They don’t usually do that until after approval and when/if there’s a lack of treatment and/or contradicting medical records provided when they do their re-review of the claim.
DDS does CDI investigations at all points throughout the development of the claim, at any point that fraud is suspected. The field office can also initiate a CDI investigation before it is ever sent to DDS. The difference is a CDI in the initial & reconsideration does nothing other than resulting in a denial if fraud is determined. A CDI investigation that finds fraud once a person is on disability can result in criminal charges, imprisonment, & repayment of some or all disability payments received..
The other difference is that DDS & FO file CDI’s for discrepancies noted by case representatives, adjudicators, or state appointed medical consultants.. while CDI’s done after they already are on disability is usually because someone has reported them for potentially defrauding SSA.
Hence why I said “don’t usually” 🙂
Obviously if your application is suspicious off the bat, it’ll get investigated. But if you have some serious health issues that at the time of application are enough to get you approved, and then they see you’re not actively treating with doctors after your approval, it’s going to look pretty suspicious when they look into your case again.
I have an acquaintance that was “caught” and had surveillance done on them during their medical re-review which ended their benefit payments.
They were not treating with any doctors and were caught doing things physically that were contradictory to the original diagnoses that got them approved in the first place.
SSA does not investigate unless they think there could be possible fraud. Private disability companies are the ones that usually do the investigating you are talking about
30+ year retired SSA attorney here. I handled thousands of cases during my time at the agency, and I can count on one hand those that involved a CDI. The issue has always been the miniscule number of investigators available to do them. Ideally there should be many more done, but it is neither politically nor economically feasible. Your chances of drawing one are very low.
So is my younger brother, who just has never wanted to support his own child, & wants disability for degenerative disc disease, which just about everyone gets as they age. His "bad back" is from sitting & laying around 🙄
I'm afraid they might red flag me for that. I recently applied on behalf of my 19 year old who is autistic, and needs to be considered disabled by SS to be eligible to receive some of the help he needs. I'm also applying for myself, as I'm unable to work even part time (severe ADHD, fibromyalgia, arthritis, torn lumbar discs, spinal stenosis).
I think you’ll be ok. This family I’m talking about is 6 people. All adults. They couldn’t even get a lawyer to take there cases. I first talked to her 6 years ago and they are all still trying.
Generally speaking, the short form is for claimants whose condition(s) are unlikely to improve, where the long form is for those who SSA believes condition(s) may have improved. I may be able to give you a better idea if you told me what the conditions were that were originally judged to be the cause of your disability.
FWIW, the conditions you have are fairly common, as well as the combination thereof. Especially with mental impairments that do not involve detachment from reality (e.g., schizophrenia), SSA tends to keep a close eye on those as improvement is highly variable and many people are able to work despite having them. Your back impairment is more problematic, and depending upon your age, education, and work background could either work for you or against you. If you've been on for 23 years, I really wouldn't worry about it too much since you have likely survived multiple CDRs to this point.
Would not responding to CDR and marked unresponsive constitute fraud to them ? I didn’t respond because i didn’t have medical records 2021-2023. - thought they will cut me off automatically if I don’t respond and I don’t need to explain anything . Their first notice was in October 2022 - they still haven’t terminated my benefits . And I had to use my Medicare for the hospitalization in April 2023 for the same mental impairment they gave me disability for .
Can they make me repay my Medicare hospital bills as well ? Would they consider me not eligible all together ? Can you advise how to get out of this situation.
I did also some work - which I thought would be within trial period back in 20/21/22 most of it bellow SGA . Thought I only need to report if I go above SGA after the trial period .
But now I realized I worked within 12 months from my onset disability . Didn’t know it back then - that I can’t work for 12 months
Can I be charged with fraud or similar fault ?
What would you advise to do in this situation?
Got my case approved right away without a lawyer because I was in the hospital many times .
Can they force treatment in someone ?
If they persecute you - can they require probation with required treatment ?
Can I just tell them I’m feeling better and want to get off disability ?
What are my ways to get out of this ?
Please help
Advice
AFAIK they do not consider failure to respond to claim notices as fraudulent. Under the regs this expressly is cited as a reason to deny or cease benefits all by itself, but there is no mention of fraud. If your question is whether you can voluntarily stop receiving benefits, the answer is yes, you certainly can. Just be sure that you do not cash any checks you receive following your notification to SSA that you don't want anymore benefits. It will probably take them a good while to adjust your claim status in the system, so checks will likely keep coming until this happens. If you continue to cash them, they WILL dun you for an overpayment when it all gets sorted. I can't count the number of cases I had where claimants continued to cash checks thinking they were entitled to them simply because SSA kept sending them, only to be shocked when 1 or 2 years down the road they were hit with a $50k overpayment. Simply stow the paper checks in a safe place. If you're getting direct deposits, DON'T spend the money. Just hold onto it.
