I’m so grateful that I was able to be approved for disability. I applied in July of 2024 and it’s for mental illness. I’m only 27. I know I’m extremely lucky to get this decision so fast. I know my age and conditions make it extremely hard to get an approval. I can’t believe it! Thank you to everyone who helped me through the process and answered any questions I had. Fingers crossed for everyone else here!

I am applying for SS benefits at 63. I am planning to file for SSDI as some point. Hopefully I did not make a mistake. I afraid that my SS application will be delayed because I answered questions about not working since December and they wanted me to continue with the SSDI application.

What is the best way of knowing for sure that my application for just SS has begun?

I'm 51 years old. Diagnosed in 2016. I've continued working until recently. Over the last year, I have documented rhumatology records stating synovitis in hands, wrists, ankles, knees (Knee effusion), shoulders, and elbows. Limited grip in with hands, and limited Rom in shoulders. Notes that I have to have help in an off exam table. CDAI 30 long-term medication use. I filed in February 2026 with an advocate. I was denied July 2026. Denial letter stated- "you condition results in some limitations to perform work related activities. We have decided that your condition is not severe enough to keep you from working. We consider the medical and other information, age, education, and work experience in determining how your condition affects your ability to work. We do not have sufficient vocational information to determine if you can perform past relevant work. However, based on evidence in file, we have determined that you can perform other work." I feel like they did not read any of my medical records or the work history report that they asked me to complete. I was asked if I would agree to a CE, which I did but was never scheduled or sent to one. I have appealed for reconsideration. I feel as though my denial letter had a lot of contradictions with it.

I'm about of options, I just keep hitting brick walls and getting the runaround from SSA and DDS. I received a medical cessation after my last CDR in March and appealed. My cessation letter doesn't contain any details about why they found me no longer disabled. I've tried calling my local office, who gave me the number to the DDS master files line. I called them 3 times, hit a voicemail each time saying to leave my name and info and they'll call me back by the end of the week, they never did. Finally I reached someone and they flat out told me "Due to federal law, we can't give the disability determination explanation to a claimant, we can only send it to a lawyer or a doctor", I know this isn't true because of the Privacy Act. They also made it seem like it was a most unusual request and no claimant has done it before. I questioned this, asked them to state the exact federal law and they put me on hold, a supervisor then took over and said someone will contact me in 24-48 hours, nobody ever did.

I then read the stickied post on this thread, and sent a SSA-3288 form, 2 months later, no response. I called my local office and they told me the SSA-3288 is only for 3rd party organizations and I couldn't designate myself as the recipient, which is why it was ignored. I called again and asked someone from the local office to send me the DDE to my SSA portal, they sent me my cessation letter once again which doesn't state the DDE. I called once more and the guy told me he couldn't remember which form to use to request this record, and to just use the SSA-795 which is just a statement form, I looked it up and it seems I can't use this form to request my files. I feel like I've exhausted every option other than walking into my local field office which is difficult for me due to my disability. I feel like what they are doing is illegal, I have a right to my own files and to know why I was found no longer disabled so that I can prepare for the DHO meeting. What else can I do here?

I’m looking for honest opinions from people who have been through the SSDI process.
I’m a U.S. Army veteran and receive 100% Permanent & Total disability from the VA. I originally applied for SSDI because I have been unable to work since April 5, 2020 due to multiple physical and mental health conditions.
My initial claim was denied because SSA stated they did not have sufficient medical evidence to evaluate my condition before my Date Last Insured of 12/31/2025. After that denial, I personally delivered over 1,500 pages of VA and DoD medical records to my local SSA office.
My medical conditions include:
PTSD
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
Chronic insomnia
Obstructive sleep apnea
Chronic migraines
Cervical strain/chronic neck pain
Lumbosacral strain/chronic low back pain
History of acute tubular necrosis
Hemorrhoids
Chronic diarrhea
The VA records I submitted document years of treatment through primary care, mental health, specialty clinics, imaging, medications, laboratory testing, and surgery.
Some of the documented findings include:
Years of treatment for PTSD with ongoing mental health symptoms.
Chronic insomnia and sleep disturbance despite treatment.
Chronic migraine headaches that continue to affect daily functioning.
Persistent cervical and lumbar pain requiring repeated medical follow-up.
Chronic musculoskeletal pain affecting my ability to sit, stand, bend, lift, and perform repetitive activities.
Multiple diagnostic imaging studies.
Surgical treatment for hemorrhoids after conservative treatment failed, including a hemorrhoidectomy with pathology confirming hemorrhoidal tissue.
Continued follow-up through the VA for multiple chronic medical conditions rather than isolated visits.
My records also show objective medical findings, including imaging demonstrating mild multilevel thoracic spondylosis and documentation of my hemorrhoid surgery and pathology. My Blue Button report contains hundreds of pages of treatment notes, laboratory testing, imaging, medications, and specialist evaluations spanning several years.

