daylilyfan - I posted earlier in the thread - during the week of 2-7 we opened a constituent case with our Senator. Within one week we received a call from SSDI - explaining that my husband's case was stuck in limbo and he was able to move it along to processing. We received his check today....a mere month later!!!! This after waiting since our award notice came in May 2010...after applying in January 2007....and after they tried to reinvestigate his trial work periods that had been ruled on by the judge!

I have been feeling I'll this week...so have not called or followed up yet.

You know, a person should not have to have a politician help them in a matter like this.

But, I am glad that they do help.

Hopeful that next week I feel up to going to the SS office and waiting to see someone.

I will try that before I bother the state senator.

Daylilyfan - if you are not well and it is difficult to get to the SS office, I think you efforts would be better used contacting one of your US Senators. They have staff people in their office with the sole job of helping constituents out on cases like this.

I wish we would have done this 9 months ago rather than accepting the "its still processing" responses we kept getting from SS.

But make sure it is one of your two US Senators (who serve in Washington, DC but will have offices in your state - you may have to look up their website to find the locations). Depending on what state you live in, you may also have state senators who serve in your State Legislature in your state capitol.

This whole system is ridiculous....if it weren't for my income, my husband would have been homeless two years ago and yet the SS workers seem so overburdened and/or jaded that you just can't get anyone to give a darn. But, I guess its a money loser for the US gov, so there's no incentive to speed it up....I wonder how many SS just outlasts so that they just give up and never get the money they are entitled to?

I'm temporarily hijacking your thread to vent Daylily.....I requested a telephone appointment to try to square away my issues with my kids' benefits after over 1 year of getting the run around talking to a different rep every time I called, being assured it would be corrected, and getting NOWHERE. I had to wait over a month for the appointment, the time came and went....no phone call.....grrrrr

So, now I have another telephone appointment set up for the end of the month. I'm hoping if we get a break from snow, I'll be able to get to the office in person before then, but I've only been able to manage my pain by laying really low lately.

Okay....end vent now

I know that I have a lot to be grateful for.....as much as our bills are piling up (and my 2 teen boys could eat most anyone out of house and home), at least we aren't in the dire straights that so many here while waiting for the SSDI benefits due them.

It's so frustrating dealing with the red tape....and that stress doesn't help our situations any. I hope that you are able to get it straightened out soon.

sl1029 thanks I had not thought of the difference between state and us senator... I happen to know the person who is my state senator, and I automatically thought to contact them.

Finz - I certainly understand your frustration. Like you, I feel fortunate compared to many with RSD, and also many with problems with SSDI. I got it first time, no lawyer. I don't know where I would have been by now it had not gone so quickly. So, I don't have a **lot** of backpay coming, but I still would like to pay off some bills with it.

I just don't understand why it has taken longer to get my back pay than it did to get approved for SSDI. Especially since it is only for 4 months pay - not like they owe me for years of backpay.

aaaaarrrrrggggghhhh !!!!!!!!

daylilyfan, I called my congressman's office on behalf of my wife's backpay last week. They were ******. They called the Baltimore office wanting to know what was the hang up. They called me back later and told me their response was they needed to find out if there were any liens on that check. The congressman's staff responded that the reason they even have the check is because Alex, Va office concluded there are no liens. She told them to release the check ASAP.
daylilyfan, one of the main duties of a congress person is to help their constituents in need. Don't be embarrassed to call them, it's their job.

thanks so much Jim. I have a worker here today to clean and stuff - so will call tomorrow. I need to touch base with our U.S. Senator about the new laws the ADA put in place, so I was going to call them anyway. I use a mobility assistance service dog, and the 15th of March, the ADA laws change. The state I live in has 25 year old service dog laws. The veterans who are using a service dog for PTSD don't legally have a service dog here because my state does not recognize PTSD dogs. They don't even recognize medical alert or hearing dogs.

I sent an email to my US congressman. His website says that I need to download, sign and either fax or mail a consent form for them to make a congressional inquiry. I can't download the form, because I am using an iPad to access online. My Mac died a few weeks ago, and need my backpay to get a new one.

I requested that they mail a form to me so I can sign it.

My Mac died too a few weeks ago. I'm using the one at work. daylilyfan, I got a call back from my wife's lawyer who spoke to SS also. Their response this time is since the check is substantial they need a second signature in order to release. As you may recall the staff for my congressman said the response they got from SS was they were checking for liens on the check, even though it was already established there are no liens. Are we living in a third world nation? I'm vexed!

However, they did state to the lawyer that they will be cutting the check next week. We shall see and good luck with your congressman, they will help.

I sent in my authorization/consent and have already heard back from my congressman's office. A very nice man took my info and said that he has already started a "congressional inquiry" into my case. He said 6 months is a long time to wait for my backpay and it was good that I contacted them.

Wonder how long it will take for SSD to get back to his office.