, and found out I was denied. I won't know why until I get my letter. I'm bummed.

Jessica, I know that you are on prescribed meds -- so, if you have the following:

11.12 Myasthenia gravis. With:

A. Significant difficulty with speaking, swallowing, or breathing while on prescribed therapy; or

B. Significant motor weakness of muscles of extremities on repetitive activity against resistance while on prescribed therapy.

(copied directly from Social Security's website), then "somebody" made a BIG mistake. They did the SAME thing with me. Don't lose confidence -- hire the best disability lawyer you can find -- laws regulate how much they can charge -- it will only cost a certain % of your backpay. I was approved within a couple of months of hiring an attorney. Although "some" Social Security "officials" will say otherwise, I personally believe that they deny "almost" everyone the first time.

once you get your denial letter,, either get a attorney or appeal right away,, the clock starts to run once your denied

Please do get an advocate! ONe of the best is ** You can google them. I believe they will not charge you unless you get a favorable decision. And then they just take it from your back pay. Dont try this on your own. And its true that at the first level nearly all cases are denied. I believe the % was around 79%. The 2nd level is also high - around the high 60s or low 70s. You have to be persistent and stay on task and dont think you can do it alone!

Good luck

That IS NOT TRUE that almost everyone is denied the first time. I can also tell you that my denial percentage is not nearly as high as 79%

I edited this post because I don't want to get into any disagreements over what people do and don't believe. People are going to chose to believe what they want, even if there are no facts to back it up.

Uhhhhhhh, in MY state, a doctor employed by Social Security makes the decision as to whether or not a person is approved or denied (or so I was told by the SS counselor who was handling my case).

I have a Master's Degree from a reputable University and worked for 28 years in Public Education with FAVORABLE evaluations, so I "assume" that I am capable of reading and understanding the paperwork required by SS.

I MET the qualifications outlined on the SS website COMPLETELY -- was, alas, only "near 50" when I applied for disability -- yet, I was DENIED the first time!!!

I was a COMPLETE and TOTAL basket case after my denial -- the attorney I hired was a SAINT -- took the reins and got everything taken care of (me, approved) within about THREE MONTHS!! STRESS exacerbates my condition -- if I had NOT gotten an attorney, I would likely be in much worse shape or even dead.

I have only found ONE person in my area who was approved on the FIRST attempt -- and he sent a BOX of medical records to SS.

Perhaps each state is different?

Yes, and sadly, it depends on many other variables as well. My daughter was only 24 and she was approved the first try.

Thank you for editing your other post. From what I have learned -- through reading and listening to others' posts, here and in other groups -- all states do NOT handle these claims the same. And, all people who are in charge of approving/denying claims are NOT equally "trained" or "competent", in my opinion. I seriously doubt if the doctor who denied me the first time even knew what Myasthenia Gravis was -- even though it is ON THE SS LIST!

I had no desire to start an argument -- but, until you have walked in "our shoes" -- faced denial -- it is really impossible to understand HOW it feels. It is NOT something that I care to revisit -- not even a situation that I would wish on my worst enemy.

Sorry that I missed the original to this. I said I "believe" not I "know" and I was speakin from personal experience because I am definitely no expert. I was given Allsup as an advocate through my long term disability company and they are one of the largest in the country. They are the ones who told me that while approval rates vary WILDLY, the norm is for the majority of the first time applications to be denied at the first level and it is a very high percentage. And it was in the 70s. I was also told by the SSA that the denial rate is quite high the first time around. Most of the websites linked in the sticky area also state that the denial percentages are quite high in the beginnnig. I would assume that if you have a slam dunk case it might be different. The ALJ I saw also stated that the denial rates were quite high the first several levels and told me that in MY case the initial denials were almost certainly because of my age and the fact that I was only 38 when this started.

So what I said was based on MY experience and the experience of one the largest disability advocates in the country. I dot think it was out of turn or out of place. I've read through DOZENS of this message boards and take most of it with a grain of salt, but the predominant experience is person after person being denied at the first and second levels and having to move on from there.

If you're lucky enough to get approved first time out...AWESOME! Otherwise it seems like you may have to move to NJ to get a favorable decision right away.

here are the 2006 allowal rates for initial application and reconsideration by state. New Jersey is on of the better states with a 46.6% allowal rate at initial application. Tennesse on the other hand had a 22% allowal rate at initial application. It really depends on what state you live in as you can see from the chart, so you are both right.Ha!.

http://www.ultimatedisabilityguide.c...ial_rates.html

Thanks for THIS!! IT certainly explains why people in my state seem so discouraged with the disability process!

Although it isn't mentioned in the statistics or this discussion, one of the reason claims are denied is that some claimants are just not disabled. And the front line employee has to take the same claim from whoever wants to file for whatever reason. Claimants for disability benefits include people can't find a job, don't want to work, don't like to work, don't have the job skills to get anything but entry level, have a bad attitude about employers, have never worked much and is afraid to try, like to make their own decisions and not be restricted by an employer's expectation, choose to live in a depressed job market city, and of course, those who have severe physical and mental medical conditions that are documented by medical records.

It is highly possible that states with high denial rates for SSDI are those in which the population files claims for benefits that they have no possiblity in qualifying for. Many people who file claims for disability are NOT disabled. And get denied. Factor that into your evaluation about denial rates.

Then there are claims for benefits filed by people who either have very little medical evidence or don't provide enough information about their existing evidence and expect that SSA will look long and hard to find it. Claims are often filed without addresses of treating sources; without dates of exams. The responsibility for proving you are disabled it ultimately yours. SSA employees want to make the right decision AND get the case off their desk. Factor that into your evaluation about denial rates as well.

Well, I guess all of the "fakers" will be moving out of Tennessee and into New Jersey. Jacquie, keep your eyes open!!;)

Okay jana, will do! Just one thing to add - in NJ, people who are on Welfare are very strongly encouraged to apply for disability. The Welfare folks want to get them off of their rolls, but it seldom works. :rolleyes: Another thing that really gets me is, with some parents, their child is Dxed w/ ADHD, and practically the first thing they do is apply the child for disability??? My daughter was Dxed w/ ADHD when she was ten, and, geesh, applying her for disability never even entered my mind!!

Oh well, to each his own, I guess... ;)

Jacquie, that is really odd -- my nephew was just diagnosed with ADHD, dysgraphia, and a visual processing disorder -- and someone at his school told us the SAME THING -- "go fill out an application for disability"!! Of course, BOTH of his parents are teachers -- and knew that he wouldn't qualify with their income. But, if people do NOT check into things like this BEFORE applying, it IS likely to clog up the system.:(

I guess I should mention that as a former guidance counselor, I HAVE filled out enough of the disability determination forms to know that children CAN receive disability checks in the state of Tennessee if their family income is below a certain level.

Children in any state can receive benedits. If they qualify and the
parents income is low enough. Or in some cases for other reasons.

Donna:grouphug:

I was one of the 22% in Tennessee. It took 9 months for approval, but at least I was approved.

I think Janke is correct by stating:

That probably explains my nine month wait.