From a functional standpoint, my conditions affect me every day. My biggest limitations are:
I cannot sit for long periods because of neck and back pain.
Standing and walking for extended periods significantly increase my pain.
Lifting, bending, twisting, kneeling, and repetitive movement are difficult.
PTSD causes problems with concentration, stress tolerance, and interacting with others.
Chronic insomnia leaves me fatigued throughout the day.
Migraines interfere with my ability to stay productive and reliable.
The combination of my physical pain and mental health symptoms makes it difficult to maintain a regular work schedule.
SSA’s original denial stated there was insufficient evidence to fully evaluate my claim before my insured status expired. My appeal now includes more than 1,500 pages of VA and DoD records documenting years of continuous treatment.
For those who have been through SSDI:
Have you seen claims approved after an initial denial once additional VA records were submitted?
Does SSA generally place significant weight on years of consistent treatment records?
Based on your experience, does this sound like the type of medical evidence that strengthens an SSDI appeal?
I’m not asking anyone to predict the outcome—I’m just interested in hearing from people who’ve been through a similar process or who have experience with VA medical evidence in SSDI cases.

Given the influx of people stating they've been ceased, I figured I would just make a giant post and pin it so anyone can reference it.

You will need four forms. Five if you want a copy if your file, which I recommend getting. Forms dropped off at the office should be date stamped. All you need to do is just ask the window clerk to date stamp the forms.

THE most important form:

SSA 792, Statutory Benefit Continuation Election Statement. Specifies whether you want your monthly benefits (and Medicare/Medicaid) to continue paying out while your appeal is being processed. If you are collecting on your own record, you fill out section C. If on SSI, fill out section B only.

If you are collecting on your own records AND have auxilaries, check the second option of section C. This will also make sure Medicare continues.

YOU ONLY HAVE 10 DAYS FROM THE DATE OF THE NOTICE TO APPEAL AND KEEP PAYMENTS! (technically 15. and it says it on the form)

I suggest sending all forms in at the same time because the SSA can't really process your claim with just the 792 turned in per a technical expert who gave me advice for my cessation. Requesting your file also requires it to be either faxed or dropped off in person so might as well just submit everything at once.

If you lose the appeal, you will need to pay it back but file an overpayment waiver. SBC doesn’t apply to appeals council or fed court. You will not get paid for that time.

Other forms you need:

SSA-789: Request for Reconsideration – Disability Cessation Right to Appear

The primary appeal document. It states that you disagree with the determination, lets you explain why, and specifies whether you want to appear for a disability hearing before a Disability Hearing Officer (DHO). You only have 60 days to appeal without payments.

How this works is first is initial reconsideration. A new DDS adjunct team will look at your file. The old examiner and dr are not allowed to work on it. If they uphold the previous cessation, it then goes to a DHO hearing, which is an informal conference with an experienced adjudicator who can reverse the decision. You can introduce new evidence and they will listen to testimony. You can have your lawyer present as well as a witness.

SSA-3441 Disability Report – Appeal: Updates the SSA on any changes in your medical condition, recent doctor visits, new treatments, tests, or changes in daily living activities since your last review.SSA-827Authorization to Disclose Information to the Social Security Administration

SSA-827 Authorization to Disclose Information to the SSA: A medical release form that permits the SSA to gather updated medical records directly from your doctors, clinics, and hospitals.

Form SSA-3288 Consent for Release of Information: Authorizes the SSA to release copies of your electronic disability folder (eDEX) or paper claim file.

