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List-family.... (long SSDI saga follows) <which I'd hesitated to even start writing for ya all to read. But once started, I couldn't stop. I'd LIKE to think that what happened to ME in this instance DOESN'T happen to all SSDI applicants> It took me 3 years to be awarded my SSDI benefits the FIRST time. I'd had PD 8 years at that point and was FORCED to apply for SSDI when I had an on-the-job accident and applied for Worker's Comp. To even be considered for the W/Comp case (and the accident had been well documented so there was no question that my claim wasn't legitimate as was my injury. It was an equipment failure, NOT the PD that caused the accident, by the way.), the law declared I must file for SSDI. Anyway, I eventually was awarded SSDI benefits with the aid of an attorney who was an SSDI specialist, after 3 years of stalling by the SSA. Oddly, by the time I'd gone, before the SSA judge my injuries had healed and it was the PD symptoms - which had escalated after the accident - which had caused me to be awarded the SSDI benefits, plus Medicare benefits. The Medicare enabled me to get my unilateral pallidotomy in 10/94, which in turn enabled me to go back to work for an additional 2 years, tho that was contract work for MSN, and had I been forced to do a 9 to 5 job away form my home, my health wouldn't have permitted me to do so (you know - good days, bad days, good hours, bad hours ..) Two year after returning to the workforce, the PD started on my left side and MSN and I parted company. Since I was still considered disabled by SSDI standards, I called the SSA office to reactivate my benefits, which they denied were owed to me. SSA claimed that along with still being disabled, I was ALSO *CURED* of the Parkinson's Disease!! Soooo, I again applied for my SSDI benefits and had to start again back at square one! THIS time started off with an attorney and it ONLY took 2 years to be awarded my SSDI benefits the second time around. SSDI included in my benefits $8700+ for back payment and did an automatic deposit to my checking account. Then, over the subsequent 4 months, SSA proceeded to go into MY OWN PERSONAL CHECKING ACCOUNT and removed the entire amount of money they'd just awarded me. SIX months after that, SSA again deposited money into my checking account to the tune of $4900+, and upon my calling them to find out WHY they suddenly deposited money into my checking account - with no previous notice - I was told THAT was my REAL benefits award due me from that second time around! I asked to have that information IN WRITING, and SSA declined to do that, after assuring me that the money was mine. Needless to say, I was angry but not at all surprised when SSA once AGAIN "raided" my personal checking account and took back $2,400. After calling the SSA to find out why they had again played a bizarre and cruel joke on me, they "graciously offered" not to go into my checking account for the BALANCE of the $4900 *IF* I'd send them a CASHIERS CHECK FOR THE ENTIRE BALANCE OF THE $4900. And if I DIDN'T return THEIR MONEY to them they'd withhold my benefits until that amount had been reimbursed to the SSA. I didn't even argue - just sent them a check and a letter declaring if the SSA *EVER* went into MY personal checking account again, for WHATEVER reason, I'd have well known feminist attorney Gloria Allred on their tail. I also lied thru my teeth and declared I had contacted Ms. Allred and she'd reviewed my possible case against the SSA and told me I had a valid case against the Social Security Administration and her firm would take the case if or when I gave her the go ahead (I WISH!), Other than depositing an SSDI check once a month, the SSA has left me alone since my last run in with them. (THANKS, Gloria!) <grin> <the above is NOT proof read for grammatical or formatting errors, I just did a quick run thru the spell checker> Barb Mallut [log in to unmask] -----Original Message----- From: Greg Sterling <[log in to unmask]> To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]> Date: Thursday, February 03, 2000 7:59 PM Subject: My experience with SSDI I started on SSDI about 2 years ago at age 45. I actually had no difficulty in applying or being accepted. The key is your doctor. Make sure he has dealt with SS prior and knows how to convey disability to them. You don't really need an attorney unless you get to the hearing stage. Be sure to fill out the forms in DETAIL. Describe the difficulties you have with personal hygiene and dressing in depth. If you have cognitive problems mention it whenever you can get it in. Of course describe your physical limitations. If it's true make sure that you explain that both sides of your body are affected. Check out my website at below url: http://pd_ssdi.homestead.com/ssdi.html Greg 47/35/35