SSI is actually Supplemental Security Income. The two descriptions of SSDI are incorrect. One of them you do have to be found disabled before age 22 so you can qualify for benefits under another wage earners benefits if you were/are dependent on them and they become disabled themselves, retire, or die. The other SSDI is simply what you pay into as a worker and you are eligible to collect on it as early as age 18…you don’t have to be over 22 or found disabled after age 22.

The author notes redeterminations occur every 1-2 years. They generally occur every 3 years (normal) or 7 years for more permanent conditions (e.g. severe mental retardation). A review at the 1 or 2 year mark would be in the case of a bone marrow transplant or another recent treatment. Another example would be if the claimant was improving but evidence showed he/she was already disabled for 12 months or more or was expected to be disabled for 12 months or more.

I can appreciate the poster’s frustration over the limited acceptance of chiropractor notes. However, they are not trained medical doctors and do not have the same expertise to treat, diagnose, and state functional impairments. It is not a slam on them, but it is just what it is. I like chiropractors myself and have used them several times, but this is why they aren’t used by themselves in the evaluation of your impairment(s). Also, sometimes the consultative exam doctors aren’t the best, but they don’t make the determination as to whether or not you are disabled. The adjudicator receives a copy of the x-ray report and a copy of objective findings from the consultative exam doctor…as well as your own reports on symptoms.

Many cases aren’t clear, cut, and dry. Adjudicators don’t get bonuses or otherwise receive some kind of credit for denying more claimants. The burden of proof for allowing claimants is indeed tough, especially for those under 50. Nonetheless, adjudicatos face high case loads and most do the best they can.

My suggestion is to be as prepared as possible. Work with your doctors to prepare strong medical source statements indicating what you are still capable of doing and what you can’t do any longer. A doctor letter saying “Mr. Smith is permanently disabled and can’t perform any work activities” is 100% meaningless. Please, reread that. Your doctor is trying to help you, but a letter with just that does nothing to help your case. The letters need to be specific and state objective findings, what you can and cannot do, why, effects of treatment, what has and hasn’t worked, prognosis, etc. It should be stated in the terms of what is the most you can reasonably be expected to do in an 8-hour workday through a normal 40-hour workweek. Pain, fatigue, and sustainability should be taken into account and addressed. It would also be good to have multiple letters from more than one doctor…if you have more than one doctor. You will want to educate yourself on what type of letter will help you here and what won’t. If they say you can lift and carry 10 pounds frequently and 20 pounds occasionally, as well as stand/walk 6 hours out of an 8-hour workday…then for most everyone under 55 that will result in a denial. Medical source statement letters for psych impairments are also very valuable…if not more so.

My terror stems from my absolute inability to work and, without continuing benefits, I cannot envision any sort of future and am finding myself seriously planning suicide should I be denied. I cannot think of any way around this end: either I continue to eke out a meager existence, finding what pleasure and usefulness I can out of life, or I give up my life as I will not be able to provide shelter, food or anything for myself. All of my conditions are at red-alert status, every gain I have made is gone. I can see no alternative for myself right now.

My quality of life is such that I have made all the concessions I can, all of the internal negotiating of which I am capable and, together with everything in my life going as wrong as it can within a couple of years, I was already fragile. I was already racheting up on symptoms when I learned I would have to prove, once again – and in this economy – that I was unable to work. I have few medical records for the last few years as I have grown increasingly frustrated with the inability of the medical community to help, have become paranoid of medications, so I feel really screwed about documenting my current situation.

Any tips on increasing the odds that I can insure my being able to continue on disability? I tend to be so ashamed of being disabled or of being viewed as weak, am so good at disassociating, that I often appear to be fine by hiding my symptoms and condition for short periods of time, and isolate when I cannot. Anything? Thanks much.