One occasionally hears about disability fraud but ever since the 60 minute spot on it, everyone is talking about extensive fraud in the SSDI program. I can not seem to flip the TV channel without hearing someone talk about how extensive fraud has been perpetrated upon the system.

If you are not disabled or do not know anyone that is, the general public does seem to think most people on disability these days are scammers.

If a person on disability does not have some very obvious physical or mental impairment, you are considered a lazy scammer. If you have all 4 limbs, are not blind, then you must not be disabled is the general consensus.

Pain is not "seen", it is felt. I would guess that most of us here have conditions that are not "obvious" to the stranger we may see at the grocery, if we can actually visit the grocery store.

I have NOT been approved and do fear that all the recent attention in the news will have judges across the country feeling pressured to deny even more claims than they already do and deserving applicants will be caught in this storm of publicity.

My hearing is in a few weeks and the timing of all this attention to SSDI makes me fear a bias against me before my appearance in front of the ALJ.

This thread is a continuation of the one I started on the 60 minute spot.

Good luck to all here that are in the process of seeking SSDI. I only hope that the ALJ's will be fair and not swayed by public attention or pressure to deny applicants.

Hopeless.....I hope your hearing goes well and you get approved. I know we've talked on a thread about my claim and I feel like my reconsideration will be denied and then it can take up to 2 years in GA to get a video conference.

I also know quite a few people that are truly disabled and I have a cousin that ruined her liver and body with drugs and is on disability. She makes me sick. Never hit a lick at anything her whole life. She's about 33 now and I know she has been drawing for 10 years.

Oh well....good luck.....I turned in my reconsideration on Sept 24th and I have yet to receive a letter advising who my caseworker is. I did call the local office and it is in the system. I believe I've seen another thread about the shut down causing a backup on processing the paperwork.

I just don't understand how some people get it so easily. I consider myself a smart person and I had trouble wading through all the paperwork. I probably should have hired an attorney right off but I looked and was not impressed with what I saw around here in the way of attorneys. And with my feet like they are I don't drive. My poor husband has to get off everytime I have a dr's appointment. Bless him.

See ya'

Debi

A lot of atty's will not take a case until after the applicant has been denied on their original application. They want to step in for appeals. Some will take on cases from the beginning.

Some applicants get approved without any assistance and some use atty.

After my denial, I sent 3 letters to SS and they would not respond. I called and got no where. I finally resorted to seeking legal help. I went to a large firm that handles nothing but disability and was so annoyed with them, I left and was going to go it on my own. I finally got a response to my repeated written communication with SS. The response was nothing more than a copy of my denial. I plainly stated I HAD a copy of my denial letter in all of my correspondence. I went to a different disability atty and he is now representing me. We do most of our communication via computer and fax. I met with him initially and we will meet a few days before the hearing. I know you do not drive but you do not need to meet face to face with your attorney is my point.

Hi Debi,

I sent you a PM.