Originally Posted by alt1268

Karen,
I left work 1/24/11. In April, 2011 I filled for SSDI, Everyone says you will get denied several times, so in June or July I signed the paper work with a SSDI atty.
August 23, 2011, I was approved, so I didn't need the atty. I would wait till you get denied before getting a lawyer involved.

Paper work seems to go on for several weeks.

Originally Posted by alt1268

Karen,
I left work 1/24/11. In April, 2011 I filled for SSDI, Everyone says you will get denied several times, so in June or July I signed the paper work with a SSDI atty.
August 23, 2011, I was approved, so I didn't need the atty. I would wait till you get denied before getting a lawyer involved.

Paper work seems to go on for several weeks.

Originally Posted by LIT LOVE

ballerina,

Many attorneys will not even take clients until their application progresses to the ALJ level. Frankly, I've always felt the maximum fee caps were too darn low and don't provide enough incentive for indepth attention to a case.

But, considering an attorney only gets 25% of the backpay as payment, the amount they collect can be miniscule if they help an applicant get approval early in the process, so I really don't understand why you keep stressing this. The saying, "Penny wise and pound foolish comes to mind."

Every person's situation is unique. My best advice is even if a person chooses an attorney, they should understand the process so well that they could represent themselves pro se, anyway. Your knowledge of your own medical history, limitations, effects of pain (& meds) on activity, etc. are the most valuable asset in your approval, but to say that an attorney or paralegal isn't worth their fees to an applicant, has to be questioned.

There are some applicants that can't manage the process on their own for many different reasons. If the decrease in backpay alone would be reason for anyone to avoid representation, then alternative, non-profit advocacy groups should be pursued.

I found this link after I wrote the above:

http://ultimatedisabilityguide.blogs...s-you-can.html

Originally Posted by ginnie

I am not sure why one person gets approved imediately, and another with equally devistating health, it takes three years or more. I was of the later, and believe me, I do not think I would have been able to get it without the lawyer. My state is crowded with older people applying. (fl.) Maybe it depends on the case loads of the particular state, I don't know. I have a permanent spinal condition, and degenerative joint disease in my ankles. Even with both these factors, it was a trial. People who get things like cancer are often denied. I would like to know what the critieria is that these judges and Government agiencies "judge" us by. I don't know anyone who has applied, who has tried to "fake" it or pull a fast one. Most people I know are devistated at not being able to work, and fighting for their existance on the other hand. You may be the first I heard of that was granted the disability so quickly. I am happy you did not have to struggle through the denials, doctor appts. and psych evaluations that most have to abide by. The process is difficult for most people I have met. I wish you all the best. Living with the disability is hard enough! take care, ginnie