The system is very broken, not just a little, but completely. You should have gotten the disability and been the one to go fishing. As you read, I am bitter about it. I currently have an agency that works for senior citizens. I have a case, and was granted a pr-bono lawyer to get out of the situation I am in. How ever, I am on a waiting list, and it could take months more. Being in financial ruin, I could not afford a lawyer. I need to be able to move away from the coast, and I can't because of my parents trust. I have to break the trust. Lost my insurance, and can't pay the taxes. This was not the future I thought I was working for all those 30 years. I know there are others, who are in even worse situations, that can't get disability at all, and have medical conditions like I did, and can't get a physician because of finances. Where is the safety net for those who can't afford insurance? I will speak out as often as I can, and fight for change. I did ride a protest train to Canada about 6 years ago, to protest the drug companies making meds so expensive without insurance that so many just do without. I also am arguing with the social security office, and went to my state representative. I have been trying to fight for my rights a long time, and will continue to do so. That is about all we can do, let our voices be heard.
I do hope you are OK faded design, I care about the folks here on NT. The stories of peoples lives, and their hearts, here for us to try and support, while they face all their problems. I am just one of many, who try to fix the system any way I can. Be good to yourself, ginnie

Maybe that kid just had ADD and maybe there was more going on then he wanted to explain to a stranger. The rules for ADD have changed. Many children that were approved will lose those benefits as adults when they go through a review...

It (generally) isn't an easy process to receive a Fully Favorable decision. It is a very complex system. Some people know how to work the "system" regardless if it's a disability issue, or any other type of benefit. I've found it doesn't help to expend energy worrying about them. If you learn what's needed to prove your case, you'll likely prove your disability.

I can understand the frustration, but if the Social Security system was really completely broken, no one would be getting approved (and they are approved every day) and no one would be getting checks (and millions and millions of dollars are paid out every month). It is an extremely complex system that attempts to be fair to people with many types of disabling conditions as well as fair to the working taxpayers who continue to provide the money to pay the benefits through payroll taxes. And SSA tries to do this without sufficient staff.