Applying for disability is a pain in the ass

[Philosoraptor]

20 years ago, I applied for and received SSI. It helped me out so much I couldn't believe it, but then, my wife got a small raise at her job. After a few months SS told me they'd over-payed me and that I owed THEM 4,000 bucks. The benefits stopped and I was suddenly in debt to the U.S. government.

I had polio when I was 2 years old, and now I have post polio syndrome, and I am still unable to work, except for a few pick up jobs as an illustrator and an occasional band gig as a musician. In other words, I'm flat ass broke all the time and being supported by my wife. This messes with my head more than I can ever say.

When I COULD work, I worked my ass off as a sign painter but now I'm in a motor chair which in itself is a major pain in the ass, literally and figuratively, and now I find my self desperate and re-applying for SSI. They sure don't make it easy on a person.

I read in my local Missouri paper that the system is so clogged and slow because there are so many people applying, and because MANY of them are trying to play the system with phony disabilities, etc. These people are screwing with my welfare and my psyche really bad.

I'm not on food stamps, I'm not on welfare, I'm not trying to play the system, I genuinely need the help that my government offers and I genuinely qualify for it, but they say it may take 2 or 3 years to even be approved, but I need the money now for little things like food and rent and gas and utilities and an occasional night out.

I hate feeling like the Lone fucking Ranger, and I hope there is someone here who knows what I'm going through whose shoulder I can whine on, or who could offer advice.

Has this ever happened to you? Are the obscene wars sucking up all the fed's money? Am I just a big old whiner? Am I in the wrong forum?

[blondeatlast]

1. As a fellow citizen, I'm disgusted that you have to deal with this. My sister was just

diagnosed with cancer and will now be applying for SS disability as well. She hates the idea, but I'll tell you as I told her--you workedm, you earned it, and therefore it should be a rather easy process.

I'm finding it increasingly harder to be proud of my country anymore. Shame on us. I'm so very sorry, Philo; I wish I could offer much more than my support.

[Philosoraptor]

2. A word from someone who understands is worth a lot

[CurtEastPoint]

3. No you're not a whiner.

It shouldn't be difficult to do this, but it is.
In the meantime, please get in touch with a local St. Vincent de Paul Society chapter. They offer among other things, mortgage or rent assistance, food assistance.

[michreject]

4. Fraud is widespread

I've seen message boards where members coach other members who want on SSI how to cheat the system to get benefits.

[Philosoraptor]

6. What can you say about a person like that?

To me they're the lowest of the low.

[michreject]

7. If people put as much effort in playing by the rules

As they do trying to scam the system, we would all be better off.

[uncommon]

8. My mother gets disability and shouldn't - it's infuriating.

[Traveling_Home]

12. Biggest fraud is committed by the scum-sucking bottom-feeding ....

M-F'in Govt bureaucrats that delay and deny benefits based on individual whim. The worst CRIMES are committed by them on disabled people who are in the system. The one thing you can count on is that when SSA screws up they will say it is your fault and take money from your check. And unlike with IRS and HR Block, there is no one to go to after you are on benefits and SSA screws you.

SSA is the reason I have great difficulty supporting any govt progrmn that expands the bureaucracy.

Whether SSA and disabled or overight of the Gulf Oil Industry or oversight of Banks - THEY SUCK! They are dangerous. They cost us a fortune and they are incompetent.

[mrcheerful]

14. Ahhhhhhhh no fraud is not widespread that is just wing nut BS about the disabled

There might be message boards that are set up to help people with the process but SSI and SSDI are the hardest government agencies to pull a scam on. Sure you can pay a doctor to say your disabled, but reality is few doctors would bother as most that apply for disability are broke which is why they apply for benefits. Then theres the little problem having to see SS doctors and getting them to say your disabled. Then after the doctors you have to get whatever state agency that handles finding work for the disabled to say that there are no job posititions you can hold, btw these are agencies that get their funding by the number of disabled on their rolls so they are more inclined to claim they have jobs that disabled can do.

Another thing for you non disabled to think about, just because someone is approved doesn't mean they are set for life, every 2 to 5 years the disabled are reviewed by new state paid doctors to see if their disability has improved enough to put them back on the job market. Yeah fraud is wide spread because it is so easy to get on SSDI and SSI. Are there folks who will try to scam the system, well yeah but few actually get past the first stage and then there is the problem of surviving for 3 or more years that it takes for a person to actually get benefits.

[xchrom]

5. Recommend

[SargeUNN]

9. yeah I am on SSI

and been unable to hold a job for almost 2 decades. I have a 10% Service Connected Pension and that is less than the 50% I was promised when I was medically discharged. My SSI has a total of less than $630 a month and now I find out that the VA folks in Mississippi lied to me about what would have given me a more reasonable alternative. I was told the none service connected pension had been eliminated and now I find out not only does it exist, but I could get it, so I am applying for it and if I get it I will have to get off SSI and be careful not to accept the SSI check when I get my first check from VA NSC pension, but I could get the first VA check before I know I win the award and of course they will immediately deduct the overpayment from my next VA check. Takes awhile to get what you are entitled to and sometimes you never get it, but you owe them an overpayment they are extremely fast.

[Traveling_Home]

10. I'm a PPSer and on SSDI ...

There is a disability forum on DU - not very active but very supportive

Here are some links to get you started
http://www.post-polio.org/edu/handbk/socsec.html
http://www.ippso-world.org/ippso-info/ssinfo/ssr_pps.htm
http://pprg.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=64%3Asocial-security-tips&catid=35%3Aresource-articles&Itemid=58
http://poliotoday.org/

and Richard Bruno is a main resource for everything
http://www.postpolioinfo.com/

Locating your local Independent Living Center can help with local contacts
http://www.ilru.org/html/publications/directory/index.html

and always
ADAPT.org

[Philosoraptor]

11. Thanks TH

[Historic NY]

13. It took me 5 yrs of going threw hoops & 2 appeals & 3 hearings & 4 dr's...

before they finally agreed with workmans comp & my state disability retirement. I have a friend who lost his because he told them he did odd jobs, it took 14yrs to settle he is a Vietnam Vet. with a major brain injury. He wasn't making enough to buy cigarettes. So no your not gaming the system you earned it.