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Gail
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, May 09, 2002 - 10:41 am: | 
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Hello Everyone,
First of all I want to say that I am not an Attorney nor do I work for one or have any close friends that are one.
I just got my "Fully Favorable" decision letter in the mail last week. I won my case....after three years! I was found disabled as of four years ago. Now, I went through the first application phase and I was denied. I then requested a reconsideration. (I think they might be doing away with this phase). Anyway, S.S. lost my file for 9 months! They said they didn't have evidence I sent in...Everything from doctor's letters to a big bag of empty prescription bottles. It was insane! They denied me at that level too. I finally got a lawyer. It took one year and four months before I got a hearing date with an Administration Law Judge! It then only took 60 days to get my favorable decision in the mail. I am told it could take another 60 days to get my money, but I did it! Don't let them turning you down in the first two phases discourage you. You really need an Attorney to help you at this point. It is so worth the fee and the wait. Keep on trying and don't get too frustrated. If you really have a disability that prevents you from working then you deserve your benefits!
By the way, I have Multiple Sclerosis and Degenerative Disc Disease and they found me disabled on both diseases.
Also, the hearing is not nearly as scary as you might think. The Judge did ask me to speak, but I was just totally honest and I just told myself speak as if you are talking to a doctor and telling him what is wrong with you. That seemed to calm me down. The hearing lasted about one hour.
That is about it. I just felt I had to tell my story here. I hope I gave someone some hope and strength to keep on fighting!
Gail |
Les
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, May 14, 2002 - 10:33 pm: |
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Thanks Gail, Hearing that lifted my spirits. The waiting gets old in a big hurry. Where are you Gail? What state? Where did you go for your ALJ hearing? |
Gail
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, May 28, 2002 - 10:53 am: |
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Hi Les,
Sorry this is a late reply. I kept checking to see if anyone responded, but no one did right away so I haven't been back in a while.
Anyway, I live in California. The office that was handling my case said they were so busy that they had to get a judge from up North. I went to the Federal Building in the Westwood office in Los Angeles for my hearing. I guess they are just swamped here.
Where do you live? Hang in there. It has been a month since my favorable decision and I haven't even received an award notice yet, let alone my money. I expect it will take another month or two for that to happen. It seems like forever. Hang in there though....like they say, good things come to those who wait!
Take Care,
Gail |
Les
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, May 28, 2002 - 10:13 pm: |
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Thanks Gail, I hope you get your funds coming in soon. I thought maybe you were here in the Carolinas, I live about 25 miles south of Charlotte,NC. Everyone that I talk to in this area say it takes forever to get anywhere with SSA. |
Gail
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, June 04, 2002 - 10:40 am: |
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Hi Les,
You know the part that is killing me the most? It is waiting for my award notice and the money these past few months! I have waited over 3 years and you would think I would be use to it by now, but I don't think you can ever get use to waiting and suffering like this! I think it is just terrible how they make people who are disabled wait so long for their behefits. If you had a terminal illness you would be dead by now! Sorry, but it just gets me upset. Anyway, good luck with your case and I hope yours goes a bit faster than mine.
Gail
Still waiting in California |
Les
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, June 05, 2002 - 5:40 pm: |
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Don't give up Gail, you will get it some day. Are you doing alright? Have you ever delt with Workers Comp? They will actually stall and wait for you to die if you have a terminal illness. Send me an email, plantman48@hotmail.com
Good luck and I hope your wait is short. Les |
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