*Generally* what is the wait time for a SSI "reconsideration"?

[Lachesis00]

I was denied (anyone surprised?) and I am wondering what the wait time is for a reconsideration (it isn't a denial... I am asking them to reconsider based on the dates *they* picked (I was working at the time) and money they claim we had (we didn't) plus MY work claimed I was working as of Feb of this year. I haven't worked since July 06). ?

I know no one can say "OH it is x amount of months". I thought on my paperwork, I read something like 60 or 90 days. Anyone know? Just curious. This round I put in a letter from my neuro doctor that covered every issue I have, not just seizures.

I do not have a case worker here in AZ.

 

[blondietink]

It all depends on the speed of your disability determinations office in your state. Some are very slow and can take up to 2 years for approval of a disability benefit. And if you ask for a reconsideration it can sometimes take even longer. And if you don't have a clear cut disability, that can also add time. That said, my son with Down syndrome applied for benefits in March when he turned 18 and was approved 2 months later in May.

There is a new section on the Social Security website ssa.gov that lists a bunch of disaiblites that will be approved almost immediately as they have been classified as "Compassionate Allowances". Check it out to see of your disability is listed there.

 

[barkley]

in my experience the biggest factor time wise for a determination has to do with social security getting all of the substantiating information and documentation-if they have it all, and it's complete its a much faster process.

i used to supervise a medicaid unit in a state where ss disability applicants could receive state sponsored coverage while their ss apps were pending so i had to constantly read letters from social security to clients outlining what they needed to send in or the basis for their approvals and denials. by and large the biggest comonality in denials and delays for valid (by ss criteria) applications was due to incomplete or missing medical paperwork from providers. ss is very clear on what verifications they require for every diagnosis-you can go to their website and read the provider information. it details what tests have to have been performed down to what the results have to have been on a particular test or assessment tool. a doctor not detailing that information out in their report can create an immediate denial or a lengthy process of ss requesting you to sign something to send in that they then send to the provider that the provider has to pull records for or request you to sign something else to send to another provider to get their records for which are then reviewed to write up a new report.....

when i became ill and had to apply for ss i took the time to have each doctor write a draft that was provided to all of the individual doctors (primary provider, neurologist, psychologist) who then incorporated all of the information from all the drafts into their final letters (saying that they had diagnosed me with "x" and that they had done this test but that doctor so and so had done the other substantiating test which they concurred with the results of...) all the doctors letters had thier individual diagnosis and history of me within them but also supported and substantiated the other reporting doctors diagnosis and testing.

on the work issue-gather whatever documentation that proves when you last worked/how much you made and send ss copies before they ask for it. think about what you would ask someone to provide to prove it-paystubbs, w-2's, end of employment letters (if the employer offered you cobra when you stopped working the dates on that letter could show when you were no longer an active employee-or if you received state disability or unemployment the first issuance date of those payments could prove when you were no longer working).

 

[Lachesis00]

I should look to see if I have any pre-qualifing conditions. Right now I am highly seizure prone, low iron and low platelets, that are hard to control (makes me so tired), plus severe arthritis, that continues to get worse. Depression and post-pardom depression, anxiety (which goes hand in hand with the seizures). I have physical disabilities from birth that are now catching up with me faster then I'd like.

Alaska said it would be 18m for their state. That is where I filed the original application (with my Arizona address- I did it online, I was visiting Alaska, and have 2x since applying) . I worked with the Alaska office over the last year and a half. I never was contacted after putting my app in, and so I went back into the Juneau office on another visit, this past July to inquire. They had everythng they needed, but according to their records, no one had contacted me in any way since filing July 07.
Thankfully the Juneau office is SMALL, and honestly, so, so helpful. I would have continued my processing there, but he said it wasn't worth it. I couldn't do a reconsideration. I'd have to appeal. I am not sure what the difference is for sure. Any ideas??
He and my original caseworker (he helped go over my stuff with me, make sure I had what I needed to reconsider, all of my t's crossed, back around Nov 1st) went over everything and could not figure out why I was denied. WHY they looked at my health from BEFORE July 06 when I started iron and platelet transfusions. And as of Jan 08 (or was it Feb 08) they said (SSI and their records) I was still working for the company I stopped workin for back in July 06. Luckily, I went over it with the social security guy in Juneau (Alaska) and they were contacting the HR of my former employment to see what was going on.
Since July of 06, I have had 3 major grand mal seizures and while I am on meds, they do make me tired. I have been on the other meds since May of 07.
SSI also said I had a nice chunk of change in Smith Barney (I don't nor have we since 2000 at least) and my husbands plain jane 2000 SL 1 Saturn was worth $19,000 at current value, even with the 80,000+ miles on it. (Not $9000 or even $900). Wow. All of that counted against us (as his was a second car).

