Not really surprised - Disabilities Message Board

mimgregg · 01-18-2007, 12:03 AM

Well I received my rejection on my appeal and now must file for a hearing. This time at least they did acknowledge that I did have several disabilities, but because I am soooo young (ha) 37, there were thousands of jobs nationwide I could do. Well first of all I have a brain injury that causes short term memory and cognitive issues, cannot work well with groups due to great anxiety, and have chronic pain and during a bad flare can be mostly bedridden for weeks at a time. Of course if you start to have a conversation it begins to become apparent that there are problems when I call objects the wrong name or reach for something and miss it completely. Right now I am having a blessed 6 weeks of relative relief but still no improvement in cognitive abilities. It is frustrating to have a disability that you cannot see, and the only time you can see the physical effects are when I go through a bad cycle and use a cane and must sleep for hours on end day and night to be able to function. I am unable to live alone b/c I forget to eat or take meds, but my age is what is killing my chances according to SSD. I did get retirement disability from the state ( I was a teacher), because my IQ dropped 27 points based on my second grade IQ test and testing 30 years later after almost completing the hours necessary for a PhD in education. Sadly I am what is called a high functioning tbi survivor with most long term memory intact, but unable to learn new skills and function in a group setting or do more than one thing at a time without severe anxiety and confusion and emotional outbursts.....SIGH. Words of wisdom? Words of suggestion? Thanks, Mim Gregg

Mz Migraine · 01-18-2007, 09:18 AM

You need to hire an attorney who specializes in handling ONLY Social Security Disablity cases. Check your local Yellow Pages, your *local* newspaper and/or the net for one. Do not get the ones who advertises on TV.
Another source is your *local* Social Security Disability Office. They have a list of them.

Good luck!

mimgregg · 01-22-2007, 08:34 PM

I do have a lawyer and am taking him the papers this Wednesday. It is just frustrating. I was hoping that there might be other folks out there with "mild" tbi that does not allow them to work that could respond with suggestions or how they were able to navigate the bs we seem to be put through to claim what we have paid in. I have worked since I was 14 (got a work permit) and have paid in til I was forced to quit working due to my accident. Thanks, MimGregg

td9997 · 01-24-2007, 09:25 PM

mimgreg,

Ive applied for SSD, 3 times, in 6 years, I have been turned down all 3 times, yes Im disabled I dont want to be (( but, I am< thats the hand I got dealt with in this life ((.
The last time I applied they called me in [ I applied over the phone']. I never leave my home, excpet to see my Doctors or go to the hospital.

The SSD sent me to their so called Shrink, to see if I have all my marbles, he asked me what comes to mind when I hear this statement,

"Strike while the iron is hot", I said "the steel is ready to be molded",
he then asked me what comes next after a series of numbers, example, 2, 4, 6, 8, ?

then he asked me "why I think I cant work"? I let him hear it all.
Then they {SS OFFICE} sent me to an MD, he asked me to, touch my toes, then my nose.
That was about it .

I got my denial letter , the SS office told me to 'get a job bending and stooping!'
I contacted a lawyer, after I got my DENIAL letter she said seeing how I dont have ,'half my brain cut out', I havent a chance in he-- of getting SSD.
So, Im in between "a rock and a hard place" with SS.

Ive got a good home, family, Im married , Im honest, always have been, Ive always done 'the right thing'. I got a few diseases and that why I cannot work. I dint plan to get sick (( NO one plans to get sick! No one wants to be ill! Why cant I have what is rightfully mine? Why cant I get the 146 thousand dollars Ive earned in my lifetime back? its mine. Ive earned it. No one else.

jmho
The older disabled people, get awarded quicker, Divorced people are awarded quicker, homeless people, are awarded quicker, if a dependant/dependants is living with you, they get awarded quicker.
If there is a true hardship those cases get the SSD or SSDI.

My Internist told them I was not able to work and the SS office went over his head.

its not fair (( not fair ((

Thanks for reading my rant!

good luck!

Mz Migraine · 01-25-2007, 11:42 AM

Quote:

I contacted a lawyer, after I got my DENIAL letter she said seeing how I dont have ,'half my brain cut out', I havent a chance in he-- of getting SSD.

Was this a Social Security Attorney that said this?

Asking because, you could have filed an appeal which is called a Reconsideration which you *do not need an attorney for.* If the Reconsideration is denied, then you could have filed for an ALJ hearing. This is when most people hire the attorney.
Your chances of winning are usually pretty high at the hearing level especially if you have an attorney.

Suggest you check out the SSD website if you haven't already done so:

[url]http://www.ssa.gov/disability/[/url]