Anxiety Support Group
Anxiety is a physical condition marked by intense and persistent feelings of distress, fear, angst or dread. General anxiety caused by routine day-to-day stresses usually passes quickly and is experienced by almost everyone at one time or another. However, such feelings that linger over time and are very difficult to cope with, and which lack a clear cause, may indicate...
I don't see a forum for SSDI so I am using Anxiety forum to discuss my ongoing battle with SSA.
Sorry if I am drunk atm I've been under enormous stress for months.
Trying to cope with the massive stress of possibly dying homeless on the street.
SSA suddenly suspended my benefits in April 2021.
They're idiots who can't or Won't give me a straight answer about anything.
Every Rep I talk to tells me something different.
Short version is SSA conducted a CDR - Continuining Disabilty Review.
They cut off my benefits in the process.
I appealed and my benefits were restored after 3 months of Hell and Haggling.
But, now SSA is saying I owe them $4,400 and they're taking that money back from my bank account and ssdi checks because and I quote;
"This is the amount we paid you before we finished work on your claim."
And now i've got to file more effing appeal forms to contest that decision and keep the 4400??
None of this makes any sense to me.
SSA will Not be happy until I am homeless or kill myself.
*Edited post to remove my drunken ramblings.
Hopefully the situation has been resolved. But with SS you never know what they're planning or will do next.
Praying I receive my August benefits check!
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I did the dumbest thing today. I charged my earbuds, unplugged the block and put the block in my little bag instead of the earbuds. I wasn't happy about that when I got to the gym. What a dummy!
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Ever since I stopped doing therapy because of insurance, I've been feeling that old tense and irritable sense of anxiety and stress. I hate that. I was making so many strides and changes during therapy, my therapist would acknowledge all of my progress and accomplishments, and I miss that reassurance. Today I thought about it, and I made those changes! She would always tell me that I chose to...
Vent away. . .
Kudos on the self-advocacy. The hardest part of dealing with bureaucrats is finding the right desk in that sea of cube farms. I hope you took a minute to help your rep feel appreciated. It can be a grueling way to make a living.
I raised holy hell, called AND wrote to every politician in my area, couincilmen, congressmen, state representative, etc. I made such a stink that SSD didn't bother me anymore. That's what you HAVE to do, for your own sanity---contact, write, GO IN PERSON, sleep overnight in front of their buildings-- these people want your votes and they WILL help you. They helped me---I had TWO brain tumor surgeries, couldn't hold a job, was falling on the streets, and I was CONSTANTLY getting turned down for disability. THESE PEOPLE HELPED ME---- you have to raise holy hell. Otherwise, you're doomed. Please do what I'm saying, it's the only thing that worked.
It's a nightmare dealing their agency. I've been through the ringer. Benefits have been suspended twice in the past, with no warning letter sent. Second time they had no explanation whatsoever why they stopped payment.
One of my disabled friends was also put through a meat grinder, Lost her benefits for 9 months. She advised me to contact Congresspersons and state officials. That's what she did to get influential advocates in her corner and resolve the issue. Btw, SSA also demanded she pay them back about $70,000!! they claim was overpaid to her. Holy cow. That's 4-5 years worth of benefits.
Fortunately I was able to get my benefits restored on my own. Without a doctor or attorney's assistance, or involving state legislators. My advice to anyone who has the same problem is first find out which SS Rep is personally handling your case. That is the person you must speak to directly. Get their office extension number as fast as you can. Calling the national number is pretty much a waste of time.
In my case, the situation was complicated by the fact I'd moved out of state and did not inform them. Main reason I did not, was I've been trying to move back to where I came from, and did not want another state office picking up my case, and possibly hitting me with another review. Unfortunately I was unable to relocate before they launched a CDR.
As for in person visits... most if not all SS offices are currently only open for emergency cases, due to covid pandemic. And in my case... the nearest office is over 100 miles away, and I do not have a car. So I reluctantly requested my appeal be handled by mail, and over the phone. I do not have an online SSA account, because I do not have a phone. SS requires phone verification to open an account. I don't think that's reasonable, and I will be writing federal and state legislators to voice a complaint.
Anyway, this unfair claim I owe them $4,400 sure seems like a dirty underhanded money grab attempt. SS was probably hoping I would not object or fight back.
There are other reps, however, who are pretty cold and hostile. They abruptly hang up on you when you're asking important questions. Those Reps act like they have better things to do than save your life. Literally. Because it is literally a life or death scenario, for disabled persons who lose their SSDI benefits. And when you're dealing with mentally ill, emotionally unstable individuals like myself, who are already teetering on the brink of suicide, the very least you can do is; Pretend that you care??
The whole system is a massive mess, long overdue for an overhaul. SSA is understaffed and Reps are poorly trained. Biden says he wants to allocate more funds to upgrade SSA. To expedite claims and appeals and improve service overall. Like cut phone wait times down from 45 minutes to 15 or less.
I hope his administration follows through on that, but I'm not holding my breath.