 |
 |
Shirley.... At the time I didn't KNOW there was such a thing as a SSA/SSDI attorney. I was completely ignorant of the "system's" working AGAINST the very people it had been created to help. Barb Mallut [log in to unmask] -----Original Message----- From: Edward Kleinmeyer <[log in to unmask]> To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]> Date: Friday, February 04, 2000 6:52 AM Subject: Re: My experience with SSDI >Barb, How awful. I still say a good lawyer from the beginning is vital.We >can't fight the law on our own,so use the law to fight the law. There are so >many loop holes they can find and we don't need the stress. Shirley >-----Original Message----- >From: Barb_MSN <[log in to unmask]> >To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]> >Date: Friday, February 04, 2000 1:18 AM >Subject: Re: My experience with SSDI > > >>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