to Bonnie: SS Denial

[Guest guest]

Dearest Bonnie,

I am so sorry you are having to go through this with SS. Never, never give

up. Though I do not qualify for SS disability benefits (because I was a

Texas teacher, and therefore paid into the Texas Teacher Retirement System

instead---and their medical disability eligibility criteria and paperwork

are far less arduous, and the TRS people are actually rational--took them

less than 6 weeks to approve my medical disability for life, no reviews,

ever)...I do have a close friend here in town who did go through the SS

disability denial thing about 10 yrs. ago. It was one paperwork nightmare

that lasted for just over 2 years before she was finally approved. She has

fibro, among other things. At that time, there was far less known about

fibromyalgia, and you didn't hear of it much. That made it even harder for

my friend, . She, too, was denied twice. She ultimately did hire an

attorney (on contingency) who specialized in SS disability claims, and did

go before a judge to present her case. I went with her, and her lawyer not

only presented her medical records to the judge, but also had me state,

under oath (and I have no idea if this is typical procedure or not--I was

nervous, but told the truth), the physical disability and steady progression

of her limitations on a daily basis over the previous 10 years I'd known and

observed her as a close family friend. She finally won, but I know that the

SS Administration does not always employ rational people to handle claims,

and I don't know where they get their " medical expertise " from sometimes--it

defies human logic and common sense. was in a Catch 22 situation for

many months because she could not work, therefore did not have medical ins.,

therefore could not get the expensive diagnostic tests and visits with

specialists she needed...because she needed the Medicare benefits to get the

medical care she needed! It was an absurd, horrible situation for her...and

I'm sure, for many others. Her lawyer did honestly tell her at one point

that he had heard of people actually dying while going through the lengthy

SS appeals process. That didn't do anything but depress her all the

more...but remember, she did win in the end.....and I have every hope and

faith that you will, too. My prayers and thoughts are always with

you...hang in there.

Love,

~LoneStarRose~

(~~)