u/Natesonreddit

I've verified from the manufacturer and Costco that they will no longer be carrying "Undercover" Chocolate Quinoa Crisps. If you loved these gluten-free bad-boys as much as I do, and you want to see them come back, leave feedback for your local warehouse and request they be carried as a "regular item". https://www.costco.com/f/-/WarehouseFeedback

I loved the simple ingredients and value was amazing. Unfortunately, I think the only place to get these big 15.3oz bags was at Costco and Amazon - but the Amazon price is twice as much as Costco. And, of course, they can come melted from Amazon due to the summer heat.

https://www.costco.com/p/-/undercover-chocolate-dark-chocolate-quinoa-crisps-153-oz/4000187868

https://preview.redd.it/0vq8iyj1cr5h1.jpg?width=519&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=372cfc8dfd7c9b72c8c5e1b6d9c04c6c9d17e7ed

https://preview.redd.it/uc676sl2cr5h1.jpg?width=502&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=672cc451774e278eaad935c8b2588def818b7a69

I've verified from the manufacturer and Costco that they will no longer be carrying Undercover Chocolate Quinoa Crisps. If you loved these gluten-free bad-boys and you want to see them come back, leave feedback for your local warehouse and request they be carried as a regular item. https://www.costco.com/f/-/WarehouseFeedback

https://preview.redd.it/8kx20tqqar5h1.jpg?width=519&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=44c2b21f8972054f8d31fc59103020ccb944ea6e

https://preview.redd.it/o3rjsk4xar5h1.jpg?width=502&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b651d9906eafd99eabd297c313454a66fe8fcefc

The reviews for SSDI attorneys in my area look scary. I called a couple that looked promising and got misinformation from both of them.

A third one, a bit further away, had stellar reviews but said they are a small firm and don’t take on more complex cases with people past their DLI date.

After digesting my experience and reading between the lines here are the conclusions I’ve come to:

1. SSDI attorneys want easy, low hanging fruit. They know they are only going to get paid a max of $9,200, if that, and it will probably take years before they see that money.
2. They know most claims do not get approved, even after going in front of a judge.
3. Keeping the above two points in mind, I feel like many of these attorneys are launching low effort free-throws and simply playing the numbers – knowing, from experience, that a low percentage of their cases are going to get approved and result in pay. They know the system well – in regard to the forms, the processes, etc - they probably have things fairly streamlined and are pretty efficient in this respect. But there’s little incentive to focus additional time and effort on more tedious or difficult cases, or complex health conditions, that fall outside their range of ordinary processes because the pay-out is far into the future and also less likely to happen. So you get less than idea representation and service. And it’s not much skin off their back, if they make half-assed free-throws since they are likely playing the numbers game, with a high volume of clients.

One firm near me, with mostly “decent” ratings, and that came recommended from the third attorney I spoke to, outsources some of their case managers to people in foreign countries who have no legal background. They even published a highly curated “interview” with one of them, on youtube, which they were oddly proud of – despite it being obvious that this person is in no way qualified to be handling SSDI claims – either in education or in experience. There were people complaining in reviews about their cases not being handled properly under these circumstances.

I feel totally screwed because the amount of firms willing to take my post-DLI case is going to be limited – and those I have to choose from are incentivized to promise me the world before signing up with them, then give me low effort, poor representation, and terrible service once I sign on the dotted line.

Of course, I can get a new attorney if it doesn’t work out, but that would not be easy. Plus, my understanding is that they would typically split their portion of the payout, which would be a lot less incentivizing for the next firm to put much effort into my case.

Also: The Big Beautiful Bill Act will be stripping me of state Medicaid, next year, and I’m too ill to meet the work / volunteer requirements. I already spend 15K+ a year on medical expenses outside of what Medicaid covers. I’m going to need two surgeries and PT over the next two / three years. If I have to buy insurance on the open market next year that will be about 9K for premiums and another 12K max out of pocket deductible (going up next year) – making my total medical expenses each year at least $36,000-40,000 dollars. On top of my living expenses, I won’t have a penny to my name in two years – and will face certain homelessness in my future.

I don’t know yet if I can be determined “medically frail”. I believe I should be, since I have an accumulation of issues that prevent me from working, but it sounds like that is a judgement call that has to be applied for. Most of the examples given for being medically frail are extremely severe, like cancer, end-stage renal disease, etc.

Hence why I feel 1000% doomed.

Any helpful pointers in finding qualified attorneys and remaining on state Medicaid, next year, would be helpful.