What are the chances of getting approved? - Disabilities Message Board

Okiemom2005 · 05-13-2005, 12:22 PM

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.

RetiredDirector · 05-13-2005, 02:05 PM

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.

Okiemom2005 · 05-14-2005, 02:41 PM

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

RetiredDirector · 05-16-2005, 10:12 AM

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.

Okiemom2005 · 05-28-2005, 12:17 PM

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.