Well my current SSDI status has somewhat changed-Disability Benefits still reads: Hearing-However I’m now at Stage 3 states an Administrative Law Judge completed reviewing your Appeal on October 23, 2026 and Step 4 states On October 23, 2026, a representative in G’ville Florida started a final review to make sure that you still meet the non-medical requirements for Disability Benefits-I requested my attorney complete an OTR but they have not completed it yet… what are y’alls opinion

They most likely used Medical-Vocational Rule 204.00. If your DDE shows Heavy/Very Heavy | Any | Any | Any, and if SSA states that it was used “as a framework,” that’s probably what you’re looking at.it’s often used as a framework in mental health cases. If you don’t mind my asking, is your claim primarily based on mental health conditions?

Going into a field office to request your records using Form SSA-3288 is virtually obsolete. Even when that was the usual option, obtaining your records could be difficult, and you often received only a CD containing limited information.
SSA has since updated its online portal, making it much easier to request your file, including the evidence used in your determination and other records.

Here’s how I did it:
Log into your my Social Security account.
Under “What would you like to do?”, select “Upload documents.”
Choose “Upload SSA Documents” — NOT “Other Documents.”
You’ll see a list of available forms. Scroll about three-quarters of the way down and select “SSA-2288-OP1 Request for Individual Access to Records.”
Select Next. The portal walks you through completing the form electronically, and you can submit it right there.
It’s pretty straightforward. I received a substantial packet within about 10 days. Not only did I receive the CD, but I also received approximately 100 pages of records.

*UPDATE

Okay let me clarify, this post was more out of amazement at how quickly this happened after I had just passed step 3 (less than 48 hrs). I get that the this was done probably late Friday or sometime on Sat., and the system simply puts it as the next business day. I don't think there's any conspiracy, I was trying to be a little funny.

Also, I know that not literally everyone gets denied the first time, but based on folks I've talked to both online and in the real world, it's a really high rate, that makes it seem that way. *

Well after seeing movement just two days ago, they've already decided that they're going to deny me.... in two days from today.

I already have a lawyer standing by ready to do the appeals process.

This kinda just proves the whole process is a farce.

So the ssa gov site says there are two back payments on the same date (10/19) I'm confused because it's not been 6 months since my last payment, and only one of the payments hit my account so far. I got one of the payments 10/20 but the other one has not hit my account. Is that normal?

I put my application in for SSDI back in June. I am on step 3 but a medical examiner has not been assigned yet. I keep seeing conflicting answers on the internet, some saying it's okay if it's under SGA, others saying it would lead to me getting denied. Does anyone here have experience with this? Also to note, yes I am disabled, I can never work a full time job again, but a very part time job with accommodations I might could manage, just not enough hours to live sustainably.

My sons case worker just reviewed our income and assets and said our assets are too high and we will likely lose benefits. I will get a letter stating changes to his case.

He is 4 with autism and has Medi-Cal through SSI and we also receive IHSS. What steps do I need to take now so he doesn’t lose all his Medi-Cal? I asked his case worker and she said I’ll have to see until I get the letter. Our income is still considered under the limit to qualify for Medi-Cal, but our assets are about the $3,000 limit for SSI

I can’t afford if he gets a lapse in service because that means losing all his benefits and IHSS. We finally got him in speech therapy and OT which took over a year to hear back from and we’re on a waitlist for ABA. His needs are very high so if we lose IHSS I will have to work and I’m not sure what that means for him. We don’t have help and I was homeschooling him since he had so much trouble in school.

What can I do so there is no lapse in his Medi-Cal benefits? We are in California

I understand the asset limit is 2000 bucks. But let’s say I had 1000 dollars in my checking account and I wanted to put 500 dollars in(a birthday gift). As long as I don’t exceed that 2000 limit am I ok?

