Unbelievable
 

I was on SSI for many years & was booted off due to coming into some money so I did not qualify anymore. Since that time I have been fighting to get my SSDI. I was told I would have to show I was currently seeing a counselor to help my case. The first woman I saw for a year, & she told me she knew I was disabled & would even go to court for me to testify. I finally got frustrated with her because I could tell she didn't remember most of the things we had already discussed. Taking notes would have been something I would do, but then that's just me. I finally requested another counselor but only saw her several times before she got another job. I listed the original counselor to show I had seen someone & expected her to at least be professional; however, to be vindictive she wrote in the notes I received from my attorney, who dropped my case, that I could WORK. This counselor suggested I hide income like she does. The place she works at deliberately works her only so many hours and her Mother hides her money. This woman is 40 yrs. old & I'm 60. I don't have a Master's degree like her I am a high school drop out.

The 2nd place I went to was the original place that put me on SSI. I figured they for sure would know what to do & review my record I already had with them. I just received my record from them today. The counselor who I really liked just made very trivial notes, completely different than all the records that got me SSI. Just stupid stuff like I was dressed nice & was talkative. She suggested I sell my house and I could get back on SSI. That is an INSANE idea. So then what am supposed to do, go rent somewhere and pay more money to do that? Plus I have a rental that helps bring in income. She wrote in the notes I was OBSESSED about getting my SSDI and medicare. Oh how dare I be concerned about getting kicked off of SSI and want to get my work related record after all the mental problems I have and the cancer I have battled. Once you have cancer it doesn't necessarily just GO AWAY...it is a life long battle and is very scary. Luckily when I got it I was on SSI so I had medi-caid. I am totally convinced that people who have health care don't care about others who don't. It's easy for them to act like it's no big deal. I feel bad but I'm hoping both of them lose their health care so they find out just exactly how it really is.

All of this has been a total waste of time..how can it go from being so severe I was put on SSI before without an attorney within two months? Now I have had two no good attorneys drop me & I went to the hearing & the lawyer just set there like a bump on the log. He was so stupid he thought I wanted SSI again. Sorry for venting...I'm making this way too long again & hope it post this time.

Hi Zevan
 

I do understand what you are going through with this system we have here. It isn't good. I don't know what you can do, except to go with an attorney to get your benefits back. I have medicare/medicaid and I received money to pay for my dental bill from my son. Just guess what they did? I have to go back and fight too. None of this is easy zevan, I know you are angry and hurting. Just keep up the fight and don't give up. ginnie:mad:

Two attorneys already dropped me & no other attorney will take my case. Thanks for your advise but it won't work for my situation. I just have to go without; there's nothing I can do.

Random thoughts. I have re-read some of your other posts as well.

Since you are age 60, in two years you should be able to get reduced retirement Social Security benefits if you have 10 years of work in your lifetime. Not the same as unreduced Social Security disability benefits that you are trying to get now, but it is something. You won't have Medicare until age 65 and the reduction for receiving retirement benefits at age 62 is permanent. Otherwise, you'd have to wait to file a retirement claim at age 66 and it doesn't sound like that is what might be in your best interest.

Since you are age 60, my previous suggestion about working for 5 years to get currently insured for SSDI doesn't make much sense either since at age 65 you could get Medicare. The only benefit would be you could then qualify for unreduced SSDI. That would help you only after age 65.

If you are widowed or a surviving divorce spouse who had a 10 year marriage, it is possible to file for widow(er)'s benefits at age 60.

I also agree that it is not necessarily a good decision to get rid of an income producing asset in order to qualify for public assistance. It is possible that you could be found not disabled for SSI. Maybe unlikely with your age and limited education and job history (since you have been on SSI for a number of years, I assume you did not work that much recently).

It would also be possible to sell your non-home property and put all the money from that into a home that you own outright. That would be fully excluded from resources. Any one car used for transportation (regardless of value), $1500 in burial funds (designated and separately identifiable), burial space items, household goods - all excludable from the $2000 resource limit. But if getting back on SSI and getting on Medi-Cal is not what you, then I guess you should ignore this paragraph.

Finding the paper evidence that you need to substantiate your disability before your date last insured doesn't seem to be working really well. Having someone testify that he took you to a doctor in some past year doesn't really prove that you were disabled at that time. And if these doctors/counselors didn't keep good written notes, it would even be hard for them to testify about your state of mind as of any given day.

You haven't stated your diagnosis, but since you want a counselor's notes, I am assuming it is something psychiatric in nature. Could be wrong and if so, I apologize. I don't really have any advice to help you get what you want.

I will get $200.00 when I turn 62. I wasn't married long enough to qualify for social security under my ex. When I turn 65 I will be able to get medicare if I live that long; however, because I didn't work long enough if I had to pay for it in today's time I would have to pay close to $600.00 a month for it. Imagine what it will be in five yrs. I can't get SSI ever again because I do not qualify. I do own my home outright & I have a rental and some stocks. If I didn't have these things I really wouldn't make it. To qualify for SSDI someone could be a multi-millionaire, income doesn't matter. I do have all the records from when I got SSI, there are completely different than the records I received from the 2 counselors I saw while I've been on this new merry go round. You wouldn't even think I'm the same person by reading the difference between the two.

