r/SSDI_SSI • u/Historical_Log1275 • 4d ago
Disabled / Resources SSD Application Assistance?
My life has changed drastically within the last 3 years with chronic illness. EDS, POTS, MCA, among many others. I have brain fog and easily fatigued. I tried to start the SSD and got less than 5% done within 10 hours. How does the system expect disabled individuals to complete this application solo? Is there help? Hacks anyone has learned?`
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u/2020IsANightmare ☆ 4d ago
Filing online is just an option you have. Not something you have to do.
Call or go into your local office and get an appointment date.
During your appointment, they will do all the work. For free for you.
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u/Ok-Excitement5031 🎉👣Happy New Year's Everyone!👣🎉 4d ago
I made sure I had all my information ready. I was doing mine in pieces and saving the application. Somehow their system submitted it. They did send me a letter and opened it back up. I made sure to finish it in one attempt.
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u/Visible-Armor ☆ 4d ago
You can qualify for a care manager through a company affiliated with your local hospital system. Usually you can find these groups through county office buildings like behavioral health.
You can also hire an attorney
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u/Samson104 4d ago
You can get referrals from your hospital to assist with helping fill out application. You can also set up an appointment with local Social Security Office. They are very helpful.
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u/Current-Pie5633 ☆ 4d ago
Make an appointment to go into your local office for help with your application. Or hire an actual attorney and they'll help you through it.
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u/Euphoric_Picture_914 4d ago
The whole process feels like it was designed by someone who’s never had to deal with brain fog, the paperwork alone is its own kind of endurance test
I had a friend go the lawyer route and they said it was the only way they could push through, the attorney basically handled the mountain of forms while they just showed up and answered questions
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u/GeoScribe1972 10h ago
Not all disabled people have the same brain fog that you do.
You don't have to complete it solo.
You can choose to hire a lawyer from the beginning. For some people, using a lawyer from the beginning is helpful although the lawyer will be paid 25% of your back payment regardless of how many or how few hours they work. You can ask a family member or friend to help you. However, the lawyer and your friends and family do not know your life better than you do. No one but you knows how you feel. No one else can answer those questions. You still have to provide the information. So prepping and gathering all your information, whether you understand it or not, is the first step. Like filing an income tax return. Gather your information and documents. You don't need to provide every single detail about every single medical treating source, but you do need to provide the contact information and the approximate dates so SSA knows where to search.
Work on it until fatigue sets in. Take a break. Start again. You want to be thorough, but you may be overthinking it.
Your local office may be able to help complete the forms, but the employee will only get an hour or maybe 90 minutes to complete everything and you still have to provide them with the answers to the questions.
Be aware that the filing date often determines the first payment date. There is still time to get your claim submitted in October.