I do not want to brag. However, I read some crazy stories of it taking people a long time to get approved, lawyers, congressmen, doctors, reviews, etc.

This was my process:

I had no money and no place to live. I was holed up at a crack hotel for only one week. Just moved to town. I was actually in the big house. Anyway. So I applied. I needed money. I talked to one old lady from Social Security. I applied online. She came to visit me. Talked a few minutes. Then surprise surprise! About a week later I received a US Treasury cheque in the mail! That was it!

I get SSI and SSDI. I was also at risk of becoming homeless. Do I receive something different than most people? Or were my circumstances better for quicker approval? I didn't even receive a call that I was approved! Or a letter! Is this normal in my situation?

Thank you for your kind replies!

SSA does not have employees who come to your house.

Perhaps you had a prior entitlement that was in address suspense and you did not need a new disability decision.

A letter should be on the way.

When you called SSA with your questions, what were you told?

SSA does have employees that come to your house. lol

No, I get letters now. Like, every week. Tons of letter and papers that are a total waste. OK. This was some years ago. Have things changed? I feel bad for people and their stories. Some sound hard to believe.

What is a prior entitlement? Or address suspense? And if these are the way to go, why don't other go that route?

When I call the SS call center they either have inconsistent answers or no answers at all. They are rather inept and unfriendly...It has been years and I just found out I have SSDI and SSI. I thought it was just SSI.

OP--your postings are not very clear. Were you receiving SSDI and/or SSI, than went to prison or jail, and than after being released your benefits were reinstated? If so, having benefits reinstated is a different scenario than starting a new application.

You also don't mention what your disability or disabilities are.

No. Went to jail, then received benefits. I was quite clear on that.

I do not know what my disability is. No one ever told me! Are there different processing times for different disabilities?

You don't know what physical or mental disability keeps you from being able to work?

Hey there LIT LOVE.....his info thing says autism/aspergers (sp ?).

I can't help much with this conversation.

Debi from Georgia

No. I had about 20 disabilities. Paranoid schizophrenic being the top one. Shortly after receiving disability assistance, I was cured from that. Through self-diagnosis, I surmise that autism is the dominant disability now.

Though I manage my days well enough now to not need any intervention for it.

As for what disability I am on disability compensation? No one ever told me. I talked to the SSA worker for 5 minutes. She gave me some groceries. And I never saw her again. She said "I'll get back to you", which I thought that meant "you're screwed". lol

Turns out she hooked me up. But yeah, that is it.

If you applied for SSI/SSDI with the claim of having schizophrenia and were subsequently "cured", you have a legal requirement to notify SS of your improved condition.

Perhaps after 10 years you are confused about who helped you. Social Security employees do not make house calls or provide groceries.

Perhaps an advocate or a Social Worker helped you apply for benefits.

Your posting will not help those currently applying for benefits.

It has become increasing common for beneficiaries to have their benefits terminated during a CDR, for failure to actively treat physical and/or psychiatric conditions that may improve. Those receiving CDR's have been deemed as having the potential for improvement to varying degrees.

How? Did a physician tell you that? Asking because there is no "cure."
Paranoid schizophrenia is a serious, lifelong condition. With effective treatment, you can manage the symptoms of paranoid schizophrenia and work toward leading a happier, healthier life.

Did you stop taking your PS meds or were you misdiagnosed for PS?