Again....people who already have insurance most of the time are not concerned about others who don't. The counselors didn't care, they are already covered!!! It's a sad fact. I don't bring any of this up with people I know personally because I know people's attitudes regarding this. Many times it's sad it becomes a political debate even. I find it sad once someone has already proven to be disabled they would have to be put in the position I have been put in. I have had others say gee in 2 years you'll get Social Security anyway...disability pays way more, plus I would receive medicare immediately without the 2 year wait because I already was proven disabled. Thanks for your advise, honestly, but there's really nothing I can do. I have to pay extremely high rates for individual insurance that gets raised constantly & forever will have to pay even higher than standard rates because I was diagnosed with cancer when I was on SSI. I had trouble even getting insurance because of having a pre-exsisting condition.

For others reading this be grateful you got your social security; and for others fighting for yours you will most likely get yours, I know of no other in my position. I wish there was a support group for any others that have had this happen to them. I feel really alone with this. I cry all the time about this, I already have many mental issues & this causes me to feel like a loser regardless of how much money I have now. I'm far from rich believe me. I just don't qualify for SSI. What I paid into the system with all my hard work is going to others. The counselors claim I'm intelligent I guess because I figured this out.:confused: I have actually had some people to tell me to go get a job to start paying more into social security. They mean well I'm sure, but I really am very disabled & cannot work. Mental problems don't just come and go, not severe ones like mine unfortunately. I guess social security thinks they do & it's a good way not to pay someone in my position.

I did have a psychiatrist testify for me at my hearing & I do have evidence I was disabled before my last insured date. It didn't do any good, I was still turned down. Sometimes people are turned down regardless of how much evidence they have. I also unfortunately got a judge with an extremely high rate of denials. Just bad luck I guess, it still is very painful & I don't think it's fair but others do.

You are not quite correct about Medicare. It is correct that if you have 40 lifetime credits you can get your $200 retirement at age 62 and you will automatically get free Part A Medicare at age 65. There is a deductible, but no premium for Part A, hospitalization. Part B has both a premium and a deductible. The premium is just under $100 this year, and has small increases every year. Then there is Part D for prescriptions if you choose to pay the premium for that as well.

It is incorrect that if you qualified for SSDI you would have no 24 month waiting period for Medicare. According to you, you have never been entitled to SSDI, just SSI. That does not get you on Medicare. And the formula for computing SSDI is the same as retirement Social Security - but with no reduction for entitlement before full retirement age, 66.

It is incorrect that if you qualified for SSDI you would have no 24 month waiting period for Medicare. According to you, you have never been entitled to SSDI, just SSI. That does not get you on Medicare. And the formula for computing SSDI is the same as retirement Social Security - but with no reduction for entitlement before full retirement age, 66.

ANSWER: If someone proves they were disabled before their insured date they don't have to wait the 2 yrs. to get medicare. It is people who are just being approved who have to wait. This I know for sure. As for the other, my social security statements tell me I will receive $200.00 when I turn 62. I will call the office to verify this; I can't see why they are saying this on the statement if it's not true but maybe that's another trick. It will be interesting to find out.

I plan to turn the one counselor in for fraud, she is collecting SSI illegally & the place she is employed by is also committing a fraud by going along with this in making sure she only works so many hours. She is certainly more than capable of working full time. Social security needs to know her mother is hiding money for her also. Let her go get her own insurance or have the place she works for give her health care. I'm paying for this out of my tax dollars. The place she works for would not release my medical records to me & that also is against the law. The other place immediately released mine to me because they are smart enough to know they have to. I wrote to the other place numerous times and they never even bothered to send me a form letter back. Very unprofessional! They haven't got a clue what is getting ready to happen to them. They are going to be sorry they fooled with me. I expect people to act professional if that's what they claim they are!

I don't know where you get the idea I said I never qualified for SSDI, I certainly do, but I have to prove I was disabled before my insured date. What about this don't you understand?? Mainly the whole point of my post is the shadiness of some therapist & how trivial the records were about me with no diagnosis whatsoever, even one of them working at the very same place that made records showing my diagnosis, that's why I was put on SSI IMMEDIATELY. Neither one of the therapist are doctors!

Three full fledged doctors claim I was disabled before my insured date & I always have been. These therapist are really powerless so they fill out forms to try to feel powerful, that's all that is. At this point I think it might be a good idea to just do away with social security as they are wanting to do. I seriously don't think anyone is going to have it before too long with the way things are going. It seems it causes some people to become arrogant & think they deserve it but others don't. I laugh how the one decided it would be best for me to sell my house, what a stupid idea that is. The other idea was for me to just drop my medical insurance, another real bad idea. Maybe she should go without medical insurance too & have her over inflated gov't pension cut I also am paying for with my tax dollars. Again, the arrogant attitudes of some people is astounding to me. I'm glad I don't think this way, that at least makes me feel good in spite of how I was treated from a couple of no good therapist.