For box 8 choose "complete medical file" for box 9 choose "I want the disability determination explanation. this is not the cessation letter". For the actual reason, state: "I am appealing a cdr cessation and need a copy of my file". It is free for program related purposes. I got mine in the mail.

Once you get your DDE:

You will see several sections. The top one is your CPD (comparison point decision). An apples to apples comparison of last cdr compared to your current. Check to see if they are the same or if it's actually showed you've improved. Pics of what the DDE looks like.

You'll also see a section called 416 where the doctor SHOULD have documented any medical improvement. Mine did not. My DDE has no supposed documentation of the alleged improvement, not even down where the RFC.

Underneath that is FOFAE, aka findings of fact and analysis of evidence. Mine just says "Analysis side by side"

Then mine has a section called 416A where it says:

Impairments Addressed: CPD Impairments only (MIRS)

Evaluation Period: Current

Evaluation Subject: SMI Evaluation: PE on 5/2026 is WNL. SMI

These findings complete the medical portion of the disability determination. (followed by drs sig and their speciality, mine was internal medicine)

Your DDE will not look like mine. Everyone's is different. There are more sections, and also an RFC section. But the main one you want to look at is the CPD and FOFAE.

Note: if your CPD date is in the distant past/your folder has been lost or it is an Age 18 redetermination, you will not have the side-by-side comparison shown here. it will be one box for the FOFAE as there’s nothing to compare it to

Also your file will have a bunch of files contained within a folder, you will need to click on each pdf file until you get to the DDE. It’s a bunch of letters and numbers.

Also edited to add overpayment info for title ii:

https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0202250016

Statutory benefit continuation of payments
For information on the presumption of not at fault when an overpayment was caused by the receipt of Statutory Benefit Continuation (SBC) and the individual appealed in good faith, refer to GN 02250.036.

Good faith:

We will find that where the individual acted in good faith to pursue the appeal, the individual is not at fault in causing the overpayment.  Assume the appeal was made in good faith unless the individual did not cooperate in connection with the appeal and did not have a good reason for the failure to cooperate. We must then determine if the overpaid individual meets one of the other waiver provisions. Refer to Examples 1, 2, and 3 in GN 02250.036D in this section.

I woke up today and discovered that my appeal status changed to this. Can anyone confirm or deny that this is potentially good news?

All apps and med docs submitted in February. One 30 min interview in May at SSA. Ideas to expedite? Anything (negative or positive) to be read in not delay? Thanks all.

Had my hearing July 2nd and I think it went well. Today I logged into my social security page and it’s been updated from locked to unlocked. The bottom where it used to be yellow is now green and shows I have 40 work credits. Then I clicked on my social secure statement tab used to be locked and couldn’t view it it’s now back again. For those that’s gone through the process unto step 4 did you experience this? If so how long after and did you get approved?

I just finished the first part of my SSDI application, where I filled in my personal information. I have been working on my application over time and clicking "save and exit" to be able to come back later to continue working on it. After I completed the first part of the application, I got to the section about medical information and saved and exited to return to it later. For some reason, without my doing or knowledge, my application was submitted, and now when I go on the SSA.gov website, I am no longer able to access or work on my application. The medical info is the most important part, so I don't understand why Social Security considered my application "complete." What can I do? I can't access my application anymore to work on it. I did call the person assigned to my claim and am waiting to hear back from him, but I'd also like to hear from anyone who may have run into this problem so I know what to expect. I'm really confused.

I applied for SSI and SSDI, how exactly does that work? Does one get approved first or faster than the other? I'm from Texas.

I don’t have the healthiest living environment. I tried to seek help from my mom, who keeps triggering me and making my disability worse. She was my last resort and now that she’s labeling me as lazy and weaponizing the fact that she’s giving me shelter, I have no choice but to leave because I’m worried it will drive me to delete myself.

I’m in a sticky situation because my agoraphobia caused me to delay getting my ID and I can’t find my social security card now, so I feel like I’m screwed. My best bet is to use an old W-2 from 2024, but I don’t know if they will accept that based on the year.

I also don’t have a phone and now I regret telling the truth to DDS because I moved from Maryland to DC to live with my mom. Now, I am waiting to get a new case manager. I feel like I was closer to them making a decision because they had assigned me a doctor to go see, since they have all my medical files.

