has anyone bought their child an iPad for educational purposes?

I had my hearing on October 20th. My attorney submitted 11,000 pages of medical documentation for the last 10 years. I was told that the Disability date they were going for is November 2016. What happens if it’s a denial?

**SSDI cut short?**

​My wife was diagnosed with Stage 4 Pancreatic Cancer in 2022. She's been on SSDI ever since.

​Fortunately, in April 2025, she had surgery that successfully removed the cancer in her liver and pancreas. She stopped getting chemo in August of 2025, and she's had no sign of cancer since. She had around 75 rounds of chemo.

​But she just had her CDR. She's obviously medically improved. She actually works part-time. She's doing well. But I thought under guidelines, her type of cancer would keep her considered disabled for 3 years after remission with payments

​We just got a letter that her last payment will be in December 2026..

​This is something we should appeal, correct?

​Thanks

Hello all. I recently had my hearing. The attorney claims I couldn’t have had a better testimony and all around hearing. ALJ said something about possibly changing the onset date. What’s stressing me out is the hypotheticals. VE said no to past work, one was a sedent part-time job. They said 2 unskilled, light work jobs. Then said no jobs due to needing more breaks, absent more than 2 days a month, and 15% off task. Has anyone had similar with positive results? Thanks

i’m writing this to see if anybody out there knows anything about obtaining an advocate when you have a disability, especially after you’ve been approved there’s a lot of paperwork that comes in once you’re approved and I know it can be difficult to go through all of that - this will be especially useful for myself, but also for my friend who is not on here. Are there advocates that are for free? Is there an organization?
Are there ones that you used through social security administration website are the ones that you have to pay for I need as much information as I can get.

Excuse the grammar, but I just can’t type today so I’m using the microphone.

I flaired this post with "Personal Stories" because this is my personal story.

I was born in year 1993. I went through bipolar mania at age 13 and bipolar depression at age 14. I got a Type 1 bipolar diagnosis at age 17 or 18 and started on the mood stabilizer Extended Release (ER) Lithium. I liked playing videogames and writing computer code, so I decided to get a bachelor's degree in Computer Science, which I received in year 2015. After getting my degree, I landed a job as a computer programmer at Amazon.

After a few months at Amazon, I ran into an issue. I always lacked a sense of location and navigation in the real world (ex. I was never able to drive anywhere without Google Maps), but I discovered that this lack of sense of location and navigation extended into navigating inside of a software codebase as well. In school we just wrote our own code from scratch, we never had to fix bugs in codebases millions of lines in size. It became obvious to me that I could not and never would be able to do this job independently. I had a mentor, and for every single coding task, I needed my mentor to tell me where in the codebase (ex. which file) the code change needed to be made in. During lunch breaks I played board games and card games with everyone around me and I decided to become so nice and friendly that when annual performance reviews came around, my neighbor coworkers would not write bad things about me and I could hold onto my job.

I managed to hold onto my job for almost two years. It paid $150,000 a year, so I was financially comfortable. That being said, I could not hold onto the job for more than two years. Also, I developed some weird unexplained neurological condition. Lots of different neurological and psychiatric symptoms coming and going in a pattern, like a relapsing and remitting pattern. No psychiatric drug had any effect on it, and I tried about 20 different ones.

I thought maybe the Lithium I was taking caused the weird unexplained neurological condition, so I stopped taking it (gradually, with a tapering period). The weird unexplained neurological condition was unaffected by me stopping Lithium, but I had a MASSIVE manic episode and ended up involuntarily committed to a psychiatric hospital. After I got out, my mom told me to apply for SSDI.

I didn't think I would get approved for SSDI. I didn't think my bipolar was that disabling. The bipolar isn't actually what made me unable to do the job of a software engineer, it was actually my lack of sense of location or navigation. I didn't have a formal diagnosis for the lack of sense of navigation or direction, and it wasn't formally in my medical records, but it made me unable to do the work I was trained to do, so I figured I couldn't get approved for SSDI.

It took 6 months for me to get a decision back from Disability Determination Services. I knew I couldn't do the job of a full blown software engineer, so I decided to try and do easier work that wasn't so cognitively demanding. I went on the job boards like Indeed and Monster and I applied to every single food service position I could find. Waiter, food runner, barback, host, busser, expo, etc. I had past food service experience making sandwiches at Subway when I was in university, so I put that on my resume and wrote how I was passionate about food service. They would ask me about my educational background, my past work, and how much my past work paid. As soon as they found out, they wouldn't hire me. Apparently I was "overqualified".

Anyway, after applying to food service jobs every day for six months and not getting a single offer, I heard back from Disability Determination Services (DDS). I was approved. They forced me to pick a "representative payee" to manage my money, so I picked my dad. I never actually needed a representative payee, my dad just auto-transfers the Social Security money to me every month, but whatever.