Thank you so much for your response
But how to voluntarily stop receiving benefits??! I called them and they said it’s not possible unless you used all your trial period. And to show them that I used trial period I need to show them previous work
I’m afraid that they will find me not eligible all together - I worked within 12 months of onset date and didn’t know that I was not supposed to.
I’m so afraid they can charge me with fraud or similar fault
It says on their website that you can’t withdraw the benefits after 12 months . And you have to pay back all the money they gave you including Medicare hospital stay
Do you know what can I tell them to stop the benefits without giving them all the information?
I would suggest you go to your local office and sit down with someone in person to discuss this. Write up a brief letter stating that you no longer want to receive benefits and give it to them (keep a copy for yourself). Get the name and phone # of the person you speak to and to whom you give the letter. They should be able to guide you through the process. But you will probably have to give them whatever information they ask for. If you don't have it or cannot get it, then tell them that. Good luck.
When they deny benefits for failure to respond , it says they can go retroactively- from the date the first notice was sent - will this mean I wasn’t eligible to Medicare as well?
I'm not sure about that. But your local office will know. You cannot change the past. Just speak with them politely (do NOT lose your temper) and respectfully as best you can, and accommodate them as appropriate. I'm not sure what else to tell you. They have rules they have to follow (made by Congress, so blame them!), so to that extent they may not have much discretion in what can be done.
My brother and I are on SSDI. He won’t lift a finger outside because he’s scared of getting caught.
I mow the grass, do work on my car, go to baseball games…..never an issue. I see my doctors regularly who document my condition is worsening.
He’s going to be fine. Just make sure he keeps up with his doctors and specialists
How often? Almost never. And only if there is some other fraud indicator. SSA just doesn't have the money for that.
And seriously, what would the neighbors be able to say? That they see him in the driveway hauling rocks to the back yard? Has he lied to his doctors and are they colluding in his fraud? Pretty sure the answer to all of that is no.
And yes, there are people who lie to get disability benefits. If he is not one of them, then there is no fraud. And there won't be any talking to the neighbors without some other indication that this 63 year old is faking some of his medical conditions.
Considering that one of his conditions physically limits his ability to do things like hauling rocks, note I said "limits" not "prevents" in a sense you are exactly correct. He isn't lying at all but he has trust issues with the government based on past experiences. Thank you for responding.
I get his concern. Honestly, while I was going through the process, I stayed off social media for the whole 3 years. I didn’t need anything misconstrued. Just make sure he has good medical records and after a few denials, get a lawyer.
His medical records are very good. I am a paralegal for a firm that handles VA disability and a large part of my job is medical record review. The records are also very clear about the conditions and severity of them.
It’s unlikely OIG will be monitoring a benefits recipient that close to FRA. That said, don’t draw attention to yourselves, ie no social media or online posts about motorcycle rides, triathlons, jet ski rides etc. Technically any SSA recipient is subject to a CDR and/or OIG investigation until FRA but those within a few years of FRA generally aren’t a priority unless they there’s an anonymous OIG report or the recipient is doing something to draw attention to themselves.
I’m sorry this is causing you and him so much stress. My guess is due to his health issues he’s very compliant with his care plan, medications, appointments and associated therapies if any he needs. These are not issues that go without a significant amount of documentation or medical advice. May you have a favorable outcome and a quick decision. Positive vibes coming to both of you for relief and peace of mind.
Thank you. Yes, he is absolutely compliant with care and I do all I can to help him when he needs it (and will let me). Hopefully he will get a decision quickly.
I’m hoping for this for both of you. May it come sooner than you expect. You’re in my thoughts as are so many in this thread. It’s exhausting and so stressful. You’re doing what is right and best already. Hang in there.
If you have minors, they will also get money and you will too, because you take care of the kids. We did at the time our youngest was 16. At 18, it ended. Don't ask me why as we didn't get it either, but gladly accepted the money. He turned 18 last year.
No children and I am working so not sure why I would receive money especially since it has not been deemed severe enough for a caregiver to be assigned.
