I just wanted some input from others. Through the Fibromyalgia Digest I had talked to someone about my situation of needing to work but not sure if I could. They had someone from the Advocator Group in MA send me papers wanting to help with the process. Of course, everyone involved seem very nice. I have not sent any paperwork off yet. I am skeptical. Yes, it involves a certain percentage if I should be accepted. A place like that; is it just a middleman who takes your money while you end up having to do all the foot work anyways? I'm looking at the paperwork and it looks like they help in some ways but in the future; sounds like I would still need my own representation. Has anyone done business with an agency that is supposed to help Fibro people?? Thanks for any input...
HI SISSY5 NO I DIDNT USE AN AGENCY TRUST ME GET SN ATTORNEY OR GROUP TO REPRESENT YOU THE 1ST TIME BECAUSE I DIDNT WAS DENIED 2 TIMES I HAVE AN ATTORNEY AND WILL HAVE AN ALJ HEARING THE ATTORNEY WONT TAKE ANY CASE UNLESS THEY CAN WIN I HAD A PSYCHOLOGICAL SEESION AT THE ATYORNEYS SUGGESTION ITLL HELP SS HASNT ASKED FOR A PSYCHOLOGICAL OR MEDICSL EVALUATION IF THRY DO THRYLL PAY MINES JUNE 19TH THRN I HAVE TO WAIT 6-8 WEEKS FOR THE DECISION IF DENIED AGAIN ILL KEEP APPEALING UNTIL I WIN I FIRST APPLIED JAN 2012 ASK SOME OF THE OTHERS DOME HSVE USED ALLSUP SND HAVE WON THE 1ST TIME WERE HERE FOR YOU JUST ASK YOULL GET ANSWERS THE GANG HAS HELPED ME WITH THE CORRECT WAY TO USE SAVELLA IM HAVING DIFFICULTY I EXPLAINED AT THE DR APPOINTMENT TODAY ITS GREAT TO HAVE FIBRO PEOPLE WHOVE GONE THROUGH SITUATIONS SND KNOW BETTER THAN THE. DRS OR NURSES UNLESS THRYRE FIBROMITES AND SOME ARE
This is just me talking... If you are using an online source, please do not sign anything at all. Matter of fact if you have already given them your SSI number and not signed anything yet go online to the Social Security Department, make sure you have your account set up and you are password protected now!
I almost got scammed from a big online add saying they can help me get through the filing process. Before I signed, I found out they had logged into my Social Security account, set it up with another email and address. I was able to stop them dead by placing an instant request to block my account until *I* was able to verify who I was and that I was the actual owner of my SSN. Do not become a victim twice.
I recommend if you want legal assistance, find someone local, someone that handles SSID claim assistance, and someone you can talk to face to face. I did that, they gave me some very good ideas on how to proceed and what will be needed from me. They laid out the path and I just followed it and did all the work. Just over 2 months later I had a check and so did they. I think they got 25% of my first check. SSID paid my lawyer directly. I had money in my bank account 2 weeks before SSI notified me that I had been accepted.
What SSID is looking for this year now that they acknowledge Fibromyalgia? A medical history going back several years with a diagnosis of FMS from a Doctor. Inability to have worked for at least 6 months. If you have that, I might just go through the seemingly large amount of online paperwork. Do NOT look at the whole pile, just start one section at a time. It would help if you have a copy of your medical and employment records in hand when you start filling the forms out. Just take it one step at a time. You can always stop and restart where you left off. Submit it when you are ready.
If you believe that SSID may try to fight you, and or your situation is urgent, I would recommend that you have a good Law Firm behind you. I believe that SSID sees that and it may help your position against SSID challenging you in court and loosing anyway.
Again, this is just me talking like I would talk to any of my friends... I am by far no Lawyer, but I am now paranoid against ANY online assistance mill out there who may take advantage of our illness for their gain at our own efforts.
I filled out my own paperwork. It took me a whole afternoon but what I found was they ask you the same questions over and over again just in different ways. I was very consistent with my answers. You need to have all the info for every doctor you are seeing or have seen. You will need their names, addresses and phone numbers. You will need all your meds, names, dosages, and how often you take each one and who they were prescribed by. I was approved the first time thru, which was a miracle.
