How would you handle this? Disability nightmare, Chapter XIVIVXXXIII

Thank you for that reminder! I forgot all about the Senator and Congressman who've been helping me with this! (That's part of my disability... my memory REALLY sucks!) I'll write to them right now! I'm SO thankful for finding myLot because, any time you have a question, just post it here and inevitably you'll get some great answers. Again, THANK YOU!!! I honestly had forgotten all about my senator and congressman!

I really do understand. I have seizers about every night and they cause me to forget things all of the time. I have the same problem...my memory leaves me many many times. You are right about mylot of course. I love it here. I have some really good friends here.

I may have worded it wrong. The judge wasn't requesting additional information. He said, in the letter, that I had 10 days in which I could send in any additional information if I wanted to. I had no additional information, except for one nerve conduction study report, which I did send him before I even received that letter. The letter stated that I could request a hearing to discuss the results of the psyche evaluation report, if I had any disputes with it, which I didn't. The case is not over because I have not received a denial letter. I have received nothing. But, according to the judge himself, when I was at my last hearing, he said he would be making his decision after receiving that psyche report. The letter he sent on May 1st only said that he would hold off his decision for 10 days and I had that time to get any more information to him, if I had any. The psyche evaluation said I was SEVERELY affected by my physical and emotional/mental issues and they would severely affect my ability to work. If the judge denies me after that, then this is a case of discrimination. They've chosen my case to deny, no matter what. I have some very serious issues that have been proven over and over again by doctor after doctor for seven years now, ending with the evaluation from the psychologist that Social Security paid for his opinion. Even if I'm denied again, I have one more level to go through: suing the Social Security Administration. I've already spoken to an attorney about this and read this very thing on Social Security's website. I can sue them as the next level in this case. It's not over. I WILL sue them if they deny me this time around. Tomorrow, I'm going to be contacting the senator and congressman who've been helping me on this case. I had forgotten all about them (part of my disability is extreme memory problems) until it was mentioned in this discussion.

Thanks, sparks. If you read my first response above, you'll see that I had completely forgotten all about the senator and congressman who've been helping me with this. I need to call them both and advise them of the status of things. They've both given me a number to call and the name of someone in their office to help me with this, I just completely forgot all about them! That's one of my more serious problems that are preventing me from working: my memory. I used to be a proofreader and that's not a job to have if you have memory problems! Anyway, thanks for helping to reinforce this. It is most definitely my senator and/or congressman who should be helping. Tomorrow, first thing, I'll be calling them. Today, my sons were here and I wanted to enjoy their visit. We had a barbeque which turned out fantastic, because a thunderstorm rolled on in right after we took the meat off the grill. I'll keep emailing these guys, too. I'm finding that the squeaky wheel really does get the grease! I'll keep you posted!

Thanks so much, dragon! I HOPE it's almost over. Seven years is a LOOOOONG time for them to see what's right in front of their faces: the doctor's reports, all of which say I can't work. I'm just thankful that the psychologist they sent me to, the one Social Security pays to evaluate claimants, gave me an extremely favorable report. Maybe that's what's driving me so batty now... because of that report, there's no way the judge could deny me again, since he said he'd be basing his opinion on that report, so I'm almost positive I'll be approved this time which makes me all the more anxious to hear from them. Of course, that may be why I haven't heard anything yet... they're taking their good old time because they'll be handing over a pretty big chunk of change to me and they want to hold on to it as long as they can. It's just one more thing to prove my theory: the government doesn't give a poop about us little peons. They're playing with my life here, but they don't care. I now have over $4,000.00 in medical bills because my husband's new insurance, through his job, is HORRIBLE! Out of all the bills submitted by my internist, my rheumatologist, the neurologist and all the labs, the insurance has paid a measly $14.00! That's all! They're denying all the other claims. AND, we're paying almost $400.00 a month to keep this insurance! We're about to drop it because it's not saving us anything, it's actually costing us! Insane, huh? I really need Medicare, desperately! That's just another reason why I'm so anxious to be approved, and why I'm getting more and more depressed. I wish they'd see me as a human being and not just a case number.

