Update on my SSDI application -- Long post

FaithS · 07-02-2008, 10:59 AM

I am attempting to be very pro-active with my application.

After talking with my PCP, my neurologist, my psychologist, and my psychiatrist, I submitted my application, online, the first week of June, as all 4 doctors indicated that they would support me in my claim for disability. I printed a copy of each page that I filled out online. I have a stack of 3 or 4" of pages. My online application was followed by a phone interview on June 13.

There were a number of sections on the online form where there was not enough room to explain my situation adequately. Although there was a little bit of extra room at the end of the form to add things, I still ran out of room. I had hoped that I could explain it during the phone interview, but the interviewer did not seem to take the time to understand, and i was concerned that he also had not been able to document it well. So, when I received my phone interview summary in the mail, I followed their instructions relating to adding additional information that may affect my case, and wrote two pages of additional information, which I mailed to them.

Last week, my DH and I each received a "Function Report" to fill out -- eleven pages, I believe. We filled it out fairly promptly, and had it in the mail in a couple of days.

Since we had already received paperwork from Disability Determination Services (DDS), I wondered if DDS had also already requested medical records from my doctors, so I called to ask about that. They had, but indicated that the requests did not go directly to the doctors, but simply to the medical records depts. of the clinics/hospitals.

My psychologist had previously indicated that she would not only send medical records, but would specifically write a letter for me. she reports that she has previously had success in helping SSDI applications be approved in 6-8 months. She suggested that she would likely set up an appt. with me prior to mailing the letter, to be sure that I was comfortable that her assertions were accurate.

So, I called her to let her know that their request for medical records had been mailed out. She indicated that their agency policy is to forward the request to the clinician, prior to sending medical records out, so that they have an opportunity to decide which records should be sent out. She expected that she would be receiving the request soon.

I then called my medical clinic to check on whether they had received DDS's request, and what their policy was. They had received it, and had already sent medical records out, without contacting the doctors directly. That is there policy, due to the high volume of medical releases they receive each day.

Both of my doctors at that clinic had indicated that they would also be willing to write a letter for me. I asked medical records about the best way to request that that be done. They suggested that I contact their nurses, and let them know that the medical records dept. had received DDS's request, and ask that they write their letter, and medical records would send it out.

I made the phone calls, and heard back from my neurologist's nurse today. She said that he had requested that she read it to me prior to sending it to medical records to be mailed out. It was a short letter, but he had followed the suggestion that I had received from somebody to include the wording that I am "totally and permanently disabled", and not to attempt to "rehabilitate" me.

I am hopeful that the letters that DDS receives from my doctors will aid me in getting SSDI approval in a timely manner, without a denial.

Wishful thinking, maybe. Huh?

I am hoping that my experience might be helpful to others. I will try to keep you updated on how successful my SSDI claim application is.

If anyone has helpful tips for me on ways keep things moving along, and to get approved, I'm all ears.

~ Faith
__________________

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Update on my dad its been a long time	TRICKY34	Peripheral Neuropathy	5	05-26-2008 12:45 PM
Put this off for far too long...Update:	Pamster	Sleep Apnea & Sleep Disorders	16	05-21-2008 08:29 AM
Long haul flights and update	Lucy	Traumatic Brain Injury and Post Concussion Syndrome	4	03-17-2008 09:25 AM
I've been away too long,but,here is a small update	CoolAngel26	Survivors of Suicide	2	01-09-2008 08:30 AM
A not so happy update on me - LONG	KellyC	Depression	1	11-22-2006 02:48 PM

Site Navigation

NeuroTalk Online Support Groups

Update on my SSDI application -- Long post

NeuroTalk Forums