Pete?

Just curious to know if you are getting a new lawyer for your SSDI appeal or staying with the same group that you already hired?  If I remember right, you weren't to impressed with the ones you had.

Hi Jag,
To answer your question, even though I was discousted w/ the lawers I had hired, I had no choise but to stay w/ them or end up paying fines. I descided to stay w/ them but have not cut them any slack since finding mistakes they made at first. I have gone through 2 case workers and am w/ one now who seems OK. Now that I was denied, I'll get a new appeils case worker along w/ the OK one until we win or loose. They told me it gennerally takes 4~6 months to get through the appeil.

I usually call them about once a week even if I haven't heard anything new, just to keep them on their toes and to make sure we are not forgetting anything. I'm sure they have a couple good names the use for me when the receptionist tells them I'm holding!!! My biggest gripe right now is I can't see what the SSD dr's I saw wrote about me. According to my case worker, I will not be privvy to that info until or if we have to have a hearing. It hardly seems fair but then again, what does about the whole proccess??

Since I only recieved my rejection letter last Sat. and monday was a holliday, I called my lawers on Tues and they didn't call back till yesterday, I haven't started any paperwork yet. It's as they say> in the mail! We'll see what transpires and I'll keep my fingers crossed!

Hang in there, if karma has any play w/ SSD, we'll be in no problem because "We is GOOD PEOPLES" Gotta believe in something, Right???

Stay possitive kido>>> We shall overcome!!!!
Your bud,
Pete

PS>Keep me posted if you hear anything and I'll do the same for you! It's nice to have someone to go through this mess w/ even though I wish you had gotten it on your first try!

Good morning Pete!!! If your interested on what information you will need to get together for your appeal I thought I'd let you know the form that you need to fill out for it. If you go to the SS website check out form SSA-3441-BK. This is the appeal form and it asks for any information that has occurred since you last filed.

My lawyer sent me one to fill out for our appt. and as normal I screwed it up, so read through it before starting to fill it out so you don't do what I did. I printed another one from the website and this time I am doing my answers on scrap paper before transferring to the form.

Remember to be precise. Don't just say your pain has increased, tell them how much and what causes it. If you need to sit in the recliner to alleviate back pain tell them how much of your day is spent in the chair (I put 2 hrs, plus I put that I have to take breaks while watching a movie or playing a board game so I don't have hip pain and stiffness). On the med effects I am adding that my typing error rate has increased so they don't think they can set me in front of a computer all day.

Hope this helps.

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---Jag---