Social Security Disabiliy ???????

[jj]

Mar 6, 2008 18:07:15 GMT -5 rakuflames said:

Mar 6, 2008 16:41:54 GMT -5 bugsmom said:

Jill, I'm sorry about your news. I think that just stinks! Did they say was the cut off was for income? I understand what they are saying, but I think it should be on an individual basis of need and future needs, instead of income. Therapies, doctors, and medicines can be so expensive, especially if insurance doesn't cover it. Hugs to you...I know you must be disappointed.

In reality I have never heard of a child qualifying when the only disorder was AD/HD. I had a student turned down once when he had five different disorders including AD/HD and was severely affected by it. His family was very poor and income wasn't the issue -- only whether he met the diagnostic criteria.

I'm not saying no one should ever try if they think it's appropriate but I wouldn't count on it going through. It is usually for extremely severe disorders such as significant global cognitive impairment.

I don't know if that family pursued it more than just applying but they flat out told my niece, who has MS, that they turn down everyone first time around and that she may as well get an attorney. She did just that and got SSI plus all the back pay and I think even attorney's fees, if I remember right. What a dumb system we have.

As far as the cap on what you can make, I can understand that.

[jill]

I was told due to our family income is why we did not qualify, two people working.

[katiekat]

Denied. They care about nothing except how much money you make and how many people live in your home. You were right Jill, they do not take into consideration how much you put out for medical bills.

[carol]

I am so sorry they turned you down. It does not seem fair when you are putting out so much money to help with his needs. It must seem like all the doors are closing. Give him a hug.

I will say a prayer for you and yours. Something has got to give.

[lillian]

My sister is mentally ill, literally can not work and has not for twenty years or so? She was turned down repeatedly for SSI, even when the social workers in the state mental hospital applied for her, while she was hospitalized there for six months getting her weight up and her meds stabilized. Uh, huh. No joke! She was hospitalized for mental illness and could not get SSI. She finally got it, three years after she began applying for it, and it took an attorney to get it. It's less than a thousand dollars a month, and she has to pay for her Medicaid out it.

[jill]

That is how it works getting an attorney. I did contact one and yes the financial guidelines we are over.

[Tigger]

We applied for michael. And after 2 times being turned down we called attorney and he said michael does qualify. But we have to get the papers that say why he was turned down. And we are doing that. And then we will be able to go after it. I cant wait we will be able to handle things a little bit better.

[deebee]

We applied for my son when he was 10 years old (then diagnosed ADHD, and mood disorder, also many medical problems). Initially he was denied, and I went out and gathered information and letters from his doctors and teachers, and the 2nd time around he was approved.

Then when he was 13 we moved to Maryland and moved in with my inlaws. Because we no longer were paying rent, the SSI stopped. My husband then started a job that payed slightly above the allowed rate, so we could no longer meet the financial requirements.

Later when I divorced my husband and moved to another state, I reapplied for son to get SSI. We were told he "didn't have a disability". By this time his psychiatric illness was WORSE. We went through the three stages and our claim was denied each time. SS final conclusion was that my son had attitude problems, not mental illness.

Two years later, and after 4 psych hospitalizations and being removed from school, I again reapplied. Amazingly, we were approved the first time around and had a check less than three months after we applied. I'm not sure what the difference was between this time and the previous.

If you have a child that you think has a serious disability (and that meets the stringent financial requirements), I would say not to give up. I would agree, that over 95% of the time they deny everyone to begin with.

I would recommend to start a file keeping records of everything. With my son's application I sent letters from various professionals (his pediatrician, psychiatrist, counselor, PSR worker, teacher) as well as lay people (family members, neighbors, friends) and had them explain the severity of my child's problems. I got copies of all the medical records myself, and then made copies, then highlighted important information so it would be less likely to be overlooked. Included copies of school records, FBA's, behavioral plans, etc. I probably had over 300 pages that I submitted with the SSI claim.


If you make too much money to qualify for SSI, I would check into state medical benefit programs. Many states have health insurance coverage for children, and the income limits are much higher than SSI. My state has a CHIP program.

[jill]

For us it was the income level and I did provide them with documentation up the yang.

[denise00867]

;D

Boy it is so good to know that there are more people out there dealing with what I have to deal with. I am in the beginning process for the SSD - I believe my denial letter is coming for the 1st time next week. SO I take it my next step is to file again. Something in my house has to change or my husband and I are going to be in the nut house our selves. My daughther has a severe case of ADHD and she drives us nuts and I know it is all not her fault.... but sometimes it makes me want to pull my hair out