Post Your Story
Initially, I created my website, ssadisabilitystories.com, to tell the story of my 3 year battle with the Social Security Administration. And although I have done that, I want to help others going through what I went through, and I want them to share their stories. Here is where you can share your story, ask questions and discuss your experience with others.
i’ve worked from age 17 until 2 years ago i’m 53 now i applied to ssa turned down twice finally got a lawyer and now waiting for a hearing date i have medical and mental illnesses that prevent me from work i was so bad i could’nt even remember what i was suppose to be doing i went for help so i could keep working but failed to get adequate help the ssa has made things so horrible for me in my 2 denial letters it stated i could be a cashier theres no way i can’t even go out in public i was diagnosed with early set alzheimers disease they told me i would only get worse as time goes by i have been seen by mental health doctors and my doctor they both stated i could no longer work day to day is almost impossible for me i had a mental breakdown 2 months ago i to was stupid enough to believe that ssa wouls see i’m no longer able to work i don’t want to be like this i’ve lost everything i ever owned because it has taken so long for the ssa to deny me the money i worked all those years for so now i wait an see if i don’t get some sort of hearing soon i fear it won’t even matter i’ve lost it all because of the ssa i have seen 23 and 24 year old people that have never worked at anything receive ssi but people that have worked until theyre almost dead hell no turn us down
I always had questions about Binder, and the fact that their ads are so bogus. I would not recommend them to an enamy
It IS SOOO SAD WHAT YOU HAVE HAD TO GO THRU. iwas approved at age 62 or 63, after 2 denials and had to go before a judge. I am so sorry this happened to you. Binder has alor of advertising all over the country, but I will not recommend them to anyone, in fact, I will block them any wa I can.
Good luck in the future.
Thanks Mark.
Oh yes I forgot to say that my lawyer did not say a word the entire time we were in front of the judge. They said I went to visit my sister and I don’t have a sister.
I think they make mistakes on purpose, I submitted my application for SSD and DCF under my married name and they sent me back a denial letter from DCF under my maiden name. I swear they do this on purpose as SSD said “I don’t qualify til January but I will get SSI and am eligible for Medicaid” which I am sure is going to be like jumping through hoops to get them to understand they inadvertantly changed my (legal) last name.
This system is so bad and to make matters worse when you are in more debt than you can handle, how on God’s great earth can they approve you and later say “oops we made a mistake, give us our money back or you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law” which basically means as a felon (if they made the mistake, they should pay it back!) and yes I experienced this also and they make you feel like you took the money from them. I have too many stories of let downs, paybacks, no one picking up phones and even 866 numbers hanging up on me to address here.
Signed,
A very frustrated white woman
I certainly don’t disagree. My application started with a denial because they misread my MONTHLY income as WEEKLY. I don’t care how bad your handwriting is, that is a hard one to screw up. But they did. And the fact that they are rude and hang up on you while you slowly fall into bankruptcy is unforgivable. But of course they have some sort of immunity, so you can’t even get them in trouble for their ineptitude.
They should not be immuned, really. I have been a medical transcriptionist for over 25 years and was always told to proof our work as we are responsible for correct content of the report we transcribe and could be sued over an error(s) that would have caused harm to a patient.
And Florida has to be the worst to get hold of anyone locally. You call one number and voice mail states do not leave message on this voice mailbox, please call (ex) 555-5555 and you call that number and it states the voice mailbox is full. Come on what are they doing all day, playing Barbie dolls? Yes I am being facetious.
I don’t think those dummies would understand Barbie dolls.
To me, that is the MOST infuriating part. It might be strangely worth it, if, after dealing with those idiots and their obviously intentional mistakes for years, you could sue them or at least get them fired (and ruin their lives the way they ruined yours).
I am so glad you finally got your claim approved. I can barely read these stories, it makes me ill. Do you think the ” ticket to work” is a ticket to trouble? I am getting recorded messages saying I can work part time in my home and keep my benefits, I would just as soon not rock the boat if you know what I mean. I too wen through hell to get benefits. thank you
I’m not a lawyer or a physician or anything, so I think I need to say something like – “take my comments as just two people talking and exchanging stories, not actual advice.”
I have no idea how the “ticket to work” program actually works since there is no way I can work in any capacity. But, getting a little extra money would be nice, especially since there hasn’t been a cost of living increase in years.