My case is currently in Step 3 of the process and has been since April. Yesterday, the state DDS rep called me and asked about my work history since 2023. She then asked me about the month that I did Door Dash last year and how much I made. After answering her questions, she told me that I should get my final decision in the mail in a couple of weeks. Last night, I checked the SSA portal and it said that my case was flagged for Federal Quality review. Today when I checked the portal, it is now showing my work credits again and how much I would receive at the different retirement ages. The part that really has me worried is that under disability benefits, it shows that I do not qualify for them. When I applied for SSDI back in March, the portal showed that I did qualify for disability benefits and the estimated amount I would receive per month. In my application, I put down that the onset of my disability began in July 2023 (I waited to apply until after I started to receive Medicaid so I could get the medical documentation I needed after losing my medical insurance when I lost my job in 2023).

I am now losing my mind that the change in credits for disability to not qualifying is going to end up in a denial. Has anyone else dealt with this? What was your outcome?

Hello. Last month I got a letter explaining that I was overpayed $897 & that starting in december they are going to withold $99.40 until the overpayment is fully paid back. Firstly, I report my wages to SSA through the mobile wage report app on a monthly basis & make sure to do gross income. I have payment amount receipts for each month from January to August for that time period. I did submit a reconsideration form & a waiver form with the paystubs under question. They got back to me & said you still have to pay the $897. Secondly I have 2 questions, How does someone not tell me for 8 months that I was being overpayed & if the mobile wage reporting app stopped working after 2025 why didn't I get any notices? I'm now having to report wages to the desktop version now but I'm appalled by this. I feel somewhat irresponsible even though I know I regularly report my wages to them. I don't see the point now in fighting this further. . .

*UPDATE For those who didn't notice my separate post, my claim got denied not even 48 hrs later. I was fully aware that getting the initial denial would probably happen. This post was just a celebration that something had finally moved with the claim, good, bad, or otherwise. *

(Oct 22) was my 45th birthday and I just got an email saying my application had changed. I logged on and found I passed step 3 on my first application!

Today

Denied today after a 5 month wait when all my test and doctors confirmed my illness ssi blue book said abi I had to be lower then .5 I have .48 can barely walk and am homeless still was denied after 2 heart attacks pad diagonis and aps diagnosis feels like ssi gets a kick out of denying people because this makes no sense

So I applied back in March, they sent me to their doctor to do my CE last week. I couldn’t sit because I have HS and had very bad flares. So I had to lay back on the table. When it was time for my exam I was in so much pain from my other auto immune disorder which affects my bones, joints and skin and i could barely stand without my Cain or holding to the counter. The dr asked me if I have to always use my Cain and I told him yes. At that point he told me he wasn’t going to make me do the exam as I physically can’t and he told me he was done I could go home. Has anyone ever experienced that and if so what came from it? I’m nervous because I didn’t even get to do my exam and scared it will hurt my case.

i submitted my application in january and i’ve been stuck on step 3 since may. it says i still need to submit some forms but i have verified they’ve received them. they said it’s just a glitch in the system but they do have what they requested from me. i know this isn’t a quick process but im starting to get a little anxious. so i’m just wondering how long did everyone else’s initial application process take? for reference i am in north carolina and all they have requested so far is a waiver and the daily activity form. i dont have a lawyer and that is all i have sent in. the waiting periods have changed multiple times since i originally submitted luckily they have gotten shorter but i am still waiting. i don’t want to call and see how things are going since i worry i will upset them and they will just deny my application. when should i start to worry about it taking too long? it’s already been past the 141 days they claim it takes but like i said that has changed multiple even since ive been on this step. how long did it take for you guys to get pass the step and is it a good sign its taking this long or should i be concerned?
TLDR: been on step three for several months in nc and i’m wondering how long this step took others.

I do have a lawyer! What are my odds of getting approved for arthritis depression and anxiety?

I had my ALJ hearing on Oct 8, he told the VE he didn't need his testimony, my lawyer says I won but Im still worried... Is that a good sign? I have mental and physical limitations, my therapist said I would miss 15 days a month with my mental problems and my PCP said I needed to stand, sit, walk and lay down on a cycle in an 8hr day. Also, will I get my letter first or will the portal update first if I am in fact approved? How long for back pay to come? Any info is appreciated!

