??To those who have been approved

[ICNNINA]

How long did it take? I just got my latter last week. YAY!! It has been almost 2 years. But my hearing was the 6th and it was fully favorable. Just wondering about how long it took to get a check from the time you were approved. My attorney said possibly 6 weeks. I am so relieved that we won!! It feels wonderful!

[LisaK]

I had my hearing on October 8 and got my approval letter on October 31, but I still havent gotten a check yet. Did you sign up for direct deposit? If you did check your account every day because they told me it could be in your account possibly before you receive the papers from the payment center. They also told me that if you received SSI that it may take a little longer to process the SSD. I didnt get the SSI and I am still eagerly awaiting. I sure need it and I know you do to. Way to go I am so happy for you. Let me know when you get your check I want to know how long it takes you too. Good Luck!!! LisaK

[ICNNINA]

Thanks Lisa, yes I will get both ssd and ssi. So I guess it could take awhile huh?
I will let ya know when I get mine, it will be coming in the mail.
Congrats to you too! Hugs!

[readingmom]

Hey out there! How do you go about starting the process of applying? I haven't worked a full-time job in a while. I have tried to do a part-time home based business, but I just don't have the energy. We really need extra money. My meds alone are about $300 a month. I'm sure that some of you have even higher bills. I just can't work!! I really dodn't know that you could even apply for disability for this. I don't know if I can or not because it's been so long since I worked a "real" job. Can anybody help? Thanks-Christie(readingmom)

[ICNNINA]

Hi Christie. You just need to call the social security office and they will mail you out an application. I will warn you, for most of us, its a long hard battle, but also one that can be won in the end. It took me almost 2 years from beginning to end. Like I said I just got my approval letter last week. Some people find it helpful to hire an attorney. In my case, I dont think I could have done it without help. My representitive will get a portion of my back payment. So it didnt cost me anything out of pocket. That is the way that most lawyers do it now.
I would expect to be turned down the first time.
They turned me down twice and then I went to a hearing with a judge who finally saw the light!
Good documentation in your medical records is also a must. Ask your doctor if he/she will write a letter on your behalf. This helps too. There is also a disability kit you can order from the ICA that helps paralell IC to other listed conditions.

remember, their job is to try to get you to give up, I almost did, but now I am so thankful that I hung in there. I would say to start now, call them as soon as you can because this is a long ride.

Also I ahve fibromyalgia, carpal tunnel, depression and TMJ which we also listed as impairments, this helps too. but there have been people to win on IC alone.

Where are you in TN? I am also in TN, I am just south of Knoxville.
Talk to you soon, let me know if there is anything else I can answer for you. Im no expert but I can share what I have been through.
Hugs! And good luck!
Nina

[Dixiefireball]

i went to court last year on Nov 6 i got my letter in Dec but no check until April 03 and i wouldnt have got it then but i was in forcloser of our home i had my lawyer to send that to the judge then the judge had to call social sercity to get it to go threw the hoildays they really drag banghead when having to wait on them I pray you don't have to go threw the same waiting projest i did. eek

[readingmom]

Nina-I live about 20 miles north of Chattanooga. I have a great doctor who is at Erlaner Medical Center. Have you heard of it? I am definitly going to call the ssi office. I really don't have anything to lose at this point. We are trying to sell some property we have because we just can't afford it. It is hard to live on one income anymore. I also homeschool my daughter. She has tourette's syndrome and can't handle school. She has a lot of anxiety, and keeping her at home helps to keep her stress level down. I had actually thought about trying to get some kind of disability for her, but I have been afraid to try for fear that someone would think that I was trying to get someone free! It's just the way I was raised. But I am tired of worrying about it. My husband works all the over-time he can, and I would love to be able to take some of the load off of him. Thank you so much for this forum, to whoever put it out there!! I needed this info in a BAD way!!!!
Christi-readingmom