I guess I should have used the word entitled to SSDI rather than qualified. From your posts, it seems clear that you have not yet been entitled to SSDI because the ALJ denied your case.

A person can be entitled to Medicare 24 months after entitlement to SSDI. And if there is retroactive entitlement to SSDI after a favorable appeal decision, the 24 month period could have already passed. So because your case has taken so long, if you do get a favorable decision on your SSDI claim, the 24 month period may be in the past.

Date of entitlement to SSDI depends upon the application date (no more than 12 months before application) and onset date that is established by either the DDS or the ALJ.

If you read your Social Security statement, there are certain assumptions made in making the estimate (and it is just an estimate, it is not a guarantee). If the assumptions are correct, the Social Security statement is pretty accurate.

You can contact the SSA OIG if you want to make a report about someone. Just remember it is helpful to give as much identifying information about someone (full name, age or DOB, mailing address) and details about the fraud that can be verified. You will not be officially informed about the results.

I guess I should have used the word entitled to SSDI rather than qualified. From your posts, it seems clear that you have not yet been entitled to SSDI because the ALJ denied your case.

Answer: Because anyone is denied at an ALJ hearing does not mean they aren't entitled or qualified whichever word you want to use. I will be having a 2nd hearing because it's been proven I did not have a fair hearing. The judge made many, many mistakes as some of them do & the appeals council saw this! ALJ judges aren't gods, they are humans too & can & do make mistakes. I am entitled to a fair hearing as anyone should be. My 2nd lawyer dropped me because of retirement. The first one did because she never contacted anyone, plus she dropped a friend of mine too. I found it strange the very same lawyer took our cases in the first place then dropped us both. She has no idea we know each other. I think she might get a kick back from social security to do this. I can't prove that, but it sure seems awfully strange to me. She shouldn't take the cases in the first place then. (LOL)

The lawyer I had explained if I win I would get medicare immediately but that's besides the point at this time. As for the medicare issue when I reach 65, I thought I would be paying what everyone else did also until a few months ago if I'm never approved. Because I do not have a full 40 quarters I will have to pay increased rates to get it. My statement says I'm entitled to get it but doesn't explain I'll have to pay more. I found this out when viewing some website. I'm disappointed to learn this, but oh well. As for the $200.00 at 62 it does say on my statement I have earned enough credits to qualify for benefits & I would receive this at 62. I will call the social security office tomorrow & ask them if the statement is wrong, or I just don't understand. If I don't get the $200.00 it is not a lot of money anyway, it would be nice to know though so thanks for bringing it up. It does say I've also earned enough credits to qualify for medicare at age 65. Also according to what the social security office told me I would be receiving 3 times more on disability then what the statement says I will get at 66 without being disabled.

I don't expect to be informed regarding the fraud I plan to turn in. I don't need to be informed, & did know they wouldn't contact me. I won't be giving my name to them anyway. I'm positive they will be interested in finding this info out. It's not right what they are doing & that the taxpayers are having to pay for this. Like I said, she is very capable of working more hours & paying for her own health insurance. She's going to get a rude awakening when she finds out they may not give her insurance at all because of pre-exsisting conditions; let her go through what I've had to. I can't work to pay for mine, or have an employer who could put me on their group plan like she has anyway. If she gets put on their group plan she won't have a problem with pre-exsisting stuff. If they don't offer it for their employees maybe she can get her Mother who is hiding money for her to pay it for her.

The place will know it's me regarding them not giving my medical records though & I'm not concerned about that. I will be informed on that one because I'm getting ready to sue them; they are going to wish they'd given them to me. By law they are supposed to, so I'm going to make sure they follow the law, to not only get them for me, but to warn other people of how unethical they are.

No offense, but according to you if someone was turned down, even if you don't know all the circumstances they don't qualify. That is like saying everyone who gets arrested is guilty. That's not true either.

Zevan, not to sound rude but you make it sound as if everybody is out to get you. Two lawyers drop you, the ALJ's, the therapists intentionally keep generic notes, etc. Do you think maybe your approach/behavior with these people may have something to do with how the outcomes have ended up? I am by no means condoning their behavior, however, your posts are very arguementative, even with people jsut trying to offer you suggestions/advice with things you are being evasive with. It is like telling half of a story and expecting people to believe your side of it.

You seem to know and spend to much time on this counselor's dirty secrects than focusing on your own case. How do you know her disability isn't something you can't see? She could have a heart condition, your being judgemental....exactly what you don't want people to be of you. I too have had to pay out of pocket for medical with my tax dollars for the last year. I worked for the government and am now on SSDI as of November 2011. There are 1,001 things in life that aren't fair to me or that I do not agree with, but I cannot be a vigilante and hate the world for it. I have to manage the best I can, with what I have, not worry about what others have. If I am entitled, qualified or whatever, then it will come, sometimes with a struggle/fight. I don't expect what is not righftully mine.

