How often did you call your SSD caseworker?

[brians2000]

Hello I have gotten a few letters from and phone calls from the gentleman who is over my SSD case. Is it ok if I call him or should I just let him call me. I just wanted to make sure he got all the medical information on me. I have a feeling he doesnt have everything.
I realize there are alot of case workers who work for Social Security. I was wondering if some case workers were harder to prove you are disabled to. It seems like some people get disability when they simply have carpel tunnel and depression while others fail to get it when they have carpel tunnel, depression, and multiply spine surgeries. I wonder how the case workers determine who is disabled and who isnt.
How many have actually met their case workers face to face?
Thanks, Brian

[GJZH]

Brian,

I really believe it is how you present your case. You are your own advocate...You have to do most of the work yourself and then hope it gets to the right person. I have had no problems with the SS offices I deal with. I was approved quickly and have gotten my checks already. I applied in September and was approved in November.

I called my SS worker about four times during that time. I would fax information she requested and then follow up with a phone call to determine that she received it....I think it helps to keep in contact, but do not be a pest. They are working on claims, so if you call a lot it may slow the process down...

[fallenangell]

I only met the person that took my application. Then he said that it would then get sent on to the person that actually does the determination of disability (or the case worker).

I do know that there are specific guidelines that they follow to determine disability, but the case worker making that determination can interpret things WAY differently than someone else. They have to look at your medical records that you provided, your application and forms they had you fill out, and any other documentation you have to prove your disability. SSA had my boyfriend fill out a 8 page document, asking questions about me.

They also sent me to THEIR psychiatrist, who decided that I WASN'T disabled...the appointment only lasted 25 minutes, and he made that decision.
In the fully favorable decision from the judge (after 3 appeals), the judge said that he was not giving that psychiatrist's opinion any weight because it was clear the doctor did not take into account any of my subjective symptoms and was clearly biased.

So there are specific guidelines that they have to follow, but they can basically interpret your information any way they want. Below is a quote from the SSA website, hope that helps.

__________________________________________________ _______________

How we make the decision

We use a five-step process to decide if you are disabled.

Are you working?
If you are working and your earnings average more than a certain amount each month, we generally will not consider you disabled. The amount changes each year. For the current figure, see the annual Update (Publication No. 05-10003).

If you are not working, or your monthly earnings average the current amount or less, the state agency then looks at your medical condition.

Is your medical condition “severe”?

For the state agency to decide that you are disabled, your medical condition must significantly limit your ability to do basic work activities—such as walking, sitting and remembering—for at least one year. If your medical condition is not that severe, the state agency will not consider you disabled. If your condition is that severe, the state agency goes on to step three.

Is your medical condition on the List of Impairments?

The state agency has a List of Impairments that describes medical conditions that are considered so severe that they automatically mean that you are *disabled as defined by law. If your condition (or combination of medical conditions) is not on this list, the state agency looks to see if your condition is as severe as a condition that is on the list. If the severity of your medical condition meets or equals that of a listed impairment, the state agency will decide that you are disabled. If it does not, the state agency goes on to step four.

Can you do the work you did before?

At this step, the state agency decides if your medical condition prevents you from being able to do the work you did before. If it does not, the state agency will decide that you are not disabled. If it does, the state agency goes on to step five.

Can you do any other type of work?

If you cannot do the work you did in the past, the state agency looks to see if you would be able to do other work. It evaluates your medical condition, your age, education, past work experience and any skills you may have that could be used to do other work. If you cannot do other work, the state agency will decide that you are disabled. If you can do other work, the state agency will decide that you are not disabled.

__________________________________________________ _______________

So good luck, and I hope that you get a favorable decision way faster than the three and a half years it took me.

Angell

[cindybear]

I think if you have alot of great docter documentation....You are very lucky..But if you get a Doc and say he is a bit lazy in his reports...It may take a bit of years.....You may go in to your Docs and tell them haw horrible life is Blah Blah Blah...But if he puts in his reports..Pt , just having bad day anf not puts in details...Your in trouble....Your Doc needs to put in as much stuff in your reports as possible..As many complaints,DX, reports, x-ray findings, outcomes etc etc....If not...well you will be like me 5 years of getting docters to put in those notes what is very neccessary for those judges and or Goverment people (which is where I ended ) to look at..Finnaly at the end it was my doc that helped me and my own words at the ALJ court. That got me my disability...The ALJ didn't beleive me , Well he did, but he didn't think I was that disabled...HMmmm..But the federal court after hearing the same ALJ court findings Beleived me and Found him out of line...So you can win after the ALJ court...It just , makes you fight a little bit harder !! Hugs and good luck...OH BTW, I never called my worker.. Cindy

[krashleen]

I don't even know who my caseworker is...

FallenAngell what was your psych interview like? 25 minutes? I am scheduled for one the end of this week. I started a thread on it, and would love input.

Sorry to hijack..just curious.