I received my backpay Dec. 17 thank God. I agree it a hard fight, but don't give up it will happen.:

Well it has been months since I started getting my monthly check, and it was starting to worry me a bit on why no backpay yet. I did try calling the 800 number a few times and got nowhere.

Well today I called the 800 number again hoping something could happen, or they could tell me why it is taking so long....anything really LOL.

This time was the magical time! I was told that my case went into a back log in Nov and came out of it in Jan. She told me I should have been payed already, and did something in the system to get things going again.

Said if I havent received anything by mar 12 to call again, but she is pretty sure things should happen between now and then. I am sooo stoked! She was telling me the back log is out of everyones control, but I should have received everything within 60 days.

It is sooo cool to see others getting the favorable decisions, and all I can say to those still trying to get approved........DONT give up!

It is a long process, but it isnt impossible. I went through 2 denials, 1 alj hearing, and won at the appeals hearing. All said and done it took almoooost 5 years, but the judge took the onset date to july 2001....the actual date I could no longer work.

Allen,

I jus got approved do you have any idea how long before I would get my first months benefit?

Thanks
Beverley

For me it was about 30 days from the approval letter to getting first check. The SSI gave me the first part of the backpay in about 45 days from approval with the rest coming in April.

The SSDI monthly check was about 60 days from the approval letter, and all the checks came before the award letters by a couple of days.

It really thrilled me to see you got the favorable decision. I know you were really worried about the outcome, and was on the verge of giving up. I was also at that point when I finally won...it was a real shocker LOL.

I got a bench decision at my ALJ hearing in August and a letter confirming this arrived about a week later.

I received by back SS in November and monthly checks started then also.

I still have not received an award letter - I received backpay back to 2004 and the amout I received was more than I expected. I keep after the SS about the award letter and they just keep telling me that it has not been wrote

How long does it take to get an award letter?

Allen,

While I am thrilled that you were FINALLY awarded SSDI and SSI, I have to say that I am embarrassed and saddened that I system that I fund (I've worked since 1977 with only a 3.5 year break) has treated you so poorly.

Should it be a walk in the park to qualify for disability payments? No.

Should it take just shy of 5 years to get a favorable decision when your doctors are supporting you? ABSOLUTELY NOT!

Tell me about it! I applied in 2000, was denied and denied, filed a suit in Federal Court, and only then the Appeals Council, on remand, started coming around to the fact that I was hoodwinked from the start.

At every level of SSA review the opinions of my treating doctors were either ignored or distorted.

I have my ALJ hearing on April 1st (how apropos) My letter from my attorney said I would recieve a judgement in the mail within 30-270 days after the hearing....270????? Are they kidding?? I have been going thru this system for almost 3 years now! I have had nothing but letters of support from my doctors AND from my congressman and just now got a hearing date.....so now it can take up to almost another year to get a judgement in the mail??

And the even funnier part I have fatigue reports and pain reports in my record from doctors who said they "examined" me and I have no idea who they are...read my file perhaps...but noone aside from my own doctors has examined me!

Those are opinions from SSA-contracted doctors based upon their review of the examination records of your current doctors. SSA sometimes uses them to try to discredit your treating doctors. They tried that with me.

Yeah I get that part...like I said I knew they had reviewed my file....however they typed and i have copies...upon examining the patient...we found...so and so...which is fraudulent they never examined me.. I've been a nurse for 17 years and never have I examined someone that I never met! My attorney was even quite taken aback by that and said he fully intends to point that out during hearing.