I'm in Texas first off. My DH was in a terrible tractor/shredder accident on July 1 of this year. He has alot of healing, skin grafts, plastic surgery and rehab to go thru and doctor says it could be a year or more before he's past all of this. Plus he's also bi-polar and has had problems holding jobs in the past. I've downloaded the disability starter kit from the SSA website and have started getting job history and doctors names together. Does anyone have any tips on going thru this process? Should I go ahead and get an attorney to assist with the process?

I did my application online. Then I gathered all my documentation and had it hand delivered to the local SS office. I actually liked applying online. An example is that I listed my meds and then it asked me what doctor prescribed. I have memory and concentration issues with chronic pain and I know I would have missed something. It did take about an hour to do. I kept stopping and going back to it. I heard it would not make a different having a lawyer on the initial application. I didn't. Although, I got denied. I went to a lawyer for the appeal. He thinks I was denied solely on my age and some of my illnesses not fitting into the limited criteria they use. Appeal just filed a few weeks ago. Good luck. I even got letters from doctors on how severe my problems were etc. Don't think they even read them. They say to keep going to specialists because they look at that stuff closely. Again, good luck.

Hi!

Yikes, I'm sorry about your hubby - how awful! I never filed online but I have to assume it'd be similar to filling out the paperwork they send. They will want to know docs he's seen, meds he's on and any and all particulars. SSD's main objective is to ascertain if he can work, and obviously he can't. SSD's other criteria is that he must be unable to work for at least a year. So, just fill out all the questions and submit the info. They will let you know if he's approved, or if they need more info, or if they want him to be seen by THEIR doctors before they make a decision. This is typical of the process and no lawyer is needed unless and until your husband is denied.

Good luck to you both!

Char :wave:

red,

Im sorry this has happened to your DH thank God hes alive to tell about it

The SSA office looks for alot when determing disability they are really upbeat on the phone that makes it easier to apply but

a DIRE NEED seems to get the approval example being, homeless, no money at all, forclosures, dependants under the age of 18,...

good luck