Posted by Art L on April 07, 1999 at 03:16:25:
In Reply to: Ready to Die!!! posted by Carl D on April 07, 1999 at 01:09:40:
Except that your headaches are of shorter duration , I could have wrote this post .
I can offer you no hope on the pain ..... I still suffer badly myself .... but you are disabled my friend .
I won my social security benefits after 2 years and 2 denials 1 hearing , and a forest of paper .
They automatically deny you unless you have reached an advanced age or you are hooked up to life support machines .
That is the first 2 times . The 3rd time you go to a judge . This is where finally you see some human contact .
It doesnt matter if your doctor that has been treating you for years says " the headaches and the treatment are dibilateing to a degree Mr So and So may not work " .
They are playing a numbers game I think . If they can snow you under enough paperwork , eventually alot will give up .
It was a daunting task at times for me and I have A very loveing and supporting wife . She is a state employee and I have had insurance thru alot of it .
Get yourself a lawyer . There are a ton who will work for a percentage of the back benefits .
However if they dont stay in regular contact and dont know whats going on with your condition , fire them and get someone who will work for you .
I had 2 attorneys MrY I heard from 1 time in 12 months . Telling me what I had to get together . And that he would call me when it was time .
Then it got real close to my hearing and he was still not doing anything.
I went to a different lawyer . I heard from him more in 1st week than other guy in a year .
Inside of 3 weeks he knew my medication history better than I did . That was no small feat .
It took like 18 months but I recieved my benefits . Dont give up .
The insurance alone medicare while not the best is very good .
The stuff you will have to gather looks like a rural phonebook when done , but you paid for these benefits .
Your not asking for a hand out . This is your right you paid for it every time FICA raped your paycheck for 20% off the top .
While it isnt not going to make you feel like your working again , to be able to pay your own way again is a major relief .
Wish you lived in Oregon I have the name of a good attorney .
Write me if you need anyone to unload with . I cant count the number of times I have felt like your post .