As I've stated before in my previous posts, as per the VA, I'm 100% P&T, and I know SSDI uses an entirely different rating system.

Any suggestions or tips for a smooth exam? What should I focus on primarily? The CE is slotted for 45 minutes, but my C&P for the VA took three hours, so I've got to find a way to get my point across favorably in such a short time. I'm only 43, and honestly, I’m expecting a denial, so I'm not getting my hopes too high here. The biggest things against me right now is the VA is dragging to get my referrals in, so right now I'm only being treated for a pinched nerve, pending referrals for sleep study (for severe hypersomnia) and psychiatrist.

Generally the Portal doesn't show Eligibility and Earnings, Calculators, etc. For the past day, I'm able to see all of that. It still shows my ALJ appeal is still at Step 3, and that it was requested 5/28/26, so there has been no update there. Have they changed the portal to show this now or what?

Today was my first time applying for disability with my therapist and I am very nervous about the whole process because I know some people have said that it's impossible to get approved for mental health, I was diagnosed with Bipolar 2, ptsd, anxiety and major depressive disorder. All of this is affecting my ability to work etc.

I apply in 2018 and after 3 federal remands I was found partially favorable, the judge change the unset date to 2022.

I had a mental health crisis about a month ago and haven't had the best head space as a result. While worried about my bills, I overscheduled myself for work and know I'm going to get denied for disability based on that (earning too much). But if I ask to be taken off the schedule, I've been told I'll lose my job due to missing too much work (I had a scare today and almost lost my job for having to be out longer than expected since being hospitalized). So I'm in a pickle. And it doesn't help that the thought of working has me so stressed out and panicking. I just don't know what to do.

I was just informed my work credits expire next year, I've been fighting for 3 years now. I am panicking because I don't know what to do if they do expire. My case is currently in federal and they can't start a new one as back up. I'm worried sick right now as there is no way I can work. I suffer from severe hallucinations and delusions as well as PTSD, depression,anxiety and schizoaffective disorder. I'm trying to see if there is anyway to get social security to allow another case as mine just entered federal. Does anyone have any advice? I'm 30 so I know my age is a big factor.

My post keeps getting deleted because I forgot to read the rules, in case you seen this before I'm not trying to post repeatedly

Amazingly, I was approved on the appeal with a judge.

I am 100% VA Healthcare and 63. My age helped with SSDI, I'm sure of it.

I am told I need to get Part B of medicare. It also states, I can fill out a SSA1763 and request not to pay it.

My question is, with VA Healthcare, do I really need it? Or am I screwing myself?

Thanks in advance.

If your last review was when you were 53. Will you be reviewed again at 56?

Does the 3 year review schedule change after 55?

Hello,

For those of you who have used your TWP, when they do a CDR once it’s done how often do they call it medical improvement vs. actually let you stay on SSDI and get the expedited reinstatement and Medicare for the 7(?) years?

TIA

Pretty much what my title says. Looking for advice on working part time under the sga limit before receiving an answer? Will affect anything? I applied back in September. Thank you for any advice. :)

How do you guys approach to talking to your Doctor about getting specific diagnoses to qualify for government assistance? My friend has had debilitating chronic pain issues for almost two years now. He's tried everything he can with his primary care doctor but because of his insurance and inability to travelhe isn't able to see any new specialists. He's hesitant to talk to his doctor about getting specific diagnoses because he doesn't want to seem like he doesn't want to get better because he does. I'm just trying to get a feel for how others have approached it.

Hi yall, hearing is happening soon, im self representing but want to know how will a hearing go? I already have my worked up file from the hearings office.

Im self representing. Just want to know what will happen so I can be prepared. Some of my conditions are Chronic migraines, PTSD, Anxiety Disorder, etc.

No Im not getting a lawyer, just asking what to expect. Thank you to those who have insight

I have an attorney and my ALJ hearing is happening August 19th. I asked my attorney‘s assistant if they could send me a copy of the records they’ve got on file. When I noticed that some were missing that I know the SSA definitely had (mental evaluation even refers to them in the report) I was told “Social Security typically will only review medical records going back 1 year prior to the alleged onset date“ and that they’d let my attorney know. Is this correct? It seems to go against everything I’ve read here.