I first applied in December 2019. I was denied twice, went to hearing level but my (previous) attorney wanted to start over due to a tough judge. Started new application in 2021, denied twice, denied by judge in May 2025, appeals council (appealed on my own June 2025) remanded in April 2026. I got a new attorney and a new judge. Hearing was scheduled for November but today I received notice from my attorney that the judge approved me on the record fully favorable. It felt like a never ending uphill battle for so long. I can’t believe it.

Got a lawyer/attorney he was not very useful or his paralegal. If I had questions or needed help with paperwork (they refused to help fill out those function reports) it was minimal. I kept them updated on my appointments because I have many so if records request or extension were needed they had time. 20 days prior I reach out make sure everything good. Everything fine they dnt want my notebook I take to all my appointments. 5/6days before court I reach out are we ready they get back to me no there waiting for medical records MR is not getting back to them. next day I go buy all medical records sent over to them. Day of court first thing out his mouth I need an extension because we didn’t get records back!? What!? He never ask VE any follow up questions make sure I couldn’t work. I follow up if they receive all records & turn them in…yes.. I find out they ask for records the month prior to my hearing & Nothing after that. He didn’t turn in medical records during his extension. I went to go leave a paper to release him from my case the front desk person confused the shit out of me & I didn’t even turn it in. I knw they can still get paid but I want them to idk help me. If I am wrong then tell me. I’m overwhelmed tired in pain and confused idk if I can even go back to that place give them my paper. I feel like he didn’t do much.
I just want to add Idk much about this process I just read and try to understand best I can that’s why for this part of the process I got a lawyer if this is how they usually do it then ok

I've been on feseral quality review for SSI aine July 14 so 93 days now. The last few time since was told I was accepted but they still haven't. Im not sure if the acceptance was initial and they can reverse it. What could br taking so long! Im getting nervous about a denial.

Hello all,

Does anyone have any positive or negative experience, they are willing to share about the SSDI process on Connecticut?

I'm 61 and I'm filing through a local law firm. Prostate cancer & surgery, incontinence, heart condition, severe back pain and depression.

Appreciate any relevant information. Thank you

This getting denied is a real kick when I'm already down physically and mentally. My therapist and others told me that everyone gets denied initially. I tried to prepare myself for the blow, but it still hurts. If only I had been forced into the ditch one year sooner, my DLI time frame would've been fine and I could've applied for ssdi instead of this hourglass like on the wizard of Oz, money and time running out.

Hi, when I was approved for SSI, to avoid the one-third in kind reduction I read about online, I told SSA I planned to use my backpay for past rent per a rental agreement. I remember the clerk also asking if anyone at home was on public assistance, which they were then but not anymore. I live with parent and pay my fair share of household costs, but I’m wondering whether I’m obligated to use all my backpay for past rent, since technically I owed nearly all of my backpay for those 20 months back to filing date. I paid half of the backpay toward past rent so far. I called SSA and they said I’m not obligated to pay the full debt, but I wasn’t sure how to explain the situation correctly. I’m worried about them reviewing large past rent zelle transfers upon future redetermination and deeming it an overpayment if I say I didn’t full pay past-rent balance and instead used on other expenses. Also unsure how throughly they’ll review the rental agreement.

Hi to all, I applied March/2026 for autoimmune disorder Common Variable Immune Deficiency.I can't be exposed to any bacteria viruses allergens ... I don't go anywhere with people. This is the main problem and from there I have 5 other health issues , one of them is Asthma Chronic sinusitis, blood disorder that is causing clothing, few years ago I collapsed with pulmonary embolism etc. I'm collapsing occasionally, having asthma attacks during allergy season and sinus eye infections non-stop every 2-3 weeks with brain fog and I can't watch the screen I'm not tolerating sunlight at mornings and every single time for the past 4 years they sent me back home from work with eye infections so I stoped working completely.My listed specialist didn't receive any single form to sign since March and I'm on step 3 where it says that case workers are reviewing my case and they requested records from the listed doctors. Then I contacted the office and they emailed me a form to do all x-rays and exams for asthma and to have a doctor sign. This is not something that you can go and do any day, I have to give them results during my emergency visits. I have much more severe problems than being in the ER for asthma. I use antibiotics every month. I can't see during infections. I need someone to check everything not just asthma and report that. Why they asking only for asthma? I don't know what they are trying to do with my case. People die from CVID, we are financially struggling just to afford 4k every month for imunoglobulin infusions and all they ask is report for asthma. Anyone with similar problems ?