The letter, signed by my neurologist, touched upon every possible, little issue I had, siting who I had seen last and where records could be obtained from. I am really hoping it helps.
I would have had one from my hemotologst, but he wanted me to write it up and he'd sign it. Well I was in Alaska and couldn't come back in a timely manner, so I had my neuro write one. I wish I had one from both. My Dr here in AZ will write me something if/when this comes up again.

 

[blondietink]

I will also add that besides assests, such as a 2nd car, your husband's income, whatever that might be, could count against you. SSI has a deeming process/formula when considering income from a spouse. In the case of children, SSI considers both parents income.

Is there some reason you are applying for SSI instead of SSDI? I have always been told that a person will always be considered for SSDI first if they have worked on their own record. With SSDI, asset or spousal income are not considered when they determine eligibility.

 

[mechurchlady]

I have Social Security for 10 years for my disabilities. Also I have SSI which is a pain in the back side. You need a good lawyer and they are limited on how much they can charge. I had a great basque descended lawyer.

First is social security which does not care how rich you are as long as you do not earn more than so much money or go back to working. I do not like SSI because they seem to take money instead of give. This year I made 5% raise in social security and am waiting for SSI to decide to take out that amount, they have before hand reduce what they paid after the social security people gave me more money.

My last trip to WDW ws september of 1998, sigh. I had to wait 3 years of appeals then in August they finally told me that my caseworker had left and all her paperwork was still in her drawer. She walks off and all of us who depended on her were left without a caseworker until I and others complained. I have had to see one doctor and psychiatrist in all that ten years and that was the second review as the first was only on paper.

You have to know how to work the system or know how to lie and cheat and sya the right things. Over and over I have heard of people milking the system while obviously disabled people go bancrupt, lose homes and psosessions and face financial and emotional ruin. Families are torn asunder by a system that does not seem to care as long as they keep on schedule. Any descent scammer can get on disability but the truly disabled cannot. In my case I now know that I have depression, SID, celiac, morbid obesity, allergies, and skeletal damage from years of stupid stuff like lifting an akita or dropping cans of dog food on my toes. I barely got through even though I was overqualified for disability benefits.

Get an SSI and Social Security lawyer, now. Save yourself the grief of fighting and let experts do the fighting.

 

[LauraVV]

We've been working on SSI for our grown son. We're at the second appeal now. Our lawyer recommended that we not hire her until we were turned down twice. She stated that having a lawyer would not improve our success rate until this time.

SSI is for disabled people who don't have enough work credits to qualify for disability. You can be disabled but not qualify for SSI because you have assets. You have to be very poor for SSI vs disability(based on work history).

 

[mechurchlady]

I made a 5%+ increase on Social Security but my SSI check went from $313 to $317. At least this year they did not decrease the SSI. I still would get the attorney who knows what to do and may help out. Just my opinion and trying to find a way for others to not go bancrupt.

 

[blondietink]

If the OP does indeed have physical disabilities since birth and the new problems can be directly related to the disabilities from birth, the OP would be eligible for SSDI from her parents work record if her disability application is approved. Those same parents (one or both) would also need to be either disabled themselves, retired or deceased in order to collect SSDI. That way, the OP does not have to have enough credits in the system from working on her own record. Otherwise, either SSDI from the OP own record, or SSI with extremely limited income and resources deemed available to the OP.

I have never heard anybody recommend waiting for 2 denials before getting an attorney. There are many agencies around the country who have professional advocates that can usually help with the Social Security process.

 

[MinnieVanMom]

Not to thread jump but what is the difference between SSI and the other one? Is disability insurance the same as SSI? I am just totally confused.

 

[blondietink]

SSI is a disability insurance for those people with very low income, no income and very low resources (savings) ... no savings more than $2,000. You are able to own a house and a car, but that is about it. You can still make approx. $1200 per month working and still get a small SSI payment. Medicaid usually is approved when you qualify for SSI.