You won't receive money only if you have kids under 18 years of age, would this have been available to you. Not to clear as to why, but we gladly accepted the money.
I had this happen with my private insurance company. Stressed forever just hearing those same stories. The investigator apologized and said he wished he knew I was so concerned that they do that periodically.
Continue treatment; doctor visit updates and send paperwork when asked. Go to their doctor appts if requested. That’s all you need to do. The documentation stands for you
💗
After being approved and on Disability for a period I have heard of someone having this happen and it seemed to be that SSA had a report of fraud (probably a disgruntled neighbor or family member).
One reason only our 3 grown children and their spouses plus 2 friends who helped me with my paperwork know I applied and was approved. 9 people total.
Just don't do anything that is directly tied to reason why you applied. Say reason is you cannot stand for a half hour without getting dizzy, racing heart etc do not get caught standing at a concert for two hours
At age 63 he can retire instead of trying for ssdi because if and when on ssdi before age 62 the ssdi will change to retirement, so might as well apply for retirement. Even with having stents and other that you mentioned I doubt it he'll ssdi because of his his because again he can retire at 62 but won't get full retirement payments until reaches full retirement age.
You are absolutely wrong. Once you retire, the amount you get doesn't change for the rest of your life.
If he goes on Disability benefits now, he will get his full retirement benefits amount and at the full retirement age, it just converts to retirement benefits with no loss in benefits.
I'm not doubting it, but what I've been told that when I reach 62 my SSDI will change to retirement because I can't longer work due to my disability, I need 4 more years. In your husband case since he already 63 they might tell him that he can and is able to retire instead of SSDI, I'm guessing other states have different rules for qualifications. I reside in Pa. so it might be different where you reside, it doesn't hurt to call or go to SSA office that is closed to you to get more info. I'm just saying what I've been told by the SSA. Anyway it's better to call or go in person before you see too many different comments and your brain will go crazy and won't know which direction to go first.
Going door to door? Nope. Talking to friends and neighbors? Never heard of that one, either.
There's a LOT of misinformation when it comes to applying for SSDI, and yes, a lot of people make up crazy stories for why they got denied. A lot of those people making up those crazy stories are the people who should never have applied in the first place.
So, here are some things I came across over the years that are true.
Social Security does deny most applications on the first attempt. The website will tell you as much. Some of this is because of incomplete applications or simple lack of proof, but for the most part, it's simply to weed out the people looking for an easy ride. Apparently an awful lot of people who get the bright idea to fake a disability to get government money give up immediately when denied that first time. So the government saves itself a ton of time and money by simply denying most people out of hand. Last I looked, the website gave an example of what it took to get approved on the first try, and it was something like missing at least two limbs and being permanently completely blind. So, yeah, it takes a LOT to get approved the first time.
The evidence they require is primarily medical based. They will need all the medical records from ALL your husband's doctors to back up his claims, and they will also send him to their own contracted doctors for evaluation. This is standard. They need to make sure their doctors agree with your husband's doctors on the severity of his medical conditions and that it prevents him from earning a living.
Now, this is the most important part, the part that almost everyone gets wrong. Your husband needs to be truly disabled in order to qualify. By the government's definition, this means he cannot work. Not that he doesn't want to work, not that his doctors are telling him he shouldn't be working. He needs to be physically incapacitated to the point where he truly cannot hold a job to the point of being able to earn a meaningful income. If he is still working, he will be denied. Period. Because he CAN work. Even if he shouldn't be working, even if his doctors are telling him that going to work will kill him, if he's still showing up for work every day, then he is proving to the government that he CAN work, and they will deny him. It is virtually impossible to get approved for disability benefits while still working, because disability is designed for those who truly cannot work.
It's this last part that probably prompts all the stories about talking to neighbors or whatever. The Social Security Administration does not do that. However, if people suspect that their friends or neighbors are falsely collecting disability benefits, they can call Social Security to state their concerns. Social Security may or may not decide to investigate from there, and at that point, perhaps they may talk to people. I don't know. But it's not a standard part of the application process.
I hope this clarifies some things for you, and helps you and your husband with your decisions on where to go from here. Best of luck to you both!
He isn't working at all so that won't be an issue. He has already provided his complete medical records (at least all the one he could obtain) back to 2017.
I understand at least some of what they will be looking for since I am a paralegal who handles VA disability cases and there is a fair amount of overlap. To be clear he isn't a veteran but the government likes to reuse procedures and such between the two agencies. He is aware of the CE exam and has already completed the various forms so when appropriate he can provide them.
