Feedback please from those knowledgable about SSDI
 

Several weeks ago I called the caseworker evaluating my SSDI application to check on the progress. She indicated that she was missing one recent report from my PCP, despite a written request. I was surprised since she had received about 600 pages of medical records. I offered to get the record myself and send it to her. She told me to call her when I had the report so she could give me a bar code to send it to her.

After I got the report I called and left messages for two weeks for her to please call me to provide me with the barcode. No response. When I called last week the reviewer answered the phone and stated that she had already made her decision, didn't need the report in question after all and that her decision had already been reviewed by an in house physician.

Of course she indicated that she was not permitted to tell me of the decision and additionally, my case could be selected for a "quality review."

I am also concerned about reports that quotas have now been established since so many folks are losing their jobs and filing for SSDI because they can't find work.

I am confused. Any feedback from those who have gone before me would be very much appreciated!

Thanks!

I'm assuming the caseworker is from SS? Is this your first attempt at acquiring SSDI? Do you have a lawyer?

Yes, it is my first attempt and I don't have a lawyer. The case worker is from SSDI. The decision was made very quickly. This surprised me because so many have waited much longer. Given my medical history, and the detailed records of numerous specialists I can't see how I would be denied. I don't know if the possibility of a quality review is not a good sign.

Thanks!

Very good luck to you if you are approved! :)But, if you're not approved don't fret because it usually happens this way. Denied twice and approved on the third time around is the normal but not etched in stone. If you are denied I'd hire a lawyer who is an expert dealing with SSDI cases, usually found easily in most areas of the country. Most of these lawyers handle nothing but SS cases. It sounds like you have your ducks in order as far as your medical records, very important and may be the reason you might get a positive judgement the first time around. If not, hand those records over to the lawyer. Good luck and keep us posted.

By the way, the payment amount to the lawyer is fixed by law and comes out of the SSDI settlement.

jim

Many thanks Jim. Do you know anything about why a case would go to "quality review?"

"Could be reviewed" My hunch is (I could very well be wrong) is she told you the decision without telling you. If she said "this may have to go to a quality review" means (I think) that you've got a positive judgement, however a review of this positive judgment may have to take place. I say this because if you are denied (which is common the first go round) there would never be a quality review in the first place, only reviews of positive judgements take place. The other thing I see in this is if it does go for a review this may hold up the process for a while, so the case worker is also telling you to be patient. When my wife got a positive judgement her lawyer stated that there is a slight chance that the judgment may go in for a review. Her advise was not worry about it at all. Reviews are common in SS cases, I wouldn't worry about it or take it personal.

Others, please chime in if there is important info I'm missing.

ballerina,

jimking gave you all the best advise. All I can add is I also was denied the first time, without an attorney and then approved on the second request with an attorney. The whole process took almost 2 years and my medical records where over 2500 pages and it was a certified copy of my medical and still got denied the first time, so it's definitly not unusual.

Good Luck,

gabbycakes

thanks so much Gabbycakes!!

Don't worry about the possibility quality review. They pull a very small (very small) sample of cases and get another set of eyes on them. They told me the same thing, but I was approved quite quickly. They are pretty darn busy so the sample that gets reviewed is minimal.

Good luck, and I sure hope you get some good news; mine came via a phone call from the local Social Security office.