Nicely said Janke.

As soon as I was denied in the initial phase I contacted an attourney. From what I have heard in my support group for my disaility, you don't have much of a shot without one. I don't know if that is 100% true, but I would always advise one to get an attourney.

Did I spell that right? Hhhhmmmpppfff....I dunno.

I wish you the very very best!

Claims are approved every day without an attorney. Claims are denied every day with an attorney.

However, statistically, claimants with representation have a higher rate of approval than those without. There are a variety of reasons for that. Also, because an approved disability claim is worth tens or hundreds of thousands of lifetime dollars, it makes sense to pay for expertise rather than rely on a bureaucrat who has no stake in your approval or denial.

I was approved in 3 months straight with no lawyer or anyone else helping me.

I think it comes down to what you are comfortable with. If you think you can apply on your own and 'state your case' well enough, go for it. You can always appeal if you don't get approved. However, if you think you will have trouble with the process, it never hurts to get extra help. But, it is a lot cheaper to do it yourself, so if you are confident--it doesn't hurt to try. :) Good luck.

Like MS, it's different for everyone. I used the Blue Book words (SS's own definitions of Disabilities - can be found by googling), was refused first application (think SS does that to most to get rid of the not serious) appealed in writing without a lawyer, told them really in writing what MS is like in my appeal form.. Get @ $1300 a month, got @500/mo for kids (bought braces with back pay, then saved for college for twins) until they left High School a few months after turning 18. They recentlysent me letter to review me (DXed in 2002). I thanked them for their concern and that I still had MS. They sent me a letter that they did not need to review me. Attitude worked on my office but not everyone's I think. If you are not confident about your writing skills, try but be careful. I could afford to lose and wait in this gamble. Make copies of every thing, they told me they lost my file at one point.And all my doctors backed me up on what I said. Good luck.

Go take your papers to your local senetor. Get a letter of restrictions from your doc and make sure they write you can not work at all in there letter.

Why the heck do you suggest going to a local senator? The original poster just applied in August, has yet to receive a decision, has no indication that the bureaucratic wheels are not turning like they are supposed to be. An elected official can do nothing at this point, and even later, all they can really do is get the case moving when it is stalled.