How absolutely absurd that you had to endure such treatment. That must have been an emotionally devastating experience that you will never forget. I hope you never have to endure that again.

As regards my former neighbor my husband and I never got involved. Since my husband is a psychologist we both wondered, if my neighbor might and claimed RSD because that was more socially acceptable than a psychiatric problem. A few days before my neighbor moved, however, her daughter who lived with her came over to say goodbye. Her daughter expressed her extreme frustration because she claimed that she had accompanied her mother to doctors appointment for years for treatment for RSD but knew her mother was faking it, based on the same observations that we had. We did not comment because it made us quite uncomfortable. She also indicated that she could no longer live with her mother or participate in her mother's life because her conscience was causing her extreme anxiety. She reported being alienated from her father because although he knew his wife was faking it stated that they needed the money and his wife refused to work.

When I applied for SSDI the case worker explained to me that the paperwork and application process had recently been tightened up. I did not question her but was fine with that due to the experience with my former neighbor. I found the application process stressful and arduous but fair. I was glad to see a system that seemed accountable and I did not view any of the questions or requests for medical records unreasonable.

My point is that folks who have beaten the system make is hard on the folks who physically cannot work. It is because of my experience with this former neighbor that I believe SSDI requests should indeed be scrutinized.