FYI

The 95% quoted in an earlier post for all statistics is incorrect. 95% are not denied on initial applications and 95% of claimants with attorneys are not approved by ALJ's. The 95% denial on recons may be close, but it is also not right.

But you should not rely on me any more than you rely on that post.

The 95% information was given to me by one of the TOP SSDI attorneys and the Social Security office in my area. It may vary from state to state.

I am only stating what I have been told... if you have better percentages in your area then CONGRATULATIONS... if you have the same or worse... I'm truly sorry.

I appreciate the comments here. And know now that filing for disability is going to be a tough road. I believe the clerks do everything possible to prevent filers from receiving benefits. And this I believe is a result of multiple cases of abuse over the years. Now, those of us who truly need the benefits in order to survive from day to day are suffering from the abuse and have to jump through a series of hoops to get what we need. And disability benefits are a right not a privaledge.

I am a good candidate for receiving disability benefits. The diagnosis list: Two liver hemangiomas, severe gastroesophageal reflux-gurd, constrictive esouphagus, pulmonary embolism, polycethemia vera, neuropathy in both feet-calves-hands-fingers with numbness, diabetes 2-insulin dependant, obstructive sleep apnea-Bipap machine, intracranial hypotension, Chiari Malformation Type 1-adult onset of symptoms, hydrocephalus-VP shunt, gout, deviated septum, 5% hearing-left ear-75% hearing-right ear, Meniere's disease, double vision, arachnoiditis, cervical stenosis with curvature, multiple disc herniation, degenerative disc disease, partial frontal lobe epilepsy with myoclonic seizures and starring, myelopathy, lumbar stenosis with curvature, pernicious anemia-B12 deeficiency, pinched ulna (sp) nerves in both forearms, severe nerve damage radiating from the spine, severe carpal tunnel in the right hand. And I realize that only 4 of these are on the SS list of automatic (yea, right) symptoms. But doctor treatment, etc can all be authinticated. (I need spell check in posting here, is that available?) But you take all of the above, give them all a good stir and no, "normal" functioning for me on a daily basis is extremely difficult.

I was told to file on line with SS department. One is limited to 500 characters in explaining symptoms, conditions and your limitations in working. In my case, that is not enough room to list everything nor explain everything. So have an appointment with SS to present my case plus the limited information that has been submitted on line. How does one list, in my case the 12 doctors that see me, treat me, have history of stuff that has been going on?

The fusion surgery coming up will be quite invasive, fusion with rods C2-T1. It is anticipated that I will be in the hospital for 5 days then 2 weeks in the PT department. Not looking forward to this one. The neurosurgeon anticipates the surgery will bring a halt to the continued damage to the spinal cord. It will not help with any current pain issues I live with and any improvement will be small or worse, the outcome is not known. And this will be surgery #5, with 3 more down the road. The pinched nerves and carpel tunnel need to be dealt with or I will be unable to feed myself. When I met with the PA for surgery pre-op, I found out that I had a heart attack, which is a part of my medical record, which I had no knowledge of.

My previous neurologist gave me a new label, a "trainwreck", a new term for me. In the medical field it means that so many issues are occurring at the same time that it is difficult for docs to find the exact cause of symptoms. I tell new doctors this and they are rolling on the floor, but know what they are dealing with.

So my journey with SS is just beginning and I will fight the system all the way.

Peace,
David

Looks like to me you have a good chance. Just be prepared to fight for a few years. Hope you have put some money back. It took me 3 1/2 years to win my case. I wish you luck!

Not sure what you think those "clerks" are doing to prevent people from receiving benefits except what the law requires. Now, perhaps you believe the law is too stringent and that decisions should be based on only a treating doctor's opinion that someone is "disabled", and not on a legal definition that attempts to provide parity and equal treatment, albeit falling short. Then there would be even more variance in who is found disabled and who is not, and no doubt there would be unscrupulous doctors who would sign any document, for a price.

I have no doubt that there are many many ways to simplify the disability process and make it easy for anyone to get approved. But there does have to be some fiscal responsibility as well; this is not a bottomless pit of money. And lots of people who apply for disability benefits are just not that sick or injured, but they get the same evaluation that the seriously ill and injured cases get because that is due process.

And it is really hard to compare conditions and decide that someone is disabled. Is a deaf person more or less disabled than a spinal cord injury victim; is a Down Syndrome adult more or less disabled than a person with cancer who has to undergo 6 months of treatment and then can go back to work? Having a standardized definition makes the process the same across the board. Of course there are local differences. Residents of Alaska have more snow plows and 4 wheel drive cars than residents of Florida who have many beach chairs and towels. There will always be the human (employee) factor in determining disability.

Abbie

I appreciate the information you have posted. It is not necessary for the SSA website to post the same information. It is a known fact that SSA denies more cases in the first try than they approve. But that is also
a opinion in my head I believe. Janke if you have data to disprove this, start a new thread please. This thread needs to answer the questions being asked.
And Abbie has always stated its her state and the lawyer she deals with facts.

This thread is dealing with a issue that the person was asking intelligent questions and getting a caring person's answers. I applaud anyone that can and will fight the SSA system.

Good luck.

And Abbie, you do a wonderful job helping. Its very important never to give it negatively. Thank you for making sure its done so well.

Donna

I did a quick google check for official sources of Social Security data and didn't find any hard data that I could quote here. There are other web sites with anecdotal statistics that don't come anywhere near the assertion that 95% of initial decisions are denied and 95% of hearings with attorneys are approved. So, either that area mentioned is an anomoly with that percentage, or the knowledgeable source quoted (the anonymous top attorney) is not as knowledgeable as purported.

But again, I am not providing any facts to back me up, so what I am saying is also not worth the pixels on the screen.