Social Security Administration

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News • No Social Security Cost Of Living Increase In 2010 • Recession Creating New Drain On Social Security • The Earnings Suspense File: Social Security's "Secret Stash" --- Consumer Complaints • Retirement benefits • Disability benefits --- • More about seniors ...

There are two Social Security programs available to people with disabilities:

• Social Security Disability Insurance pays benefits to you and certain members of your family if you are "insured" meaning that you worked long enough and paid Social Security taxes;
• Supplemental Security Income pays benefits based on financial need.

These programs are administered by the Social Security Administration, a huge bureaucracy that, like all government agencies, moves at a plodding pace. It can be very difficult to resolve disputes, as the complaints below sadly illustrate.

If you are having problems, it may be helpful to contact your Congressional representative. You can find the contact info at http://www.house.gov. Frequently an inquiry from Congress helps get things moving.

linda of westfield ma, MA July 21, 2009

i was recieving disability benefits and now 70.oo of my goverment benefits are being taken away from me and this is causing me a heartship the money taken away from me is to much money and is an unfear amount when my income from socialsecurity does not pay for all of my disability exspences. i was in a hospital and medication had to be changed because of added stress level after unfair increase of deduction from benefits accured i became overwelmed and started having severe panic attackes

Bruce of Scappoose, OR April 3, 2009

my husband is dying of lung cancer, he can hardly walk or get out of bed, has been turned down for almost 3 years now, mounds of paper work sent in, had to get legally separted, they said that would work, denied, 0 income, denied, 3 monthe behind on rent and bills, food stamps denied, my husband will be dead before anything happens, we have a daughter that should be getting support also, denied, what happened to our system, what has to be done before people sit up and take notice, bail out money needs to help the less fortunate, not the wealthy.

unbeliveable emotional stress what more can i say.

Kathleen of Sacramento, CA March 1, 2009

I am in the serious-poor stages of COPD-Emphysema (along with a few other serious incurable diseases), on oxygen 24/7 perm., and Social Security still won't believe me. I have also been through the worst medical nightmare from 2004-2006 with doctors messing up on important heart and lung tests, and also using very old and uncalibrated medical equipment.

I should have been put on oxygen back then as my 02 stats were in the 60's-80's (from my new oximeter), but nobody would believe me. When I made complaints to the CA Medical board because I could barely breathe, I had much dizziness, bleeding problems, and was in so much pain, they didn't even care. Doctors mocked me and called me a liar.

I couldn't even walk 3 blocks to get to the grocery store and eventually couldn't even get across the street to the park. My 11 yr. old daughter had to push me in a manual wheelchair (that her dad found for me in an alley) from 2004-2006. I was still barely working p/t then and used my income tax (2006) to get a cheap 3-wheel electric scooter to take this burden off my

daughter. I would never have put her through this but this was very serious, and none of the docs would help me. It was doctors #7,8 and 9 that gave me more tests and found out I have ulcerative colitis, high cholesterol, 20% sclerosis on the left side of my neck, Osteoporosis, Degenerative Disease Stage 2, and serious-poor COPD. I was finally given pain meds and meds for my bleeding at the end of 2006 and finally put on oxygen 24/7 perm. in Feb/March 2007.

I used to work 50 hours a week and ride the tandom bike with my daughter 5-10 miles most every day, swam laps, skated, and many other fun things years ago. I worked hard for 36 years of my 52 and paid many taxes. I even have the credits from my SSDI to get over 1000 a month. I first found out I had COPD in Nov. 2003 with 66% of my lungs functioning. I had smoked and toked for 25 years but quit 13 yrs. ago. I could feel my breathing getting worse over the years but in 2003 I couldn't even finish reading a chapter in a book to my daughter, and was unable to finish my work. I had to keep cutting down on my work load more and more.

