I have tried on my own to get this done and quickly realized that you need a lawyer to help you through this mess.
My suggestion is to hire a Disability Attorney to handle your case. There are several ways to find attorneys who handle only this type of case:
- Google search
- Phone Book
- Word of Mouth
My Attorney is wonderful and works closely and carefully with me during this process. She also is stright up with me about what may happen or anything that I might have to endure.
One of the things that I learned is that the wait is long and grueling. Its been well over a year now since I applied and I am told that the wait can last years.
Another thing is that the person responsible for your case at the social security office can and will put you through a plethera of testings and doctor appointments. It is up to those doctors to assess you and report back to the social security office. My issue with that is; you have a 10 minute appointment with this person and they are supposed to assess your health and your problems with absolutely no understanding about what you feel like inside. Keep this in mind when you do to any of these appointments.
Also, I have found that even if you are terminally ill, they can STILL deni you your benefits. Sounds crazy I know, but its the truth. I know a lady who was denied benefits 3 days after she passed away.
Rest assure you are in capable hands if you go with an attorney to help you through this process. Because it is so complex, it is my personal opinion that you have a 99% chance of never being approved with out one.