I had a lawyer but they dumped me as a client after the hearing before this last one. This lawyer was employed by Binder & Binder. They were HORRIBLE! They did absolutely nothing for me unless I threatened to sue THEM! I actually do have a good case for a lawsuit against them because I hired them in April 2004. After waiting for 19 months and still hadn't received a hearing date, I found out that they weren't even in Social Security's records as being my Attorneys of Record! That was 19 months totally wasted! It took another 11 months, after correcting their stupid oversight, before I got a hearing date. What should have taken between 6 and 18 months actually took 30 months, or 2 1/2 years! They didn't want to do any work, they just wanted to collect their fee. Since my case was denied, they wanted nothing more to do with me. Unfortunately, they never sent me a waiver of fees so no other lawyer would take my case. It seems they're all just after the money. I spoke to 3 other lawyers and they were all more concerned about having to "share" their fee with Binder & Binder than they were about helping me to get disability. So, I went to my hearing without a lawyer. I also wrote to the judge and let him know why I didn't have a lawyer. I wanted him to understand that I was between a rock and a hard place. Funny thing was that this time, I wasn't denied right off the bat. When I went with a lawyer, I was denied. This last time, the judge said he wanted an updated psyche exam before rendering his decision. He said he would base his decision on the results of that exam. The report stated that my ability to work was severely affected by my mental/emotional issues that are a direct result of my physical problems. The report couldn't have been more in my favor. But, I've been reminded of a senator and congressman that I contacted to help me. I'm going to be calling them both tomorrow morning and let them know what's going on right now and that I'm completely losing my mind from waiting for some kind of word from Social Security. I'm sure they'll be able to check into it and, hopefully, get things moving.

Thank you for your good wishes. I'm not religious, either, so that's not a problem with me. You're very correct about this being very stressful! I think that, at the very least, my depression problem should improve greatly IF they ever approve me. This has been an insane roller-coaster for the past seven years. I thought, since my hearing was in February, that I'd have a decision by now but Social Security is being true to their reputation by putting it off as long as they possibly can. Thanks again for caring. It means a lot to me to know that there are some awesome, caring people in this world!

I think you would have a good case of discrimination.

Well, that's the government for you! I wish I'd get that call, too. I don't care how I find out about it, I just desperately need to be approved! I've had two hearings now. I was denied at the first one. Luckily, there was enough evidence in my favor to get a new hearing. Now, since numerous other medical issues have been added to my original one, the judge didn't deny me right off the bat. What I can't handle is the waiting! The judge said that he would be making his decision based on that psyche evaluation, which said that I am SEVERELY affected from being able to be "gainfully employed". If the judge denies me again, then this is a blatant case of selective discrimination. If I'm denied, it will prove that I've been selected, for no reason at all, to never receive benefits, since the psyche exam was performed by a psychologist who was hired by the government to evaluate me, and his report could not have been more favorable for me. Every day, I anxiously await the mailman. Every day, I'm disappointed... again. Right now, I'd GLADLY accept knowing that I've been approved by way of a phone call!

I've written to my senator to see if he'll find out where everything stands right now. This senator has been helping me throughout this last appeal but I'm sure he's busy, too, so bringing it to his attention might get me the help I need. I had forgotten about him before I wrote this post. Part of my problem is severe memory problems. This kinda proves it. I completely forgot about him! But, thanks to some responses, I remembered and have faxed a letter to his office. He has been helping. I know my letter won't get put at the bottom of a pile somewhere. I think he'll be able to get me some answers before I could on my own. Going to the courthouse would be impossible right now because I live about 100 miles from it. My hearing was via video conference. But, I'm sure the senator will get me some answers, or even results. So, it's sitting-back-and-waiting time again. Sigh!

I hope your Senator does something for you. If not, the centers for independence were created by people with disabilities, manned by people with disabilities, to assist people with disabilities, they've gone through similar, but I hope you're all set. Take care.

