Incidental Information on Social Security Disability

[eyeamdry]

Disclaimer:  I do not mean this will happen to anyone, everyone or whatever.  You are not to take any ideas from this and apply them to yourself.  As we all know at least from reading on here, there is never anything for sure about disability. 

This has nothing to do with me.  I just happen to know someone who filed for social security disability about the middle of June.  The filing was done without an attorney because an attorney said to contact him if she was rejected.  I was thinking back to my own filing about 6 years ago and the timeline I had as I was approved on first try and it seemed like a short period of time.  I was going to tell this person my timeline and say that if theirs was going to be approved immediately with no setbacks, they should hear something pretty soon.  I was using a 10 week minimum.

I didn't even get the chance to say anything.  From talking to the person earlier today, they happened to mention they noticed a deposit when checking their bank account electronically.  It was a deposit from social security administration.  She has had no paper affirmation or phone contact confirming yet.  I assume this will happen within a few days.  For me, I got a voice mail saying I had been approved.  That was a holiday weekend and I had a check in the checking account.

From mine and this person's experience I think that 10-12 weeks is for an application that sails through without any snags.  This doesn't mean that if someone waits 16 weeks that something is wrong either.  After 4-6 months it might be a good thing to call and check your situation.  I am thrilled for my friend.  Lucy

[sunnybunny]

...and you can use me as 'worst case scenario'...lol
...going on 2+yrs. waiting for an appeal court date.
dont want to be political, but thanks "you know who"

IN MY DREAMS.LOL
  ONLY WISH THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN ME

[bsnook]

My brother applied in 2010 (New Hampshire) January and was approved in March of that year with no problems.

I applied in November 2010 was denied in February 2011, appealed in March 2011, denied in July 2011 and appealed and waiting for a court date.  I live in Fort Lauderdale Florida.  My claims handler says it could be as much as 360 days before I get a court date.

Just for info!!!!!

[sunnybunny]

yep.
and by the way, I forgot to add that I have a good,solid file
with multiple Dx,history,letters,frequent Dr visits, and multiple doctor cooperation.

so go figure...the paper pushers are never happy.
makes me think that even when it crossed a sane persons desk
that maybe their hands are just tied...

[Meld256]

Lucy,

I'm also thrilled for your friend!  That's wonderful that she received a check even before an approval letter.

sunnybunny, and others 

I know the wait and appeal time for a hearing is awful. My attorney's office told me that it makes a big difference where you live.  I am fortunate that I live in an area where the regional office is determined to get cases put through asap, and the number of cases is smaller for this rather rural area.  She said if I lived, for example in Lexington, Ky that I could've waited 2 years. Just the fact that if an area has 300,000 cases versus a million. They try to do the best they can with the manpower they have.
I realize those facts don't really help anyone waiting for such a long time, but it seemed to make common sense to me.  Keep hanging in there, sunnybunny.