son got an advocite she took care of all the paperwork ..he had to go before the judge..they get 25% if they win your case.if you lose they got nothing if you go this route and find a lawyer or advcote do not pay anything up front..took 2 years..

WOW.......I feel just horrible for all of you that have to deal with US system for disability!!!! I couldn't imagine having to deal with what you guys deal with!
In canada, the process is MUCH easier! I took my papers into my DR, he filled them out and 30 days later the GOVT had process them and they can't deny you if you have a DR say that you can't work.
Best of luck to all you going through this!

When I applied I was fortunate enough to have all the information for every Dr. my daughter saw at the time. That was the most time consuming. Here in NJ there is a website.

Thanks everyone.

I've spoken to one lawyer so far and he advised I apply myself and if I am denied he'll step in. It's all a little overwhelming.

I was denied. Because I can not prove exactly when I became disabled. Looking back now,I know I had Narcolepsy as long as I can remember, but no diagnosis until 4 years ago. How do you prove it? how do they rate our individual disability? it's so much work.

The first time I applied, I was 17. I had been misdiagnosed with MS due to a prolonged partial paralysis I had when I was 16. (my sleep specialist thinks it was a severe form of C due to the abusive home I was in). They denied me.

The second time I applied, I was 21. This time I had a whole bunch of mental health misdiagnoses. The second time around, they finally approved me. One reason for that is because if I had taken them to court to get on disability, they would have owed me back pay all the way from when I first applied when I was 17. Approving me the second time meant they only had to give me back pay for the year+ I had to wait for their decision for.

Only after I was put on SSI and eventually SSDI as well, did the N finally get diagnosed.

You can go to your local Department of Human and Health Services office and ask for an application for SSI.

You can also go onto www.ssa.gov to apply online.

mijken- file an appeal after the second one you will go before a judge..sons records were incomplete no DX was written for anything

Thanks for the advice everyone, I know I haven't been on in awhile. My heart health issues have become worse and I haven't been able to get on as much as I would like.

I've been told that because I suffer from two heart conditions as well as N it may hopefully be less trouble to get approved but I know not to count my cards.
I'm just hoping that things finally start going in the right direction, if they don't I feel that I'll lose what hope I still have.

You start with the Social Security Administration website. Make sure that you you check the box that says you want to apply for SSI. Social Security is based on past work records/quarters and SSI is need based. If you don't check the box and are denied SS, you are actually starting over for SSI - new start date for back-pay. Good luck. Don't forget that if you are turned down, which a lot are, you can also appeal.