We live in Oklahoma.
Just last week my husband applied and had his first interview for SSI disability.
He hasn't been able to work anywhere in years for longer than a few months because of problems he has on and off the job.

We applied for him for SSI based on the following.

Severe depression
Bipolar
ADD
Trouble concentrating.
Can't remember things, poor memory.
Back/neck surgery that left him 38% permanently disabled from an on the job injury in 2000. He ruptured a disk between his 6th and 7th veterbrae. Had a cervical discetomy with a fusion.
Has blackout periods where he forgets where he is and what he's doing.
Has temper problems that he can't control at work, gets angry for no reason at all at his co workers.
Bells palsy
High blood pressure
High cholerstorol

What are we in for? Generally how long does it take to be approved? I understand that usually you almost always get denied the first time but you just have to keep appealing. But they have to pay you all that back pay from the first time you applied once you are finally approved. Right?

Our daugher is 9 and she has been receiving SSI for the last 2 years. She was approved the first time we applied. She has learning disabilities, she is also bipolar and has adhd.

Hi Oakiemom...Nobody really knows what the chances are in getting approved on the first try for disability. The list of medical/mental problems your husband has would appear to be sufficent for approval. You didn't say how old your husband is, but it seems the older the person is the better your chances of being approved. I was approved on the first attempt (much to my surprise!), but I was 58 years old. I was approved with a review to take place between the fifth and seventh year. By that time I will be almost old enough receive regular SS.

I was told (by an attorney friend of mine) to apply the initial time on my own and if I received a denial, then retain an attorney who specializes in these type of cases. Of course, like I said before I was approved on the first try. I suffer from Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Neuralgia pain from lung surgery, and reacurring lung tumors which has the name (acronym) of BOOP. It sometimes is just referred to as Organizing Pneumonia. I am a chronic pain patient and have to take very high doses of opiate painkillers to be able to function. Then taking this medication leaves me not able to function at work like I should. So, in your husband's case, I would say apply, which you do by setting up an appointment at your local SS office. You do this by calling the 800 number. You'll have a six month wait to find out if you're approved or denied. If denied, you begin the appeal process. I don't know too much about this, because like I said, I didn't have to go through it. I do know you can appeal it several times, and yes, they'll pay you back pay if you are approved at a later date. Out of this, you will have to pay your attorney, but the courts have set their fee at 25% of your gross.

If there is any other questions I can answer please post it and I'll do my best. One thing, the more information you can gather (including medical records) the better off you'll be. In my case however, they contacted my doctors for statements and records. I did have to fill out some of their paper work pertaining mostly to medical history and names of my doctors.

my husband is 32.
he has lost so much of his energy and his strength expecially after his neck surgery.
he used to be very active, i mean playing basketball or jogging, going to the gym..etc.. several days a week now I am lucky just to get him out of the house.

he is experiencing severe panic attacks, I also used to have those at one time, they came on for no reason and they stopped just as quickly but now when we are out in public he can't wait to get out!
he starts sweating and freaking out. I completely understand what he is going through since I was once there too. I still have panic attacks just not as severe anymore.

I just wondered since we are new to the application process for adult disability. I will be very suprised though if he is approved the first time around.
Should we get a lawyer if he is denied the first time or should we apply and get denied a second time before we get a lawyer?

Thanks

Oakiemom...I would wait until you've heard from the SSD people that your husband has been denied. Who knows, he just might get approval on the first application, like I did. It's possible, but not too many people are able to get it. If he is denied, you can appeal it and that's when I would retain the services of a good attorney who is use to working in SSD cases. Remember, the attorney isn't paid anything until you get approved by SS and then he gets a set amount. It is set by the courts, but I think it's 25% of your gross monthly income.

Will he receive a letter either way if he is denied or approved?
Will social security send him to a doctor to get evaulated before they make their decision?
My husband is already getting nervous. He is saying what if they look at his case and think there is nothing wrong with him and he gets denied.
I don't know what to tell him, we don't know what is going to happen. I guess if he gets denied we have to keep trying until eventually he is approved.

Hello everyone, my name is beegie I am new to this board! I read alot of your responses about getting approved SSDI. I wanted to find out as much I can about the process and how long does it take to hear a decision.

I applied for SSI and SSDI back on November 2004 for the following disabilities
I was in car accident in June 2003. while on medical leave my job fired me and said I failure to returned to work which was not true. I then continued to suffer financial and employment. So I check my self to a mental health facility and my doctor and therapist diagnostic me with the following:

Major Depression
chronic back pain

I wanted to find out what are my chances are. I been to one of SSA mental examination doctor back on Feb 2005 as of today I called DDS to check the status of my case and they said my case is still pending no decision have been made.