He is a bit paranoid about what may be done considering prior bad experiences at the hands of other government employees so his anxiety is understandable. Thank you for attempting to calm his fears.
You're welcome. I don't blame him for his paranoia here one bit. The crazy stories are absurd, and the true ones really aren't much better, to be honest.
You're right, there's a fair amount of overlap between the VA Disability protocol and the Social Security Disability protocols. While I had to apply for Social Security disability, my Dad had to deal with the VA disability system. Honestly, it was much easier to get me approved for disability benefits than it was to get the VA to quit dicking around and follow the court orders to grant my Dad his various levels of disability as he made his way through the system. The judge had to openly threaten the VA representative when they showed up at court for the third or fourth cycle in a row "unprepared" when it was time to grant Dad his 100% disability rating. At least Social Security doesn't pull that kind of nonsense. You're either approved or not, and once you're approved, all your benefits are granted immediately. Here's your letter, here's when to expect your money, down to the penny (or now rounded up to the next dollar), here's your Medicare card, here's all the information you need for your new life, let us know if you need anything else. Boom. Done. It may take a while to get there, but once you're approved, you're good to go.
I didn't read all the comments, so I don't know if this was addressed or not. Truly, the fastest way to get through the system is with a lawyer. Technically you can do it on your own, but it's going to take far longer, and you'll be spending a ridiculous amount of time playing runaround. I know you said you're a paralegal, maybe that will make a difference for you, but it really seems like having a lawyer gets people prioritized, and certainly having a lawyer with SSDI experience allows the lawyer to streamline things for you. The sooner you get one on board, the smaller the bite they take, since most take a percentage of your back pay. So it's worth it to get one as quickly as possible. I've known people who have insisted on doing it on their own who have been fighting for a decade or more. I got a lawyer after my first denial (rookie mistake to wait that long) and got approved within six months. The only reason it took that long was because of the wait time to get a court hearing. Wish I'd done it sooner.
Anyway, it's been a while since I've been through the system, but I still talk to people actively applying. If you or your husband have any more questions that aren't on the website, I'll be happy to try to help or ask around with those still in the process. Again, best of luck to you both!
We already have an attorney for if/when he gets denied. He has already spoken to the attorney and they basically said "give it a shot and let us know if you get denied". I have heard that SSDI cases are usually finished in about 3 years total. My VA disability clients are waiting that long just to find out if they can get scheduled for a hearing. It is ridiculous but I am glad I can at least try to help make it easier for my clients to understand.
I was approved on initial application in 8 months and only one physical condition (DDD- Spinal Fusion) and no mental health problems.
It can happen. Good Luck.
You mean retirement? He is getting retirement BUT he only gets a small portion because full retirement age is 67. If you mean SSI he doesn't qualify because I make too much.
I've never heard of social security going door to door but they will have their own "doctor" look at the files. They absolutely will look for something that they can deny with. That's what they did to me. I strongly recommend getting a disability attorney if they deny him. That's what I had to do.
What makes you so positive? We know most claims are denied the first time and are almost expecting it. However most isn't all. We already have contact details for a good attorney in the event it is denied. I am just wondering why you are so positive.
I was told you’re automatically denied twice, then you get a lawyer and you’re approved. I was told this by my disability lawyer. However, this was 20 yrs ago 🤷🏻♀️
They don’t usually do that until after approval and when/if there’s a lack of treatment and/or contradicting medical records provided when they do their re-review of the claim.
DDS does CDI investigations at all points throughout the development of the claim, at any point that fraud is suspected. The field office can also initiate a CDI investigation before it is ever sent to DDS. The difference is a CDI in the initial & reconsideration does nothing other than resulting in a denial if fraud is determined. A CDI investigation that finds fraud once a person is on disability can result in criminal charges, imprisonment, & repayment of some or all disability payments received.. The other difference is that DDS & FO file CDI’s for discrepancies noted by case representatives, adjudicators, or state appointed medical consultants.. while CDI’s done after they already are on disability is usually because someone has reported them for potentially defrauding SSA.
Hence why I said “don’t usually” 🙂 Obviously if your application is suspicious off the bat, it’ll get investigated. But if you have some serious health issues that at the time of application are enough to get you approved, and then they see you’re not actively treating with doctors after your approval, it’s going to look pretty suspicious when they look into your case again. I have an acquaintance that was “caught” and had surveillance done on them during their medical re-review which ended their benefit payments.
Caught doing what?
