Using mood disorders and other ailments to obtain Social Security Disability

[Rafterman]

You could apply all that to countries like the UK where they are treating people on SS the same,it is getting brutal, lot of people genuinely in bad states of health getting their money stopped,there has been a huge hike in people taking their own lifes due to the bad treatment at the hands of social security and the drs that carry out medical tests for them.
Good luck to anyone having to deal with these lot.

Thanks, Elias. What you say is so true and it's absolutely criminal. It's outright murder in many cases. I have many friends and relatives who live abroad and they tell me one horror story after another. Most of the SSA docs are no better than hitmen. A disgrace to their profession. A "exam" usually takes under 2 minutes and it's a "touch your toes for me" thing. I know of many stories like this first hand. Like you say, it is getting brutal.  Rafter

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Hi Elias, hope you are doing ok.

Rafterman, 70 billion $ cut in savings (cuts?) in 10 years for SSDI.  OMG, I had no idea.  

I just have some random thoughts so please skip dear reader if you are looking for real info.

I worked for 18 years then after my neck fusion, worked a bit more, then moved, then quit working for good.  My limitations (sitting, lifting, using my arms too much, stuff like that) kept me from looking for work.  Then I had DD and I had a reason to stay home.  So that's my backstory.

I decided along time ago to NOT apply for SSDI.  Mostly because I have always read at various boards how difficult the process can be.  I just could not put myself through that.  Primarily because one of my major pain mgt techniques is denial.  When you live with chronic pain, denial is your friend.  Also, I am luckier than most in that if I restrict what I do (to practically nothing) I don't hurt as long as I take my pks.  Restrictions suck btw.

Anyway, I would like to believe that I chose to never apply for SSDI as I did not need the money as much as so many others.  DH makes a good salary and our marriage of over 30 years is solid (or so I believe).  

Not really sure which it is -- fear of the process or lack of true financial need.  Probably a bit of both.

Thanks Rafterman for another great thread.  Some good advice for our board members.

Thanks a lot, Fire. Very nice to see you. I can totally understand why you wouldn't want to get involved in the SSD process. It's degrading and it shouldn't have to be. The SSA has all but absolute power. They can only be sued in federal court and only after an applicant fails at the first application, the reconsideration, the appeal. and in front of the administrative law judge. Not only has it been 3 years by that point, but they are likely to lose at the federal level. To make matters worse, some local offices are drunk with power and go rogue. They start indicting whomever they want, without any just cause. And the national SSA has no power over the local SSA when it comes to the application process or the review process. It's a recipe for disaster and it is a disaster. Makes me kind of glad that I am approaching 60 and will approaching regular SS retirement soon enough.  Thanks again, Fire.  RF