r/SSDI

The SSA reps have gotten so so bad under the current administration. One just told me my benefits had a “miscellaneous suspension” and I called again and confirmed that that was inaccurate. There’s absolutely no oversight. Reps cannot figure out any information, I was trying to call about my backpay and no one can tell me anything. Different reps seem to see completely different info. And the line that once went to the local office that tended to be more helpful now goes to whatever office picks up the call

Has anyone been approved for POTS, Chronic pain syndrome, major depressive disorder recurrent, generalized anxiety disorder, ADHD, insomnia, pseudo dementia, chronic moto tic disorder, brain fog, proteinuria, morbid obesity, chronic left foot pain, urinary urgency and frequency, Poor memory, word-finding difficulty, forgetting purpose of entering rooms, losing items, difficulty explaining herself. Clumsiness with tripping, running into walls, and dropping objects. Intermittent episodes of visual loss or difficulty seeing, difficulty focusing, hypertension? Yes these are all my conditions, yes I’m following all my specialists and speaking about my limitations as much as possible and I believe they are documented in a way SSA would want, I have a lawyer, it’s my first time, I’m 30 & I’m in Ohio. Anyone been approved for any combo of these or think I would get approved? Been out of work for a year and 2 months now. Filed in April. Yes I know it’s a long process.

I got info that I got approved yesterday for ssdi when will my backpay and first payment be. I try to setup direct deposit but social security told me I have to wait till I get my award letter in the mail.

If SSA says a CE is necessary, how far out do they usually schedule them? Is this question even answerable as it's case-by-case? Thanks!

I applied for SSDI in May of this year. I have ADHD, Depression, Anxiety and PTSD. I am 36 y/o. SSDI had me attend a regular Medical Exam and a Mental Health Exam. They also scheduled me for an X-ray which is ridiculous because I have no back injury and only put that I have some back aches after holding my baby for a period. After finishing the Mental Health Exam, the examiner said “we will get you started on benefits.” I was surprised, as I didn’t know that they made the determination there. I am obviously happy but don’t want to get my hopes up, as I have had a rough past few years and am not used to anything going my way. Should I expect benefits, or is it possible I still can be denied even though the mental health examiner determined I am disabled?

My claim is on step 4. When I called 1800 line, they told me it was approved. However, my GP just received a request for medical records after it went to step 4.

Has anyone experienced this?

So what type of lawyer do I need to file for a District Court Review of my disability case? I was denied by the ALJ and just received denial from the appeals board. What can I do and who else has been through this?

hi all,

I just had a neuropsychological evaluation to investigate the nature and severity of my self-reported cognitive dysfunction, which is part of my disability claim. My main problems are feeling like it's been really difficult to learn/retain new concepts, focus, self-direct my work, and follow procedures consistently. After getting long covid in 2024 there's also a very specific symptom related to brain fog that I don't think the eval would capture since it's usually delayed.

I have autism level 1, ADHD, long covid, panic disorder/agoraphobia, OCD, PTSD, and difficulties with complex noise. I also recently received a diagnosis of undifferentiated connective tissue disease with lupus-like features and had been concerned about potential impact on cognition.

I actually did extremely well on my eval. My neuropsychologist said I scored 99th+ percentile in most tests with exceptional scores in verbal processing. This was very surprising to me to hear. I was hoping for some answers about my cognitive dysfunction, and after sleeping on it, I'm even a little worried it could look like I'm falsifying cognitive dysfunction. This is ongoing cognitive dysfunction that has cost me a very high paying job and multiple job opportunities.

My neuropsychologist thinks the cognitive dysfunction is not from illness and is likely from ADHD, stress intolerance/emotional problems, and dysautonomia (which impacts blood flow to brain). He even started discussing implementing work accommodations and I began to panic because I've had many of the accommodations he mentioned, and nothing has really helped me succeed at work.

In this scenario, what is the most useful medical documentation to prove I'm not making my difficulties up? Is there a type of neuropsychological eval where they can recreate work-like conditions and stressors? Would having testimony from past employers help me more now? have you dealt with a similar situation?

edit to say - I have very limiting physical conditions which are well documented, but I am 29, and highly educated. I'm worried this eval will make me look more cognitively capable than I am in a real-world setting with ongoing stressors and complex noise. so this is about trying to match my claim with the legal matrix

Okay I applied March 28th 2023. Denied for the first time August of 2024. Sent to a mental health exam November 6th 2025. Was denied November 28th 2025. After the first denial I retained an attorney they appealed it I'm sorry they reconsidered it then they appealed the reconsideration denial on November 30th. Had an alj hearing scheduled July 8th 2026 and got the denial notification from my attorney and the Houston North hearing office today, the decision letter was mailed out on the 13th of this month.

My attorney has stated that she is send a brief and my file to an appellate firm for federal court I am confused does this mean that I don't go through the SSA appeals council or I've already gone through the appeal council and is going straight to the federal court appeal.

