Too Educated And Too Young To Get Ssi

[khaarina]

After getting denied SSI for the second time I called a lawyer and he blew me off. He said that because I am only 32 and I have a college degree the SS Admin assumes that I should be able to find a job that will work around my health condition. What a bunch of crap. No one is going to hire me if I have to lie down every half an hour, educated or not! I am so sick of dealing with these people.

[E Soskis]

I'm not particularly "young" (52) but, still too young to retire or receive social security. I'm sorry about your experiences - this is why I have never attempted to obtain any type of social security disability - the determining factor is whether or not you are qualified to perform any type of job and are able to do so (I have a friend who works in the local social security office and he coaches me) - so, I just keep working - I am fortunate enough to have an employer who understands my situation and makes many allowances for it - especially since I've been in the hospital so much already this year and still facing another admission in a couple of weeks. Are you able to handle a desk job? - I work at the computer most of the day and keep a little bench under my desk so I can prop up my legs/feet. I teach occasionally and I bring in a chair or stool to sit on so I can lecture - I am attempting to cut down on the travel as this is quite difficult for me - I really just take it one day at a time........

[Katybug]

I'm 38 and I was eventually approved. I had to go all the way through the process to the hearing with an administrative judge. That included 2 denials and 2 appeals as part of the process leading up to being given a hearing. Hang in there. If you need an attorney, pm me and we can talk.

[HopeSprings]

That's not necessarily true. Find another attorney.

[khaarina]

Unfortunately, no I can't handle a desk job. I can only sit up (with my legs up) for about 30 minutes before I have to lay down. No one is going to hire me like that. I'm sure the lawyer I spoke with was just weeding out the hard cases, which means he is probably too busy to work on mine anyway. It's just hard because I used to bring in half our income and now with medical expenses and loss of income, I am a financial burden. As if that isn't bad enough, I've got SSI telling me that I am capable of working, despite all I have told them, like they know what it is like to be me. I wish I could find the person who denied me and explain that I want to be well enough to work. I am sick of my house and my bed. If I could work I would be working, not squabbling over what little they have to offer.

[diabeticgonewild]

I was approved for SSDI on the first try, for autoimmune dysautonomia, primarily. I did not have a lawyer

If you meet the Blue Book criteria for disability (pre-syncope and syncope are in the Blue Book), your education is not a factor.

Here are a (very basic) set of tips, to do before you apply for disability:

* Before you apply for disability, you need to read the entire SSA website and purchase certain books and workbooks, and read the entire books and fill out the forms inside the books. 1. http://www.amazon.com/Disability-Workbook-Security-Applicants-Edition/dp/1878140000/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1379181232&sr=8-1&keywords=social+security+disability+workbook 2. http://www.amazon.com/Nolos-Guide-Social-Security-Disability/dp/1413316891/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1379181267&sr=8-1&keywords=nolo+social+security+disability 3. http://www.amazon.com/Know-Your-Rights-Handbook-Patients/dp/0977749231/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1379181316&sr=8-1&keywords=know+your+rights+advocacy+for+patients+with+chronic+illness

* You also need to collect ALL of your medical records pertaining to your disability, which makes the job easier on the person at disability determination services. This person ultimately determines your decision, you better make their life easier. Submit this when you apply for disability IN-PERSON at the local SSA office.

* Put the medical records in chronological order, in a 3-ring binder. Highlight all test results, all abnormal findings that apply to your disabling impairments, and anything that suggests you meet Blue Book criteria.

* You need letters specifically written by your doctors in support of your disability application. They need to be written to suggest you meet Blue Book criteria by referencing the Blue Book criteria, explicitly. Be prepared to pay the doctors money for writing these letters.

* Fill out the Adult Function Report, required for Social Security Disability applications. Be careful and make sure to think all of it out and answer everything with a "Yes, but" if the answer is yes.

This can take up to 60 days to complete. Applying for disability is a lot of work, and you need to do it right. You can only submit one application, and once you write about your disability in the forms they make you fill out, you cannot really change what you submitted, usually. Take your time.

[trice125]

I also have a college degree and am only 27 I got told the same thing by multiple lawyers. I finally did get approved a year ago after finding a wonderful lawyer that went out of his way to help me. He worked out of an office with one other lawyer and a secretary but I could call or email him directly anytime I wanted to or needed to. I truly don't believe I would have got approved if I did not find such a good lawyer since there is such a negative view of sick young adults especially ones that are educated. Good luck and feel free to send me a message if you would like to.