Hello

I was just awarded P&T status. How many people here have been approved for SSDI just based on being 100% P&T? Anything I can do to improve my chances of getting approved based on the P&T status?

Thanks for all the help and input.

P and T means permanent and total. That should do it with SSD. If not at the first step , at least the ALJ step.

I don't think P&T means much to the SSA Disability folks. They look at if you can "Hold any job".

Factors:

Age
Education
Disabilities (how much can you lift, walk, run etc)

I got P&T when I got TDIU and it did not help any at all. Even being turned down for retraining did not help. Still took 23 months and the ALJ Process. Judge was wondering why I was in his courtroom. Why it could not be awarded sooner.

The SSA Process goes by the rules they have. Period. I was 42 years old. That said (the Grid, see www.severe.net) not disabled.

Slow and Rigid system. But it works at least. VA Process took 6 weeks from start to finish when I lost my job. No exam, just put in paperwork, workplace did paperwork. Faxed and Fedex it in.

Everyone has a different story. Some the SSA Route goes fast and clean, others the VA.

a lot of how easy or hard it is depends on your medical condition also, my VA 100% is for PTSD, my SSD is for heart disease failed triple bypass and a heart ejection fration of 25% and only one artery feeding blood to my heart VA took three years to get and SSD took 4 months or was it 5 filed in Oct 2002 and approved in April effective Dec 2002 as the 5 month waiting period started when I quit working in June 2002 there have been attempts to stream line the 2 agencies to accept each others designations doubt if it has been done though despite everyone claiming it needs to be done

its a shame they sell you this must take insurance with the bull that its for your own good .when you apply for this INSURANCE YOU PAID FOR they act and moan and groan like your nothing but a lazy scammer trying to take food from some starving childrens mouth.. They seem to forget 1 they MADE YOU TAKE IT AND PAY FOR IT . 2. Its not a grant or a benefit its an insurance policy . Just more goverment double talk .. Forked toung , .... Funny they have billions and billions for weapons but so sorry nothing for you ...

I have a question for all of you. The VA has a file on me for all my conditions bigger than a two phone books. Other than my award letter should I get a copy of this file to the Social Security when I submit for SSDI? Will the VA give me a copy of my enire medical records? Thanks for all the help.

they wouldn't let me get mine from the VA the SSA did it I think they are afraid we will add forged documents or something, but my claim was approved in 4 months so the records is not a hold up you just have to tell the SSA who has your records which VA hospital...good luck

I FOUND THAT SSD WAS FASTER 6 MONTHS VA TOOK 3 YEARS. BUT SOME FIND IT FASTER THE OTHER WAY. I GOT 70% AND IU THEN GOT SSD. ALL WITHIN 1 MONTH. GIVE SSD ALL YOUR MEDICALL DOCS FROM THE VA AND GIVE IT TO SSD. DONT LET THE SSD DO IT.YOU MUST BE PROACTIVE AND PUSH YOUR PAPERWORK FOR THE VA AND SSD. I HAVE SAID IT MANY TIMES YOU MUST GET A DOCTOR TO STATE THAT YOU CANNOT PERFORME ANY TYPE OF WORK PERIOD. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT EVIDENCE BOTH FOR SSD AND THE VA. NOW SOME SAY AGE MAY PLAY A FACTOR AND OTHERTHINGS. I AM 34 AND GOT BOTH SSD AND IU P&T. ITS ALL ABOUT THE MEDICALL EVIDENCE THE STRONGER THE BETTER. THE MORE DOCTORS SAYING YOU CAN NO LONGER WORK THE BETTER. NOW I DO FEEL LUCKY FOR A PRETTY FAST ACTION IN MY CLAIM FOR SSD AND REAL LUCKY TO GET 100% FROM THE VA. BUT WITH THE HELP FROM HADIT I WORKED MY CLAIM MYSELF NEVER TAKE NO FOR A ANSWER. THE VA TURNED ME DOWN 2 TIMES FOR A INCREASE ( I WAS AT 50% FOR PTSD). THEY WANTED ME TO GOAWAY. I KEPT WORKING MY CLAIM LEARNED FROM HADIT WHAT I NEEDED WIN. AFTER 3 YEARS I GOT 70% AND IU P&T FOR PTSD. NEVER GIVE UP IT WILL COME. FIGHT FOR WHAT YOU HAVE EARNED.MEDICALL EVIDENCE IS WHAT COUNTS. GOOD LUCK BROTHER.

I always say Medical Evidence is all that matters but you reminded me- PERSISTENSE PAYS OFF!

You are right- be proactive on the claim-

Rod was 100% for PTSD from SSA.
VA kept denying his claim for increase.
We asked two Senators and our COngressman to find out why Rod's SSA records were not being considered.
VA told them all that SSA had refused to honor the VA's numerous request for the SSA records.
That was BS.