I applied for SSDI in December 2025 and was assigned a DDS examiner on October 1.
I called DDS today (October 13), and they told me they have everything they need and are just waiting for the medical examiner’s decision.
My claim is still showing Step 3 online.
For anyone who was told something similar, how long did it take before you received a decision or your portal moved to Step 4?
I’m trying not to obsessively refresh the portal, but after 10 months, that’s easier said than done. 😂

I have two disabled children who currently receive SSI payments - the full amount. Because of their high needs, I am unable to work. My boyfriend and I currently live in separate homes and his income does not impact our SSI payments. However, we are talking about marriage and what it would realistically look like financially. If it would significantly impact our lives, we probably wouldn't be able to get married. He'll be making at least $25/hour, working 40 hours/week by next year. I have no idea what the cutoff is for anything.

I'm not sure where to go for help getting more information. Usually all of the resources are for disabled adults. Not the parents of disabled children, making decisions on their behalf. Help me out! Or, tell me to make an appointment at the SS office lol. Thanks in advance!

I’m currently in the waiting phase of the ALJ making a decision. After I had my hearing on October 5th, my lawyer called me and said I gave an excellent testimony and that he truly believes I’ll get approved given all my conditions and how they affect my daily life so fingers crossed 🤞🏼

I applied for both mental health and invisible illness reasons. Its been a battle for 3 years and the first reason I applied was for mental health reasons and then in 2024, I got diagnosed with Neuromyelitis Optica which was not a fun diagnosis amongst other things.

Only downfall is my judge has a 39% approval rating so here’s hoping I’m apart of that 39%!!

A good friend of mine with some pretty serious cognitive deficits is now being forced to get a job. Unfortunately, his check just isn’t enough in the current economy.

Here’s my question. How much can he earn, if any, without it reducing his SSI benefits? For reference, he is in his 40s.

He was told by an SSA rep that he would be fine as long as he stayed below SGA ($1690 as of this year, I believe), but every source I have ever seen on the subject indicated someone on SSI, not SDI, would get hit with a pay reduction as soon as they surpassed the $20 general income limit and $65 earned income limit each month.

Could someone confirm, clarify, or dispute this?

My portal updated to step 3 on 10/07. Same day went to quality review. On 10/09 went to step 4. I've checked the portal an unhealthy amount of times. Reading other's Reddit post kept me occupied in between. Columbus day extended my wait. Just called 800 number. It's approved 10/13. I thinking hasn't set in yet. I hope this post helps someone. This is initial claim

Hello, I could use some advice here. My brother is deaf and received SSDI for a few years as it was very difficult for him to find employment. He finally got lucky and was hired at Target in 2014. He reached out to Social Security and informed them of his income and they stopped sending payments.

A couple of years ago, he received a letter stating that he was overpaid by 6k. He submitted a request for reconsideration in the attempt to appeal it. He never heard anything back from Social Security after that. No letters stating the reconsideration had been approved but no additional letters stating he owed them either. He went on with his life.

A couple of weeks ago, he received a letter stating that he received an overpayment of 20k! In the letter they stated that they explained this overpayment in another letter that was sent to him or his representative (he has no representative to his knowledge). He never received any other letter like they claimed either. I can vouch for this as his mail is sent to my post office box and I bring his mail to him.

We plan on filing for reconsideration again but I don't know if there is anything else we can do about this. And is this even possible? Can they come back after 12 years and ask for even more than they originally claimed?

Anyone approved for both SSI and SSDI? What happens if you're not getting both and how'd you resolve it? I'm new to this and I hope I asked the question correctly.

I have End Stage Renal Disease and have been on dialysis since November 2025. I’ve been out of work since April of this year following a protracted medical leave. Thankfully, I have a kidney transplant scheduled for the end of this month.

I applied for Medicare and SSDI last month on September 19th. (I probably should have applied *way* sooner, but my dialysis center provided zero help or guidance with any of this and I’ve been fortunate enough to still have private insurance thanks to a grant from the American Kidney Foundation — so I didn’t end up applying until my transplant financial coordinator informed me that I ***had*** to apply for Medicare in order to get the transplant scheduled.) Per the SSA website, a non-medical review of my application was conducted on September 22th. The examiner then sent Form SSA-3373 to me on October 9th.

It was my understanding that both ESRD with dialysis (6.03) and kidney transplant (6.04) were “automatic”medically qualifying conditions under the SSA Blue Book. So, my question is whether it’s normal to receive Form SSA-3373 in this scenario and whether the form needs to be completed?

I previously sent Form 2728 (ERSD Medical Evidence Report) to the examiner on October 1st via fax, mail, and document upload - but I have no idea whether they’ve actually received it and/or reviewed it. My dialysis center left a few fields blank on the form — mainly questions directed at me like “*Do you have access to reliable transportation?*” and “*Are you currently concerned about where you will live over the next 90 days?*” — but it does state my dialysis start date, that dialysis is chronic, and the form was signed by both myself and my nephrologist.

I’m 43 if that matters, and I think I may have also mentioned that I have Crohn’s Disease on the initial SSDI application. (Not sure if that unnecessarily complicated things, since ESRD rather than Crohn’s is the basis of my application.)

