Social Security Disability Advice Group

Since the date I applied (October 17 2010) my doctor's office never received any paperwork asking for my records. I did have a name change and I think that was why my doctor's office sent a letter to SSA stating that I never received or was seen for any treatment at their facility.

I knew this was probably going to happen since I had a name change somewhere in between the process. I mentioned it to my counselor numerous times. She assured and reassured me that everything would be just fine. They wouldn't reject it even if the name was not in their system. Wrong! The record request was rejected and no one knew whether or not they received any paperwork.

Today, the examiner's supervisor stated that she would fax a request to my doctor and my counselor. Advised me to make sure they don't discard it. And I did as I was told. So now, I'm just waiting to hear from them. It's been a couple of hours. I'm so anxious. Picking out the hair strands out of my head!!

If there's something minor like a name change that could make something go wrong -- SSA will make it go wrong. They just seem to have a habit of messing things up.

When I applied the first time, apparently my address had too many lines. So whenever they mailed me something, they sent it to my name, the city, state and zip, and ABSOLUTELY NO street address. I called them over and over and over again during my application process, explained to them what was going on, and they never fixed it. (The way I found out what was going on was they sent a form to be filled out by my reference, and it listed my address on there, without the street address).

Anyway, they ended up denying my case saying I never responded to their requests. I hadn't gotten any requests!!! I hired a representative, and they got everything straightened out. But it really infuriated me that I had to pay $6000 for a representative when my case would have been immediately approved had they not been so completely ignorant that they didn't even have a street address for me.

Yup, I agree that the people at SS don't know what they are doing. If one little box is check wrong, your whole case just sits there. My daughter was approved under the adult-child program, her retro check was just sitting there until we went in person, duh...someone "forgot" to release the funds, we had a check within a week.

I had the same problems with medical records. I kept in contact with my providers and actually tracked the informaton from the time it left their office until it got to SS.

even the law firm I hired dropped the ball when it came to getting medical records. I often thought of charging them for my time in doing their job. Now I'm playing phone tag- again, about my case, may need to , again, go in person and probably get yet another run around. For instance, I can't get an online password, one person tells me my case isn't finalized, another tells me go online-duh-just told her I couldn't get access..went home tried again, called...cant get through....then get through only to be transferred, call lost, frustrated through the roof. try again another day. So in a nutshell, don't trust SS to do anything right. There are toooo many people involved and if one mistake is made, no one knows until you call it to their attention and harrass them.

Ugh. Earlier today, something was telling me to just go into the doctor's office and check. I called them plenty of times yesterday and got the same answer. That they have not receive anything yet. I went into where SSA faxed the record request to. Talked to the receptionist. Talked for a while. She finally recalls seeing something from SSA with my name on it. Told me he had faxed it to my psychiatrist in another department. I had to walk from one department to another. Talked the receptionist there. Again was told they received nothing. I walked back to the first receptionist I spoke to. The one who supposedly seen the docs and faxed it. I kept questioning her. I sat right in front of her and complained. Then she decides to get up of her rare to look for it. She went into the mail bin and it was just THERE! She handed it to me and told me to bring it to where ever it needs to go. I was so ticked. I don't get how my counselor can tell me to be patient knowing that I suffer from anxiety. I think I'll have to see her again soon to voice my concerns. I get anxious and it never stops. Even after I handed the paperwork to the receptionist...I still feel that it may not go to the right people. This whole process is terrible. It takes 120 days as I was told and there is only 30 days left. I hope my records make it there before they decide to deny me.

I applied for SSI for my son in September, and then my son's father and I got married at the end up October. My son has just been approved, but I put off legally changing my last name exactly because of those reasons, I don't want me changing my last name to interfere and hold up and part of my son getting his disability payments. I am waiting till everything is taken care of. It's something you wish wouldn't be in issue but you know it will haha.

Chasidee i applied in march of 09 and it took till december to get the denial. They call it a back log here in Fl.

This is why I hired Allsup to represent me. I just don't need the added stress of calling and trying to deal with the SSA. It is a shame the system is so slow and inefficient for ppl who are really in need. You should not have to pay Allsup 6 grand for this service. All the money should go to you...the person who really needs and deserves it but unfortunately, the system is broke and companies like Allsup and Binder and Binder have been able to capitalize and earn a living doing this for ppl.

Shawn

Post edited by: LostInCyberspace12, at: 02/10/2011 06:23 AM

Does allsup service every state? My friend's son is applying and they received a letter from SSA saying they're going to need a lawyer. I might go that route too if I get denied.

I agree with Shawn; As I said earlier, it's ridiculous that you need to pay a company like Allsup six grand to receive your disability benefits. Allsup is a great company, but they should not be necessary.

I do believe Allsup serves every state, but I don't think they have someone to go to court with you in every state if your case has to go to the hearing level. In this case, they will hire someone locally, and I have heard mixed results when this happens.

Hi- new poster but I've been lurking for a bit.

I wanted to chime in on the Allsup question. I was receiving LTD benefits through my last employer and they required that I file for SSDI and they would pay for the services out of their portion of any back pay that I might receive. I'm glad they did require that because I really didn't think I'd be able to get SSDI (lots of MI issues that I didn't think would be covered).

Allsup handled everything from day 1, initial filing, appeal, request for reconsideration and finally the hearing. I live in Eastern Washington and they don't have a local office here or a local representative. They have a rep down in the bay area and that person flew up for my hearing. I can't say that they fly someone in for everywhere but I would give them a call and ask if it gets that far if they would do the same.

The guy that came up here called me a week before the hearing and spent quite a while on the phone with me getting me ready for everything and was very nice and sympathetic. He had me meet him an hour before the hearing and we talked some more in a conference room. Still scared to death but he helped a lot.

The judge approved my claim at the hearing so now I'm just in sit and wait mode for the letters and the money. There's light at the end of that tunnel now!

Chasidee, I would give them a call. It really helped to have them handle all that paperwork and even though they are a paid representives as opposed to a lawyer they really do know their stuff. Don't give up on the process and get someone in there that can lead the way.