wow did he get approved in the end..Backpay would have been very nice. It all doesnt make sense most cases you are approved then SS has to pay all of that back pay money to people????

The whole key to everything is make sure your doctors have you as disabled in their letters and transcripts. If they are not saying you are disabled then you have no chance. Next call Allsup with every update. Then you just keep appointments and wait. I had relatives and credit cards I could use. Make sure you have a support system as it can now take years to go before the alj.

it took me 4 years to get approved, all that time and the judge finally awarded me on my migraines...migraines! I couldnt' belive I could get it on that and not my other problems...who knew.

I was also on my last chance in front of my 2nd judge...I had given up, and he made a bench ruling right there...shock...total shock. So dont give up.

Wow mine is neuropathy in my feet and hands. I have now advanced to taking loratabs for the pain. Hopefully I will be approved as well.

Thanks

I had VERY MUCH the same experience, have graduated from SSI to SSDI as I went back to work 3x!!! I found that I NEVER had ANY trouble getting my benefits BACK once I "blew out" again! I would just ask for an "Expedited Application" and it would be weeks, MONTHS or YEARS before my benefits were going again!

I NEVER USED A LAWYER, CASE-MANAGER or ADVOCATE of any kind in the SS Application Process. I never was denied. I firmly believe this has MUCH to do with the way that people describe their symptoms. KEEP IN MIND when asked if you can DO a certain TASK, LIFT a certain amount of WEIGHT, STAND or SIT for particular lengths of time -- you MUST refer to your LEAST FUNCTIONAL part of the DAY!!! AND when you are asked "What is a typical bad day like?" or "What is a typical good day like?", IMAGINE the VERY WORST PARTS of your day!!! DESCRIBE that!

Otherwise, MOST people tend to want to make themselves look GOOD, PRODUCTIVE -- and like they can do MORE than they actually CAN!!! Many people feel just too much SHAME to say "I can't go to the bathroom by myself"; "I am prone and immobilized with pain 20 hours a day. The rest of the time I am sleeping"; OR "I have not seen my new Grandson since he was born. I can no longer drive myself. My Grandson is 6 mos old!"

The Examiners are LOOKING for a GREAT level of DYSFUNCTION (regardless of diagnosis), that renders us incapable of participating in LIFE!!!

My benefit is 50% for Bi-Polar Disorder and I had this type of success -- with a Psychiatrist who refused to say I was "Disabled", as he thought it was bad for my Self-Esteem. After spending MONTHS in Dartmouth Hitchcock's Psych Ward, WHAT Self-Esteem?!? LOL!!! The other issues are related to a Degenerative Spinal Disorder.

To get benefits back THAT time, I had to go to the STATE'S EXPERT (since mine wasn't cooperating). I just followed my OWN rules, answered the questions HONESTLY -- and had NO PROBLEM getting benefits back!

I am glad I went back to work like I did. It MORE than DOUBLED my benefits!!! Also, any "wondering" I had about exactly "how disabled am I" were FULLY answered!

Mia

I guess I might fit in that category. At one point I was so delighted that the loratab took the edge of the pain I applied for jobs on the internet. My husband quickly shot me down stating the pain killer is masking the disease and low and behold two months later I am back to square one. 24 hrs of pain with no break it is so depressing. Yelling at my kids grumpy and tired of being in pain.

I pray alot and read my bible and know there are plenty off way worst than I am so I end my day thankful but the cycle starts all over again the next day.

I don't know how people live with this disease. It is hard to describe to people who do not have it they expect to hear from you one type of description of the pain but we all know that is not the case.

Thank god I found this website site and a few others websites as well to vent to others that know how I feel and not say "how bad can it be" or "whats wrong with you today"

My frustration is in the doctors that refuse to listen or assist in getting you medication to help ease the pain for fear of addiction.

It is true ... my body has now adjusted to the 1 tablet of loratab every 6 hours and I fear what will happen next increase the dosage find another pain medication where does it end?

Does the pain ever end? I was told once the nerves die that is it..does anyone know if that is true?

If you are depressed you might want to go to see a psychairist and psychologist. It helped me when my case in front of the judge.

Not always true. My atty told me he sees cases where the alj offers approval on the basis of resetting the claim date. Often 5 mos prior to court date to begin benefits immediately or even make it the current date which begins the 5 month wait period. Of course you can reject the offer and appeal even that but stand the chance of being rejected completely the next and last time.

That is the way my case went. I settled for about 17 months backpay instead of over 2 years. I did not want to chance an appeal and maybe lose everything.

My atty advised me that currently in North Texas the wait after the 2nd denial is 10-12 mos...