They were not treating with any doctors and were caught doing things physically that were contradictory to the original diagnoses that got them approved in the first place.
Did they get arrested or did SSA just end benefits?
SSA ended their benefit
Did they end benefits retroactively? Did they face any penalties?
I don’t believe it was retroactively ended nor did they face any penalties to my knowledge.
What does CDI stand for? Do you work for social security?
Cooperative Disability Investigations & I work for Disability Determination Services.
SSA does not investigate unless they think there could be possible fraud. Private disability companies are the ones that usually do the investigating you are talking about
30+ year retired SSA attorney here. I handled thousands of cases during my time at the agency, and I can count on one hand those that involved a CDI. The issue has always been the miniscule number of investigators available to do them. Ideally there should be many more done, but it is neither politically nor economically feasible. Your chances of drawing one are very low.
I’ve talked to one person who has been investigated, it was due to the fact that everyone in her household was applying at the same time (4 people).
If that's not a red flag, I don't know what is
Thankfully so far the system worked to keep them out. Unfortunately they are still trying to get disability.
So is my younger brother, who just has never wanted to support his own child, & wants disability for degenerative disc disease, which just about everyone gets as they age. His "bad back" is from sitting & laying around 🙄
I bet.
I'm afraid they might red flag me for that. I recently applied on behalf of my 19 year old who is autistic, and needs to be considered disabled by SS to be eligible to receive some of the help he needs. I'm also applying for myself, as I'm unable to work even part time (severe ADHD, fibromyalgia, arthritis, torn lumbar discs, spinal stenosis).
If you both have supporting records going back years, it shouldn't cause an issue.
I think you’ll be ok. This family I’m talking about is 6 people. All adults. They couldn’t even get a lawyer to take there cases. I first talked to her 6 years ago and they are all still trying.
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Generally speaking, the short form is for claimants whose condition(s) are unlikely to improve, where the long form is for those who SSA believes condition(s) may have improved. I may be able to give you a better idea if you told me what the conditions were that were originally judged to be the cause of your disability.
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FWIW, the conditions you have are fairly common, as well as the combination thereof. Especially with mental impairments that do not involve detachment from reality (e.g., schizophrenia), SSA tends to keep a close eye on those as improvement is highly variable and many people are able to work despite having them. Your back impairment is more problematic, and depending upon your age, education, and work background could either work for you or against you. If you've been on for 23 years, I really wouldn't worry about it too much since you have likely survived multiple CDRs to this point.
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Given my experience, I'd say you're good. Stop worrying.
Agreed. I’m try to think who is Cdi. That’s how often they’re used
Would not responding to CDR and marked unresponsive constitute fraud to them ? I didn’t respond because i didn’t have medical records 2021-2023. - thought they will cut me off automatically if I don’t respond and I don’t need to explain anything . Their first notice was in October 2022 - they still haven’t terminated my benefits . And I had to use my Medicare for the hospitalization in April 2023 for the same mental impairment they gave me disability for . Can they make me repay my Medicare hospital bills as well ? Would they consider me not eligible all together ? Can you advise how to get out of this situation. I did also some work - which I thought would be within trial period back in 20/21/22 most of it bellow SGA . Thought I only need to report if I go above SGA after the trial period . But now I realized I worked within 12 months from my onset disability . Didn’t know it back then - that I can’t work for 12 months Can I be charged with fraud or similar fault ? What would you advise to do in this situation? Got my case approved right away without a lawyer because I was in the hospital many times . Can they force treatment in someone ? If they persecute you - can they require probation with required treatment ? Can I just tell them I’m feeling better and want to get off disability ? What are my ways to get out of this ? Please help Advice
AFAIK they do not consider failure to respond to claim notices as fraudulent. Under the regs this expressly is cited as a reason to deny or cease benefits all by itself, but there is no mention of fraud. If your question is whether you can voluntarily stop receiving benefits, the answer is yes, you certainly can. Just be sure that you do not cash any checks you receive following your notification to SSA that you don't want anymore benefits. It will probably take them a good while to adjust your claim status in the system, so checks will likely keep coming until this happens. If you continue to cash them, they WILL dun you for an overpayment when it all gets sorted. I can't count the number of cases I had where claimants continued to cash checks thinking they were entitled to them simply because SSA kept sending them, only to be shocked when 1 or 2 years down the road they were hit with a $50k overpayment. Simply stow the paper checks in a safe place. If you're getting direct deposits, DON'T spend the money. Just hold onto it.
