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When I applied for my SS Disability it went through the first time, all on the basis of Parkinson's. In fact, I had a very pleasing experience with the government, no one ever questioned the truth of my statements and the case worker I was assigned walked me through the whole process without my ever having to appear at their office. Some things I KNOW. Always appeal the decisions. NEVER wait. If you are denied, then and only then seek the services of an attorney, one who specializes in the appeal process. ALWAYS ask to use your own doctors, not the government docs. And get copies of EVERYTHING. Most docs will be very upfront about what they put on the forms. You must have that information. If you tell SS that you can only walk one block and your doc says you are limited to one mile, it raises a question. If you say you can't read because of double vision and inability to hold the newspaper still, and your doc says reading isn't a problem, it raises a question. Every question raised is cause for SS to decline. I took my filled in forms to the doctor and had him read and understand why I made each statement. When he did his evaluation it looked exactly like mine. I also asked him to preview the neurologist statements and to suggest changes to him. It took a lot of effort, but the fact that it went through without question says a lot about the method. Just be prepared to go through another evaluation every five or so years. SS doesn't understand that there is no going back for us. It's extremely frustrating, I know. But the other side of the coin is that the system is wide open to extreme abuse and those caseworkers are the frontline against massive fraud on an overspent government. (Sure they spent $250,000 so the Pres can get a haircut on Air Force One, but that's another letter.) Get all the suggestions and help you can get from this group. There's a goldmine of information here. Please utilize it, and ask all the questions you want. That's what this group is all about. -- ------- Visit my WebSite! http://www.phoenix.net/~jfinch Where the Cowboy Rides Away.... Stories, poems and the ongoing adventures of the Dumpster Gang. New stories added on March 15th!