Hi Rhonda...am in the process of 2nd try for disability. I told my neuro who made me take the cognitive testing as he said this is an awesome report for disability to look at. I sent a copy of this report in with paperwork to disability as it showed some severe damage in areas of memory, etc. The only part I hated was the dang 500 question "personality" test. For the most part I am "Ms.Mary Sunshine" and won't take any drug unless I run it past my neuro BUT the report stated that I have underlying emotional issues and may be a potential substance abuser. All I can figure is that I checked "yes" to "Do you want to be a singer" and probably answered that I have drank and smoked pot before! lol...keep us posted on your claim! and hugs to you darlin'...hang in there...I understand

Today was the day....it was not too bad, got off to a rocky...(literally) start. Since neither of us drive, had to take the bus...not a biggie except there were TWO streets with the same name so I ended up being late-YIKES....but I called the SSA chick on my cell to let her know that I couldnt find the clinic....Outta breath, I told her, "You KNOW this is for a disability exam....weeze..weeze :D (she did laugh) Finally I stumbled into the clinic 30 minutes late....The doctor was cool ....He at first gave me the impression that this was all about business no jokes...which I took as a personal challenge...score one for Rhonda...he lightened up as the exam progressed...First there were a ton of questions about my MS and diabetes and how did those conditions affect my working. I've got cognitive junk for days that really screws with my organization BUT MOSTLY billing....you're kinda useless as a paralegal if you can't keep billing straight! (thats just the way it is) Then some ???s like how do the events of my day progress. (I didn't realize just how little I really do) ....After the Q&A then the dr. made me do some physical manuvers ....clearly I won't be running any marathons.....but for now we wait to see what SSA says...The doc did end the exam by letting me know that he doesn't make the decisions and doesn't represent me...which is cool cause I knew that. Bottomline I don't know why I was so ambivalent about this exam...there were no surprises! So not to ramble but hopefully this shares a little light on the mystique of the DREADED SSDI exam...keep you guys posted! ...AND THANK YOU SO MUCH AGAIN for all of your great advice and guidance! ....Rhonda

Thanks for the update, i am looking forward to a future post where you write you have been awarded ssdi.

for me about a month after the exam i recieved a letter in the mail that said a ssdi requires both physical and financial conditions be meet. i had fullfilled the phyical requirement for a disability claim, the financial conditions were being checked.

then 2 weeks after that letter i recieved another letter that said i meet the financial requirement needed for a ssdi claim and what my monthly award amount would be, when it would be direct deposited into my account and a number to call if it was not deposited into my account when at the date they said i should receive my first direct deposit..

ssdi checks are deposited based upon a person's birthday. my birthdate is the 28th of the month and my ssdi check is deposited into my checking account on the 4th wednesday of every month.
my mom's b'day is on the 2nd, i think hes SS check is deposited into her account on the first tues or wed of every month

Too funny NCLiz...! Let me know when your CD drops! :D

The attorney DOES NOT GET 30% of the back pay! They get a limited amount not to exceed 25%. In my case, my lawyer got about $2,000.00. When the case was over he mailed me about $200.00 of his fee being my case went through without too much extra work. My attorney specialized in disability cases and he is a good man and I do not regret hiring him one tiny little bit. My case could have ended up in court. I never even had to go to an SSDI exam being I had the right advocate attorney.

Best of luck rhonda1964!