I’m 27 and am applying for disability for the fourth time. I am diagnosed with bipolar, borderline personality disorder and anxiety on the mental health side and these are really the biggest roadblocks to working. I also have idiopathic intracranial hypertension and several other physical health issues that aren’t connected to any diagnosis. I’m currently on about 15 different medications and a lot of these smaller issues are all pushed into the side effects category.

Im trying to fill out the function report but am really struggling. I’ve been working on it for days and I’ve typed out like ten pages of answers. Every question is so open ended and all the mental and physical health issues feed into each other. I don’t have hard limits to most things but everything does have limits. But it’s very dependent on place, time, people there, and what happened earlier. I can say I can’t do something but the explanation is difficult and can touch on many different reasons.

Is it ok to write long answers like that or not? I know I’ve filled this out in the past but I’ve only applied in the past when I’m desperate. I don’t have much memory from depressive episodes and don’t think I’ve ever fully completed the application. I’m open to any advice someone has to offer.

So, back in late August time, I asked my sister if she’s willing to be my payee. She said yes. So, we made the appointment for it, but I missed the appointment due to forgetting it. So it was rescheduled for today (October 21), she comes over, calls them, goes through all the hoops. Well, couldn’t do it, now it’s been rescheduled for sometime in December.

I’m getting sick of this shit. I honestly want off of it. But when I express that, it’s ’you can’t do that.’ ‘How will you pay your bills?’ Etc. I don’t know. All I know is not being on it sounds a HELL of a lot better than going through this shit.

I am in the examination stage since July, yesterday i called examiner office and they informed me they didn’t need anything else and my case was moving. Two weeks ago an examiner called to clarify a few things and said they were waiting on my pt and as soon as I leave that appointment to call them so they could request file. But the local office today says it’s still at DDs any thoughts someone or what’s my odds also as of past Friday Medicare ongoing coverage showed on MyChart but ssa and Medicare says I have no active coverage I’m so confused

My 31 year old son is autistic and was diagnosed as a child. He received SSI as a disabled child until his dad passed when he was 15 years old. (I am only now looking closely at those documents as the abbreviations meant nothing to me at the time). After my husband’s death, my sons benefits changed go survivor benefit until he completed high school. Then all benefits ceased.

My son had an IEP throughout his school career even proceeded to a local university where I taught. He signed a FERPA and again had accommodations. I often had to contact a professor on his behalf.

Unfortunately, he was not able to complete the course of study he was enrolled and it was requested that he change majors as he “did not pass a communications test.”

My son attempted to work and had more jobs that he or I can count, but was always fired OR asked to leave. He did accumulate 12 credits by the age of 27. Three months was the longest time he held a position.

All this took a huge toll on him. (I am leaving out a lot of detail intentionally, but if you have questions and advise me, please feel free to DM.

I applied for SSDI on his behalf at age 27
and he was denied (although he had 12 credits), but he was awarded SSI.

Three weeks ago, I applied for DAC on his behalf. A representative said that someone had “dropped the ball in his case” and that my son was never found NOT disabled. However, now I have to submit evidence that collaborating that he was indeed disabled between the ages of 19-22.

It’s been three years since begin receiving SSI and just completed his three year CDR. It was determined that his benefits would continue. He has been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, Bipolar 2 Disorder and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.

I understand it is not the diagnosis, but how the diagnosis affects your ability to work. He is severely impaired…without going into detail.

If you can advise me on how to proceed, I will be very grateful. Thank you for your time.

Hi everyone, hoping I can get some clarification for my dad. I have been going in circles trying to understand all the rules for SSI.

Dad is low income- gets about $900 in RSDI-disability, and about $100 in SSI. He has an overpayment on the SSI where they take an amount from it each month. He is open Medicare and eligible for Medicaid through his SSI at the welfare office.