I have been dealing with multpile agencies for over a year now, Worker's Comp, SS, NYS Retirement System. I am finally on board with all 3 together and will be collecting all 3 as of March 1,2012 and will be receiving my medical back from my former employer. I never once tried to "get anybody", focused on what I was required to do by each agency and complied. I worked with each doctor, Pt, therapist, attorney, etc., and it has been very stressful. Dealing with all of these people, even people who are out to get me (worker's comp)and trying to deal with my physical injuries and depression/anxiety has been a true test of sanity. My time is not worth being angry over, not worth trying to take everybody I come in contact with, down, suing them, fighting them....in the end....you are the one angry and alone.:(

Perhaps this is a semantics issue. I use the word entitled to mean that you have been found eligible to receive benefits. You have been denied.

If a person is denied SSDI benefits, that means they are not legally entitled to those benefits since the agency that has the responsibility of making those decisions has said so. Until you have an approval, you are not entitled to benefits. I do understand that you disagree with the decision for a variety of reasons, and that is why there is an appeal process.

In a criminal case, the burden of proving guilt is on the prosecution; the person charged with the crime just has to establish reasonable doubt. In SSDI, the burden of proving that you meet the criteria is on you. The Social Security Administration assumes you are NOT disabled until proven. It can't work the other way with SSA - SSA does not assume that everyone who applies is necessarily disabled and SSA has to prove otherwise. The criminal court assumes you are innocent until proven guilty.

Now I am confused about your statements about Medicare at age 65 and retirement benefits at age 62. If you don't have 40 quarters, which is 10 years of work in your lifetime, you won't get retirement benefits. You also won't get Part A Medicare without paying hefty premiums. There can be a higher premium for Part B for people with substantial sources of other taxable income based on tax return data; or if you apply for it after age 65; otherwise, everyone pays the same amount. So if you don't have 40 quarters at age 60, your date last insured for SSDI has to be decades ago. And I can see why it is hard to gather medical evidence before your date last insured.

There was only one ALJ, not two. I will be going before the the same ALJ & hope to win. I know my chances are slim. I do know the people I dealt with are unprofessional, it doesn't matter if you think so or not. Regardless of what the one therapist disabilities are she is still doing something illegal. I had a child on disability and once you can work, regardless if you still have the disability you no longer qualify for SSI. It is fraud what she is doing; this kind of stuff should be stopped. We all should play by the rules.

I'm glad for you you had your gov't job. As you are probably aware, there is a lot of talk about the over inflated pensions & the tax payers resentment over this. I'm sure if you were a non gov't worker you would feel differently too.

Mental illness is a disability. For you to completely act like I'm supposed to suddenly be sane while dealing with some people who don't listen is odd. How can I do that? Do you think suddenly mental illness goes away? I know what has happened, and you totally missed my original post which was about two therapist, NOT DOCTORS, who wanted to pretend they are doctors. I'm sorry you didn't understand what the REAL subject was. Hopefully for others who may go through this problem, my suggestion would be to make sure you are dealing with REAL DOCTORS to determine what your true illnesses are, not focusing on making notes that amount to nothing other than you're dressed nice. Dressing nice or looking good doesn't make someone not have mental problems.

I have a good friend who calls me & his sister and tells us we will never get our social security, but then tells us how he got his disability. He doesn't even know I've applied for mine, nor does his sister. He just tells us that about our regular social security. The other day I said to him, but then that may mean yours could end. I said it nicely & there was no argument, I dearly love him. I was just trying to point out that many people simply don't understand & many do really mean well. Perhaps you did, and I appreciate again what you told me about what I will get at 62. I could be wrong & I stand corrected if I am. I will check tomorrow. Sorry you didn't understand, I usually don't post on these boards because I notice most want to say negative things instead of focusing on what the real subject was. I posted to try to help others who may be in my unfortunate circumstance, If it helped even one person than it was worth it.

I'm not alone in life, I may be kind of alone in fighting for this, but I am far from being alone in real life. Thank God, I am blessed in many ways in spite of the disabilities I have. I just noticed your last paragraph, I didn't see that before. I am not an angry or bitter person, far from it. It's sad when things like this cause someone to fight back. This is how wars start, a person can only take so much then they have to fight back. I'm not going to let myself be pushed around anymore. I'm grateful I'm getting another chance with a hearing, many people never get that. I guess it's just human extinct for people to think they are entitled to things & others aren't.

I have many things people don't have such as a house paid for, stocks, friends, ect. I always hope for others to have these things too. I don't have the attitude of I have this others don't deserve it. My assets still do not make it where I shouldn't be able to get my SSDI. I really feel sorry for the poor people who have nothing to live on while they are fighting this god awful system. It's sad someone couldn't understand I want to have a safer health care plan with medicare. Medicare is being cut & many doctors don't even accept anymore; it's not free. I don't think you would find someone battling cancer to think they shouldn't be entitled this after all the years I worked. The counselors aren't battling cancer, at least not yet, if & when they do they will understand. Believe me!! I had a friend who thought I was making a big deal about getting cancer until he got it. What a different opinion he took on then. It's easy to act like it's not a big deal but it really is. This country does not have health care, it has health insurance that drops people when they get sick. I see it happen all the time, and yet people carry on how great their insurance is. They don't know until they get really sick how bad it really can get.

