Since you are a lawyer, I wanted to see what your advise might be. If this were a client of yours, would the situation be the same? If not, what would be done differently by you or by myself?
Thank you and here is my story -
I filed for SSDI the first time in October of 2008. At that time, I filed
because I had Arachnoiditis (an incurable, extremely painful spinal disease), 4
Autoimmune Diseases - POTS, Sjogren's Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, Raynaud's
Syndrome, and also Interstitial Cystitis, Depression, High Blood Pressure. As
you can see, I wasn't filing for fun!! I was forced to retire in May of 2008
after teaching elementary school for 26 years, because of the pain and symptoms
of these diseases.
When I filed in October with these problems, I felt as if I was assigned the
WORSE possible person in the SS system, to decide my claim, either yes or no.
She called me the day before she made the decision and asked me some questions.
She could not pronounce my diseases, knew NOTHING about any of them, asked me
who made me depressed (and after I told her that no one did, she informed me
that she knew that someone had to because that is why you had depression to
start with. She got extremely angry when I would not tell her who made me
depressed. She got so frustrated with me that she told me that since I would
not cooperate, that she could not talk to me any more.) WHAT??? And we let
someone like this work at SSA and decide whether or not I get SSDI or not.
Since being denied in October, I immediately found a recommended lawyer and
filed for a special case. At the same time my lawyer was refiling my claim, I
suffered a stroke and my life turned upside down. I could not walk, I had to
have help with the basic necessities, etc. My lawyer said that since this
happened, she would put my case on the fast track hardship case. That was in
October, and I have spoken with them many, many times since being told this.
Each time I have called, I am told by her secretary that she is looking over it
to make sure it sounds right. I think that this will continue to happen until
she can get the full amount of money that the law allows her to get for my case.
I have that figured as September, and I feel that is when she will conveniently
give it to the judge.
My question is, "Can I do anything about what is happening and about what has
happened?" I feel as if I have gotten the short end of the stick in every
instance here. The first lady should have approved me, or at least been
knowledgeable about my illnesses. My lady lawyer should file my case now
because she has EVERYTHING she needs to do so. She should not hold out to get
my money! On the other hand, she holds all the cards in the fact that I can't
say anything because she is trying to help me win my case. Am I just stuck??
My son graduates from high school next May. Each month my lawyer holds my case,
is a month that he doesn't get his part of SSDI. My short term disability ran
out in May, so all I have is a little retirement and bills can't be paid. I
don't know what to do. Has this happened to anyone else? Any advice?? Please
help me!!!!!!!!!!!
