Hi everyone...I called my congressman today. The woman on the phone told me that they get hundreds of requests like mine and each one is responded to. I can believe that because although most of the correspondence doesn't say much, I have received four letters from the congressman's office. She told me that they get updates EVERY WEEK once it gets to the judges office. She also said that they get a list weekly. I'm in Mobile, Alabama, and the list they get is three pages long. It is alphabetical, although that's not the way the cases are looked at. She told me that alot depends on the amount of medical records you have. If you have 600 pages the process will be longer than the person who has 50 pages. Soooooo, I just thought I'd share that with everyone. Enjoy your day, everyday counts !!!
Yet, they also want a stack of documentation to support the application.....I got through on my first application with 600+ pages of documentation...I figure they got bored seeing the same thing over and over again....seizures, seizures, seizures, sent out by ambulance from work, sent out by ambulance from work, etc....... catch-22
At what point do you get a Congressman involved? What can they do for you? I have heard of people using them to push a claim through but I wouldn't know where to start to put them to work for me. I'm in the "Learn as I go plan".
hi there! You can involve your congressman or senator at any time BUT I was told to wait til after I filed my appeal...which I did. You can write to them on E mail which is really convenient. They then sent me a form to sign allowing them to look at my records. Some privacy act thing. I have now rec'd five letters from the congressman (just got one last week again). The way I look at it....at least I'm hearing SOMETHING about my appeal. My attorney filed the appeal but since then I really haven't heard from his office much. The only thing I was told by their office is that my case is waiting for a "writer" and THEN it will go on the "to be scheduled" pile. More waiting....
Patience is the key here...and if you don't have any....you will !!
I have received two letters from my Senator, mostly thanks for bringing to his attention and the last recently giving me a time frame and notifying that my case was at the ALJ office. I have heard continuously from my attorney over the last few months. He seemed to indicate we are getting close to being assigned a hearing date. He and I have been scrambling to get any records that are missing from my file. I would check in with your attorney if you have had any med changes, diagnostic tests, office visits, etc. I mainly want to assure that my file is as complete as one can be. I sure don't want to delay my appeal any further. Good luck to you all.
inlysis it's so good to "hear" about someone getting through the system just by doing the right thing. I appreciate the advice about getting to my attorney to make SURE my records are complete...I don't really have any doubt but it never hurts to double check. I'll be 55 next year. They say you have a better chance when you're over 50. Most of what I have read about the subject seems to concur. Thanks for posting !
Last edited by gagalabama; 11-16-2007 at 12:43 PM.
Reason: misunderstood
I was shocked to find that the very records that could prove my case were missing from my file. Mainly the Rheumatologist and Pain Management Clinic who actually coordinate all my care by referral and overseeing my med regimen, etc. I know the records were requested early on, you can get a copy of all the records that SS has received. I know that I am telling every medical office to send records after each visit now to my attorney so he can forward to the ALJ office. I am over 55 now so I hope my hearing will be favorable, plus I have other health issues that have cropped up since I first filed. I just hope the wait is over soon for us all.
Just keep pushing through the red tape, and don't give up- SSD depends on people bailing out on their applications- keep up the appeals, and bug them as needed. I was lucky, and also had my long term disability insurance company to help push things along. They had the records as well, and people to communicate with SSD.
