Hi Everyone,
I called to check up on my disability claim today and they said they are sending me for a physical and a mental exam at the end of July. Do you think this is a good or a bad thing? I have been fighting for my benefits since 2009. I have been denied at the ALJ level and started a new claim in March. So this is for the new claim. I just don't understand how they can deny someone who has had liver and kidney failure, traumatic brain injury, chronic pain, liver dysfunction, seizures, REM sleep disorder, hypoglycemia with passing out episodes resulting in multiple concussions etc. etc. ? I was bed ridden for 3 years after the liver and kidney failure and can only leave my house for a few hours a week. I can't drive, cook, watch movies, have relationships, keep track of my medication. I was diagnosed with severe depression after they denied me at the ALJ level. Please someone give me some hope. I am so sick and I just can't keep this up. I am in desperate need for money at this point. I have worked my entire life. I don't get it. Any advise on the exams would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Brain

Do you have copies of your medical records AND doctors notes? If so, did you review them to make sure that all that you mentioned in your post is documented in the medical reports?

Yes. I have sent them all to social security disability and have my own copies. Should I take them with me to the appointments?
Thanks,
Brain

You can if you wish. Let the physicians make their own copies.

I am so surprised that they didn't approve you, especially at the ALJ level. That is usually the easiest level.
I wish you all the very best! You certainly appear to need SSDI!!!

WHAT!!!!!!! you got to be kidding me.after all that and the answer is still no...its really confusing to.what more do they want or you have to have.....well when i applied for my "SSDI" i to show them info on my mental state to (but my was due to all the stress they were putting me thru )

Glad I do not live in Utah. That seems so unfair. I know of several women that are collecting disability from SS and they seem to function far better than most people of the same age. One has cervical pain from an auto accident but manages to take care of her farm without any problem. Another has bi-polar but has less mood changes than anyone else I know. Another is on disability because she is depressed but plays cards with her friends several times a week and goes to lunch with other friends often. The one that is truly disabled, in constant pain, no offers of any hope of relief, on extremely strong pain patches at all times, but is NOT on disability. Her husband takes care of the children, the meals, the household chores, etc.

Who gets approved and who gets denied is a mystery to me.

Hope,

I think that if you are confident that someone has faked their level of disability to fraudulently collect SSDI/SSI, you should report them to the SSA. I believe that every faker and exaggerator out their costs the taxpayers a lot, and costs those who are truly disabled and now have to suffer financially while waiting a long time for their decision and benefits, even more.

That said, I believe one should be quite sure about such an accusation/report. So many of us suffer with "invisible" disabilities and can look "okay" on our rare trips to the outside world, but look very different most of the time when we are suffering at home. Picking up on your reference to your card playing acquaintance, I play poker......a few times a year. I take extra meds, need transportation and frequent ice packs, but I look GOOD (small brag, but I do get happy when I have the energy to get dressed up and put on make up, etc) Someone who just sees me then would, and should, think I look good. If I wasn't having a good day, I wouldn't be able to be there. Before that person decides that I "can't" be disabled, they would have to follow me home, see the poor state of the house because I can't do most household tasks and my husband refuses to, see me spend the next three days in bed with severe pain and exhaustion, etc They should also "see" all the invites out to play cards that I had to decline because I couldn't get bathed and dressed those days. They should "see" the extra meds that I have to take on days that I am trying to go out into the real world. They should "see" me have to ask one of my teenage sons to help me get a bra on or help me get from my bed to the bathroom. Looks can be deceiving on the outside looking in.

If you do know these people/their situation well and your sure about your read on them, I'd report them.

I totally agree with your comment and I guess I may have been out of line with my assessment of others that I think I know as I do NOT walk in their shoes. I know them fairly well but then again there are people that I encounter that do not know what my life is like. I would never report them as I do not know for sure what their life is really like. Thank you for your comment. I too have an invisible condition and should be more considerate and less judgemental of the persons to whom I referred. One is a very long time friend that I spent a lot of time with when I was still very able. She was up to at all times, everything and anything, but was on disability. I was often at her home. She bragged about the advantage of having an MD as a relative in getting her approval for disability. Many years have past since that time and if she was NOT disabled back then, I do think she is now.

To the card playing friend...... she is ALWAYS on the go, never stops, is never home and even invisible conditions slow people down. This is why I have my doubts but as I said a few lines up, I do not live in her shoes so I can not and should not judge.

My comment was more to say how SSDI decisions can seem so unfair and arbitrary, at least to a casual observer. One friend that was an amputee was denied as she still had the other leg.

Thank you again for your comment. You are so correct and I feel I was out of line making assessments that are not my place to make. You are a very wise person and someone I admire from your comments.

Brain Patch have you spoke to a lawyer. They can really be of assistance in SSD cases (dealing with both SS and all your doctors) and they don't get paid unless you win plus SS decides what they get paid. If you run into anymore roadblocks after your physical and mental exams please reach out to a lawyer.