You said this before how it is hard for me to gather evidence before my last insured date. I have gathered all kinds of evidence, so I don't know why you keep saying this. All of it has been shown to the appeals council & they are granting me another hearing. They don't do this for everyone, very few from what I understand, so I'm happy. For many people, yes it would be difficult to gather evidence from in the past, but thank god I'm a pack rat. I have come up with plenty & have 3 REAL DOCTORS to back it up also.

The counselors are only counselors, that's the mistake I made. Neither one of them are doctors & their word is not credible anyway to prove my case. The subject was about how some counselors can really not LISTEN. I've read it before with others, so I know I'm not the first this has happened to. I posted all of this so others make sure they stay on the same page with REAL DOCTORS and to not try to save money going to people who really don't know what they are doing for something this serious. I wish I'd never hired an attorney, then I could have said after each counseling session send me what you wrote. Because I was kept in the dark it led me to believe they were really listening. To them they figured if I was removed from SSI I just must not qualify, it's difficult for just anyone to understand. That's why I'm sure social security set it up this way. It gets exhausting trying to explain it to people. Again, if most people already are covered with medical I find them not to care about others who aren't. I'm glad I do not feel this way.

Yes, I did say if I don't win my case I will have to pay more for medicare. As for the $200.00 at 62 I will find out about that tomorrow. Again, not a big amount anyway. If I get that it will help me pay for my medicare when & if I reach 65. I'm pleased to see it says I will get that amount, but again I could be wrong & not understand. I didn't understand about the last insured date, this isn't disclosed to people. I felt good when the one lawyer's office said this happens to a lot of people. It has made me feel really stupid not to have understood which certainly does not help all my illnesses. It only makes it worse.

I do hope you find what you are looking for and if you don't, I hope you can make peace with it.

Nobody is saying your illness is not real. I too have mental illness and know it does not "just go away". Your posts just sound so negative and mean spirited towards people in general, I could be wrong and if so, I apologize.

I must say that you and alot of other people are misinformed on all government workers. I was not a Federal worker at the White House. I was a local level making average wages. I paid into a union, paid into medical, paid into a retirement system, so NOTHING is handed to me. There are things working in government we lose that private sector employees get. Like the abililty to call OSHA, we couldn't, not allowed. We had to purchase our own disability coverage at $100.00 a month (which most people pay .63 cents a week through tax/payroll deductions) so we did not have disability leave like private sector people. I had to pay to park $100.00 a month, but didn't get paid anymore than the other people doing the same job somewhere else. Hardly ever had the opportunity for overtime. I knew I would never make big bucks working where I did, but I knew I would have good benefits and security with a job. Those are the choices I made for myself. Some people want the big bucks, some want the stability, some are lucky enough to get both. I am 41 yrs. old, started working at 12 babysitting, didn't stop working until I had to...July 2010. I was a non government worker for a long time also. I had medical that I paid into at those jobs also. I don't feel bitter towards people who earn their livings, it is the people who are high up in the government that pay 13% federal tax on their 2 million dollar income whe we the average people pay 30% on a 40 thousand income. I think that is the confusion on government workers.

As far as the "dressing nice", the doctors, therapists, whoever, that is part of their job, to assess your hygiene and your ability to bathe and dress in clean, neat clothing .Every therapist or Physchiatrist I have evr been to has noted that in their record about me and myappearance, my ability to take care of personal hygiene, how often I can do it, if I need assistance etc. That is important with people that have depression, especially people that cannot or do not get out of bed for days or do not leave the house for days. Do you kind of see now why they notate that kind of thing and other things that may seem trivial?

Good luck to you and hopefully your documentation will prove what you have been stating all along to the ALJ.

I'm sorry I came across as mean spirited; I really am not. I wish I had known about the better benefits through gov't jobs but I didn't. I wasn't real bright in that area to know, & never had anyone teach me about it. I also started working at 16, but sometimes people just fall through the cracks with social security & I happen to be one of them. I personally think since I already proved many years ago I was disabled that should have a lot of weight. I guess others don't think so though & I find that sad for them.

Mental illness doesn't just come and go; the social security office thinks so & can use it to turn down claims. My doctors claim mental illness just doesn't work that way & told the judge they are very aware I had these well before my last insured date I didn't know about. I personally think everyone deserves to get something other than nothing if they've worked. I do know my taxes pay for many people on disability & they are collecting it illegally. I don't find that fair. We have too much fraud on all levels; I've heard of many doctors committing fraudulent claims with medicare even. If anyone else were in my shoes they would be pretty tired of paying for all of this too & to get NOTHING. I'm amazed people think I should be happy with this while I'm battling cancer on top of everything else.

