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+  Social Security Disability Facts Forum
|-+  SSDI and SSI Disability Application Process
| |-+  Senator / Congressional Interventions
| | |-+  Contacting Senators and CongresspersonsTheme modified by www.pinoyden.com | WebDesigns www.devph.com		 « previous next »
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Topic: Contacting Senators and Congresspersons  (Read 1008 times)
SSDAdmin
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« Reply #15 on: February 03, 2012, 09:42:47 AM »
While I know that DP speaks the truth, I admit having huge issues with the policy.  Having a very severe foot injury myself that took 3 doctors to even diagnose, I can state factually that a pediatrician/obstetrician/plastic surgeon could in NO way understand it or the intricacies of the surgery or after effects.

It's like saying I went to high school and took an auto repair class and worked on a ford so I must be able fix imported vehicles upon which I have had little or no experience.

I would "think" a good lawyer could easily dispute any testimony given by a doctor that contradicts that of a specialist you have on record.

Marci
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I speak from experience not expertise.
Name: Marci
Location: Florida
Age at Application: 35
Disability: Arthritis, Degenerative Disc, Migraines, Foot Injury
Date Applied: September 2005
First Approval/Denial Date: Denied February 2006
Reconsideration Approval/Denial Date: Denied October 2006
Date Hearing Notice Received: October 2008 two weeks before hearing
Hearing Date: October 2008
ALJ Approval/Denial Date: Letter Received December 2008
Date Award Letter Received: January 2009
Date Back Pay Received: February 2009
Additional Info: Approved at hearing, no Attorney
Gnamaree
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« Reply #16 on: February 03, 2012, 05:48:09 PM »
You contacted our Senator here in TX? Because I did the same after having problems with the 1st representative I fired, then being dumped by the atty I hired.  I had no idea when my hearing was and no one could give me status of my case, nor would anyone take my case because 1st rep wouldn't give me a conditional release.  I was disappointed and furious when I got a form letter back from my senator about general Social Security issues. Never addressed was MY PROBLEM nor did the Congressman ever answer me back...Now, I know who I'm not voting for!
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If Life is a bowl of cherries, then what am I doing in the pits? ~Erma Bombeck
Name: Gina
Location: Houston, TX
Age at Application: 41
Disability: Cervical & Lumbar DDD, Spinal Stenosis, Radiculopathy, Peripheral Neuropathy, Depression, Anxiety Disorder, PTSD, Sleep Apnea
Date Applied: May 18, 2010
First Approval/Denial Date: 11/1/2010
Reconsideration Approval/Denial Date: 4/19/2011
Hearing Date: 1/10/2012
ALJ Approval/Denial Date: 1/10/2012 Bench Approval-No Attorney
Additional Info: 1/30/2012 (2/6/2012 rec'd) Notice of Decision; 2/15/2012 Back Pay rec'd; 2/21/2012 1st Notice of Award rec'd
prince1969
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« Reply #17 on: February 03, 2012, 06:07:43 PM »
Quote from: Gnamaree on February 03, 2012, 05:48:09 PM
You contacted our Senator here in TX? Because I did the same after having problems with the 1st representative I fired, then being dumped by the atty I hired.  I had no idea when my hearing was and no one could give me status of my case, nor would anyone take my case because 1st rep wouldn't give me a conditional release.  I was disappointed and furious when I got a form letter back from my senator about general Social Security issues. Never addressed was MY PROBLEM nor did the Congressman ever answer me back...Now, I know who I'm not voting for!


Yes. I contacted both of them as a matter of fact. One called me and gave me an update. The other one I contacted late in December when my claim was at the payment center. That got immediate results. You have to have reasonable expectations. They can assist you depending on where your claim is in the process but they usually won't factor into the decision made.
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Gnamaree
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« Reply #18 on: February 03, 2012, 07:07:47 PM »
Quote from: prince1969 on February 03, 2012, 06:07:43 PM
Quote from: Gnamaree on February 03, 2012, 05:48:09 PM
You contacted our Senator here in TX? Because I did the same after having problems with the 1st representative I fired, then being dumped by the atty I hired.  I had no idea when my hearing was and no one could give me status of my case, nor would anyone take my case because 1st rep wouldn't give me a conditional release.  I was disappointed and furious when I got a form letter back from my senator about general Social Security issues. Never addressed was MY PROBLEM nor did the Congressman ever answer me back...Now, I know who I'm not voting for!


Yes. I contacted both of them as a matter of fact. One called me and gave me an update. The other one I contacted late in December when my claim was at the payment center. That got immediate results. You have to have reasonable expectations. They can assist you depending on where your claim is in the process but they usually won't factor into the decision made.