Thank you, you gave me something concrete to think about...Welcome to the site. I am a newbie too...I really appreciate you taking the time to respond....thanks again...
Thank you. It is great to get input....I'm seriously fibro fogged up to where it's hard to make concrete decisions...It helps to hear from others..Thanks for taking the time to respond...take care...
Wow, good for you, SuzyQ, to stick to your guns and keep appealing until you win! But I dearly hope you won't have to go through it yet again. Hopefully with a lawyer and a psychological session under your belt, you'll have enough ammo to win this time. Fingers crossed!
Just out of curiosity, the big online co that you started out with, did their name start with an A and end with a P? I sure as heck hope not. And I'm really sorry that you almost got scammed like that, PsyberTech. There are some perfectly awful people out there, along with the many wonderful ones.
Yeah, fibro fog is part of the reason why I decided to let someone else handle it for me. That and the pain and fatigue. Still, it looks like several people have managed to get through the paperwork, so it's doable.
I hope you make the best decision for yourself and things go well for you. Good luck!
Hi Jackie, I know this post is from 2013, but I am fairly new to this site and have filed for ssd on my own. I have been struggling with the idea of whether I should hire a lawyer or wait until being denied. You said you were approved the first time. Did you get approved without the help of a lawyer? Thanks for any further info you could share. I hope all is well for you!
Barbara K
I just hired an attorney for SSD because the worrying is too much for my fibromyalgia symptoms. I would just rather let an attorney carry some of the burden plus they no how to help if you been denied.
It took me 3.5 yrs to finally win mine for fibro back in 2003.My first attorney advitised a lot and worked on volume and actually. said nothing at my first hearing.Fired him and hired Dan Soloway and won own his first shot.A. good lawyet will make or break. your casr…Best of wishes wayne
This is just my opinion but I feel that getting a lawyer who specializes in SSDI cases is the way to go. They do all of the ugly paperwork for you, getting medical records from your doctors, filling out the ugly paperwork properly, calling SSI to get things done, etc., etc. I know I was way too ill to do it myself. I also know i couldn't have filled it out properly due to this.
While SSDI lawyers get a cut of the back wages SSDI owes you (one fourth, I believe,) I like to think of it as money that won't be spent (hopefully) waiting many, many months to go through multiple attempts to be approved.
I used Allsup because someone on here also did and recommended them. I won my case the very first time, but I don't think that's the norm.
Hi Barbara, sorry it has taken me so long to respond. Yes I did get approved the first time without the help of an attorney. My husband and I had discussed how we would proceed when I received my denial letter. I was sure I would not get approved the first time because that is what people kept telling me would happen. We thought the best thing for us would be if I went ahead and hired an attorney the first time I got denied. But then one morning in mid November of 2010 I went online to check our cking acct balance and there was money in there. I opened the deposit and realized it was from Social Security Disability. Please keep me updated on how the process goes for you. I wish you luck.
I would recommend a bigger named company for representation. From what I have read they seem to win ( they know how to play the game)
I applied for disability in 2007 , I have had three hearings and now am appealing agin. It’s such a frustration , I wish I could fire my lawyer but , I think I’m too far into it now. Advice : keep a copy of all medical records yourself and anything else that you would send to them. Best of luck !!
Hi Julie what state do you live .where you live makes a big difference.I applied in Jan 2012 was denied REAPPLIED FOR RECONSIDERATION and DENIED AGAIN.I HIRED a family attorney recommended by a family friend that's an attorney. The summer ,2012'he knew what he was found he suggested I see a psychologist to see if it would help my case.I saw one as didn't ask me to see any des sometimes they do if they do they pay not you.I had my hearing l last June 19 2013' I had AFFIDAVIDS FROM the psychologist MY SUPERVISOR and a girlfriend and testimony from a family member.he rehearsed the hearing the Friday before.I kept records of everything.good luck I say PRAYERS for all the furnishings that are still trying to get it.
Did you get approved without the help of a lawyer? Thanks for any further info you could share. I hope all is well for you!