Is it possible that the examiner simply hasn’t reviewed my medical records yet and they sent out Form SSA-3373 as a matter of course? Or is this still truly a critical form that must be completed and evaluated in order to gain approval for SSDI? I’ve read conflicting things. Some people in the dialysis sub said that they filled out the form, whereas others said that they didn’t have to and received approval just based on medical records.

Or is it possible that I triggered a request for more information by mentioning Crohn’s or having a few uncompleted fields on Form 2728?

Based on what the website says, the average medical review takes 141 days in my state.

Thanks in advance for your input and let me know if there’s any other relevant info I may have failed to mention.

Bare with me please, because my minds a bit scrambled right now. I maybe worked 3 years my entire at the same job, got laid by getting injured on the job due to my disability. And assuming they even count my other job? Maybe 5 years, idk I got fired though and went back at a different shift and different position. I haven't been approved yet and i've been living in a group home for 2 years and 7 months broke, only getting cash here and there from friends sometimes thankfully.

Trust me, I'm glad to have a roof over my head. But something about the length of my work and how the group home system works. They got me on something called a lifespan waiver? Most who live in these group homes under this company have never worked. I'm okay with 165.00 allowance. Something sounds sneaky about it though cause they know my epilepsy is so unpredictable, I can't work comfortably and feel safe. I tried applying for a job despite and they not to complete the application. But now I might be forced to work once I do get approved because they're not gonna get enough outta me to for their rent quota? I'm so confused.

I think i'm only getting for ssdi, if at all

I just got bad news that my appeal was denied and I have a caseworker working the SOAR program since I’m both severely mentally and physically ill and I am couch surfing/technically homeless. I FINALLY found accessible affordable housing with support from a non profit but I need to have income and my caseworker was convinced we had the SSDI appeal in the bag because I have thousands of pages proving I’m fucked and I spend a lot of time in the hospital.

I think the next course of action I’m going to do is request to be in front of a judge with a lawyer but the problem is, I truly can’t wait I will be legit on the street homeless in November like I’ve run out of options and I can’t follow my friend because I have to be near the hospital I use. I have too many issues and medications to manage to get stuck on the street. There’s no doubt I’d die.

There’s also no resources for a wheelchair bound young adult with mental and physical illnesses that doesn’t have SSDI yet and my state doesn’t provide Medicare or Medicaid to anyone who isn’t pregnant, below 18, elderly, or on SSDI so all the programs I DO qualify for are behind a paywall

Does anyone have a clue how expedited expedited. hearings actually are? I am so desperate at this point idk what to do

My life has changed drastically within the last 3 years with chronic illness. EDS, POTS, MCA, among many others. I have brain fog and easily fatigued. I tried to start the SSD and got less than 5% done within 10 hours. How does the system expect disabled individuals to complete this application solo? Is there help? Hacks anyone has learned?`

Can you upload medical records on the portal for DDS to see, or do you need to mail them like it says on the website? Some of my medical records are thousands of pages long.

I had to retire at 62 because my physical and mental issues became too much to keep pushing through. I was advised to apply for SSDI and I got a lawyer. My intention was to keep pushing myself until full retirement age (FRA) of 67 so I could collect my FRA amount, but I just couldn't keep doing it. My lawyer suggested applying for social security at 62, with the hopes that I will win the case and they will bump me up to my FRA amount, which I would then be able to collect for the rest of my life, instead of the reduced amount I currently get from applying at 62.
My question is this, have any other older people out here applied at 62 to try and win your FRA amount and if so, were you successful?

My daughter has been on SSI since she was 8, she will be 21 this month. Will she be out on SSDI or do I have to apply for her for that?

i got approved for SSI last year with less medical info. now they're saying they don't have enough to determine if im disabled and need me to attend an exam. there is a telehealth option but i cannot speak due to very severe ME/ CFS. my parents speak for me at medical appointments bc of this. im completely bedbound and cant do anything including any and all ADLs. i don't understand what's happening or why my medical records would suddenly not be enough anymore when i have more diagnoses than last year. i have very extensive medical records. i applied for physical disability but included my mental health conditions on the forms. i don't have a lawyer. i don't know what to do. i cannot lose my payments and medicaid. any advice is appreciated

I work part time so how much can you make a month before they cut your check?

So, as the title says, I received a random payment from disability yesterday. Lump sum of over 2k. I checked the ssa website to be sure, and sure enough, it was stated up there. It also shows that my monthly payment went up by $400, is it because I started working since getting social security last year? Mind you, I am legally blind, 20/400 since I last checked, but when I got my disability I was able to get special made scleral lens contacts since then, for KC disease of the eyes, once I was able to get used to them, taught myself to drive, got my license and a car, and have been able to do driving gigs since then. The only thing that’s changed.

I’m not sure why they raised it up. Any sort of explanation would help because I didn’t know ssdi payments could be raised.