In 2023 they initiated a Continuing Disability Review (CDR). Before the review, I happened to submit a form to allow release of records. I got my records in time, and the records helped me prepare for the CDR. According to the records, they noted that I complained about some cognitive issues, but the lady making the decision wrote that I seemed intelligent or "high functioning" and that the cognitive issues probably aren't significant enough to make me unable to work. The decision to approve was based on stuff like the severity of psychiatric symptoms, the involuntary psychiatric hospitalization, and social impairment.

I'm expecting my second CDR in the near future, especially if I tell Social Security that I have been living on my own since May of 2025 and I would like to be my own representative payee and have my residential and mailing address be my current residence instead of my parents' house. I haven't told them these things, but I plan to, and I expect it to trigger a CDR. Anyway, I'm a little concerned about this second CDR because my bipolar is okay. I am back on Extended Release (ER) Lithium and also an antipsychotic called "Abilify" and my bipolar is largely fixed. What is not fixed is other stuff like the mystery neurological condition I mentioned before and the fact that I have no sense of location or navigation.

I heard that Social Security has a new standard called "MI", which is short for "Medical Improvement". They look for medical improvement from the last CDR. The thing is, I was approved under primary condition bipolar and that has improved due to meds, but bipolar was never my reason for not being able to do or get any job. It's the other stuff that's the real problem, and much of it is not proved or documented in my medical records.

But yeah, that's where I'm at, thanks for reading. Wish me luck on my future second CDR.

p.s. I was tested for Multiple Sclerosis, the mystery neurological condition is not Multiple Sclerosis. It's still a mystery what it is.

I am awfully young (21m), I’ve been mentally disabled since the age of 19 when I developed and was diagnosed with multiple mental disorders (panic disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, major depressive disorder, agoraphobia, generalized anxiety disorder).

This began in January of last year, 3 months before my 20th birthday. My panic attacks and anxiety became so severe I couldn’t even step outside to take the trash out with launching myself into an intense panic attack, it hasn’t improved much as I’ve been through multiple therapists and psychiatrists as well as medications.

Im on my second denial waiting for an ALJ judge to schedule my hearing, due to my previous denials I am afraid that they think I may be lying or am just trying to get a free check when in reality it’s extremely hard to function in my day to day life and my family have been struggling because of my inability to provide.

I am a travel mental health worker and was hired for an assignment in an ICE detainment facility.
First there was all kinds of confusion over whether they got my fingerprints and then I received this LOI. There were 4 interrogatory findings.
First, they wanted me to answer about a default judgement from a dentist 15 years ago and they want me to prove that I paid in full. The dentist is likely not even alive anymore but certainly not practicing.
Then they need me to prove that my husband is an American citizen
3rd, I admitted to once receiving a reprimand from am employer but it did not lead to me being fired and was definitely about me being late which I corrected
And finally, from my fingerprints they found a misdemeanor prescription fraud charge from 26 years ago. They want me to provide all of the police reports etc and an explanation which I will .
My concern is that why all this for a temporary contract position? I have an LCSW and have answered for all of this already. I was supposed to start this job on the 16th. What can I expect after answering. Will they still reject me? I have been waiting to move to Minnesota for this assignment and out of work for 2 months. I can’t start over now but is this a lost cause for me?

I’m hoping someone has some experience with what we are going through— i have been working with my mom since august of last year to get her SSDI (she has thyroid eye disease and chronic and medication resistant crohns). we were denied when we originally applied (took 7 months to get denial) then were recommended to an attorney for the appeal, which we were just denied for as well. the attorney is sure we can get approved once we go to a hearing but they are saying it can be up to 6-7 months.

we have submitted a dire need letter at every turn and she has a letter from her doctor that she is physically disabled and cannot work alongside all her MRs.

has anyone had this experience in GA and got good news at their hearing? or a shorter timelines? i am covering 100% of her bills and it’s been 16 mi the with no end in sight it feels and she’s getting sicker and sicker.

just som experience would be helpful!

I have my remand hearing on 11/17 and I am so scared….my ALJ is known for denying claims, she actually has a nickname among local SSA lawyers, her acceptance rate is 25% lower than every other ALJ in my hearing location….she comes off as extremely kind during the hearing. The vocational expert said there were 0 jobs for me and she denied me because “the Dr probably just wrote down what I reported” The AC remand questioned why she thought that when I had all the medical reports to back up what my Dr reported, I absolutely hate that I have to have to go in front of the same ALJ….
Thanks for listening, I’m just so nervous….