I'm just really confused so if anybody can shed some light because I cannot access my social security account via the social security website because I have a VoIP protocol phone number.

Alright all,

7 wake ups and I will be on the line with Judge and attorney!

Short quick catchups:
Hired law firm before January 2025

1. First applied Jan 2025
2. Denied Feb 2025
3. Sent to DDS Feb 2025
4. DDS requests a physical May 2025
5. DDS hires a vocational expert June 2025
6. Denied Jul 2025
7. Applied for hearing Aug 2025
8. Nov 2025 we asked for a trial &
   Aug 2026 here we are today!!!

Any advice for someone who stutters, stammers, and has absolutely no way I can justify driving or talking to anyone?
Or has any sense of self care or trying to remember a reason for asking a question. Honestly if I can get out of bed, do morning routines, break for coffee ……. Well it will be a good time for us all!!!

Ugh, what a wonderful challenge this 2nd half of life will be,,,

I use to get botox in my head for migraines brought on by brain surgery, i get SSDI and was wo deri g when it co.es time for a CDR will I get denied for renewal cause I quit a procedure or even if I quit a certain pill for migraines . Always curious about how it all works cause my first review is end of next year.

I just got my first monthly chat today, my question is does the back pay check come before your monthly check or after?

I wonder if anyone similar?

I saw this rule and I am 1 year away from being 55. Going back to my job, would be dangerous, possibly even fatal if I have a breakthrough seizure. Which lets be real, you never REALLY know how long you may or may not be seizure free.

2. Easier to Prove Disability:

• For individuals aged 55-59, if you can no longer perform your past relevant work and have no transferable skills to other work that you can perform given your residual functional capacity (RFC), you are more likely to be found disabled.
• Reference: Nolo - Social Security Disability Over Age 55

Hello,

Can auxiliary benefits the child is entitled to under my SSDI put in a 529 account that would be under my name until he turns 18 to cover college costs for his future. Until 18 he would be the owner, but not have access to the funds. Parents would control funds.

TLDR: Will setting up a DBA [NOT an LLC or S-Corp] count as significant work activity even if you only have it for privacy for a side gig that makes maybe $50/mo?

I was approved in 2022 with an onset date in 2019. I have not done any paid work since then. However, prior to my disability, I had published a few books that have been making royalties, about $50-$100 every month. Nothing much. I've tried reporting it every month to SSA and usually they ask for a paystub and I explain I don't have an employer, the royalties are just deposited into my account. Usually, we then get into a discussion about if the books were written/published before or after disability onset. I did have a few more books published after disability onset, but they were all written before, it's just that publishing is slow. So far, all of the work was work done before disability. And everyone I've spoken to at the SSA has decided that this isn't SGA nor is it significant work activity.

I have written another book, and it did take a lot of time and there were months where I couldn't work on it at all, weeks were all I could do is jot down a note or two in a journal, and the occasional (winter) month where I could get some solid progress, but it was all when I was up at 3am with insomnia or nightmares or pain. I can't stick to a deadline at all anymore so the editors I was working with aren't doing so anymore... So there's no contracts on the horizon as no one really wants to work with me since I can't handle it.

Anyway, I am reaching the final stages of this novel, and I do want to publish it myself and I want to do so under a pen name. All my previous works were under my legal name. I want to set up a Fictitious Business Name aka a DBA/Doing Business As so that I can maintain my privacy (all previous novels were PG or PG-13, this one is... very much not and I don't need my family finding that.) Most retail platforms (Amazon KDP, Kobo Writing Life, B&N Press) that allow independent publishing do not require any proof such as a DBA form to allow you to publish under a Pen Name. They do ask for Legal Name for tax purposes. Some do require a DBA; Apple Books does want you to provide legitimate proof of a DBA, otherwise you must use the name on your ID. But I feel like a DBA would just allow some extra privacy as I could use it with anyone I might need to interact with professionally (if, for example, I want to get a PO Box, I can do it under the DBA) and not risk my real name being accidentally exposed.

I do not expect this novel to make any sort of significant royalties, either. Maybe another $30/mo on top of what I get from my previous books.

My fear is that setting up the DBA will trigger some sort of CDR or count toward Ticket to Work. I had my most recent CDR (short form, no further review required) in December 2025. But I'm not doing more than maybe 3 or 4 hours of work per week, but there's often months at a time where the work is 0 hours because I am just in bed. I'm not running a business really, just wanting some privacy. I don't want to lose my benefits and Medicare over this. If getting a DBA will cause issues, I just won't publish the book. But has anyone encountered this? I'm afraid to even mention it to SSA for fear it will trigger another review when I just went through all the stress 10 months ago.

TLDR again: Will setting up a DBA [NOT an LLC or S-Corp] count as significant work activity even if you only have it for privacy for a side gig that makes maybe $50/mo?