I made a mistake in going to people who only had a masters degree, I should have only gone to other doctors because they are able to REALLY DIAGNOSE. I was trying to save money; doctors aren't cheap when you don't have insurance. These counselors never once mentioned bipolar or borderline, yet the very same place that originally got me SSI did. That was the point of my post. Because I'm not a good writer, I guess people thought I meant something different. I understand about the hygiene & stuff but don't understand ignoring the most important I mentioned above, other than the fact like I said, they have medical so that's what is important to them. If these important things aren't mentioned than no wonder the judge turned me down.They just simply didn't understand is all it is. Believe me, I'm ashamed to have these mental conditions & wish more than anything I didn't have them. I'm actually better just by admitting it though, years ago I sure wouldn't have.

I can clearly see why some of these people on the news go out of their minds at times. Mental illness shouldn't just be ignored; it's a very serious problem & has caused me not to be able to hold down jobs. I may have my problems but no one ever has to fear me going on a shooting spree or anything. I worry about the ones that do though because we all have to then suffer. I think the system should just be made to be a little more fair. It doesn't look that is going to happen though & I find it really sad. It is getting worse!!

I regret even posting on here & don't think I will anymore. The whole subject of my post was just ignored, & instead focused on me being upset of how crazy the two therapist were. To have the first one see me for a year and tell me she was on my side with my disabilities then to play a power game all because I simply requested another counselor isn't right. I laugh how she wrote she feels I can work. I think she can work too, much better than I. She should stop getting SSI and work full time and stop hiding money with her mother. I guess you think it's right what she is doing. I could hide money too, but I prefer to be honest. No one should have to do this to get medical care; that's ridiculous.

Dear Zevan
 

I didn't see your post, or I would have responded right away. I don't know what happened before this current post. I do feel your sorrow over your condition. Mental and physical problems all at the same time can be over powering. In the face of not receiving benefits according to your disability isn't fair eithor. No the system isn't good, and I had my share of problems getting my own benefits, even though like you I had been well documented as having these problems It took four years before I was appoved for anything, and I didn't have health insurance either. I was turned down in the insurance pool altogether when I was young because of a pre-existing condition. In light of that, you must not give up in trying to get benefits. Nobody can do this healing, without the money to do so. I lost all two generations saved for because of the health system. I know full well what it is like to face big medical and mental challenges without money to see it through. Nobody means to upset you here. And I don't want you to leave the site feeling you were not listened to. I am here for you, and I do care. Nobody wants to face these things alone and without support. I wish I had caught your other posts, and that I could have figured out something to help you. I can feel your sorrow zevan, you arn't alone. I do care about what happens to you. Do you have any family support at all? You need to find that way to go forward and get the help you need. There are community based help places in many areas of the country. Start calling around and see if you can find an agency to get you the help you need. Mental help is available but you are going to have to search for it in your city. No it should not be overlooked by anybody. I have mental issues as well. Depression has plagued me for years. I kept coming back here to for help and compassion. I will be here to listen to you at any time. You may PM me if you need to speak privately. don't give up. ginnie

My whole family has depression and we also have suicide in the family, so trust me, I know the severity of it. I know the system is not fair for everyone. I know people are dishonest, but it does you no good, for your health or your case to be distracted by something you cannot change (the therapist hiding money with her mother). That was my point about that. I cannot imagine what it is like to have cancer, but I bet you want to use your energy towards yourself and getting benefits (SSI,SSD, Medical etc.) for yourself and not waste it on people who will just continue on their journey of life either way. I feel the same way about my tax dollars going to the wrong things, but I, as one person cannot change it. I decided that to stress over it makes my conditions worse and it sets my health back. I can't afford that.

Can you start a new application instead of an appeal? I think I read that somewhere on the SS site. Do you have a primary doctor who can refer you to a different "community" of therapists, so to speak? Like here in NY we have Dr.'s and therapists that are affiliated with different hospitals and/or medical groups, so maybe a group outside of the ones you have been to already. What about your Cancer doctor's? Do they have any input?

It sounds like you were on SSI and had medical through SS, then went off for a time and are trying to use the medical documentation from the original SSI case to reinstate? Maybe I am interpretting it wrong. If that is the case, what changed? Do you have anyplace there where you live like "lifespan" where social workers can help you, even if it is guide you in the direction of where you could find maybe new doctor's that maybe you were unaware of, like on a sliding fee scale?

I am not trying to be mean either here, just want you to know that this forum is all about support and help. And when I read some of your responses to peoples questions or suggestions, you were snappy....on the defense. We don't know everybodies everything, only what people tell us and we go from there. WE too suffer from illnesses, bad experiences and the like, we are all in somewhat of the same boat :)

So hang around, relax a bit, ya never know, you might like it here!

I was thrown off of SSI because I came into some money, so no I cannot get on SSI ever again. I cannot start a new claim, I have to stick with this one because of my last insured date. It is SSDI I am trying to get & I have a second hearing coming up regarding it. I'm lucky I am being given another chance. The other person tried to claim I wouldn't get what my statement said on my statements, but I sure will, even more than I thought because my last statement is clear back in 2008. I verified this yesterday & I also will get medicare. I have all my 40 quarters. Some people think they know what they are talking about but they don't. I think it makes them feel good to try to upset someone. The nice lady at the social security office told me if I wasn't going to get anything at age 62 it would say 0 in that column, & it wouldn't state I've worked enough quarters to qualify for medicare. I was told I would never get another chance at another hearing on another board, I personally do not think these boards are helpful; people want to be negative & try to upset people. I watched another lady be abused like no tomorrow; someone kept telling her she would never win her claim while they themselves had won. It's bizarre.