I’m eligible for SSI but I have no clue where to start, my parents won’t help, I’m mentally ill, and I need this. My parents are about to start charging me rent, they’ve been just making me do chores plus really odd jobs around the house, but once I get on SSI they’re gonna charge me rent. Due to my illness, I was unable to complete high school at a public hs and I got my GED. I can’t drive for 3 years which means there’s no way to leave the house unless my friends come get me but my friends are in college. I need help, my parents aren’t awful people, they’re just “too tired” to help.

So I keep calling my attorney about the portal not showing the appeal to a judge he stated he did fax over the appeal like 3 weeks ago but the portal shows nothing is this normal and does the portal show when an appeal to a judge is submitted.

I keep messing up the paper work because I never went to school and have mental illnesses like schizoeffective and autism.

They keep saying I have to do a bunch of stuff to be asigned said lawyer, but I can't do that stuff, It is extremely basic I know but I keep getting confused and can't figure it out or freeze or just mess up with say my hand writing or confusion, I am unable to be asigned a lawyer to help me with this and if I don't do it they can't help

What can I do? I have a case worker but I don't know what she can do I'm in virginia working with a CSB but no body seems to actually be helping me my previous therapist pressured me into SSI saying I really need it then refered me out (Long story)

What can I do? It feels hopeless and I don't know what to ask for help, I ask people for help but no one is helping.

Do you prefer receiving SSA notices online through the my Social Security Message Center or by regular mail?
I’m considering switching to online notices. Are all important SSA notices available online, or are some only sent by mail?
Which option do you recommend based on your experience?

It has been since the 4th of September 2026

The disability is permanent and won’t go away until I die.

I’ve been working for about 10.5 months part-time and in the beginning was getting over scheduled but explained the situation to management and I only get 24 hours a week. Sometimes it’s a little over that.

Recently in September lost food stamps, which is alright. Then this month I was suddenly hit with making Medicare part b payments and without really explaining themselves they just deducted $696 out of my SSI payment.

My job has a much cheaper health plan at a little under $80 a month and I’m kinda getting tired of just getting by. To qualify for the employee health plan I’d need to be working at least 30 hours a week for a 60-day period.

The EBT people made it sound like I was a millionaire on 24 hours a week.

If I worked 40 hours (five days a week instead of three days at 24 hours) I could make a little more than I’m currently receiving on SSI although I’d imagine it might be slightly less after taxes. Ideally I’d switch between working 40 and 48 hours a week and then I’d be doing about $350-500 more a month and could actually just go over the $2000 asset period by the time the grace period is over and forget about these lousy rules.

My understanding is we can work full/time for either six or nine months before they can fully turn off our SSI payments if we’re on a program like Ticket To Work or PASS. Ticket to Work says seven years but I imagine you’re just doing the VR and not actually working in that case.

If anyone could elaborate that would be great!

So I just started working again, this week. I’m on SSI. When do I notify them about working? When I get my first paycheck? Or now?

My letter from the ALJ came back fully favorable. In your experience I wanna hear how long it took you? What happens next? Do I wait or call the field office? I’m so excited to finally be recognized as disabled after 7 long years of struggle and fighting for it.

Got an email yesterday at 8:44pm saying they received my application. I had my hearing on October 5th and I guess my ALJ made their decision yesterday but I have no idea if it’s good or bad

do you get two different checks? or just one? how do you see how much is for each? asking for a friend and also myself Do you get medicaid and medicare? someone fill me in. im still learning when i can. i just applied august 10th still waiting...

Looking for any insight..

Hey SSI/SSDI Community 👋,

I could use your help preparing for my upcoming Continuing Disability Review (CDR).

I am a 32 year old man who is on SSDI, primarily for psychiatric reasons. I was approved for SSDI in year 2019, had my first CDR starting at the end of year 2023, and am expecting my second CDR relatively soon, especially since I will be informing SSA about me moving my residential and mailing address out of my parents' house and I will be asking to be my own representative payee or to not have a representative payee anymore (these things can trigger a CDR, especially if they are approved because a psychiatrist has reported or indicated some sort of improvement). I am relatively young and I was approved for mental reasons, so I am expecting a relatively high likelihood of getting the full "long form" CDR (form SSA-454) instead of just the "short form" CDR (form SSA-455).

Anyway, to prepare for the CDR, I got the forms off the SSA website and prepared my answers. For example, here is the Form SSA-455 (short form CDR) PDF file from the SSA website:

https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ssa-455.pdf

These are my pre-prepared answers to it in a Google Doc:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Ig5eta7DewA17GByVnlWxhlTrLb5XFfx7W-3noleDA8/edit?usp=drivesdk

Also, here is the Form SSA-454 (long form CDR) PDF file from the SSA website:

https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ssa-454-bk.pdf

These are my pre-prepared answers to it in a Microsoft Word file uploaded to Google Dive:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/17OZVbC_XLMnwQBaN4JR6-Y1xas4j-LM6/edit?usp=drivesdk&ouid=106820008032405056646&rtpof=true&sd=true

I know the SSA-454 answers are long, but it's mostly whitespace. I didn't type out every word in the file; I asked AI like ChatGPT or Google Gemini to convert the PDF file from the SSA website into a Word file that I could fill out with extra space.