I suppose I should call instead of write. Because neither addressed the issue and only one responded in a form letter.  BTW, SSA told me tonight that my local office will handle the rest of the letters, i.e. award of benefits, etc.  Is that the ODAR, a main SSA office in Houston, or my local Conroe office?
Logged
If Life is a bowl of cherries, then what am I doing in the pits? ~Erma Bombeck
Name: Gina
Location: Houston, TX
Age at Application: 41
Disability: Cervical & Lumbar DDD, Spinal Stenosis, Radiculopathy, Peripheral Neuropathy, Depression, Anxiety Disorder, PTSD, Sleep Apnea
Date Applied: May 18, 2010
First Approval/Denial Date: 11/1/2010
Reconsideration Approval/Denial Date: 4/19/2011
Hearing Date: 1/10/2012
ALJ Approval/Denial Date: 1/10/2012 Bench Approval-No Attorney
Additional Info: 1/30/2012 (2/6/2012 rec'd) Notice of Decision; 2/15/2012 Back Pay rec'd; 2/21/2012 1st Notice of Award rec'd
prince1969
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Posts: 1030
« Reply #19 on: February 03, 2012, 07:12:22 PM »
It won't get back to the local office until a decision is made and the payment center processes your pay info if you are SSDI. If SSI, after the decision is made.
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Gnamaree
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« Reply #20 on: February 03, 2012, 08:33:03 PM »
Quote from: prince1969 on February 03, 2012, 07:12:22 PM
It won't get back to the local office until a decision is made and the payment center processes your pay info if you are SSDI. If SSI, after the decision is made.
So who writes the benefits award letter?  ODAR in Dtn Houston?
Logged
If Life is a bowl of cherries, then what am I doing in the pits? ~Erma Bombeck
Name: Gina
Location: Houston, TX
Age at Application: 41
Disability: Cervical & Lumbar DDD, Spinal Stenosis, Radiculopathy, Peripheral Neuropathy, Depression, Anxiety Disorder, PTSD, Sleep Apnea
Date Applied: May 18, 2010
First Approval/Denial Date: 11/1/2010
Reconsideration Approval/Denial Date: 4/19/2011
Hearing Date: 1/10/2012
ALJ Approval/Denial Date: 1/10/2012 Bench Approval-No Attorney
Additional Info: 1/30/2012 (2/6/2012 rec'd) Notice of Decision; 2/15/2012 Back Pay rec'd; 2/21/2012 1st Notice of Award rec'd
prince1969
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Posts: 1030
« Reply #21 on: February 03, 2012, 09:05:45 PM »
The decision letter is written by the senior attorneys, not sure if they are in the same ODAR. Usually, there is a backlog of decisions needing to be written up so it can take weeks sometimes to get assigned to a decision writer. Once it is written up, it goes back to the judge and then it usually goes to central printing. Once the decision is made, then it is transferred to the payment center (SSDI) or local office or possibly a regional center (SSI).
The payment center determines your monthly benefit and backpay and once it is processed, it goes back to the local office.
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A Wall
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« Reply #22 on: February 03, 2012, 09:31:04 PM »
My Rep informed me that decision writers are in the same building the Hearings are in.  Downtown Houston office
Logged
Name: Richard A Wall
Location: Houston Texas
Age at Application: 50
Disability: CTS Nerve Damage Hands DDD DJS feet elbows knees back
Date Applied: 9-20-10 My Date SSA Date 10-11-10
First Approval/Denial Date: 1-29-11 Denial
Reconsideration Approval/Denial Date: 4-3-11 Denial
Hearing Date: 1-11-12
ALJ Approval/Denial Date: Waiting
Additional Info: ALJ Daniel E Whitney
nocodon
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Posts: 18
« Reply #23 on: February 04, 2012, 06:33:13 PM »
DP,

I was acknowledging that what Broke2 said in their post about grabbing any Doctor to make an evaluation was done in my case as well. I was just letting them know to get the Senators or Congressmen involved. My griping about the ALJ is my own opinion. The surgery that didn't happen was to removed the hardware and to TRY and relieve the nerve pain. I would still have ALL of my restrictions placed on me by my surgeons. I probably would have been done with this process if I hadn't said anything about the 4th surgery was my point.

The blind in one eye has been since birth. Most of the time I don't notice it until I get hit upside the head or something. My issue for disability is my back nothing more I listed the other things on my profile since they were on my SSA forms of things wrong or had medical care for.

As far as a doctor is a doctor is a doctor. I understand that, but if SSA is going to have someone evaluate everyone's cases then I would think they would have someone qualified to do so. The pediatrician basically said that my limitations: no bending, twisting, squatting, lifting over 10# EVER or sitting for an extended period of time, didn't fall under the guildelines of SSA. Never mentioned the fact of the nerve pain radiating down both of my legs or that I have to take 6 gabapetins a day and 3 flexeril. I guess their Dr. overlooked that small fact. I am sure that would make a wonderful employee for someone.


Don
Logged
Name: Don
Location: Colorado
Age at Application: 45
Disability: Perineural Cyst, DDD, L5-S1 Fusion, Spinal Stenosis, asthma, blind in one eye, surgery on both shoulders, knee surgery, diabetes, hyper tension, tinitus,
Date Applied: Jan 2009
First Approval/Denial Date: denied
Reconsideration Approval/Denial Date: denied--got a lawyer
Date Hearing Notice Received: September 2011
Hearing Date: Oct 25th, 2011 2nd hearing February 9, 2012
ALJ Approval/Denial Date: February 21, 2012
Date Award Letter Received: March 3, 2012
Date Back Pay Received: 05/01/2012
Additional Info: PARTIAL FAVORABLE- waiting on 31 Months of back pay for SSI/SSDI
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