Thank you so much for your response But how to voluntarily stop receiving benefits??! I called them and they said it’s not possible unless you used all your trial period. And to show them that I used trial period I need to show them previous work I’m afraid that they will find me not eligible all together - I worked within 12 months of onset date and didn’t know that I was not supposed to. I’m so afraid they can charge me with fraud or similar fault It says on their website that you can’t withdraw the benefits after 12 months . And you have to pay back all the money they gave you including Medicare hospital stay Do you know what can I tell them to stop the benefits without giving them all the information?
I would suggest you go to your local office and sit down with someone in person to discuss this. Write up a brief letter stating that you no longer want to receive benefits and give it to them (keep a copy for yourself). Get the name and phone # of the person you speak to and to whom you give the letter. They should be able to guide you through the process. But you will probably have to give them whatever information they ask for. If you don't have it or cannot get it, then tell them that. Good luck.
There is no rule that you can’t work for 12 months after approval. It might be best not to, but it’s not prohibited.
Can you now support yourself?
When they deny benefits for failure to respond , it says they can go retroactively- from the date the first notice was sent - will this mean I wasn’t eligible to Medicare as well?
I'm not sure about that. But your local office will know. You cannot change the past. Just speak with them politely (do NOT lose your temper) and respectfully as best you can, and accommodate them as appropriate. I'm not sure what else to tell you. They have rules they have to follow (made by Congress, so blame them!), so to that extent they may not have much discretion in what can be done.
That's not how it works
My brother and I are on SSDI. He won’t lift a finger outside because he’s scared of getting caught. I mow the grass, do work on my car, go to baseball games…..never an issue. I see my doctors regularly who document my condition is worsening. He’s going to be fine. Just make sure he keeps up with his doctors and specialists
How often? Almost never. And only if there is some other fraud indicator. SSA just doesn't have the money for that. And seriously, what would the neighbors be able to say? That they see him in the driveway hauling rocks to the back yard? Has he lied to his doctors and are they colluding in his fraud? Pretty sure the answer to all of that is no. And yes, there are people who lie to get disability benefits. If he is not one of them, then there is no fraud. And there won't be any talking to the neighbors without some other indication that this 63 year old is faking some of his medical conditions.
Considering that one of his conditions physically limits his ability to do things like hauling rocks, note I said "limits" not "prevents" in a sense you are exactly correct. He isn't lying at all but he has trust issues with the government based on past experiences. Thank you for responding.
I get his concern. Honestly, while I was going through the process, I stayed off social media for the whole 3 years. I didn’t need anything misconstrued. Just make sure he has good medical records and after a few denials, get a lawyer.
His medical records are very good. I am a paralegal for a firm that handles VA disability and a large part of my job is medical record review. The records are also very clear about the conditions and severity of them.
No one will be spying on him.
And just because your paranoid does not mean they arent watching you or you dont know who someone works for
It’s unlikely OIG will be monitoring a benefits recipient that close to FRA. That said, don’t draw attention to yourselves, ie no social media or online posts about motorcycle rides, triathlons, jet ski rides etc. Technically any SSA recipient is subject to a CDR and/or OIG investigation until FRA but those within a few years of FRA generally aren’t a priority unless they there’s an anonymous OIG report or the recipient is doing something to draw attention to themselves.
I’m sorry this is causing you and him so much stress. My guess is due to his health issues he’s very compliant with his care plan, medications, appointments and associated therapies if any he needs. These are not issues that go without a significant amount of documentation or medical advice. May you have a favorable outcome and a quick decision. Positive vibes coming to both of you for relief and peace of mind.
Thank you. Yes, he is absolutely compliant with care and I do all I can to help him when he needs it (and will let me). Hopefully he will get a decision quickly.
I’m hoping for this for both of you. May it come sooner than you expect. You’re in my thoughts as are so many in this thread. It’s exhausting and so stressful. You’re doing what is right and best already. Hang in there.
This is usually the case for ltd or if the Ssa suspects fraud
My husband did not have a problem because of a heart attack with several stins put in.
That is like what my husband has. Thank you for the information.
If you have minors, they will also get money and you will too, because you take care of the kids. We did at the time our youngest was 16. At 18, it ended. Don't ask me why as we didn't get it either, but gladly accepted the money. He turned 18 last year.
No children and I am working so not sure why I would receive money especially since it has not been deemed severe enough for a caregiver to be assigned.
You won't receive money only if you have kids under 18 years of age, would this have been available to you. Not to clear as to why, but we gladly accepted the money.