I got the cessation letter

I have had 2 CD reviews previously that went through no problem. Randomly this year they did another one, which they made me go to the exam with their Dr (a maybe 5 min meeting with a man older than Mother Mary who didn't do hardly anything). They said they'd send me the report and they never did and then a couple days ago I got the cessation letter. The reason was "there may be other work you can do". Come to find out my sleep Dr (I have narcolepsy) just got their release of records on August 4th and the determination was made on the 5th. The sleep specialist said she didn't even get any forms to fill out or requests for anything. Neither did my primary care doctor.

1. I thought they had to find improvement?

2. they didn't request any records from anyone, so how could they drop me?

They don't seem to be following their own rules and I'm scared because I nap 2x a day for about 2 hours each time. Some days are worse and some are better. I can't imagine any job that I could do when I am struggling to function as it is.

Do I give it up?
Edit* read the rules

36 y.o. by the end of the year and I have my 40 work credits but I was still denied as a 100% P&T veteran. Explanation said "You may not be able to do the kind of work you have in the past but you should still be able to work even if the pay is less".

My most recent job let me go due to my disability hindering my performance at work back in 2024. I have not been employed since. They wanted me to sign a paper to step down but I refused and they basically sent my last check in the mail, removed me from the group chat and stopped scheduling me after that.

To recap, I remember not being able to button my pants one morning so I told a sgt. who sent me to medical, I spent weeks in the hospital having test ran and trying to figure out what was wrong. I lost all fine motor skills and grip strength, I couldn't dial a phone number or hold eating utensils ect. They did MRI's EMG's EKG's all the test. The dr. Said it could be early signs of Alzheimer's or Parkinson's. Well they sent me back to my unit and eventually I was medically discharged from the Army and told to move somewhere warm because cold weather triggered my symptoms.

Being from West Virginia I had dealt with cold weather before so this was all new to me. I'm kicked out of the army and sent back home. I slowly gain the fine motor skills back by playing video games. I get my hands working again and even met my future roommate playing online. The guy says he can get me a job driving for a fedex contractor. I pack my car and leave WV for Florida. Florida is fantastic. I got a friend from WV who moved to Tampa so I crash at his place and drive to Davenport for the FedEx interview. Met the guy I played the game with and he does get me the job at FedEx. I'm making the best money I've ever made but the labor is brutal. I bump into the shelf in the truck and my entire body starts zinging and pulsating. Instant pain sends me to the floor for a moment. Now I'm starting to figure out what else triggers the symptoms. It starts to affect me regularly now, riding with the door or windows open on the FedEx truck makes my arms and legs ache from the cold air. Holding the steering wheel my hands ache and cramp from being in the same position. I bump into a doorframe or shelf and that entire side of my body goes numb.

I seek medical treatment, I get affiliated with Veterans affairs. They get me to 10% disability and I finally get a diagnosis so I can start understanding what's going on with my body. Charcot Marie tooth disease is a degenerative neuropathy where the protective casing around your nerves gets weaker over time. That's the general basis of the condition. So now I'm building my treatment history and getting seen for these symptoms but the treatment is just pain management. I'm getting acupuncture which by far was the best medicine I've received to date, besides that I was provided wrist splints/braces to keep my wrist from bending because it puts pressure on the nerves in my hands.

FedEx becomes too physical for me to handle so I have to step away after peak season and this is when I started to pursue my BA in digital media/game design. I get a part time job selling sneakers and athletic apparel. The work is less demanding than FedEx and I'm earning employee of the quarter accolades and being asked about leadership roles and management opportunities. I tell them I can't at the moment because I'm a full time student and this goes on until I graduate in 2023 but by this time my body is still on a decline and they end up asking me to sign the resignation paperwork.

I end up getting rear ended coming from a VA dr appointment one morning and that totaled my car and further injured me.

Fast forward to today I've been out of work for 2 years, I'm married with 1 child and I can't seem to get called in for an interview or approved for disability.

Just got off the phone with Morgan and Morgan, they declined to represent me during the appeal process and I mainly think it's because I considered myself self employed as an indie game developer but I have yet to make a single dollar from it.

Looking at some of the VA paperwork it says the following

"Degenerative changes at L3-L4, L4-L5 and L5-S1 with superimposed broad-based disc protrusion with extrusion at L4-L5 with effacement of bilateral lateral recess, worse left than right.
Effacement of the left L5 nerve root within the lateral recess.
Please correlate for left L5 radiculopathy."

So between the CMT and the radiculopathy my arms and legs are either numb, aching, pinching, stabbing, or zinging at any given moment. I'm now 100% P&T but I can't seem to get hired because I'm being up front about my disability during the application process. It's very ironic that I went to school to be an artist but I can barely color or draw for a few moments before my hands hurt.

TLDR: I needed to vent