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Barb, As was I. I have a sister that had gone thru the process a few years earlier and I was going to do this on my own till she said (if you do you may be old enough to draw social security before you get it.) I figured she knew more about it than I did so I followed her advise. I'm the oldest of 10 living kids and she was my 13th. birthday gift!!! Like I really needed that. There were already 6 of us,1 set of twins and I was Mothers right hand. She turned out to be a blessing. It's fun being the oldest,they listen to me just as well as they did Mom&Dad. HA!HA! Just kidding. I love them all,from a distance. Shirley -----Original Message----- From: Barb_MSN <[log in to unmask]> To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]> Date: Friday, February 04, 2000 10:48 AM Subject: Re: My experience with SSDI >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