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You are right.

I called the White House on another issue the right to die in Oregon and Rumsfield was going after the passage of it. I told the lady who answered the phone why I wa upset as a man I knew disabled in a wheelchair and pain medicine couldn't help it would kill him. Well, after 20 yrs of the pain and feeling bones coming through he wheeled himself into a vacant swimming pool and drowned to end it all so I would have rather him have the right to be put out of his misery other than drowning to death. And this was before 911 , I told her I think we should close the borders as I have known that people can come into this country into Texas set up a mail box and get social security checks then go back home across the border.

You are right about the situation and what your attorney said. I know someone who went to a mental health person (shrink?) and she got low income housing fast! I don't qualify for social security unless I make so much for next four years and it keeps going up the amount as I mostly worked for a government job and they don't pay into social security so you need to save plus take out disablity insurance in case something happens where you get sick.

It is a mess!

You are one of the lucky ones. They are still denying many people who are in need of disability. I know of one situation where she will probably be dead before they approve it and it's going on seven years. They have also gotten very picky about disability in the last two years. They are not approving for some things that were approved before and that is why they now have the list of 50 qualifying areas. I have been waiting two years. My doctor is furious and I was just called by my attorney this week and the appeal was denied. I now have to start the complete process over. I can only stand fifteen minutes and walk one fourth of a block due to the pain in my back. I have been through tons of medical evaluations. I have no income and the system is broke. I have been told by both social security and my attorney that If I become homeless and go to a shelter I will get it faster. Why should I? I paid into the system for forty years. It really depends on your type of disability. I have a friend whose husband can't breathe and has severe problems daily. It took him six months to qualify. I talk with people on a daily basis who are struggling to qualify including people who have reached the age of social security and it takes forever. But with disabilities the average is 3-5 years. This is my field of expertise and I deal with this on a daily basis. I have another friend who has been fighting for three years due to severe injuries from domestic violence which not only affected her ability to work but her ability to walk. They won't even talk to her before May. People don't realize how many ligitimate situations are being pushed aside and having to wait and their is no help for housing, food, etc if you don't have children. It's a very serious situation which is only going to be compounded by our economy.

Really you don't need a lawyer for certain disabilities but will always be denied the first time.If you don't get a lawyer after the first denial that doesn't mean you may have to wait 5 or more years.They are working disability different now they are trying move it thru faster so they don't have all the red tape.If you truely need it now you will most likely get it the second time.The process was changed when Clinton was in office.I got mine the third time around with no lawyer.So it took me 1.5yrs,when I first applied I was in a chair.