applying for SSI

[Karyn]

Do you have any advice or information on applying for SSI.  I have no health insurance.    I will be receiving a letter in the mail regarding an appointment to see a doctor regarding Traumatic Brain Injury  and I can't begin to tell you how difficult it is for me to explain and get across what exactly I am dealing with.     Just dealing with paper work is so overwhelming and an embarrassment when I don't understand things that they are asking for .   How do I explain and make them see what I am dealing with regarding not being able to do,  or having difficulty doing  what use to be simple tasks like sorting clothes, remembering how to cook something or not being able to use a copy machine and sort the originals from the copies and breaking down crying.   People use to always ask me to "research things for them on the computer"  I can't  focus or concentrate long enough to do that any more.   I can't even sit down and read a book any more.   I wonder every day when or if this is going to get better.   My friends don't bother with me because I can't keep up with them and my husband  gets irritatedto the point that he would rather be out of the house.   I wonder every day why did I live through this anyway,  cruel fate ?    

Any way,  advice would be appreciated,  even if it means just forget trying to get medical help.

[Fantastic Frank Johnson]

hi KARYN  I know the desperation that you are having.. do you have any one near you who can be an advocate for you.. I hesitate to have you ask your husband.

 However if he is the only one you have got .

Please ask him to call me up and I will  try to get him to understand what is going on with you.. and to start helping you get the help that we all need

 my phone number is 585-482-8833.

LOVE

FF

[Rachel]

Hi Karyn, The social security administration needs to educate their employees on the definition of TBI. I went to social security one day, with my son, he was four months post accident at the time, and the wonderful worker at the window, was talking so fast, that I could hardly interpert what she was saying, looked at me, and said this "Social Security doesn't recognize Power of Attorney, and can he talk for himself. I almost fell out of my chair, and I very placidly looked at her, and said well are you still uneducated or ignorant to the definition of TBI, and how in the world would you ever expect him to speak for his self, because we can't understand your slang, and surely can't fit a word in edge wise. So would you be so kind, as to find me a supervisor, or someone who is qualified to work with my sons disability at this time. Unfortunately, the Social Security Administration sends stacks of paperwork, and its appeal after appeal. Someone needs to get a law in place, to help the TbI families. Best wishes to you. I have a college education, and I don't understand all their wonderful paperwork. 

[Kerry Mischka]

Karyn,

Get a good neuropsychiatrist.  Mine helped me to get it because he saw my MRI and the brain is his specialty.  Also, you will have to get an attorney (one that works for no money until they win it for you).  I avoided it at all costs, but learned that it is the only way.  I am not sure what state you live in, but here in Florida, we have stricktly TBI attorneys.  Is there a trauma hosptial near you?  See if you can find a support group for TBI's too.  Someone there may have good advice.  My name is Kerry and my phone # can be sent to you if you want to talk.  Just let me know.  Kerry

[Karyn]

Kerry Mischka said:

Karyn,

Get a good neuropsychiatrist.  Mine helped me to get it because he saw my MRI and the brain is his specialty.  Also, you will have to get an attorney (one that works for no money until they win it for y   ou).  I avoided it at all costs, but learned that it is the only way.  I am not sure what state you live in, but here in Florida, we have stricktly TBI attorneys.  Is there a trauma hosptial near you?  See if you can find a support group for TBI's too.  Someone there may have good advice.  My name is Kerry and my phone # can be sent to you if you want to talk.  Just let me know.  Kerry

[Karyn]

Kerry Mischka said:      Get a good neuropsychiatrist.  Mine helped me to get it because he saw my MRI and the brain is his specialty.

 

 

You see one of my problems is that 5 months before my accident my husband lost his job of 13 years when they moved down to Texas. And along with it our health insurance. We are barely making the mortgage so we can't afford to buy personal health insurance. We live in Lake Havasu City, AZ and there is nothing here for jobs that offers Health Insurance. Everything is part time, just so they don't have to offer it. Times are real tough for so many people and the companies too.

I do see a primary at a place that uses a sliding scale fee in which I am so very grateful. The doctor there keeps saying I need to see a neurologist , but guess what the first question is when you call a specialist of any kind “What do you have for Insurance ?”  “well sorry, it doesn’t look like we have any opening for quite a while.”