Someone here reminded me that I should contact my senator. I had forgotten all about him! I wrote to him before my hearing and he's been keeping an eye on things for me, so I wrote to see if he could get things expedited, or at least let me know where things stand right now. I can't get a lawyer because of my old lawyers, Binder & Binder. I had hired them in 2004 and they did absolutely nothing but screw things up for me. They dumped me as a client right after the hearing before this last one because I was denied and they didn't want to put any more time into it. Unfortunately, they never sent me a waiver of fees, which I asked for because no other lawyer would take my case until I had a waiver of fees from Binder & Binder. They're all greedy so-and-so's and don't want to share the legal fees with anyone else. Nice guys, huh? I wrote to the judge and explained why I didn't have a lawyer at the last hearing, so he'd understand that I wasn't simply being greedy myself and not wanting to give any lawyer a percentage. I don't qualify for legal aid or anything because of my husband's income. This entire case has been one long nightmare. I'll be so happy when it's settled!

Hogwash! They're ONLY WORDS! Just tell him that a CANADIAN Legal Secretary helped you write it. LOL.

I saw it. Thanks so much, Annie! It says exactly what I believe it should say, although maybe I'll put it more in layman's terms because I don't want the judge saying that I seem to be quite literate and deny me! But, it's perfect. Thank you!!!!

Better yet, tell him you now have a CANADIAN PARALEGAL friend that wrote it for you, for free, just because she likes you and knows DAMN WELL that you DESERVE this disability. Yeah, I like that one. Maybe do it in a P.S. at the bottom. There is plenty of space, and you can use a smaller font, too. Every lawyer, and all judges are/were lawyers originally, always goes to the fine print first, lol. To see what someone is trying to hide from them. lol

You said something that made me smile: "...they are very busy and don't want to be overwhelmed..." I have a friend who worked for Social Security for around 20 years and, believe me, they AREN'T busy! Sure, they have a lot of work, but it's because of how slowly they work! I lived near a gal who also used to work at SS, and she said she had to quit because she was being blackballed by her co-workers because she WORKED. She didn't shuffle her feet or take 20 breaks a day. She called it the "Social Security Shuffle" because everyone seemed to move as slowly as they possibly could. Shame, huh? I was reminded of the senator and congressman who've been helping me through this last appeal. I had forgotten all about them! A large part of my disability is my memory problems and this is a perfect example. I completely forgot about them! They have written to me and gave me the name and phone number of someone in their office they've assigned to my problem, so I'll be calling them tomorrow morning. Maybe one of them can find out what's holding things up and maybe even get the ball rolling. Believe me, the day I get that approval letter, assuming I ever WILL get approved, everyone will know it because of the big WHOO HOO I belt out! I don't care where in the world you live, you'll hear me! LOL

Marti, I'm sure you did smile. I was only talking about the Judge. I know what you mean about the slowness. Most of the time I believe they are not only slow in movement but also slow in the head. Of course there are exceptions to the rule. One of my Sister-in-laws worked for Social Services and she was an exception.

You're also the only person I'VE ever heard of getting it on the first try! I'm just about to lose what little of my mind I have left. I can't believe it's taking this long. The judge said that he'd be making his decision 10 days after I received that letter. Okay, so maybe he made his decision but, until I know what it is, I'm going to be going nuts. The judge told me they'd be going back to when I first stopped working, in April, 2000. I also know what my monthly check should have been all this time because of my Social Security statements, so there's no question about what they should be giving me. I can't believe they're so stupid that they can't multiple one monthly amount by X number of months from April 2000 until now! It's going to be a large amount but it's not like it's charity! I EARNED this money! I worked for almost 40 years and they took Social Security taxes out of every penny I earned all that time. I'm going to be calling my senator and congressman who have been with me all through this last hearing of mine. I had forgotten all about them. That's part of my disability: my memory. It's awful! I was playing a game of solitaire, I believe it was called Forty Thieves, and forgot how to play it right in the middle of playing it! That's how bad my memory is. Luckily, I've been reminded of them here in this discussion. So, first thing tomorrow I'll be calling them and letting them know where it stands and see if they can speed things up for me. I'll write to you tomorrow. Thanks so much!

I'm telling you that I am SURE you got it! But, they take awhile to get the ok to release the actually money, especially when it is a large back payment! Let me know what happens when you get in touch with the people you need to! I am sure that you won't be denied this time!

