denied.....now what?
 

I have been denied..... After months of paperwork and dr. apts now I have to start the process again. Any suggestions? Do I hire Binder and Binder? I keep telling myself that its ok most people get denied the first go around so that I don't loose it.

You are right that most get denied the first time around. The statistics show that 60% of those denied in the first application eventually get approved. I am sorry to say but it took me three years to get my first check with a sizable back pay amount.

Now I am dealing with the debt I accrued while waiting to get approved. I got most of it canceled but now the IRS wants to tax me on the $30,000 of debt forgiveness. They want $5000 in taxes on the forgiven debt.

Yes, this is a miserable life while waiting to get approved and get decent health care. Stick with it and things will get better. Most of us have gone through this struggle.

The second application is a bit easier. The Disability Determinations Service will do better analysis of your case. You can contact your US Senator or Congressman's office and they can fast track your application. It is not a real fast track but it does get a bit of better review.

It does not help to get your doctor to diagnose you as 100% permanently disabled. In fact, it appears that it can get in the way. DDS is very wary of doctor shopping to get a doctor to write up a favorable disability report. Instead, it is best to get support of the tasks you can and can not do. The neuro-psych assessment will be a great start.

Do not try to prepare for the neuro-psych assessment. In fact, if you show up a bit tired, your symptoms will be more pronounced.

You should be able to find a local SSDI attorney in your phone book under attorneys/disability. Call and ask about experience with mTBI.

Keep up your efforts. In time, you will prevail.

And, know that you are not alone.

My best to you.

MBrook,

Have you already been through the reconsideration and ALJ stages ?

Very sorry to hear your were denied mbrook. Your next step is the reconsideration process. You have like 60 days to appeal and hiring an attorney or and advocate would be a good idea. I got binder and binder to handle my case and I was approved. One thing to keep in mind about binder and binder though, they are SS Advocates, not attorneys. So if you would rather have an actual attorney than look elsewhere. Best of luck to you.

So Binder & Binder are all advocates? Which is usally the smartest choice? An attorney? Or SS Advocates and why?

Thank you

I'm new here. But if denied, what is the better/smarter choice? A ss advocate? Or Attorney? And why? Who has a better outcome?

So binder & binder are advocates? No attorneys?

Thanks!

the best choice in my opinion is a lawyer in your area who has previously worked for social security administration on disability issues and now has his own practice. you can look in the yellow pages under lawyers with that specialty. Go for a free consult and see if you want to hire them.

I'm no expert by any means, but take my advice and check around before you hire just any lawyer. I just had to fire my lawyer cause he was just sitting on his duff and I got together all the medical records and everything else. All he did was send them to SSDI. The lady handling my case at the appeals and hearing office told me that I could send them in as well as the lawyer. Remember, if a lawyer makes promises that sound too good to be true, you don't need him or her. I'm not saying you shouldn't hire a lawyer, but make sure you know his reputation before you sign anything.