I called SSA in Baltimore and made sure that someone helped me -I was on hold for almost half and hour-finally someone did help- the SSA had NEVER received any request at all from the VARO for these records.
Somehow the man in Baltimore got the local SSA office in Corning to send the Buffalo VARO what they had never requested.
The claim went back into the rating board and then Rod dropped dead.
I had to re-open both claims and the VARO screwed around more-as they had Rod's Sec 1151 claim to deal with too- so when they finally did award 100% PTSD Rod was dead for almost 3 years already.

It often takes working the claim yourself-whether you have SO or not-
and Persistence does pay off. And being able to live long enough to see it all through.

I have found that it appears SSI has an easier time granting PTSD or other mentally stressors. I got TDIU in less than a year, but lost first two requests at SSI. Allsup is handling the SSI and tells me 87% of their claims get approved at the administrative judicial process. SSI told me that even though I was on 2 different narcotics, and other neuropathy meds, that I could still do something sitting at a desk. SSI apparently doesn't take into account the effects the meds have on you. I asked them for an application, but was told they are a drug free organization, you must pass a drug test and not be on any medication that would alter your effectiveness.

I applied for SSD and VA Disability simultaneously in 1991. SSD in 4 months and VA over 5 years to get 100%.

Well I put in the application for SSDI. I went to the VA and got copies of all my medical records and submitted it with a self report and all the other documents. The Person at the SS told me it would be proccessed as a TERI Claim because of my health. I also got apporved for Short Term Disability. A few people have told me it is harder to get approved for Short Term than it is for SSDI. Anyhow I just have to wait now and try to stay healthy as I can. Thanks all.

Social Security called to interview me about my daily living conditions such as cooking, grooming, memory, etc. The woman I spoke with said that she had everything she needed, but that my mental treatment was over two years old so they scheduled an appointment for a mental health exam. Is this a good or bad thing? Is there anything that I need to do or bring when I go to the appointment to help my chances of getting approved? Thanks for your help.

Coco:

Its a good thing cause you will probably be approved after the exam. In all the years that I have been on this Board I have only seen one person who got SS Disability without an exam and they had current C&P exams.

SS usually makes you see at least one of their Doctor's and sometimes 2.

Good Luck

I went to the Mental Eval. It only took 30 minutes, but the Doctor did not seem to care and even seemed to be bothered that she had to do work. She went out her way to inform me that most SSDI cases do not get approved the first time. I do not feel good about this appointment. My Long term disability got approved at least. I do not feel confident in the Social Security. I'm going to say the hell with it. I do not have the energy to fight these people to get my benefits. This system is not fair or just. When people are the most vulnerable they should get the help they need. I'll try to make ends meet with my VA disability. Thanks for all your help anyhow.

Coco, don't give up so easily. If you're willing to write it off altogether, why don't you just hire an attorney and let them do the fighting for you, that's what they get their 20% for. We found the biggest hassle is the initial application paperwork. If you've already done that, hire an attorney, and then let it go (mentally, I mean, not literally). Again, if you're willing to forego the whole deal, you've got nothing to lose anyway.

Coco:

Wait its not going to be long before you know.

Please do not give up. I have been awarded ssdi after 2 denials and an alj hearing. I first applied in jan 2002 and after 5 years now have the benefit. I hired a sound social security lawyer by contacting the state legal bar association and requested help finding the lawyer. All you need to do is show up for the scheduled exams and appeal any unfavorable decision being sure to follow the appeal deadline dates. stay strong.

Maybe there are two? SSA accepted my medical records and IMOs that were gathered originally for the VA. The medial history was complete enough (I guess) that they did not order an exam. I did see requests for medical information that went to my various doctors and the VA from SSA. I appealed the effective date after the first determination, citing dates on the medical records they already had, and the appeal was successful as well. the total change was about 500 a month, and about 18k in retro. Still waiting for the accounting letter for the retro.

COCO, push as hard as you can to get your SSD. Long term disability claims usually last for 2 years then the Person is cancelled because they change their requirements. LTD companies are crooks.

You walk into the VA go to the records department and request a full copy of your medical records. I do that yearly. If you have not gotten a copy in a long time, just tell them to mail it. You sign off authorizing them to make a copy to send to you. It took me like 7 days this past January to receive my update in the mail. They have to provide this to each and every Veteran.

Man do not give up. When I received my 100% I went right down to the local SS office, after filing out their entire forms, and turned them in. My backup was from my VA doctor and within 60 days got approval. Maybe like the VA the SS department people work differently throughout the country. Glad I live in NYC that is for sure.

