Social Security Disability and Bipolar Disorder

Speaking from Experience

Part 3: Appeals and Attorneys

Advice from the Forum Community members about submitting more information during the appeal process, and what to expect and demand from your attorney and his/her assistants.

Please be aware that this material contains the personal experiences and opinions of consumers and in no way should be construed as professional advice. To read more, please follow one of the links that precede each quote.

Quotes may have been edited by the Guides for spelling, grammar or clarity.

Appeals

from Jerry
As for providing more information, I don't believe there is a time limit for that. Unfortunately, the process is designed to discourage one from persisting with the appeals. If your case is at the Social Security Administrative level, you may want to check to see if there is a time limit for the hearings. Even with a time limit, you will probably find that it can be waived, and most are...

My suggestion to you is to obtain an application form, go through the form, answer each question with as much truthfulness and in detail as needed, and call Social Security to make sure you can submit new material. Along with the information (you shouldn't even need to submit the application, just the information, and leave out the name rank and serial number stuff), talk to your shrink and therapist, asking for additional documentation to shore up your application, especially if anything has changed, such as new hospitalization(s), problems with medications, condition worsening, change to a more rapid cycling type of behavior, suicide attempts (don't make any just to get disability), and whatever. Also, back-up information from loved ones, if any are left :), about how your condition continues to interfere with your life and ability to hold a job (that should also be included in any information provided by your doc/therapist), and especially how your condition interferes with the family will help.

Attorneys

more from Jerry
I wouldn't worry too much about the para-legal handling things, they usually do in law firms handling lots of SSDI cases. Lots of times that's to your advantage. A good SSDI para-legal tends to keep up with changes in the law and the way appeals are handled in his/her area. The only time to worry comes if you sense nothing is happening and, upon request, you cannot get a face to face meeting with the attorney. I don't care how busy they are, a good attorney will meet with a client about his/her case.

Keep in mind, though, that this is your life, your SSDI application, and will be your income. The more you do to help yourself, whether through your actions are and advocate working for you, the better off you are. In Texas, the state mental health agency even encourages its clients to seek out SSDI and SSI, knowing that financial problems lead to many other difficulties for those of us with mood disorders. I don't know that they offer much help, but at least they provide the information that the assistance is out there.

More of this Feature

• Part 1: Can I Get Disability for Bipolar?
  
• Part 2: Applying for Disability
  
• Part 3: Appeals and Lawyers
  
• Part 4: Four Questions Answered
  
• Part 5: Assisting a Grown Child
  
• Part 6: Words of Encouragement

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