It really kinda depends on if you trust the SSA not to screw it all up. I sure don’t.
aml – post a little description of your story. The more that tell their story, the more attention we’ll get. Maybe we can get some thing done. Just give me a little summary. A few paragraphs…
“Each time a person stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, these ripples build a current that can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.” – RFK
Disability Cases Last Longer as Backlog Rises – NY Times 2007
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/10/us/10disability.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
My post concerns “terminal” persons. My late husband was diagnosed in April 2006 with terminal cancer and given six months to live. He applied immediately and was deemed qualifed BUT had to wait 5 month waiting period. He died October 2006 before he ever received a dime. I have tried everything I know, writing SS, President, my congressmen, no help – actually they don’t want to help. Even at one point had legislation introduced HR2713. Went nowhere. Now I want to engage a class action attorney to file suit against SS because they knowingly make no provision for the terminally ill person. Just wait for them to die. Any comments here, or where I might find a class action attorney who wants to take this on. Feel free to contact me at jseall@seallrealty.com.
Thanks for your story. I’m in on that class action suit.
My son is 27 and has two disabilities…autism and epilepsy. He works and pays taxes. He is developmentally disabled, so that is probably a third disability as well! We have applied for SSI, but the reply has been the same twice…he is not disabled by their rules. WHAT?? He was in special education his whole educational life! He can only work part time in a grocery store, bagging groceries! Even though he’s not disabled, they have decided to help him get a job with Vocational Rehab. I asked them NOT to place him in a grocery store due to his seizures. I didn’t want him working in a parking lot. They placed him there anyway. When I called to tell them he had a seizure in a parking lot while working and that no one was watching…a customer called 911, so could we train him for another job, Voc. Rehab. worker said, “We can’t help you any longer. He’s lucky to have a job!” My son is on the Medicaid Waiver waiting list.Why? If he’s not disabled? He will never be served anyway, until or unless,we, his parents die. We’ve been waiting since 2006. This is just sad…what a terrible system. It’s broken and we need to fix it for those who really need it! Now, my son pays taxes so that illegal immigrants can have a free ride here…what’s wrong with that picture?
The more comments I get, the more I realize this site was a good idea. Thanks for posting.
K
Oh I am so glad you made this site. I want to say so much but I feel bullied and I don’t want them to read what I say. I don’t want
I am on my 6th year. I missed an appointment because of problems and he yelled that this next appointment will be set in stone and if I don’t make I will be denied. I told him that my husband called the doctor I was going to tell her about our problem and he said that he was to call SS. I felt threatened and that is part of my disablility is fear. He put more fear into me. I went to my bed crawled in a ball and laid there crying. He was very rude and cause so much more disability on ;me. I am writing to someone. But not until after I make this next appointment. Over 6 years with no income . I go to food pantry. I know people homeless with children. All the rules they put out there. Now we have veterans that are homeless. What in the hell is wrong with this country?
Oh my sister in law was on a breathing machine for life and unable to move an she was denied. She has a rare genic disorder that is only going to get worse. They denied her.
I see young people getting disability and they seem fine.
No one helps once you get SS disability even if you get mistreated or under paid!!
my name is Tom The fool that believed in people!
[...] I have found that all you lawyers are only interested in helping new cases not in helping people the are getting taking advantage of by Social Security. Even if they have been under paying me for the last six years and I am dyeing of a slow aggressive death from two debilitating diseases that get worst every month and my pay was set on the fact that I was married to a woman that made over 60 thousand dollars a year so it limited what I get every month I was told my max pay would be $987 but because my wife made so much money I would only get $624 a month. After paying into S.S. For 35 years. We are no longer married and was told I should be in a deferent pay scale now and entitled to SSI for the last six years and they missed four company’s I work for and paid into the fund for eight years because if was filed with a social security number that was one digit off. And they help you less now they did trying to get disability! because I can not find a person that wants to help me or someone live more then how much they make off of it, So I will be dead in three years or less all because the lawyer that help me get awarded my claim Died in May of 2006. All Lawyers want is to make that 20% of a new case even thou I have been under paid for 6 years and probably have more back money owed to me then when I got my first check. Lawyers don’t have a heart just a wallet and a $80 thousand dollar car to pay for! So don’t worry if the pain and discomfort gets much worst I can just take all my pain medication at one time and then no more problem. So sorry to disappoint you that it is not a new case so you have to find someone else to help pay for your Lexis. What is funny is that S.S told me I am entitled to a pay a increase because My wife is no longer my wife and she was the reason I was at the bottom of the pay scale and I now qualify for SSI, with both of them that should have been being paid since 2005 it is probably worth more then the 20% the lawyer got in winning my case. even the public assistance legal services don’t handle S.S. cases. I can’t even find someone who cares I am dyeing never mind trying to find some one that will help!