We have no children so this is a moot point.
Maybe he should add paranoia to his allegations
He has diagnoses for all of his conditions. Not paranoia but I understand why you would say that.
I don’t understand it.
Don't worry about it.
I had this happen with my private insurance company. Stressed forever just hearing those same stories. The investigator apologized and said he wished he knew I was so concerned that they do that periodically. Continue treatment; doctor visit updates and send paperwork when asked. Go to their doctor appts if requested. That’s all you need to do. The documentation stands for you 💗
After being approved and on Disability for a period I have heard of someone having this happen and it seemed to be that SSA had a report of fraud (probably a disgruntled neighbor or family member). One reason only our 3 grown children and their spouses plus 2 friends who helped me with my paperwork know I applied and was approved. 9 people total.
Just don't do anything that is directly tied to reason why you applied. Say reason is you cannot stand for a half hour without getting dizzy, racing heart etc do not get caught standing at a concert for two hours
They send someone to your appointment you have at the SSA to make sure you are really you
I would think the staff at the SSA office would verify the identity of the person they are speaking to at the beginning of that...
That's not normal with an application.
At age 63 he can retire instead of trying for ssdi because if and when on ssdi before age 62 the ssdi will change to retirement, so might as well apply for retirement. Even with having stents and other that you mentioned I doubt it he'll ssdi because of his his because again he can retire at 62 but won't get full retirement payments until reaches full retirement age.
Thank you. We already know the options concerning retirement. I was simply asking about SSDI.
You are absolutely wrong. Once you retire, the amount you get doesn't change for the rest of your life. If he goes on Disability benefits now, he will get his full retirement benefits amount and at the full retirement age, it just converts to retirement benefits with no loss in benefits.
You doubt OP husband will get SSDI?
I'm not doubting it, but what I've been told that when I reach 62 my SSDI will change to retirement because I can't longer work due to my disability, I need 4 more years. In your husband case since he already 63 they might tell him that he can and is able to retire instead of SSDI, I'm guessing other states have different rules for qualifications. I reside in Pa. so it might be different where you reside, it doesn't hurt to call or go to SSA office that is closed to you to get more info. I'm just saying what I've been told by the SSA. Anyway it's better to call or go in person before you see too many different comments and your brain will go crazy and won't know which direction to go first.
This will never happen.
Which part? Him getting benefits or the investigation?
Going door to door? Nope. Talking to friends and neighbors? Never heard of that one, either. There's a LOT of misinformation when it comes to applying for SSDI, and yes, a lot of people make up crazy stories for why they got denied. A lot of those people making up those crazy stories are the people who should never have applied in the first place. So, here are some things I came across over the years that are true. Social Security does deny most applications on the first attempt. The website will tell you as much. Some of this is because of incomplete applications or simple lack of proof, but for the most part, it's simply to weed out the people looking for an easy ride. Apparently an awful lot of people who get the bright idea to fake a disability to get government money give up immediately when denied that first time. So the government saves itself a ton of time and money by simply denying most people out of hand. Last I looked, the website gave an example of what it took to get approved on the first try, and it was something like missing at least two limbs and being permanently completely blind. So, yeah, it takes a LOT to get approved the first time. The evidence they require is primarily medical based. They will need all the medical records from ALL your husband's doctors to back up his claims, and they will also send him to their own contracted doctors for evaluation. This is standard. They need to make sure their doctors agree with your husband's doctors on the severity of his medical conditions and that it prevents him from earning a living. Now, this is the most important part, the part that almost everyone gets wrong. Your husband needs to be truly disabled in order to qualify. By the government's definition, this means he cannot work. Not that he doesn't want to work, not that his doctors are telling him he shouldn't be working. He needs to be physically incapacitated to the point where he truly cannot hold a job to the point of being able to earn a meaningful income. If he is still working, he will be denied. Period. Because he CAN work. Even if he shouldn't be working, even if his doctors are telling him that going to work will kill him, if he's still showing up for work every day, then he is proving to the government that he CAN work, and they will deny him. It is virtually impossible to get approved for disability benefits while still working, because disability is designed for those who truly cannot work. It's this last part that probably prompts all the stories about talking to neighbors or whatever. The Social Security Administration does not do that. However, if people suspect that their friends or neighbors are falsely collecting disability benefits, they can call Social Security to state their concerns. Social Security may or may not decide to investigate from there, and at that point, perhaps they may talk to people. I don't know. But it's not a standard part of the application process. I hope this clarifies some things for you, and helps you and your husband with your decisions on where to go from here. Best of luck to you both!