I am one of the nicest people you could ever meet. The therapist I saw were unprofessional & that is what my post was about. They are not doctors and never will be. The three doctors I had from the past are behind me with all of this all the way. Sorry you didn't understand. I don't think you really read my entire post. Mainly you decided how dare I complain & let this shady therapist continue to hide money. (LOL) That's not going to happen, I already turned her in as she should be. I don't care if she even finds out it's me. She fooled with the wrong person, you don't fool with people's lives in that way.

Please try to read people's post all the way, you actually think I'm wanting SSI. There wouldn't be a problem if I was, remember I already got that before & I can no longer qualify for it. Sorry you seem to think I'm such a horrible person, how dare I want my work related record & want to deal with people who are professional. Haven't you ever heard of bad therapist or even bad doctors? If you haven't I don't where you've been. There's bad in all walks of life but I for sure am not one of them. I would NEVER do to someone what that therapist attempted to do to me & I'm proud of it. I don't need to gain power that way!

if i was your alj you would have me convinced. good luck with your hearing, i hope you are successful and get the ssdi and medicare that you worked and paid for.

Ok, I have tried and tried to no avail to to "discuss" things with you ** I am done. I did read your post, excuse me for maybe forgetting some of it. **

I am a very compassionate person and **I have been through enough in my short 41 years, to know that 1. I will not be a victim 2. I have to advocate for myself and 3. When people offer help,advice or otherwise, I will accept/decline it graciously whether I agree or not!!

I do wish you a healthy successful journey because that is the kind of person I am. Goodbye.

just a gentle reminder of our forum guidelines related to posting
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/showthread.php?t=1293
specifically
and
Sometimes it is best just not to reply if we feel we are not able to communicate well with another member. Better no response than one which can come across as "flaming"

thanks to everyone for your co-operation

Re: Peace be unto you
 

Peace must rule on this forum. Allow yourselves some space to allow your souls to heal. We are all fragile, in what we express, and how we come across to each other. when ever in doubt, whenever you feel an negative vibe from someone, take a deep breath, and relax. We are to be here for positive support, we all hurt in some way. Allow peace to come into your hearts, even if someone upsets us. We can and should rise above it for the sake of all here. I care about each soul who visits this site. Let peace rule and spread thoughout the world. I am a real throw back the 60's and I still feel that same message. ginnie:grouphug::D:circlelove::smileypray::Heart:

I feel for you, I know how hard things are, there is so much red tape, having to document everything. Plus, just because someone is a therapist, doesn't mean they have high morals or values. Or that they may even be jealous that you own a house. I think the government is making it very hard for people to collect disability because it saves them lots of money. You could mention to a doctor that sometimes you hear voices. My daughter's friend, let's call her Jane, was asked by the hospital if she heard voices. She said to the person doing the intake "You're just jealous you can't hear them." They locked her up for observation for the entire weekend. Just keep plugging away and get the right documentation. Your right you need a doctor not a therapist to diagnosis you. Food for thought, I came across these boards cause I figured out I have celiac disease. It has wrecked havoc with my life, horrible depression, cancer, seizures and now I can't have milk! So I went to a gastroenterologist, and wanted to be tested for the disease before I stopped eating wheat,and gluten. He wouldn't test me, instead prescribed medicine to mask my stomach issues.
Seems the heartburn I was getting can cause cancer, but hey I stopped eating wheat and the heartburn went away...but it was causing all kinds of mental distress. I went to a Tibetan doctor and I feel better. I would love to be working but this has been hell, eating myself sick. I think that a lot of mental illness is from reactions to things we eat. Plus, thyroid disease, sleep apnea and the stress being sick has on a person.
Good Luck

Hi, Once someone is past their insured date, even if they didn't know about it, it's next to impossible to win their case. Remember way back when my insured date was here, there was no internet. I'm practically 20 yrs. older than you. Anyway, once a person is past the insured date they have to prove they were disabled before this date. Regardless of what situation I am in now, and it is worse, none of that is considered because it still keeps going back to proving before the date. Even with three doctors stating I have been disabled long before this date, I was still denied at my hearing.

It took me a long, long time to figure out rules like this, so there would be no way you or the regular person applying for social security would run into this problem. Be grateful; I feel it is very unfair I already proved I'm disabled and was on SSI for quite sometime. None of that is even considered now. The two therapist I had never mentioned one of the important disabilities I do really have, & just ignored I was already considered disabled before. I guess they really don't think I am, but thank god real doctors do which does at least carry more weight.