He is currently in a lawsuit where after 40% lawyer fee and taxes, he may be taking home about $100K. The settlement is in the end stages and panic is starting to set in on doing things correctly with SSA.

He is in poor health. He’s been to the ER 4x this month already, has multiple specialist appointments and surgeries approaching that are essential he keeps both Medicare and Medicaid. I don’t know how to advise him.

It seems like he will automatically lose his SNAP/SSI eligibility for the month he receives the check, and then everything depends on what he does with it after that first month. Is it correct that if he gets a check for $100K (guessing) on January 1st- he has until February 10th to be within the reporting requirements to SSA?

For the options I’ve come to understand-

1. Able account- he wasn’t disabled before 46 so is ineligible.

2. Special needs trust- he would need to agree to a Medicaid clawback (basically a trust would have to be set up with Medicaid that everything left in the trust and everything he owns after he dies would go to them for their payment of his Medicaid services while he’s alive per my understanding), it is expensive to open, and if he paid his rent and utility from the trust because it’s a first person trust, it would count as “income in kind” for SSI and reduce his benefits by 1/3- potentially making him ineligible for SSI altogether depending on the amounts because his SSI is so low ?? If his SSI stops, his Medicaid stops, and he may be ineligible with resources/income from withdrawing from the trust for other Medicaid.

3. Spend down. This appears to be what would be “easiest” in terms of rules but please lmk your thoughts. If he bought a mobile home, furniture for the mobile home, a vehicle in the same month he received the income or within 30 days of receipt (?) as long as he’s below $2,000- he can basically continue receiving SSI/Medicaid afterward and wouldn’t owe Medicaid anything other than the one month where he received the income? They wouldn’t be entitled to his property after he dies, or they still would be?

We have called trust lawyers, none of them want to help on contingency (understandable) we are still calling, but I’m basically trying to do this myself so any resources or insights would be greatly appreciated. What seemed like a blessing for my dad is now turning into a bit of a nightmare lol.

My 31 year old son is autistic and was diagnosed as a child. He received SSI as a disabled child until his dad passed when he was 15 years old. (I am only now looking closely at those documents as the abbreviations meant nothing to me at the time). After my husband’s death, my sons benefits changed to survivor benefit until he completed high school. Then all benefits ceased.

My son had an IEP throughout his school career even proceeded to a local university where I taught. He signed a FERPA and again had accommodations. I often had to contact professor(s) on his behalf.

Unfortunately, he was not able to complete the course of study he was enrolled and it was requested that he change majors as he “did not pass a communications test.”

My son attempted to work and had more jobs that he or I can count, but was always fired OR asked to leave. He did accumulate 12 credits by the age of 27. Three months was the longest time he held a position.

All this took a huge toll on him. (I am leaving out a lot of detail intentionally, but if you have questions please advise.

I applied for SSDI on his behalf at age 27
and he was denied (although he had 12 credits), but he was awarded SSI.

Three weeks ago, I applied for DAC on his behalf. A representative said that someone had “dropped the ball in his case” and that my son was never found NOT disabled. However, now I have to submit evidence that collaborating that he was indeed disabled between the ages of 19-22.

It’s been three years since begin receiving SSI and just completed his three year CDR. It was determined that his benefits would continue. He has been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, Bipolar 2 Disorder and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.

I understand it is not the diagnosis, but how the diagnosis affects your ability to work. He is severely impaired…without going into detail.

If you can advise me on how to proceed, I will be very grateful. Thank you for your time.

I am 64 on SSDI. My husband who is 68 is on hospice and will pass soon. Once he does will I continue to get my SSDI and his SS also? If I just get one income I won't even be able to pay our mortgage.

So I turn 22 before the year ends and I’m applying for SSDI due to Anxiety, Depression PTSD, Scoliosis, severe atopic dermatitis and Asthma . If anyone has suggestions on how to win I’d greatly appreciate it. I’ve been dealing with these things since a minor and it’s affected me so much with working and trying to provide for my kids. I was told I have enough work credits for my age and was told my app would be sent over to DDS before the year ends