And why is this? If you were diagnosed by your VA shrink for mental issues, then you should be going to see him periodically, and possibly to a group. I hate to say it but if you are not being constantly seem by your PC and or shrink, this could cause you to wind up with lower disability percentages, especailly if not seem in 2 years. Remember the VA is looking to cut and cut, where are they going to cut from, those who do not follow up on appointments, are not seeing a doctor of any kind and not renewing their meds. It's an honest fact. Oh and also the unemployabily is also being looked at closely, not attempting to scare anyone, it is just a fact, sadly they need to cut.

My condition has gotten worse again. I just got over another pnuemonia and very severe rash. I sent all the records, progress notes, etc. from the VA Hospital to the DDS. They call me back asking me about my pain level and range of motions. They then inform me that they need to send me to another doctor to get examined. Four months ago they should have done this! I went of on the lady. I asked her why the VA medical notes that already have covered this is not good enough? No answer. I asked her that if she thinks that I'm trying to leave a $30 an hour job thatI have had for the last 8 years to get what $1400 a month for SSDI? No answer. I told her to do whatever the hell she wanted to do. I hope that the person that she loves the most has to go through what I'm dealing with everyday. To hell with Social Security.

I went today to see a DDS doctor. They did a very through interview for over an hour. They drew blood, did chest xrays, pulmonary testing and went over all my medications and side effects. The doctor wrote down everything that I said was an issue with me. She said that it will take around 4 to 6 weeks for to get an answer. It did seem like she was trying to help me and was even Sympathic about my health and family situation. So should I take this as a positive sign? Also the case worker at DDS said that she setup the appointment to try to help my case. She felt that they did not have enough current info and my case most likely would have got denied.

[quote name='coconutvee' date='Nov 21 2007, 08:11 PM' post='68541']
I went today to see a DDS doctor. They did a very through interview for over an hour. They drew blood, did chest xrays, pulmonary testing and went over all my medications and side effects. The doctor wrote down everything that I said was an issue with me. She said that it will take around 4 to 6 weeks for to get an answer. It did seem like she was trying to help me and was even Sympathic about my health and family situation. So should I take this as a positive sign? Also the case worker at DDS said that she setup the appointment to try to help my case. She felt that they did not have enough current info and my case most likely would have got denied.



If you have enough credits it automatic. You got the hard part out of the way. Just a matter of paper work you'll know in 6 wks.RC

Hello all

I just wanted to update you all. I got denied for SSDI!! After all the crap I went through. I was able to make it back to work for 4 months, but I'm getting ready to get fired. My CD4 count is now under 200 and I'm on 4 different Depression medications. Yet I'm still too dam healthy for SSDI. The only reason I'm still at work is because my boss is a friend and knows all the crap I'm dealing with. Anyhow anyone knows a good Disability laywer in Miami?

Your not going to get SSDI if you are working. Thats the bottom line. That is the first question on the application. Are you currently working?

The only way you can make it stick is to try to work with an unsuccessful outcome or to have worked out of desperation but 4 months is probably too long of a time period.

J

I understand that I'm not going to get SSDI since I'm working. That was not my question. I can no longer work. I tried and failed. I'm in the process of getting short term again. I'm starting all over again. This time my condition got worse due to work related stress. I just can not work. My doctor said I must stop. Even Voc Rehab turned me down saying I'm not qualified because of my health. So my question is who knows of a good SSDI Lawyer in Miami, FL?

With the information you juat posted you probably do not need a Lawyer. Just file your claim with SSD and look for a Lawyer if you feel that you are not up to dealing with Social Security.

Good Luck

There have been several Hadit Members who got quick approval after stopping work on Doctors Orders.

I understand your frustration.
It would be wise for you to look at the Social Security blue book listing level of impairments (Adult).
Check your ailments and compare them to the list. If you find one that mirrors the listing level impairment criteria, Then you should be able to win.
If you have wait to see the ALJ, It could be as long as 3 years. 2 years in my state and I am sure since Florida is the retirement capotol in the US they are probably backed up.

Anyway, try this link out.

http://www.floridabar.org/DIVPGM/lronline....erral6?OpenForm

jbasser is giving you some excellent advice, you can find the blue book in most larger library's.

I was told that I am approved!! I was sent some forms to verify all the jobs that I held since the onset date since 1997. So I guess they need to come up with a new onset date. The case manager said that he was not sure how much retro pay I would get since they found me to be disabled over 10 years ago. Why would they determine the onset date back to 1997 and I filed a claim last year? I want to say thank all of you who offered me help.

Congrats that is very good news.

There are those that do apply for illigitimate reason such as not being able to find a job or they are just lazy. The SS admin has to have rules to alleviate these people so that people like us that do qualify get it. In times like these everybody and their brother are applying for SS and it affects the rest of us that qualify.


That's the way I see it anyway.

Frank

You won't get backpay from 10 years ago just to let you know. They are just figuring your monthly pay. You will get backpay from when you applied minus six months.

Frank