Since I could feel my health getting worse, I filed for my SSDI in Oct. 2004. I was only making 800 mth. then and this is also below the S.S. guide lines ( I used to make 1500 or more). It was quite a struggle trying to do this little work and I could barely breathe, but I kept trying, just so we wouldn't become homeless. It was not easy living on 800 mth. to pay 555 rent, bills, and food. In Feb. 2007 I was let go of my job because I couldn't do the work anymore.

I worked at home telemarketing for the Sac. Assoc. for the Retarded for 12 years. They were kind enough to give us enough money (about 800 mth.) to live on until we filed for welfare in June 2007. After being denied 5 times from the Soc. Sec., I filed a Pro-Se Civil Action Suit in the Federal Court against them in Feb. 2007. I couldn't even find a lawyer to help me then but thank God after 1 years (Sept. 2008), the federal court judge has allowed me my motion for summary judgment and denied the Commissioner.

I guess the federal court judge doesn't have the jurisdiction to give me my SSDI. I also refiled in April of 2007 for my SSDI, because I was so worried about how long this court case would take and worried about paying rent, bills, etc. I did finally get a lawyer to help me with this 2nd case, too, but only because my doc signed medical reports that I am no longer able to work and seriously disabled permanently. My doc also noted that my serious health started in Oct. 2004, when I first filed for my SSDI. I can't understand why I even need a lawyer because all they seem to care about is the money, just like our gov.

Now I am told that my SSDI case has been sent to the Administrative Law Judge (in Sacramento) and it will be another year or more before it is reviewed and then I have to go through another hearing. I can't take much more of this and I may not even live that long. I have a very dear son, brothers, and other family members that I haven't been able to see in over 10 years. They all live in Texas, Illinois, and Oklahoma, and we haven't been able to afford these trips.

I was hoping and praying to have a very big and happy reunion with all of them using this back pay from my SSDI, and also pay everyone back that has been so very kind to help us over the years. This reunion may turn into my funeral the way things are going.

Marcia of Memphis, TN February 24, 2009

My husband has been charged with overpayment of a large sum of money. I have just read only a few situations of others and this is ridiculous. When is this going to stop? I lived through the IRS era when they scared the wits off of people when they couldn't pay them. I read about human beins committing suicide because they didn't want liens on their home. Eventually, even the IRS has new policies now and it is time someone takes a look at the SS system.

I plan on praying on this and hopefully open a door for all people that need help. We can understand all their SS talk, policies, dates, reviews, etc. If you say the word appeal, they look at you like you may know something about their background. It only takes one to get te ball rolling. I remember when I owed the IRS back taxes and they deducted 1/2 of each of my paychecks monthly. I brought that on myself and was thankful that I learned a lesson. Social Security owes us respect, dignity and understanding. They are like doctors, they hold our life in their hands!!!!!

Joe of Valley Stream, NY January 25, 2009

As a garbage man for 23 years I was severly injured. I have been out of work for over 5 years. My health has gotten much worse. I now also have stomach ulcers, athritis and severe depression from the financial situation I have been put in.I have been turned down by the ssd adm again and again.

Although my IQ was 98 even I know how corrupt the ssd adm is. I even have proof with plenty of evidence.  I also know of tax payers who died of cancer and were turned down by the ssd adm doctors. As a result of the corrupt ssd adm. I would be living in Penn Station but I have a wonderful sister who believs that charity begins at home. I believe the moral of my particular story is that People should do evry thing they can to work off the books and to save as much as possible for an emergency fund and that to love their family as much as possible and hope they do and will continue to do so.

Kmr of Olympia, WA September 6, 2005

My SSD application was denied for four years. I could not work due to Bipolar Illness. I was advised to file for interim assistance a.k.a. GA-U/GA-X from my state. In my state, that's under 350 monthly.

Pyschosis I did not ask for kept me from working. Some of the SSA docs even wrote that I was acting crazy to get benefits! Please... I made ALOT more working. The amount of time it took to prove that even though I could work extremely limited jobs, I could not make a living made me homeless. I was denied due to the forementioned. I finally got a good lawyer and we won! But the road travelled was not easy. I would never CHOOSE it. This message from a fellow connisseur of soup kitchens.

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