Well I didn't want to apply for social security but I was told I had to in order to keep my state insurance going.
I decided NOT to lie, since I had legitimate reasons for not being able to work and was told:

"Though we realize you experience difficulties from your colitis and acid reflux conditions, evidence indicates these conditions have responded favorably to treatment and intervention."

Did they even listen? I don't have colitis anymore and I have BILE reflux, neither of which always respond favorably to medicine.
NO mention of my surgeries.
Hey, MY 'colitis and acid reflux' responded so well to medication that I needed to try using surgical knives instead!
They also say that my depression and anxiety 'disorder' isn't 'bad enough'. What the heck, I didn't even say I had a disorder.
Just mentioned I was on anxiety medication and that I became anxious and depressed before and after surgery. (when they asked me if I ever had anxiety or depression.)
I don't want money, I just want medical coverage.
Stupid people in my town get on the program because they lie. I really don't think they should be able to sit in the bar all day if they can't work.
I'm honest about it and can't work because I'm on the toilet so much and they tell me I'm wrong. Apparently I'm supposed to just pretend I'm not sick all the time.
Maybe I need to go apply for jobs and then get fired a few more times for them to get the picture.

It's ridiculous and it doesn't matter anyway. Now that I applied and was turned down I will be able to continue my coverage through the state. Just makes me mad to be told by some moron that I'm not sick 'enough'. I can go to court but I don't know if it's worth it.

Thanks for letting me spout off my steam!!

/rant off

Sarah :P

get a lawyer I had to as I was told to work at mc donalds by some moron there ,to SS people can be some mean SOB's I know first hand but do not stop what ya have coming to ya as it is our money that we worked for my self I have been un able to work for over 4yrs due to my illness as ita very physical job I fought hard and I got it every year they try and find a reason to take it away just keep fighting if you need it.. do not give up but get a alawyer they do not charge unless u win.

I applied for SSI for Chris after the 3rd surgery and j pouch not functioning. At that point he was 108 lbs and almost 6' tall. I had ALL his medical records, ALL drs names he had seen with addresses, phone numbers, all operative reports and hospital records including any and every test ever performed. He was approved in less than 2 weeks by a telephone interview because he was too sick to go to the SS office.
He still gets his monthly check.

I had another friend who I helped get SSDI based on a mental disability, bipolar with 3 suicide attemps resulting in hospitalization. Same thing, ALL dr info complete, hospital names and dates, etc. he too was approved in 6 weeks and was given over 8,000 in back benefits dating back to the first dx documented.

I hand delivered all the documents to the office and went to his appt with him and a social worker from the mental health center.That was 4 years ago, he still gets benefits and hasn't even been reviewed yet.

Documentation is crucial, you shouldn't need a lawyer.

Someone either misread or your dr did not send all the info he was asked to send. that is why i get copies of everything.

Appeal the decision and provide better documetation.

As Holly said, documentation is super important. I do want to add that it is also important that any questionaires that are filled out by family members should be photocopied as when applying for SSDI they ask multitude of questions that tend to overlap. You need to make sure there is consistency in your answers.
I also flooded my worker with documentation and was approved the first time around...This was for a psych disability. I have been reviewed once in 11 years(prior to my pouch) and have not been interviewed since. I did try to return to work and it did not work out...
Good luck!
Don't be too hard on the hapless workers, they have a certain criteria to meet and if you can't meet it they have to deny you.
Julie

Sarah,

A lot of the time SS will disapprove the initial application on general principal to see how serious you are about the original request. I agree with Holly- get all the doctor's paperwork and reapply- just to annoy them.

My brother had to go through several attempts/reviews before he was finally approved- and he got over $10K in back pay.

good luck,
candy

Yep, the sooner you get going, the sooner you will be done with it. Holly's experience with quick approvals are the exception, not the rule, even if you have excellent documentation. Unless you are basically confined to your bed or at least your home and unable to sit or stand, you pretty much are denied the first time. They figure that there are a lot of folks out there working with serious disabilities, and they want you to be one of them.

I think your doctor's statements go a long way and they should be detailed. You should not have to lie, but I would not volunteer any information about what you ARE able to do.

Jan

Ok thanks guys.

I made an appointment to speak with the person in charge of my case for next week. He said all I need to bring is my denial letter. I guess I'll start digging and make sure I have lots of other paperwork ready since he'll need it eventually. I'm also going to call my surgeon and get a copy of all my records. I really should have done that a long time ago.

Thanks, everyone!

Sarah

I lost my house and everything and send every document I had they did not care it all has to do with who deals with your case thats why some SS lawyers exist. It took me 4years to get approved .... Some people may need one some may not has to do with your state who is dealing with the case.

They denied me 4 times...... I went to court finally and they wanna to deny me just because I was a man 30 yrs old that worked every day of my life.

she ask me can't you work some where else and do another job and mind you I didn't even walk in there was in a wheel chair and I had to pled my case and she said hmm you worked since 14 until now.. no gaps and seen when I went to hostol and approved me and gave me all the years back pay of course not for my house. I been through hell becuae of them so I know all about them people.

Thankfully some people get it but in the state of michigan I hear nothing but good folks getting deined................I also have put the max you can for social secruity those people do not care I also get letter once a year to find a reason to take it away... so not everyone is so fortune .

Sarah,

I hope that everything works out ok for you on your upcoming appointment. It's discouraging that the people who really need this are not able to easily get it because so many people do try to cheat the system.

It looks like you just have to jump through the hoops and be persistent. Hang in there.

Rick