SSDI is a disability insurance based on your own work record quarters of work, or your parents work record, provided that your parents are either retired or deceased. There are some restrictions on how much you can make working and continue to draw the SSDI payment. You can have limitless amounts of savings, retirement accounts, etc. and still draw the insurance payment. Also if you qualify for SSDI on your own work record, then if you have minor children still in school, they would also qualify for a payment. After 2 years on SSDI, you would qualify for Medicare.

 

[Lachesis00]

I have applied for both and been denied by both

Is there some reason you are applying for SSI instead of SSDI? I have always been told that a person will always be considered for SSDI first if they have worked on their own record. With SSDI, asset or spousal income are not considered when they determine eligibility.

 

[Lachesis00]

I am guessing, if I am married, they would not take into account my parents work quarters? My mom is retired, my dad is partly retired.

The arthritis is from my birth defects. The seizures are undetermined... they found a small scar on my brain from birth, but could not determine, if it is what is causing the seizures, or what exactly is causing them

If the OP does indeed have physical disabilities since birth and the new problems can be directly related to the disabilities from birth, the OP would be eligible for SSDI from her parents work record if her disability application is approved. Those same parents (one or both) would also need to be either disabled themselves, retired or deceased in order to collect SSDI. That way, the OP does not have to have enough credits in the system from working on her own record. Otherwise, either SSDI from the OP own record, or SSI with extremely limited income and resources deemed available to the OP.

 

[MinnieVanMom]

SSI is a disability insurance for those people with very low income, no income and very low resources (savings) ... no savings more than $2,000. You are able to own a house and a car, but that is about it. You can still make approx. $1200 per month working and still get a small SSI payment. Medicaid usually is approved when you qualify for SSI.

SSDI is a disability insurance based on your own work record quarters of work, or your parents work record, provided that your parents are either retired or deceased. There are some restrictions on how much you can make working and continue to draw the SSDI payment. You can have limitless amounts of savings, retirement accounts, etc. and still draw the insurance payment. Also if you qualify for SSDI on your own work record, then if you have minor children still in school, they would also qualify for a payment. After 2 years on SSDI, you would qualify for Medicare.

Thanks for explaining this to me.

 

[blondietink]

If you have physical disabilites that can be proven to be since birth or prior to turning age 21 (?), and they are what is considered your disability now, then you would be eligible for SSDI benefits under the DAC (Disabled Adult Child) program as long as your parents are either disabled, retired or deceased. The fact that you are married should have nothing to do with being eligible for DAC benefits if the above can be proven. I know it can get complicated but sometimes it is worth going for DAC benefits, because generally parent's income is substantially higher, therefore a DAC benefit would be substantially higher in most cases. A DAC benefit will not decrease a retired parent's retirement benefit.

 

[LauraVV]

If you have physical disabilites that can be proven to be since birth or prior to turning age 21 (?), and they are what is considered your disability now, then you would be eligible for SSDI benefits under the DAC (Disabled Adult Child) program as long as your parents are either disabled, retired or deceased.

My husband has had SS retirement for more than 2 years so we're applying for SS for my 20 year old son based upon hubby's record. Our son has a disorder that should allow for an automatic approval. We've appealed a couple of times, now on the lawyer stage.

I would be surprised if you can get SS based on your parents' records IF you've had substantial work since you were over age 21. That could indicate to SS that you were not completely disabled since childhood.

Many people with seizures and arthritis are able to work. Again, my son has many medical conditions. He has developmental/mental health issues that are a part of the automatic approval of SS. He still was denied. It just isn't easy.

 

[blondietink]

Sometimes with a developmental disability you need to do an adaptive scale to prove that the person has deficits in activities of daily living. For example, if the person needs assistance to do laundry, pay bills, take a bath, use public transportation, etc.. I'm sure you know this if you are in the appeals process.

Also, it all depends on the region of the country you live in. Some districts are better at approving a disability than others. Where I live it is rated one of the worst areas for approvals (over 2 years) and the backlog of appeals is just as long. So, theoritically, a person could wait 2 years for a denial of claim and then another 2 years to get an appeal heard by a judge. It can be so very frustrating!