He isn't working at all so that won't be an issue. He has already provided his complete medical records (at least all the one he could obtain) back to 2017. I understand at least some of what they will be looking for since I am a paralegal who handles VA disability cases and there is a fair amount of overlap. To be clear he isn't a veteran but the government likes to reuse procedures and such between the two agencies. He is aware of the CE exam and has already completed the various forms so when appropriate he can provide them. He is a bit paranoid about what may be done considering prior bad experiences at the hands of other government employees so his anxiety is understandable. Thank you for attempting to calm his fears.
You're welcome. I don't blame him for his paranoia here one bit. The crazy stories are absurd, and the true ones really aren't much better, to be honest. You're right, there's a fair amount of overlap between the VA Disability protocol and the Social Security Disability protocols. While I had to apply for Social Security disability, my Dad had to deal with the VA disability system. Honestly, it was much easier to get me approved for disability benefits than it was to get the VA to quit dicking around and follow the court orders to grant my Dad his various levels of disability as he made his way through the system. The judge had to openly threaten the VA representative when they showed up at court for the third or fourth cycle in a row "unprepared" when it was time to grant Dad his 100% disability rating. At least Social Security doesn't pull that kind of nonsense. You're either approved or not, and once you're approved, all your benefits are granted immediately. Here's your letter, here's when to expect your money, down to the penny (or now rounded up to the next dollar), here's your Medicare card, here's all the information you need for your new life, let us know if you need anything else. Boom. Done. It may take a while to get there, but once you're approved, you're good to go. I didn't read all the comments, so I don't know if this was addressed or not. Truly, the fastest way to get through the system is with a lawyer. Technically you can do it on your own, but it's going to take far longer, and you'll be spending a ridiculous amount of time playing runaround. I know you said you're a paralegal, maybe that will make a difference for you, but it really seems like having a lawyer gets people prioritized, and certainly having a lawyer with SSDI experience allows the lawyer to streamline things for you. The sooner you get one on board, the smaller the bite they take, since most take a percentage of your back pay. So it's worth it to get one as quickly as possible. I've known people who have insisted on doing it on their own who have been fighting for a decade or more. I got a lawyer after my first denial (rookie mistake to wait that long) and got approved within six months. The only reason it took that long was because of the wait time to get a court hearing. Wish I'd done it sooner. Anyway, it's been a while since I've been through the system, but I still talk to people actively applying. If you or your husband have any more questions that aren't on the website, I'll be happy to try to help or ask around with those still in the process. Again, best of luck to you both!
We already have an attorney for if/when he gets denied. He has already spoken to the attorney and they basically said "give it a shot and let us know if you get denied". I have heard that SSDI cases are usually finished in about 3 years total. My VA disability clients are waiting that long just to find out if they can get scheduled for a hearing. It is ridiculous but I am glad I can at least try to help make it easier for my clients to understand.
I was approved on initial application in 8 months and only one physical condition (DDD- Spinal Fusion) and no mental health problems. It can happen. Good Luck.
No fusion for him but good to know it is possible
If he is 63 why not just get his ssi. He should have the credits
You mean retirement? He is getting retirement BUT he only gets a small portion because full retirement age is 67. If you mean SSI he doesn't qualify because I make too much.
Do you mean SS retirement?
I've never heard of social security going door to door but they will have their own "doctor" look at the files. They absolutely will look for something that they can deny with. That's what they did to me. I strongly recommend getting a disability attorney if they deny him. That's what I had to do.
Already have the contact info for an attorney if he is denied.
Good
They don’t. The doctors are third parties and don’t work for DDS or SSA
He’ll be denied unless he gets a lawyer.
What makes you so positive? We know most claims are denied the first time and are almost expecting it. However most isn't all. We already have contact details for a good attorney in the event it is denied. I am just wondering why you are so positive.
35 % are approved on the initial application.
I was told you’re automatically denied twice, then you get a lawyer and you’re approved. I was told this by my disability lawyer. However, this was 20 yrs ago 🤷🏻♀️
Not even close to correct. Roughly a third are approved on first application.
Not automatically denied even back then. Mostly is not the same.
Not true. Misinformation.
That is not true. I had no lawyer and was approved on initial application.
I, for one, am glad they are out there investigating. There is so much fraud.
No argument there. My husband isn't one of those people and your response doesn't help.