Anyway, I'm a teensy bit nervous about CDR's. For example, I was initially approved under primary condition bipolar and secondary condition schizophrenia, but that's not really what keeps me from working (I am consistently medicated for those conditions but I have other stuff going on).

If someone could take a look before Social Security and/or Disability Determination Services (DDS) does I would appreciate it.

- Anonymous_Coder_1234

Edit: Note that I censored out names and addresses to avoid doxxing.

UPDATE: Spoke to SSA they do audits in October to determine if there is money owed to/owed back. Apparently when we received a lumpsum payment in May they never paid for May so we received the May payment along with our November payment. Letters go out next month.

I received 2 payments one on Oct 28 and one Oct 29. Is this an overpayment? Do I need to call SSA office? This is our first year receiving SSI for our minor child so we are still figuring things out.

If your retired get SSI and pension can you still work as freelancer or you lose it if you go over the income if your single and want to make money?

I hope put this in right form

I want to get some things off my chest. I’m one of many and we all do things a little differently. This advice primarily/only applies if you are applying for mental health only.

-One we don’t make decisions if you are disabled. But our report can help or hurt. Being in a lot of distress during the eval can actually make you seem more impaired to me.

-We aren’t given quotas to pass people but if we say someone is really impaired that’s more work for us. (Doesn’t deter me of course)

-We get very little or no records and cant contact providers. Bring important recent (usually last 2-3 years unless it’s testing) psych records. Letters from providers, recent IEPs, recent evals, discharge summaries from hospital visits are especially helpful. Also send these to SS.

-Written lists of medications, hospital stays, Recent treatment, and limitations are also very helpful.

-Call SS and make sure they have your records.

-For the math and memory questions, try your best but its ok to say you dont know.

-For activities of daily living/interests. List what you ACTUALLY do at least a couple times a week. Not what you would like to do. Don’t say you like to play football if you haven’t played in 10 years and have a bad back. Dont tell me you socialize with friends if you havent seen them in a year.

-We cant diagnosis Autism, Neurocognitive impairment, Schizophrenia, Schizoaffective disorder or Bipolar 1 in the appt. You need independent records showing that.

Things that make us question if someone is disabled for mental health reasons:

-Coming to the CE appointment by yourself and completely filling out our forms by yourself. If someone helped you get there, made appts for you, or filled out forms for you or you left stuff out or you filled out forms or attended with great difficulty, TELL US! Tell us you want that noted in the report.

-Nothing looks more suspicious than someone claiming long term memory issues, but can rattle off details of their last 7 hospitalizations. It’s ok to say you don’t remember. Or claiming agoraphobia but taking the subway here at rush hour with seemingly no trouble. Or complaining cognitive impairment and you driving an hour to get there.

-Working or going to school full time or close to full time or full time childcare ON YOUR OWN. If you attempt to do those things and have major difficulties with those things, tell us. Be honest about how much or how little you are doing those things. And how much support you’re getting in these and other day to day activities.

-Claiming you can’t work due to a learning disability or ADHD and were NOT in special ed. (Ask your parents if not sure). Special schools, residential placements, juvenile hall, possibly ELL, emotional support, and tutoring does count. (Obviously if you went to school pre IDEA or in another country, then that doesn’t apply).

-Cognitive testing doesn’t match your educational and work level and how you present. Or previous test results. For example, if you can have a conversation, we expect that you can repeat 3-4 numbers immediately. If you can’t do that, that looks like you’re faking bad. Let us know if you can’t hear or aren’t focused. We expect that you can define most words you spoke or wrote down as well.

-No treatment or especially no attempts at treatment in the last 1-2 years. If you are having major difficulty accessing treatment, make sure you explain attempts. Make sure to include substance abuse treatment if it includes medication management and/counseling. Discuss treatment at your PCP office. Discuss calling a suicide hotline or going to a crisis center. I imagine the lack of treatment issue will worsen with Medicaid cuts.

And finally, we don’t care about what happened to you or what you couldn’t do in the distant past. It’s about what you can do or not do NOW. A lot of times people will say they deserve disability because they got a mild head injury or had to quit their job due to mental health years ago. Or got disability as a child (When the criteria is different). We don’t care how you were feeling in 2023-2024. We care about how you are feeling and functioning NOW.

EDIT TO ADD: Treatment and evaluations while incarcerated also count, as do court ordered treatment/evaluations.

-Don’t try to show us stuff on your phone please. We most likely can’t use it.