It will be next to impossible for me to win this case as I said, I'm lucky I've been given another chance with a hearing. I have to go before the same judge who already turned me down so that's not good. I simply failed to know about the date; I'm glad younger people now can see the commercials and receive statements like I never did before, and the internet to read when & how to do it. The social security office is using this for all its worth to deny me. I'm sorry if I've seemed bitter, but I think anyone here would feel the same way to have been abused like this. I cry all the time how they just threw me off & left me with no insurance, then I was turned down for insurance for pre-exsisting conditions. It's sad how I was treated on this board, it's supposed to be here for support but I didn't get any really. I did from a few people so that was at least nice. I had something else I really wanted to post to notify people a new thing that is happening the social security offfice is now doing to us all, but because of the way I was treated I can't do it now. I don't care to go through more stuff about how awful I am because I was aware of the one therapist games. She wasted a year of my life saying she was behind me with all of this & then deliberately wrote something else to make sure I lost my case. All of this because I requested another counselor who could remember what we'd talked about the week before. I wanted to warn people to be careful, some therapist will lie and then write something else just because they feel like it.

Hi Zevan
 

I am sorry your claim was denied. I had no health insurance either, and I do have some idea of what you are going through. I was unable to get insurance because of pre-existing conditions. when I did fall apart, my folks tried to protect me. It didn't work. I lost all that two generations saved for.
Life is definately not fair at times. It happens at random, and it doens't always turn out OK. I went into poverty too zevan over my health issues. I hope you will keep on fighting. I will also pray that the judge you see will have some compassion for you. Is there anyone in your life that can prove your date of disability? Wish I could help. I will keep you in my prayers. ginnie

SSA currently and for about the last 8 or 10 years has a specific policy that all SSI recipients who have even a single year of miniscule wages are required to file for SSDI benefits. And yes, they will be denied for lack of insured status. It is not an unusual situation to be denied for not being disabled as of date last insured and it is explained in the denial notices. People are informed if they file a claim. But it is also true that before the Social Security Statements were issued, this information was harder to find out, but it was never impossible for someone looking for answers. But that is true of everything recorded before the Internet Era or the Information Age, whatever you want to call what we are in now.

You are right that it can be very very hard to prove that a disability began 10, 20, 30 years before application. Existing medical records go into storage or get destroyed. Or, doctors keep sketchy notes because they aren't concerned with proving that you are disabled some day, they are concerned with improving your health. I also think that one of the downsides of the Internet Era is that electronic records can be altered by clever people and that with no paper backup records, and it is hard to find someone capable of following through figuring out what happened. How often have you heard someone say, that the information is here in the computer so it must be right? And yet I know it is not always right, but I have nothing but my memory to back me up.

Hi, Yes I have 3 doctors verifying I was disabled before my last insured date. My postings have been so long it looks like the majority of people haven't seen me type this over and over. I was still denied at my hearing, the judge has a very high rating over not approving people. I don't think it has anything to do with the 3 docs; many times people are turned down because of the judge & only because of the judge. Many mistakes were made by her, and thank god the appeals board saw these things & are giving me a 2nd chance.

It really has been so frustrating getting on to this site, as you can see even by the last postings and others, everyone is assuming I can't get a hold of records from years ago. AGAIN I HAVE RECORDS!!! PLEASE PAY ATTENTION AND DON'T WRITE AND TELL ME HOW DIFFICULT IT IS TO GET MY RECORDS WHEN I HAVE THEM! This is not true statements & is only something people are assuming. I know you haven't done this to me & I appreciate it so much.

People are denied when they have everything, please people don't assume because someone gets turned down they just don't have everything. Look up how many people are granted a 2nd hearing, NOT MANY BUT I HAVE. I don't recall anyone on here telling me how great it is I am being given another chance. Instead I get stuff of how I must not have all my records. How sad for all the people who refuse to read everything & feel better about themselves to keep telling me that. This site has caused me nothing but tears and frustration. I'm sorry I didn't know about SSDI, but I honestly didn't, so I don't need to be beat up more because I didn't. I'm just told the information was available; really where if I didn't even know what SSDI was to even look?

Zevan, if people are getting confused about your posts then it may be worthwhile to just keep them simple and concise to avoid that.
Most members here do try to offer helpful advice and to be supportive, and when any posts are not kind or helpful, we edit or remove them. But you do need to remember that almost everyone here is having their own problems as well, and so if they don't remember everything you may have said or if they misunderstand your posts, it is most often an unintentional thing.
When I read back over your thread, I see a lot of support and information shared with you.

We wish you all the best as you move forward

Zevan, Did you recently gather documentation that helps your case? Based on some of your older posts, I believed that, that had been an issue for you.

I understand and appreciate why you would turn in fraudulent SSDI activity. That being said, it won't help you to dwell on the issues you have with her. It's common for docs to say one thing in an office visit and write something different in a report. You switched docs, which is your best course of action.

It's difficult to understand the timeline of a complex case such as yours.
Why weren't you originally granted SSDI benefits instead of SSI benefits? Was this because you didn't apply with the correct onset date years ago?

Feel free to pm me if I can be of any help.