[Red Flowers]

Hi,I'm new here and was reading a comment of yours and saw you are from OK. I'm also from Ok and I'm wandering if you can give me any info on how Ok is about approving SSD cases. I'm working on my papers now to get sent in. I'm assuming you live in southwest ok so you're not that close to OKC,neither am I. Will I have to go to OKC to see their DR's and the hearing,if I have one. Do they go by what county we live in. Anything you can tell is appreciated. Thanks so much.

[swOkie]

Originally Posted by Red Flowers

Hi,I'm new here and was reading a comment of yours and saw you are from OK. I'm also from Ok and I'm wandering if you can give me any info on how Ok is about approving SSD cases. I'm working on my papers now to get sent in. I'm assuming you live in southwest ok so you're not that close to OKC,neither am I. Will I have to go to OKC to see their DR's and the hearing,if I have one. Do they go by what county we live in. Anything you can tell is appreciated. Thanks so much.

Hello Red Flowers: Is good to see another Okie on here. Let me see if I can try and answer some of your questions, to the best of my ability. Oklahoma approval rate, is pretty much on par with the national average in the initial and reconsideration levels (I am not sure the rules of the forum of giving out specific sites that list approval averages. But do a search online and you should find several sites with good information). Now if you are not approved at the initial or reconsideration stages (basicaly 3-6 months after filing), you will apply for a hearing with an ALJ judge to determine your case. (the average wait time is approx 1 year to get to the ALJ hearing). Approval average at the ALJ level, is dependent on the judge. Most likely you will not know who your judge will be till the hearing. After the hearing you can search for your judges approval/denial rate. As far as going to the CE (their doctor) I did have to go to OKC, but it may depend exactly where you live. If you do need to go to the ALJ hearing, make sure to get representation. I am sorry if my answers are vague and not specific. Unfortunately that is the ssdi process. Best advice I can give, DON'T GIVE UP, fight and don't stop fighting. For most it is a very very long process. I hope you have people in your life that you can use for support. Make sure any medical treatment or visits, you or your representative has documentation of and it is being sent in. Prepare now to expect that you will most likely be going to the ALJ hearing. That way you will be mentaly ready for the wait, and if not you will be that much more thrilled if you get approved in earlier stage. God I sound like such a bummer, not meaning tobe. Just like so many others on here, have lived it and it still isn't done for me yet. Oh yeah what did I ask you not to forget? DON'T GIVE UP, keep fighting. It is worth it. And most importantly you are worth it. It sucks to become disabled, and just want to be able contribute financialy for your family. Well I better get for now, it takes alot for me to make sure I say everything I wan't and that it is done correctly. But I wanted to respond. There are some great people on here, that will be here for you all the way till the end. I will when I can, so feel free to holler at me. Take care and God Bless ya Red Flower

[Red Flowers]

for your info. I'm so worried and stressed about all this. do you happen to know or have heard which attns in OK would be good to try. Do you know if a SS representative,instead of an attn,can go to the hearing with me,if there is one. I knew about one in Lawton a few yrs ago.

[swOkie]

Originally Posted by Red Flowers

for your info. I'm so worried and stressed about all this. do you happen to know or have heard which attns in OK would be good to try. Do you know if a SS representative,instead of an attn,can go to the hearing with me,if there is one. I knew about one in Lawton a few yrs ago.

Hope I did not add to any of your stress. If you are just starting your application, I forgot earlier to add when you get your questionaire to complete why you are disabled. Make sure to list every single detail you can. (include it on extra paper if you need. the more detailed the better). As far as attourneys or representatives to represent you. My best recommendation is to call around and use internet searches for your area. I used a small representative agency in my area. Attourneys and representatives, both only get paid if you get disability. So it won't be more expensive either way. Who ever you decide to get will go to the ALJ hearing with you when it comes to that point. Try not to fret too much now, your in it for the long haul. The most important thing you will learn in this process, is things will happen when they happen. And once you have a representative and you have a question ask, they work for you. And if you still have a question come on here and ask. Well gotta get again, I need to learn how to summarize stuff. Take care

[Red Flowers]

You're not adding to my stress at all. I need all the info and help I can get. I make my own stress and worry myself to death about everything.