HAVE AN ADVOCATE

An advocate is someone that helps you keep up with Appointments, Paperwork and will occasionally talk on your behalf. This can be your spouse, relative, friend, Lawyer or your local Social Services Dept. will find you one or lead you into the right direction. Make sure that this person is aware of yourall of of disability issues; medical history to remain consistent with paperwork or interviews. This person may also be used to receive your disability payments or disability ssi for you as your payee.

You can apply on line at www.SocialSecurity.gov

Visit your local SSI to apply.

Call 1-800-325-0778 for asistance

If you have trouble reading or writing or comprehension, you must have an adcovate. Check your county government offices to see if you qualify for transportation and other services.

When you apply for disability let your Doctor know immediately. It is wise to inform the Receptionist/Secretary as well.  SSA will send out forms, alot of them, to them.  They need to be filled out as soon as possible and returned.  Ask for all copies after they have been filled out by your Dr.  It is your records you are entitled to it.  Keep these records in a safe place together and intact, you made need an advocate to help you with this. 

Your Dr.'s will rec. many forms to fill out and one form in particular is VERY important.  It is the form where your Dr. states the prognosis for your illness.  In order to increase your chances entirely he must state that your illness is MARKED.  This basically means that it is not curable, it may progress to other illnessess, in a nutshell it means you will die before the illness goes away. Even if you lived to be 100 years old.

 When your claim is being reviewed, the ONLY information they have to go on is what they have received.  If you have copies of all your medical records,  mail them to the SSA office reviewing your case.  Unless you have a chronic illness or your lifespan prognosis is short, you probably will be denied your first time. 

OfCourse you will appeal that.  When you do appeal the decision you will then get to sit in front of a judge while your case is being presented.  At this time you or your advocate will have a chance to speak.  Make sure you have copies of everything.  Have your family and friends write letters on your behalf, it may just be throw in a folder but the Judge will review everything.  So it is very important that you keep all proper paperwork. 

BY LAW, WHEN YOUR CASE IS BEING APPEALED THEY HAVE TO NOTIFY YOU 75 DAYS INADVANCE OF YOUR HEARING AND LOCATION.  YOU HAVE UNTIL 5 DAYS BEFORE THE HEARING TO HAVE ALL PAPERWORK IN FOR THE JUDGE TO REVIEW. MAKE COPIES OF EVERYTHING.