Is that good or bad. It been over 6 months today. I kept copies of medical records and everything else. I am looking forward to your responses. I would hear your story and suggestion. I am currently between treated to Mental Health center for my depression and hospital chronic pain and physical therapy. I don't have any income, no financial support from family. my mother is taking care of me. i don't know what to do. any ideas. Thanks.

Will he receive a letter either way if he is denied or approved?
Will social security send him to a doctor to get evaulated before they make their decision?
My husband is already getting nervous. He is saying what if they look at his case and think there is nothing wrong with him and he gets denied.
I don't know what to tell him, we don't know what is going to happen. I guess if he gets denied we have to keep trying until eventually he is approved.It seems to be a "roll of the dice" for approval. They sent me to two doctors for evaluation already and I have 15 diagnoses, both mental and physical. I have four doctors saying I"m "permanently disabled", but it's been a year and a half and no decision has been made. I got turned down the first time and had to retain a lawyer. It can drag on for years before a person gets it. On the other hand, my son (he is 19) who has Asperger's got approved within three months and didn't have to go see their doctors. Like I said it's a roll of the dice.

I just wanted to mention a word about the back pay?I was finally approved at my second try but they really screwed me out of alot of backpay.Because they had denied me the first time, they set the date of my becomming disabled at THAT date,not the year before when i was actually unable to work.They figure since they had felt that i was not disabled when they denied me the first time that they would go back only to the first denial date.My lawyer said I could fight it but if i chose to do that, I would risk losing everything if i got 'bad' judge who decided for some reason or another that I was not disabled.So, i cut my loses and feel grateful now just to actually have gotten it at all.It was just a really big risk that I was not willing to take.Good luck,marcia

dear okie mom, I also live in oklahoma and am on social security. i am 35 years old and suffered a neck injury i also had the c5,c6,c7 fusion, as others may have said you may or may not get approved the first time. i was denied my first time. then i found a very good ss lawyer. it was almost a year before i got my award letter, but i did receive my full back pay, from the first application date, tell your husband to hang in there, the state of oklahoma may have let me down, but social security helped me get the surgery i needed. just another okie

HI,i applied ssdi about 8 years now im 40 now,i have a bad back ,i got hert at work fell down 2 flights of steps ,was opperated on about 1 year latter,things got worse from there i wsa told that not to lift over 15 lbs,i am 6'3" tall i was on workmand comp at the time,they said t reached mmi {max medical inprovment} that just means that dont have to pay me any more so i want back to my job (it has so many medical restristions that they had no work for me to do} i worked for them fof about 8 years they sent me out the door with about $5,000 that was my vacation pay and my sick time and persional time i had saved,well about 8 years now have passed that i first applied for ssdi ,was dined 3 times went to see there doctors each time befor the hearing
and all the doctors concure with the medical findings ,,this last time i filed for a appeal, that was granted because of the medical info , i went to the hearing ,there was a man there from unployment ,at the hearing i was asked many questions,there were many questions between my lawer and the unplyment man about what jobs i can do , it came out to be the ancer was none by the unployment man! ..now again still wating for a ancer from ssdi for 5.5 mounths (they have 6 to get back to me),this is the end -the very last, i dont know what to do!!, my wife started working after i got hert we went bankrupt and if it had not bin for my father helping us with money we would have lost the house G waht a sob story, well thats it thanks for hearing me out!!!!!!

The answer regarding whether your husband would receive ALL of his back award since the very first time he applied is "NO, not always." The judge "determines" from detailed medical reports exactly when HE thinks your husband was not able to work.

I applied and was denied first attempt and just received a "partially favorable" win after 3 years. This means that I basically lost the 2 years back award money I went for and only will get 6 months (they withhold the 1st 5 months) of a back award. Of that my attorney gets 25% and the rest goes to pay welfare back! I do get my monthly SSDI payments. I could appeal but stand the chance of losing completely if I do. Must admit the process has been exhausting and now I have to educate myself on this new whole new area!

Best wishes-hang in there.

HI Okiemom,
I am so sorry to hear what you and your family are going through.
I agree with the rest of the poster's here. No one knows what the chances are to get approved on the 1st try. It does happen, not very often, but it does happen. I filed Jan.9,2003, just had my ALJ hearing last Friday(fully favorable might I mention :bouncing: ) 31 months of alot of disappointments. I felt sure with all the evidence we had, ALL of my doctors writing statements stating that I was totally and permantently disabled,all the tests supporting the claim,but for some reason unknown,I was denied. Go figure :rolleyes:
Most attorneys will not even accept a case until it has been denied on the first level, My opinion on this is that they get 25% or up to $5,300. max. The first level is alot of work and $5300. is not alot of money when you look at having to wait 2 1/2 to 5 years of working on your case. This is only my opinion though. I wish you all the luck and keep us informed of your progress. Folks here are kind, there is a ton of experience and helpful advice here.This board is what helped me through some very difficult times because this process can leave you feeling very lonely and confused.