When you first apply there is really nothing for an attorney to do. If you're denied at the initial phase, then you do need to get an attorney if you decide to appeal that decision. The social worker is right about filing. Give DDS the name and address of all of your dr. you also might want to get a copy if your medical records to see exactly what they say about your conditions. What drs tell us and what we tell them isn't always written in our medical records like we think it is. Depending on your education and training, your age of 61 should be in your favor. They do factor that in when determining disability as well as being able to do any job in the national economy. Do you know if you have enough work credits to qualify for SSDI ? You can file for SSDI online. I have put a link below that should help.

What You Can Do Online-(Click On Apply for benefits)-
http://www.socialsecurity.gov/onlineservices/

Yes you should have a lawyer ! This process is difficult and most do not get approved on the first try. Save some trouble for yourself. THey don't get paid unless you win anyway, so YES get a lawyer.
OR
use www.allsup.com They are reputable. And will do same thing as a lawyer would do. I was using them until I found out my job provided a lawyer for me. WIth a lawyer I won on my 1st appeal, which means I lost the first time, and won the second time, but I filed on Dec 31 2008 and they didn't notify me I was denied until the Spring, then the lawyer appealed for me, and August I was approved!
This process is VERY stressful even when you have the professional help of a lawyer or something equivalent.
Check out Allsup's website. They are SO nice and easy to work with! www.allsup.com
One thing you have to do is start getting all your medical records, so I doubt u want to run around doing this, so that is one thing a lawer will do for you.
Something you can do to prepare now, is start making a list of all the doctors you have gone to and their address and phone numbers and dates you went. Then also make a list of your medications. Make alist of any and all ER visits, the dates, address, phone numbers, and any hospital stays, surgeries, procedures..etc..dates and times..
If you can start making that list now, which is time consuming, that will help speed up some of the process once you have to start filling out the paperwork, and collecting medical records.
I very very very strongly recommend a lawyer or Allsup.

Mine took 8 months, and that was "fast" compared to many people. many people it takes years. Most people are denied when they first apply, many are denied again when they appeal, then on the 3rd attempt it goes to court in front of a judge.
lengthy process, the sooner you start, the better. !

I used allsup also and they were great! They took care of the mountain of paperwork the govt wanted. I was denied the first time and allsup appealed for me right away. Next time around I got it. All in all it took 11 months which is very good in the state of PA.

Thanks so much for your input on this. I checked the Social Security website yesterday. I'm afraid trying this on my own when I have fog issues is going to be too much. The thing that really freaked me out was having another person to explain my situation. I had a nightmare situation with my doctors over the last year and a half and I don't really discuss this too much with friends and family. I tried to explain my brain fog to a brother at Thanksgiving. He looked so pained, I changed the subject.

The whole process is so stressful especially with brain fog.

From my own personal experience I can tell you that they do look for a reason to deny you. Their paid doctors are a joke and their whole purpose is to deny you and get paid to do it. SS also hires them to give testimony at your hearing if it comes to that..

The whole process took me almost 3 yrs. Two denials, a visit to their doc, and finally won at my ALJ hearing.

My judge specifically said he was on the lookout for people who were trying to get early retirement by filing for disability so be careful about that. Age does not necessarily make it easier.

I filled out the paperwork and sent it by mail as that is the only way I could include supporting documentation. They won't except any records or supporting documents online and going in person would be like going on a job interview, the very thing I was claiming I couldn't do.

Ann, keep a copy of everything you send to DDS/SSA. Get a folder jut for those things. Also get a notebook to keep in that folder for things like the date and time you call your DDS caseworker, if you get an answer, if you leave a voice mail message what you say and if the call is returned along with the date, time and approximate length of conversation. If you get an attorney, you also need to keep records on contact with them. Everything that has to do with your disability case you keep a records of in that folder.


Even if you get an attorney, if DDS doesn't receive all of the medical records they request, you are the one they will contact to get them. So you also may need to keep track of things that you haven't even thought you would. Know what I mean ?