[69Goat1]

Definition of disability is the inability due to your condition to work for a year or more or having a condition that will result in your death (terminal).

Disability process is initial application either by contacting SSA by phone to set up an appt for either a phone interview or face to face interview, walk in, or online application. You will need to know the types of work you have done for the past 15 years, what your job duties were, and what you received for compensation. You will also need to fill out an adult function report that has basic information like "what do you do from the time you wake up until going to bed, how much can you lift, how far can you walk, do you have trouble getting along with others, can you count change, handle a checkbook, etc... You will also fill out a release of information form so that your medical or behavioral health records can be accessed by the SSA.

Once everything is gathered up it is shipped to the DDD (Disability Determination Division) and will go through the determination process. If you are approved withing the initial first 6 months application period then you will go into pay status at the 6 month threshhold, if you are denied you can either drop it or you can do a reconsideration. A reconsideration is the first appeal. It is simply requesting someone else look it over with the correct forms. They will turn the info over to another DDD worker with any new medical records and info you want to submit and they will make a decision within 3 months. If you are approved you will go into pay, if not then you will need to appeal which is to an Administrative Law Judge. YOU DO NOT NEED AN ATTORNEY UNTIL THIS STEP!!! AN ATTORNEY DOES NOT ASSIST WITH THE MUNDANE PART OF FILING DISABILITY WHICH IS THE INITIAL AND RECONSIDERATION. IF YOU ARE APPROVED IT WAS NOT BECAUSE OF AN ATTORNEY!!! DDD staff do not care if you have an attorney or not... ALJ Does... ALJ hearings can take up to 2 years for a decision but usually put on the docket 1 year after they receive it.

Many disability claims were pushed through by ALJ over the last few years because the workload is huge and they don't have time to make good judgement calls. Now it is getting a bit tougher because it is in the spotlight so if you got on during the lax years count yourself lucky. The workload for disability claims is unbelievable due to the way the world is today. I work with disability day in and day out in my job and the amount of people abusing the system is out of control... As another poster said some people will apply with an answer for everything (sore ear) but are absolutely in no way disabled.

Don't get me wrong, there are some individuals who are absolutely disabled and unable to work... but for every 1 of those there are at least 10 that can work...

As far as turning a blind eye to it, the way to fix it is to address it and getting one fraudster off is like eating an elephant... it can be done... 1 bite at a time...