Notice of Award - but what diagnosis?
 

I keep reading that people get a "Fully Favorable Decision" and that it states why they got SSDI, and when you get a CDR, you must be careful to put that diagnosis in the right area on the CDR or you can trigger a long form or full review.

I have several issues - the main one being RSD/CRPS but also peripheral neuropathy, fibromyalgia, disk problems in the spine, asthma - etc.

I filed myself, and got approved first time. I got a letter Sept of 2010, finding me disabled as of Dec. 2009, which was the last day I worked, but it's called "Notice of Award"

There is no diagnosis listed. Not long after I got the letter, I called to see what they awarded me for - diagnosis etc - but they seemed confused and would not say. I know that none of the problems I have are one of the automatically covered diagnosis.

There is a bar code vertically, on the right side of the paper. Along the same side of the paper, in tiny, tiny type is a series of letters and numbers and symbols that must be 30 or more characters long. This set of numbers and letters is on the front side of each page of the letter, but the numbers and letters are different on each page. Is this diagnosis? How in the world do you know what it means if it is?

Also, where my name and address is, where they would show through the mailing envelope, there is a tiny set of letters and numbers above my name. If this is the diagnosis, that seems odd, because it would show on the outside of the envelope?

I am set for review 5-7 years.

I am worried that I won't know what to put in the diagnosis area of the CDR to keep from triggering a long form.

If you get a "Notice of Award" are you supposed to get a "Fully Favorable Decision" letter too with the diagnosis on it? I carefully kept everything I got from them, and I do not have a Fully Favorable Decision, only the Notice of Award.

Janke, Lit Love - can you help? Anyone?
Confused….

Thanks for any help!

Depending on what stage of the process you are approved at could effect what you receive I imagine. I believe the Fully Favorable or Partially Favorable decision always comes from an ALJ. And, even then one judge might include the diagnosis while another might not depending on how he or she writes their decisions.

Where to find the coding has been covered here before but I honestly can't recall the exact directions. Janke will know I would imagine...

Another option is to: "Call and ask for a copy of the Form SSA-831 and the DDE (Disability Determination Explanation)." http://ssdfacts.com/forum/index.php/topic,15662.0.html

The info is also apparently listed in your disability file. So for those that have a copy you'll find in the CD. SS charges $49 if you request it after approval.

Diagnosis and CDR
 

I keep reading everyone saying that you have to put the original diagnosis down on the CDR, so I just up and called 'em and asked them straight out "what do I put in these three spaces for reasons for my last visits" and I asked them if I had to put the original diagnosis. A really nice lady at SSA told me "no, we already know what your diagnosis and reason for being disabled is, just put in the reason for the visit, if you went to get prescriptions refilled, put in 'prescriptions', etc." That's what I did and that is what others on this forum have done as well. On the short form CDR I don't see anywhere where it says you must put your original diagnosis, only the reason for your visit...just my two cents.

it has been recommended by new york state in writing in a guide to its residents to put in your diagnosis in the reason for visit section of the short form questionairre.

the 800 number is not noted for always giving out the best or even at times most accurate information.

there is also a section on the short form to write comments. no where on the form does it say its not a good idea to write comments because your short form may get kicked for a full cdr. it also doesnt say its not a good idea to attach anything because you may then get a long form cdr. both of those have caused the short forms to be kicked for a full cdr. the guide is just that a guide to filling out the short form and long form in a way which will cause the least future complications.

im passing on the information that i got from new york state, which is what i chose to do on my short form and which was acceptable and successful.

you can obviously do whatever you choose on your own cdr.

Here is what someone wrote on a similar thread I posted not too long ago:

When I received my last disability update report (short form - continuing disabilty review) I put the following on the 3 lines for my last 3 "reasons for visit": medication, counseling, prescriptions.

I didn't put my original diagnosis or any diagnosis at all on this particular form.

I had been having psych appointment every month and I did list those dates.

Anyway, about 4 weeks after mailing it in, I received a letter telling me my disability benefits would be continuing.

Anyway, that's my story.

I don't know about the 800 number giving out bad advice or not but then I don't know how the CDR short form itself can be wrong either. It says right on it for question 5 put down the reason for your last three visits, then it gives examples, "prescriptions, counseling, etc." It doesn't say anything about putting down your original diagnosis. Aside from the 5% they randomly pull anyway, what is wrong about filling out the CDR exactly the way it says to on the form itself?

The problem with the 800# is that the training and/or experience of the staff is very inconsistent. It's generally best to contact your local office.

If you read the link Echoes provided, it explains how to avoid triggering a long form CDR. For example, if you write in the comments section the computer will kick it out and have a person manually review it to decide if you should undergo the long form CDR. Since it's comparable to having to go through the original application for approval, many of us would choose a root canal before undergoing that type of stress again...