   Although the ambulance company  that brought me to the hospital, and the hospital itself treated me with kindness beyond belief,  the fact that I didn’t have health insurance,  I am sure, is the reason they didn’t give me a cat scan or MRI of my head.   They saved my life, sewed me up, gave me a metal clavicle, some blood and saw to it that I left the hospital as soon as I could walk.   That is just the way things are now a days.    The state of AZ rejects any application for medical help through the state if there are no children living in the home.   A new law passed 2 months before my accident. LOL.

  Oh well enough,  oh poor Karyn…… Anyway my hope perked up when I got this letter in the mail the other day from Arizona Department of Economic Security Phoenix Disability Determination Service, …… located in Salt Lake City, Utah  go figure ??? saying  …”Your claim has been sent to us to determine your eligibility for either Social Security Disability or AHCCCS Medical Assistance (state funded insurance).  After review of your claim, we find that a special medical examination is needed.  We have, therefore scheduled an examination at no cost to you. …. Do not take your medical records to this doctor’s appointment.  “

So I’m thinking if this doctor doesn’t have any of my medical records,  what is she going to do?   Look in my eyes and say  “Oh Ya,  you have TBI” .   I hope this thing is not just a big joke.   It takes one in a half hours to get to this place from here and our car is “not feeling well and would never make it”  so we need to rent a car to get there.   I’m sorry if I am sounding so negative, guess I am just loosing hope.     So I could use all the prayers I can get, OK.    I am not afraid of dying,  because I now know what the other side is like,   but I would like to do a little more living,  maybe have a grandchild ???    And I certainly don’t want to be a burden to my family,  care wise or financially.    Keep me in your prayers .    Thanks so very much for listening.   Lots of love to my  "invisible friends".

[Kerry Mischka]

Karyn or anyone else out there that is a born again Christian: on the computer go to www.graceconnectionchurch.org.  That is Pastor Kelley and his daughter was shot in the head accidentally a few weeks ago.  He was there when I was life flighted in on the trauma helicopter and prayed for my survival.

[Rachel]

Kerry, If you could, would you please send me the name of the attorney in Florida, that specializes in TBI. We also live in Florida. Thank You Very Much. Rachel-James Mom
 
Kerry Mischka said:

Karyn,

Get a good neuropsychiatrist.  Mine helped me to get it because he saw my MRI and the brain is his specialty.  Also, you will have to get an attorney (one that works for no money until they win it for you).  I avoided it at all costs, but learned that it is the only way.  I am not sure what state you live in, but here in Florida, we have stricktly TBI attorneys.  Is there a trauma hosptial near you?  See if you can find a support group for TBI's too.  Someone there may have good advice.  My name is Kerry and my phone # can be sent to you if you want to talk.  Just let me know.  Kerry

[Kerry Mischka]

Hi Rachel James' mom,

What part of Florida do you live in?  Jeff Hensley is in Palm Harbor, Florida and his phone # is 727-781-3433.  He was not the attorney that helped me.  My attorney is in St. Petersburg, Florida and his name is Barry Salzman.  His phone #[phone]. My neuropsychiatrist is Naakesh Dewan, M.D. #727-723-0779.  Dr. Dewan is in Clearwater, FL. and I have an orthopaedic doctor too if anyone needs him.  He has offices in a couple of places.  I really pray that these individuals can help you.  God Bless- Kerry

[John Donne]

I have tried to apply recently, I took an exam etc.

The therapist:(counselor) and Independent living helped me fill it out.

[Trina Bradlee]

I applied, and got some strange refusal because I had temporarily worked at an office between my second an third brain surgery...my TBI was not really bad until my third brain surgery...my husband finally told me to stop trying...as keeping track of the paperwork, etc was just too frustrating...it's a shame...all those years that I paid in to SSI...never, for a minute thinking I would need it...now I do need it, and can't manage to jump through all of the hoops because of my disability...I think hiring an attorney might be helpful for those who are determined to continue trying...

[Safiya Major]

Trina and to anybody else who may be it may concern:If Social-Security has denied you or you fear you are overwhelmed,there is another agency SI and SSDI.It is the Department of Vocational-Rehab which a Federal/state programme.It is generally to find employment or college available and aid for said services but if you are considered gravely-ill after several-evaluations then they will recommend you to Social-Security and help guide you through the process.They will also pay for doctors appointments,transportation,clothing and even food for you until you have been approved for by SSI.