See my response above. I had actually forgotten about the senator and congressman who've been helping me with my case! I have the personal email address of my senator, so I'm able to send an email. But, I also have their telephone numbers so I'm going to call them. They each gave me the name of a person they've specifically chosen to handle my queries. If they say to write a letter, I'll write a letter. Unfortunately, I don't have a lawyer. I DID have a lawyer, through Binder & Binder. (Don't EVER use them! They're horrible! Less than worthless!) They dropped me as a client after my first hearing before the judge, when I was again denied. They said that the next step would be "too labor intensive" for them to handle. Can you imagine that? They don't give a hoot about their clients, only about the money they collect. Grrrrrrrrrrr!!! Anyway, they dropped me, but never would send me a waiver of fees, so no other attorney would take the case because they were afraid they wouldn't get enough money if Binder & Binder decided they wanted their share. I did send Binder & Binder a letter, telling them that if I did not hear from them within a specific date and time, then I would take that as their waiver of fees. They never got in touch with me, so legally I do have a waiver of fees but it was too late to get another attorney so I went to the last hearing by myself. Funny, when I went with a lawyer, I was denied. When I didn't go with a lawyer, I wasn't denied. Odd.

Thanks, angl. I will write to you because I do have questions. The problem is, I don't have an attorney. I had hired Binder & Binder (HUGE mistake!) who dropped my case after the hearing I had before this last one, when I was denied. The goon they got to represent me at the hearing was worse than nothing. She sat there like a lump, never arguing with SS's administrator who was saying I could do "this" job or "that" job. They dropped me because, as they said, the next level would be "too labor intensive". WTF??? Isn't that what we hire lawyers for??? All they were interested in was the money. They didn't want to do any work for it. Anyway, I spoke with three other attorneys who all refused to help me until I got a Waiver of Attorneys Fees from Binder & Binder, which they've refused to give me. So, I had to go to my last hearing by myself. I did, however, write to the judge and told him why I was there without an attorney. I wrote to Binder & Binder and told them that, if they did not respond by a specific date and time, I would take that as their Waiver of Attorneys Fees. They never responded. But, it was too late to get another attorney for this last hearing. From what I've read about the procedures involved in disability cases, I have one last level: suing Social Security. If they deny me this time, it's a blatant case of discrimination because all my doctors are saying I can't work at all, plus the psychologist's report said that my emotional/mental problems will SEVERELY affect my ability to work. This is the psychologist that Social Security paid for his opinion! So, if they deny me, it will prove that they've selected me, for no reason at all, to deny benefits to. Anyway, I did write to my senator about this. He's been involved since right before my last hearing. I had forgotten all about him! Part of my disability is a very poor memory. I mean, to forget that you have a senator on your side, well, that just proves that my memory sucks! But, thankfully, someone here reminded me of him by telling me to write to my senator. So, I did that yesterday and it's back to a waiting game. At least this senator has always responded back to me much faster than Social Security ever did! Oh, I can't file a new application. I haven't worked for 5 of the last 10 years, or 8 of the last 10 years, or whatever it is. My last Social Security Statement says that if I became disabled right now I would qualify for absolutely no benefits. I haven't been able to work since April 2000. So, if I lose this case, I'm screwed. I just can't believe that, with ALL the paperwork they have saying that I'm 100% disabled, they still don't believe it. I know someone else who had a hearing but had an attorney. Social Security's system was down so the judge had nothing in front of him. She got an approval letter three days after her hearing. You know why? I'm sure you do. The judge and her lawyer knew each other. Although I'm very happy for my friend, it makes me sick that this is the way our government works. It sure isn't written into the laws like this but it's very true: it's not what you know, or who you know, but who knows YOU. I can only hope that my senator can do something for me.

Yes, the judge told me himself that they would be going back to April 2000, when I could no longer work. I've written a letter to the senator who has been helping me to update him on what's going on and ask if he could find out exactly what is going on from Social Security's end. I had forgotten all about him until someone here reminded me that I should contact my senator! A major part of my disability is severe memory problems. All the stuff I ever knew is still in there, somewhere, but it tends to get shoved to the back sometimes and it takes awhile before I remember, or get a reminder, like I did here. I'm SO glad I posted this question! So, it's back to a "sit back and wait" scenario. At least I know that the senator really is helping, because I've already received two letters from him on what he's been doing to help with my case.