Freaking out! Need help with SSI.

[Kay1]

My son is severely disabled by autism. I applied for SSI for him last October. The representative faxed his application to DDS to speed things along. The information she gave me said the process should take 120 days and to call if we hadn't heard anything by then.

Well, today made 120 days and the mailman brought nothing. I called the rep's extension and found out she's away until next week. I talked to another rep in that office and she gave me the number to DDS. When I called them, they'd never heard of my son.

I called the SSA 800-number the rep left on her voice mail and learned that DDS was correct; my son's files were never sent. Four months of waiting for nothing. We received the expected denial letter from SSD, so something went through somewhere.

I called the local office back but they were closed. I'll call the original rep back on Monday but I'd like to know if there's anything else I can do. When I speak to her can I ask her to put some sort of flag on his records, as in "Rush this one, there was a error made?"

Is there anything else you can think of? Should I call my congressman tomorrow? I'm so upset, I'm crying and spitting nails at the same time.

 

[rosebud4]

I work in social services and it never hurts to have a representative's office. Have the denial letter where you can reference to it, there is always some way to identify who sent it out. If you are faxing the records again, on the cover sheet, I always use a bold sharpie to write the representative's name and also ask that it is also given to the supervisor. None of the workers like having anything in the fax in big bold print. It gets acted on faster. I would also call and ask to speak with the rep's supervisor who can act in the rep's place or reassign it to be acted on faster. You may also contact the local non-profit on autism, sometimes they have advocates who will do the calling for you. Hope some of this helps.

 

[Kay1]

I work in social services and it never hurts to have a representative's office. Have the denial letter where you can reference to it, there is always some way to identify who sent it out. If you are faxing the records again, on the cover sheet, I always use a bold sharpie to write the representative's name and also ask that it is also given to the supervisor. None of the workers like having anything in the fax in big bold print. It gets acted on faster. I would also call and ask to speak with the rep's supervisor who can act in the rep's place or reassign it to be acted on faster. You may also contact the local non-profit on autism, sometimes they have advocates who will do the calling for you. Hope some of this helps.

The denial letter doesn't bother me. My rep told me I would get two letters: one SSD that would be denied and then one regarding the SSI which he is qualified for. I'm not sure who messed this up. Ifthe rep can't explain it I guess I will have to ask for her supervisor. Maybe it was just the wrong push of a button.

I was worried DDS might have lost his files. It never occurred to me they wouldn't get them from my rep in the first place. Well, I guess this is why people use lawyers.

 

[deerhart]

calling your congressman will get you no where. All SSA does is put a flag on the case to send updates to the Congressman, but it does NOT affect how they treat your case or speed things up.

A BETTER option is to see if you can get transferred to someone in Public Relations for SSA in your area. I had a TERRI (terminal) claim that got seriously botched by a local office (they never sent the file to DDS). After sending them the entire file 3 times, going through 3 reps AND the supervisor, I ended up calling a regional office and speaking with the assistant vice president of public relations for the entire area. My client's file was at DDS within a week, DDS flagged the file and had it assigned the day it arrived (which that alone can take upwards of two to four weeks) and we had a decision one week after that (which DDS faxed to my office).

Also, most SSA disability lawyers that I know (including myself) rarely get involved at the initial level. I will do it with some clients if we are also doing a PI or workers comp claim for them. It is purely an economic decision as the way SSA rules are set up, if the person is approved at the inital level over 60% of the time there is no backpay for the attorney to collect a fee. Also, there isn't much an attorney can do at that level.

 

[Kay1]

calling your congressman will get you no where. All SSA does is put a flag on the case to send updates to the Congressman, but it does NOT affect how they treat your case or speed things up.

A BETTER option is to see if you can get transferred to someone in Public Relations for SSA in your area. I had a TERRI (terminal) claim that got seriously botched by a local office (they never sent the file to DDS). After sending them the entire file 3 times, going through 3 reps AND the supervisor, I ended up calling a regional office and speaking with the assistant vice president of public relations for the entire area. My client's file was at DDS within a week, DDS flagged the file and had it assigned the day it arrived (which that alone can take upwards of two to four weeks) and we had a decision one week after that (which DDS faxed to my office).

Also, most SSA disability lawyers that I know (including myself) rarely get involved at the initial level. I will do it with some clients if we are also doing a PI or workers comp claim for them. It is purely an economic decision as the way SSA rules are set up, if the person is approved at the inital level over 60% of the time there is no backpay for the attorney to collect a fee. Also, there isn't much an attorney can do at that level.

Deerhart, thank you. I found out what happened. It took several phone calls but I finally reached a sharp, caring agent at the 800 number. She couldn't figure it out so she called technical analyst.The problem was an illegible SSA-827. My son's writing it terrible, but that's part of his disability. She made an appointment at my local office to fill out a new form. She said Scott's file has been pulled and will be expedited as soon as they receive a new 827.

SSA told me they bumped Scott's file back to the local office and they were supposed to have called me a long time ago. When I went in today, I was told I was at the wrong office. They actually tried to get me to drive to another town! When I told the agent that I was at the office where I was sent in October and home office of my representative, she filled out a new 827, said she would put it on my rep's desk and for me to call the rep to make sure all went well.

When I got home, I realized she put my name and SS # on the form.
I called my rep and left two messaged then just got back in the car and went back to SSA. I got a different agent who filled out the form correctly. If my rep doesn't call me today, I'll call her until I'm able to speak with her. Now I have the number for DDS, I'll keep checking up on them. In the meantime, I'm going to do a search for a local SSA PR rep because what is happening to my son's case is just plain wrong.

 

[deerhart]

Just an FYI, Form 827 (which are SSA's authorization to release medical records to SSA) can be printed off the SSA website. That is usually much faster then driving down, filing it out etc.. you can just print if off at home and either mail or drop it off at the office.

In fact, just about every form SSA has can be printed off their website.

 

[Kay1]

Just an FYI, Form 827 (which are SSA's authorization to release medical records to SSA) can be printed off the SSA website. That is usually much faster then driving down, filing it out etc.. you can just print if off at home and either mail or drop it off at the office.

In fact, just about every form SSA has can be printed off their website.

I figured that out over the weekend. I did a search on Google images. If you'e still here, deerhart, how often do you think I should call SSA and DDS? I think I need to stay on top of things without creating feelings of hostility.

I've encountered many individuals who do not inspire confidence.

 

[deerhart]

Usually once every 10-14 days should suffice given your situation.

If it was a normal situation, then about once a month is the typical follow up.

 

[Kay1]

Usually once every 10-14 days should suffice given your situation.

If it was a normal situation, then about once a month is the typical follow up.

I appreciate your advice, deerhart, and will take it. I hope other parents will listen and learn from my situation. You really have to stay on top of your child's case.

 

[kittycat9]

I'm of no help. My son has cerebral palsy and will not qualify until his 18th birthday - though he did qualify while he was in the NICU (because the hospital wanted the funds). We exceed the minimal requirements in our state for any funding assistance.

 

[Kay1]

I'm of no help. My son has cerebral palsy and will not qualify until his 18th birthday - though he did qualify while he was in the NICU (because the hospital wanted the funds). We exceed the minimal requirements in our state for any funding assistance.

Same here. We only applied after he turned 18. Things seem to moving along as they should. His case was sent to DDS on Tuesday and they already sent us forms to fill out. I'm feeling a lot better about the whole thing.