After reading some posts, I thought I would share with everyone what I learned through this process. It helped me a great deal.
After I could no longer work in September of 03 I filed for SSDI. My local SSI office was extremely difficult to deal with, and treated me as if I were somehow "suspect". Unfortunately, some government employees act as if the funds were coming from their own pocket monthly. I remember breaking down in tears on two occassions after dealing with them.
One day I got so angry, I typed a letter to both local Congressman and I faxed it, just to let them know how degrading this process can be. That's when I learned that in every Congressman's office there is a "Delegate"-a person who deals with SSDI/SSI issues for their constituent's.
In my case,the honorable Congressman Paul Kanjorski's office were a blessing in disguise. Becky of that office made several phone calls, and I was then guided that rest of the way. She could obtain information for me when they stonewalled me, and because of her intervention they treated me much differently.
More recently this year when I told them I wanted to activate my "Ticket to work", the woman demanded I been evaluated again! I knew my rights were being violated because that's not what the ticket to work program was designed for. I called Becky, and Becky immediately called this woman. The next day I got a call from the woman apologizing and telling me I didn't have to be evaluated again by their doctors!
This process can be grueling, and for me parts were humiliating, and humbling. I didn't want to stop working, I didn't want to give up. My body just could'nt do the things my mind were still capable of. The last thing I needed during this process was some bimbo at a Government office to add to my already mounting problems. Im posting this so that others can see that they are not alone,and that there is help. If you are having problems with getting SSDI-call your congressman's office. There is help.
Ihurt

Wow thats great information. I hope it is the same in all states and that I never haveto use your information, but what a great resource you provided! Thank you, and Im sorry you were treated so poorly.

Thanks for sharing the great info. This is helpful for everyone to know not just the P family. Kathy

Thanks so much for sharing this information. I expect to be going through the process of applying for SSD soon, and until you mentioned this I had forgotten that when I visited my local senator's office this past August for Psoriasis Awareness Month, this is exactly one of the things her aide mentioned that they can do for constituents. I'm going to keep it in mind in case I need any assistance when I go through this process. :)

Thanks for posting this vital info. I'd forgotten about the help and assistance we obtained from our congressional aide years ago when my husband was going through the immigration process in Miami. These aides can help not only with immigration and SSDI issues, but any problem your having with a federal agency.

Could someone explain what the ticket to work program is? I have not heard of that before.

The ticket to work program is a program Congress put into effect in 2000 to help diabled people who want to remain self reliant and who want to return to work, although maybe in a limited capacity because of their ongoing disability.
It works like this. You can return to a job that you did before in a limited capacity (with the blessing of your physician only). For 9 months you will continue to receive your benefits despite money you are earning, and you will continue to receive Medicare and other things you are entitled to under SSDI. At the ninth month they evaluate your case, and deduct from your earning anything that was financially related to your job (for instance needing a wheelchair in order to travel there, etc). You will then receive your monetary benefits for three more months before they stop altogether as you continue to work. If you find during this combined 12 month period that you can no longer work, you do not lose your benefits, and the only thing youhave exhausted is you "trial months". If after the 12 months you again become so disabled that you are unable to work, your disability benefits kick back in immediately without going through the entire filing process again (if this happens within the next 35 months).
Ticket to work also provides you with RETRAINING, and job assistance. The government has hired hundreds of "vendors" to retrain people who want to go back to work from a disability,and it's free.
During the entire time you activate your ticket to work, you will not be required to undergo the physical examinations under SSDI rules. You have many protections built in. This program was a good idea by Congress. If you want to find out more you can go to the website www.sss.gov and learn more.
I hope I have explained this in lamesn terms lol. It was of benefit to me, and I do wish I could go back I have many trailo months left, but finding an employer who can give me the limited hours in the type of work I did is almost impossible and that's why Im considering becoming self employed again albeit very part time.
Elaine

Even after your trialmonths are over, you will also continue to receive your Medicare benefits for 96 more months.
Elaine

Thank you for this great thread! I received my second denial letter today for SSDI/SSI and came to the boards to see if I could find some advice. I got excellent advice here in the form of calling my congressmans office. A wonderful lady there is mailing me a release form and is going to write SSA for me, and include the eviction notice I recently got from my landlord. My children and I are sinking fast, I need the disability, and when I thought I had nowhere else to go, except my lawyer who doesnt seem to care much, I found this thread. Thanks again!

Thanks for finding and bumping this thread. Many of us have, or are in the process of applying for disability. Glad to hear you are getting assistance from your representative and sorry to hear you have been mistreated by an employee at the Social Security Administration.