08-07-11
My name is Pamela Cunningham I have a small disability company in Center, Texas. I am not an attorney. I am a paralegal and I represent clients before the Social Security Administration. My office is a Christian office I have worked for the last 20 years on Social Security Cases always on contract to attorneys. In 2007 I could no longer watch clients being turned down for help just because their case was not a $6000. case. (That is the most an attorney or representative can make on a case.) If you would like to call my office I will see what I can do to help you. I do not have to advertise because all of my clients are by word of mouth or by physicians who send their clients to me. My office woks diligently to help clients whatever the problem. I employee only RN’s and I have a medical background before starting to work with disability clients. Your case is not about the law your case is about your medical condition and what keeps you from working. My phone number is (936)-591-8900. Located in Center, Texas. My e-mail address is disability_needs@yahoo.com
Take Care Pam Cunningham
Mrs. Cunningham-
Thanks for looking at my site. I’m not sure if you read, but i was approved. The whole debacle happened from 2005-2008. So I am not currently looking for representation. The goal of my site is to point out how awful the process is and to let others tell their stories (it seems like situations like my own are VERY common). However…..
The next step that I want to take may involve something that I might be able to use your help with. Publicity, reform, getting the jerks that treated me so badly fired. You’re very right. I think that the reason my disability lawyer (Judith Mathis of Mathis and Mathis in DC/VA) was dragging her feet and why it took so long is because she quickly maxed out the $5-6000 she was allowed by law to make from my case.
After all of these years I’m still FURIOUS about the way I was treated – I think the tone of my posts hint at how pissed I am. Obviously I am on disability now, so I am barely making ends meet as it is, so I’m not sure how to pursue anything from here. ssadisabilitystories.com is my first attempt at reaching out to others and getting some attention. Any ideas on that front?
Kevin
YES!!!! PTL
I am going to post more later, but here is my advise, go before the court without the damn lawyer. Thats what worked for me in the end.
I do care about your situation adn the fact you are dying (we all are) but how unfair and immoral that is.
I will pray for you
I received an email from Chuck before I had my blog set up. Here’s his story….
“I injured my back on the job in 2006. I started receiving worker’s compensation and hired an attorney. A discectomy was performed on my lower back. I eventually settled up with worker’s comp. in 2008. I received approximately $100,000 in a lump sum settlement and any medical issues with my back are covered for the rest of my life. As time went on I started having pain in my lower back. I eventually went to a pain management doctor in 2009 after being referred by the doctor who did the discectomy. I was prescribed pain medication. The pain in my lower continued to increase.
I decided to apply for SSD after watching Binder & Binder’s commercial on TV. I hired Binder & Binder and sent them all the information they requested. I did not expect to be approved for SSD. I received a phone call about five months later from the local SSD office informing me that I had been approved for SSD. I was asked to come into the office and the case worker there entered all my figures concerning worker’s comp etc. into the computer to calculate my monthly benefit. After doing the calculation she said I would receive nothing because of the worker’s comp. payment I received. She then said “wait a minute” and made another calculation and this time she said I would receive $1496.00/month. I was surprised and felt something was wrong. I ask her to confirm it. She said it was correct and I would receive this payment for the rest of my life or until my medical condition improved. I called Binder & Binder and asked them to confirm the award and they assured me it was correct. I then received about &4000.00 in back pay and started receiving monthly payments of $1496.00. I had been receiving this payment for about six months and then I got a letter from SSD Central Payment Center stating that I had been overpaid and the payments would stop because of the worker’s comp. lump sum payment I had received. I was asked to repay some of the money. I called Binder & Binder and the rep reviewing my case said I really should not have received SSD payments in the first place and most likely a mistake was made at the local SSD office. She said Binder & Binder could help me with the overpayment but they would need a $6000.00 retainer.
I had built my life around the SSD monthly payments and now it is gone. I owe on many debts and now I am unable to pay them. I do not have anymore money for attorney’s fees. Binder & Binder have been paid their fee and now I have nothing. I did file for a reconsideration with SSD and I am waiting for the details of their decision. Is it possible that Binder & Binder count on mistakes being made at the local SSD office?”