I was denied for the first time I applied for SSI on the grounds that I was not visiting a neurologist and a Psychiatrist frequently enough.As I had then run out of money and could not afford appointments and therapy.I spent several-months penniless,borrowing money from my friend,living always with the threat of being kicked out by my horrible parents.Skip ahead to October of 2010,I was desperate for therapy after I received my denial for SSI,I then called and looked around for a month frantically for a therapist at least(a neurologist was way to expensive),I could find not find any until one day I called 211.They told me of a community doctor's office U could use that had a behavioural-health department.Any way,I called and asked about the nature of their prices and such and they told me that they offered a sliding-scaled depending on the income of whoever you live with and their was a form,I would have to fill out and bring in check-stubs.I did not have a job then so I had to have my parents,who I begged to help me out sign a legal-form saying I have no income whatsoever.I was approved then for the lowest rate there which is 20 dollars however my appointment wouldn't be until January 12th.

Because of this I was denied my ability to appeal the decision on my behalf because none of the ambulance-chasers would have taken me in unless I was currently in therapy because they wanted their chunk of my backpay and I was not a shoe-in unless I was currently in treatment.I looked everywhere and everything for all kinds of lawyers but could find none to help me on the grounds of my case,so my time ran out and in the last week before the appeals process could be claimed I wrote a letter telling them I would now appeal it but I need an extension but SSI denied me and my appeals.

The appointment came and went and I was evaluated by the Psychologist(a very warm supportive figure) and she told me of the Department of Vocational Rehab if not for my prime issues but some gender issues I had/have.This now being January my mother proposed to me that I should come work with her at her store,she was a Manager of a "Dunkin' Donuts" and thinking SSI was out of reach I took the job.To cut a long story short this job was hard,too in your face,fast-paced and such.I just could not work there and I couldn't process any of the information coming in all at once.Too many sounds that were loud,too much high-energy work,new medication,people yelling at me and rushing me,fucking up orders,frequent arguing and fighting with my mother,I couldn't process the information in front of me and then while I took extra time to process that new information was coming in and I had to take that in which only confused and confabulated my mind seriously.That and I was always to asked to do the hardest jobs at the store,work off the clock and had to finish off the other lazy-ass employees jobs.I spent four grueling months back deep inside the kitchen,cooking bagels,doughnuts,making food and wrapping it at quick paces none of which I could do that well.All the other employees got to work up font on registers and coffee which was a fairly easy job that only involved sweeping and cleaning decanters  for coffee.I suffered so many panic attacks there and at home many hits and such from my mother furthermore the work in back was way too fast-paced for my brain.I digress further by saying that I then had to when I finally worked up front had to do the jobs of all the lazy up-front people when they worked kitchen.This is not the point of the story however I took this hard earned money from the job I could not afford and applied it to doctor's appointments.I was told again by the psychologist to see Voc-Rehab.

I took this advice to heart also knowing I would be fired soon,and visited my local-office which was also shared with the Unemployment agency.I had to then wait an hour or so fro service which fro my first appointment was a seminar about how Vocational-rehab works.We were then with an individual social-worker after watching this boring hour long seminar and had to sign legal-paper and such.Then we were told that a call would be given to us within a week and a half's time by a social-worker.rehabilitation specialist that would take our case.Skip ahead a week and now I am sitting inside a cubicle room with a nice social-worker,sweat pouring down me I was that nervous.She then explained to me the process of how Voc-Rehab works,that I would first be given a total Social-analysis and study into my abilities with a  Psychologist and that afterwards appointments would be given to another specialist for an evaluation and then I would be given the criteria of my rehabilitation from my counselor and told to sign it.She then explained to me that there are three tiers to necessitate the cases with Tier 1 being the most dire of case and Tier 3 the least of concern.

