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PoindexterOglethorpe

(25,816 posts)
23. You need to do what is the best thing for you.
Sun Mar 7, 2021, 07:41 PM
Mar 2021

It does seem as if you have your ducks in a row about the doctors.

A while back I worked part time as a paralegal for an attorney who does Social Security Disability appeals. A couple of things to be aware of.

Your age matters. If you are under 50, there is a presumption you can be retrained and get work in a different field. If you are over 50, that assumption isn't there, so there's a greater chance of being approved.

They do NOT automatically deny everyone the first time around. People think that simply because so many of them don't have all of the paperwork and documentation needed. It takes a LOT of documentation. I know because I spent most of my job at one of the nearly Social Security offices photocopying extremely thick files.

Do read everything on the Social Security Administration website very carefully because it spells out very carefully everything you need to do, what documentation and proof you'll need.

If you do get denied, look for attorneys in your area who handle the appeals. You'll chat with them on the phone and they will figure out pretty quickly if an appeal will be successful. When I worked for my attorney, I was more than once in her office while she fielded such calls, and it was quite interesting. The ones she turned down, she always made a firm point of saying that hers was only one opinion, and they should consider talking to other attorneys. I will suggest that if you are turned down by two or three different ones, you may need to figure out what other kind of job you can possibly get.

A SSD appeals attorney gets paid some percentage of your award -- which be retroactive to the time you first applied I believe -- up to some specific dollar amount. You pay nothing out of pocket. And what the attorney gets is relatively finite, and will come out of the lump sum of the retroactive amount.

The worst thing for most people applying for disability is that they are not working and have no income. You are well ahead of things with the company insurance.

I hope you let us know how this turns out.

A coworker said to me when I asked advice.. lisa58 Mar 2021 #1
good point XanaDUer2 Mar 2021 #6
Yes you do - if you qualify for SSD - take it lisa58 Mar 2021 #18
Which state do you live in? BigmanPigman Mar 2021 #2
NC XanaDUer2 Mar 2021 #7
I am/we are sorry, DO take care of yourself, and remember elleng Mar 2021 #3
I know others would have no compuntion XanaDUer2 Mar 2021 #8
Take care of YOURSELF. elleng Mar 2021 #16
If your loyalty is hurting you, then you must let it go. Do what is best for YOU. Cousin Dupree Mar 2021 #4
thank you! Nt XanaDUer2 Mar 2021 #9
After 30+ years in the workforce I e learned literally nobody is irreplaceable 🙂 MLAA Mar 2021 #5
thank you XanaDUer2 Mar 2021 #10
Oh so sorry, I missed that bit that they can't replace you for a couple of years☹️ MLAA Mar 2021 #12
Early on in my working career UpInArms Mar 2021 #11
thanks XanaDUer2 Mar 2021 #13
I relate to your situation so much, I have the same attitude about responsibilities to my job ms liberty Mar 2021 #14
What is the financial, social, psychological cost of not going off work? Irish_Dem Mar 2021 #15
Thanks, Irish XanaDUer2 Mar 2021 #17
Your doc made the absolutely right call to sign you off work if you are having a major bipolar break Irish_Dem Mar 2021 #19
We usually grow personally identified with the work we do. Eyeball_Kid Mar 2021 #20
thank you very much! XanaDUer2 Mar 2021 #21
thank you very much! XanaDUer2 Mar 2021 #22
You need to do what is the best thing for you. PoindexterOglethorpe Mar 2021 #23
thank you for your kind reply XanaDUer2 Mar 2021 #24
Absolutely do what's best for you DarthDem Mar 2021 #25
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