It's also a good idea to take a copy before you mail it back as a reference for any subsequent CDRs.

(I just realized perhaps you are perhaps questioning just that portion of the link. I remembered belatedly that you were familiar with the concept of not wanting to trigger a long form CDR. BTW, the 5% is called an "integrity sampling.")

I do not have anything to offer, except support.

I too am not aware of what disability I am getting benefits for. *admin edit*

What is the CDR?

CDR = Social Security Administration (SSA) will conduct a continuing disability review (CDR) every few years to see if your condition has improved.
http://www.disabilitysecrets.com/dne...ss-social.html

Thanks, Lit Love for that link and info the Form SSA-831 and the DDE. That sounds like something I can do. I think I might like to get the CD, but I have a Mac and am wondering if it would only open on PC. I did go to the link and that is an interesting site. I remember going to it years ago, and it seems to have really great information.

Maybe Janke will still see my post above and weigh in too.

I appreciate all the knowledgeable responses I can get on this.

edited to say --- Forgot to say to NoCmpassion thanks for the support!

I read the NY guide thoroughly and agree with it and followed it too, not wanting to get my short form CDR kicked out and have a long form sent instead. I did not write any additional comments on my short form CDR, didn't do any work or receive any training, etc. The only thing I disagree with is question 5b, personally I don't think its necessary to put your original diagnosis together with the reason for your three most recent visits. The directions are somewhat contradictory, in the set of instructions that come with the form for question 5b it says put down "reason for visit" then gives examples like "arthritis" or "bad back" but then on the form itself it says give reason for visit and then gives examples such as "prescriptions" or "counseling." Personally I put down the actual reasons for my last three visits all of which happen to be for reasons related to my original disability. Also I find no reason not to trust the 800 number people, I'm sure they're trained just as thoroughly as the people at the local office, and probably encounter the question about what to write in 5b far more often then the local reps, IMHO. Not trying to offend any one, I guess time will tell, my short form CDR is still being processed, if it ends up getting kicked out and I get the long form I'll be sure to let everyone know so they can avoid the misery (if I in fact have made some mistake filling out 5b). But I think it will be fine, I called them (anonymously) and asked them what to do about 5b and they said not to put the original disability because they know what my disability is and they said instead put the reason for the doctor visit, i.e. "prescriptions" or ""counseling" plus I read the instructions on the form which correlate with what the 800 number people said and followed those instructions thoroughly, so hopefully mine won't get kicked out. That's all...good luck to anyone going through the CDR process right now, it is very stressful process.

to be clear for people who are reading this and will be filling out a cdr in the future, no one ever said to put down an alpha numeric code as the reason for a doctors visit. new york state says to put your diagnosis there by name such as asthma. do not put down any alpha numeric code.

i dont know where ssdi recipient is getting that anyone said to put down an alpha numeric code. no one said any such thing in this thread.

for anyone wondering what we are talking about here is the link to the new york state guide on cdr's. they give you tips that are not to be found anywhere on an SSA site.

http://nymakesworkpay.org/docs/Guide_CDR.pdf

I said original diagnosis not alphanumeric code...

Curious what State(s) is this in? I have been on disability for...11 years now? I have lived in multiple States. I know other people that have been on longer than me. Like, 15, 20, 30 years.

No one ever heard of this review. Basically, you get on it, you are good for life. No reviews.

Let's try to get posts for NoCmpassion consolidated on his own thread here -
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread201952.html

Right now replies are on others members threads and it is getting confusing with his information spread over various threads..


Thank you

you edited your post. you originally said alpha numeric code

i didnt say to put diagnosis plus reason for the visit. i said put diagnosis where it asks for reaon for the visit. so it would be asthma not asthma medications in the example

Thank you Jo*mar.

If you feel comfortable calling the 800#, by all means do so. For matters like requesting a form it would not make a difference.

For someone that has a serious issue, getting bad info from an 800# employee can have serious consequences. In my case, it meant a long delay in benefits after being told by two separate 800# employees that I had been approved, when I had not. It was after that fiasco that the supervisor at my local office that told me that the 800# employees often don't receive adequate training or experience. Nor was that the only occassion where I encountered questionable/bad info from the 800#. Others that I trust are fairly experienced with SSDI matters have also reported similar issues. And lastly, part of the issue is that the 800# employees may not have access to the same records as the local office employees, or maybe they simply aren't always able to understand the configuration of the data--or perhaps a combo of both. Apparently there are massive problems with SS's outdated software systems as Janke wrote about recently.

BTW, when I recently requested a copy of my benefits online from SS, they directed me to call my local office if I had any questions...