Now a week later I was inside a Media-room with a Psychologist and given a general-knowledge test.This took me thirty-minutes or so to do and then I sat down one on one with this psychologist,she gave me then some kind of abstract tests where I had to build puzzles which I could do well and took not too long to do.After such I was given a overall mathematics test which I totally failed and so horribly bad that I was nervous enough that I answered one of the questions jokingly with "Mesopotamia" even though it was math.This test then wrapped up with a multiple choice test last an hour and a half to do which was gruelingly long,boring and sometimes even hard to answer.I finished this however after about four hours this evaluation which was exhausting was now over.It then took me three weeks to receive an answer from my counselor.She told me then that I was approved as a Tier one criteria and now it would be needed for an appointment to be made with a doctor to test me further mentally,emotionally,cognitively,socially and such and that this would be an all-day task.This took me from 9 in the morning all the way into 6 in the afternoon,these tests even more exhaustive than the last and inside a private room at a library.I then opened up and told her of my home life and such and also of an injury to my head I caused to my head when I was younger and little.She called me often afterwards as did my counselor telling me that I should apply for SSI.One night she called me when my father was yelling at me and right after i was crying.She then told me she has to report this to the Department of Children and Families despite my begging her not to and such,she told me by law she was required because I fell under some possible category as gravely disabled and unable to look out for myself.This did not go through however for some reason but she did tell me to apply for SSI as soon as I was fired from my job and my last paycheck had been paid out.

I did as such at the beginning of July online because the Social-Security office is way out in the boondocks of the next town over and I cannot drive and lacked money to buy a cab or for a ride from my father.So with the advice of my counselor I took the online Social-Security assessment which I put off fr several week because of all the legal-jargon and such.It took an hour or so to fill out this form and after completing it I was told online that i would receive a call from the Social-Security Office on September 13th.I did so and had a conversation with a worker over my claim and what I could apply for this went well though I was nervous,he sent in the mail all the required forms I needed to fill out.I had to fill an assessment of all problems wrong with me and how they affect my daily life.I did as such and then had to have my parents fill out a form which scared me so i did not and just turned in mine.This delayed my claim over time and only made the worker play a game of phone-tag with me trying to to reach me without me knowing it because I had no computer then.He sent another form in from Social-security with an assessment for my parent to fill out again.I did not know what to do because my parents did not know how ill I truly was and I wasn't going to tell them so they could declare me incompetent and take m money.So I then called the office and tried speaking with my agent about this issue and I did finally and told me that I could send the form of assessment to Voc-rehab which I had done.The issue was then resolved and now we skip over to Mid-October.

I kept receiving calls from an 800 service,I could not answer most of the time because I was sleeping and I could not check my voice-mail because my parents were not letting me use their computer.I then realised it was Social-Security calling,I received a message "If Safiya does not call within the next three days then it will show express interest to I and the office of Social-Security that the subject is uninterested and the claim will be denied by default" I finally looked at this voice-mail which I received on Thursday on Sunday and I thought to myself very seriously that I was denied because of my parents idiocy and I was feeling so depressed fro the remainder of that day.I was awoken the next day after a depressed,nihilistic slumber by the phone ringing and it was my case-worker.We went through all the legal-jargon and I was then told I was 'preemptively approved' and I would be receiving the first two months of backpay while I was under review plus SSI for six months and when I received my other two months of backpay then I was approved fully.I did and within two days after receiving my first check.I was finally approved and outside of the fire after two years and after four grueling months without money I would now have my money.

Voc-rehab took all if not most of the burden of proof off of my back and made the service easier and more streamlined than my first application which took eight-months only for me to be denied for it and denied appeal.So If you need to then go through the Department of Vocational-Rehabilitation for your state and look for any services available and take it and then apply for SSI.They will order your claim to make it easier and the wait-time short as possible.

[Trina Bradlee]

Safiya, Thank you for your thoughtful response...I simply can not handle trying to apply again...My family and I had to move overseas after my third brain surgery made my husband afraid for me to drive our children...for now we are living on an island with no cars...we walk everywhere...and our children go to a little school that is literally a two minute walk from our house. I don't know if, or when we will move back to the US. I'm not thrilled with the situation...or my continued disabilities...or my incapabiliy of jumping through the SSI hoops...I just keep trying my hardest, and hoping that all of my capabilities will return.I know living on an island sounds exotic...and there are some nice things about it...but I miss being independent and fully capable of taking care of myself and my children...I continue to try to do my best...and I say prayers for all others going through this same difficult process...and I am thankful that I get to stay on Earth and raise my boys...(I had an old college friend die of breast cancer at the same time I was going through my third brain surgery)Perhaps if we move back to the US, I will try again with regards to a disability claim.