I have done 2 cases with the Appeals Council and it took approximately 15 months to get a decision. This was a couple of years ago, they keep saying that they are working on getting cases processed more quickly. I'm hoping it will go quickly for you. I really don't know how they expect people to go without money that long. I hope this helps clarify things for you. Here is some info I got from the site.

Appeals Council

If you disagree with the hearing decision, you may ask for a review by Social Security’s Appeals Council. We will be glad to help you ask for this review.

The Appeals Council looks at all requests for review, but it may deny a request if it believes the hearing decision was correct. If the Appeals Council decides to review your case, it will either decide your case itself or return it to an administrative law judge for further review.

If the Appeals Council denies your request for review, we will send you a *letter explaining the denial. If the Appeals Council reviews your case and makes a decision itself, we will send you a copy of the decision. If the Appeals Council returns your case to an administrative law judge, we will send you a letter and a copy of the order.

Just as a quick update, I got approval to change agencies and scheduled an appointment with a new therapist for next week. Now I get to tell all my crap to a complete stranger. Not exactly fun for someone with social phobia.

I'm sorry to hear how much problems you are experiencing. Getting SSI/SSDI is extremely time consuming. I do agree with a previous post that you should ask your attorney who she would recommend as a therapist. However, in many cases, a psychiatrist's opinion is better. Before you went in front of the ALJ, did the SSA send you to a psychiatrist of their own for an independent opinion?

As far as your attorney, do you know how experienced she is in handling SSI/SSDI cases? I can't tell you how important it is to have an EXPERIENCED attorney. This person basically has your life in their hands. I was unclear on your appeal to the Appeals Court. Has that been already been filed because you only have a limited amount of time from receipt of the ALJ's decision to file with the appeals court. If that has been missed, you will have to start the process over.

I wish you the best of luck with this process and don't give up hope.

Good for you CW !

I understand that means another cause for anxiety. Maybe you could start by typing as much of the info as you can and printing it out. Then you can be sure you have given the new therapist a thorough review of your situation and your needs. Hopefully, that will decrease your stage fright a bit on the day of your visit.

Take Care

Thank you for the words of support. The appeal has been requested and the lawyer is in the process of preparing a brief to submit to the Appeals Council. It was originally due last month but she requested an extension and received it. The brief is now due towards the end of this month, I think.

Things are sounding more promising for you. Your attorney has a HUGE undertaking to get the brief ready. Preparing and filing a brief with the Court of Appeals is time consuming because of the amount of information that goes into it. Because your attorney was able to get an extension, hopefully he will have received a report from your new therapist. I do hope that went well and this person was a better fit for you. It is aggravating when someone's doctor/therapist doesn't seem to care about your problems. I've had a bit of trouble myself getting doctors on board so that I can get a trained medical dog. My house was broken into last year while I was home. I still suffer from PTSD and anxiety while in public. It took a while, but my doc finally agreed to complete some paperwork so I could get approved for the dog. I'm hoping to have her by the Spring. I know there's a light at the end of the tunnel for both of us. I'll keep my fingers crossed that everything goes well for you on the appeal.

Just wanted to update this. The lawyer has submitted the brief on my behalf to the appeals council. She sent me a copy and I have to say that she did a good job with it. Whether the appeals council agrees or not, I cannot control. Struggling with how I will survive while the decision is being made and what I do if I am denied yet again. More waiting.

Thanks, again, for all the support.

Well now the hard part is done, now all you have to do is wait. I've heard some people are getting decisions within seven months. So hopefully you'll be able to have this behind you soon. The two cases I did took almost 15 months, but I heard they are trying to improve those numbers. I don't know if your attorney knows this but if you fall and get hurt or something, and get a new MRI showing further injury, your attorney can submit the new MRI, or doctors report or ER papers, to the Appeals Council. Good luck and I hope by the end of the summer, your life can get back to somewhat normal.

"legalMania"is right i just got another call from my doctor office today.asking me to immediatly send them the result of my "newMRI" test.they're calling it and "EMG".its all for my appeal hearing."Miss"im feeling the same exact way you are.lots of "Despair"and hoplesness im kind of like that old "Beatle"song john lenon did some years ago"SoTired".but these appeals are hard to tell how long they take.some say 15mons some say 2-3mons.
its why i come here and ask for advice and try and give some.the folks here are great,they listen,compassinate and they "Feel your pain"(as i do)

At least things are moving along when you don't hear anything you begin to think all kinds of thoughts. Just try to stay positive for now. A lot of people are going through what you are right now. I know how you feel about being so tired ,so I'm dedicating this song to all of you who are just so tired: Paul talks for the first 30 sec or so but I never get tired of looking at Paul.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sg6X2...eature=related