Just keep giving them ALL of the information they ask for and keep your records of your doctors visits and any tests you have done. Its all about the documentation. Hang in there

Tell them all your medical problems no matter how minor some of them may be. Buy the e-book on healthy-holistic-living.com it has great tips. I would emphasize other conditions besides fibro b/c most ppl are approved for other conditions like depression or ibs. See a phychiatrist reg. if you suffer from depression. Get tested for anything for anything similiar to fibro to eliminate those things-ms, vitamin d, lyhme disease. See a physical therapist, get an mri. I found out i had bone spurs from an mri that was previously undiagnosed. Leave no stone unturned. Also, go back and look at old posts from this group it contains good advice. Best wishes.

Thanks for all of your advice. I am trying to get disability because my depression is not getting any better.

Hi-I also applied for disability in August and am waiting for something to happen. I did have to go to see their doctor and psychologist, but besides sending in tons of information, nothing seems to be happening. But I've heard that it takes quite a while for any decision to be made. I have a MTBI, lupus, fibro, and DDD. But I don't know if they will help me or not. I also applied for social services here in NY, because I have no income since unemployment ran out last May. I did get approved for food stamps, which is a big help, but I've had my phone and tv disconnected, and just got a letter today that my electric is going to be disconnected. Social Services is trying to work something else out to help me with that. So if you need some aid while waiting for SSD. perhaps you contact Social Services where you life. Good luck, and God Bless.

Just be patient...

I applied on Sept 1, 2009. I received follow up paperwork around the end of December 2009. I was approved about a month later and my first check was for February 2010. And from what I've heard, that was a pretty fast approval. Many people have to wait a long time, up to five years with appeals and all.

Andrea-----what illness did you have and what state do you live in? That is unreal to get approved that fast unless a person has a terminal illness. Did you go through an attorney?

Getting SSD is a battle. You need a lawyer no matter what.. There's a federal limit how much the lawyer gets. First time appling always get turn down. It took over 3 & half years to battle mine. And it takes months to get replies.
It's a long haul, and stressful too.

I have Bipolar Type I, Boderline Personality, Post Traumatic Stress, and Attention-Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorders, along with anxiety and obsessive-compulsive behaviors. I just filed my 61 page legal brief and lots of new evidence to the Appeals Council yesterday. My lawyer quit on me n September after my denial, so I'm on my own. After a crash course in Disability Law and Legaleze, I'm pretty confident about my appeal. The ALJ made so many reversible errors that my brief would have been longer, I just ran out of time for turning it in. I'm really thinking about becoming an advocate to help fight this massive corrupt bureaucracy. My claim was handled poorly from the beginning, and I have now learned-the hard way-if you even apply and don't know what your getting into, read up, ask questions, but don't count on anyone to do it for you. Keep in contact with your local field office and ask about which records they have. If you have a Consultative Examination, get that report!! Go over your records, and if there's anything wrong in them, try to get it corrected. Also, when you give them a list of places that have your records, give them the address, phone and fax numbers too. After 25 days or so, call each of the places listed and make sure that a request for records has been submitted by the SSA. I have appliied twice-once in 2003, again in 2008 (my current). Apparently, in 2003, they said that they had used one of my hospital records in their denial decision. In September of this year, after the ALJ denied me, I got a copy of who has ever requested my records, and guess what? Yup-the SSA never requested them, even though they said they did. I am filing to have it reopened, (even though it's well over the time limit) on the basis of fraud or similar fault-which is a reason to reopen at any time. There were a lot more errors-even more shocking than this one and I'll be happy to share with anyone who wants to hear it. Catch these issues early and you have a better chance-you don't want to waste your appeals! Especially if your "Date of Last Insured" (DLI) is an issue Hopefully I can pass on some good advice-if I can help at least 1 person, great! I would love to help.

Very nice post. It sounds like you have been through the ringer. I supplied ss with all my records at application. I have records from all dr visits over the years and ones they cannot get. I just applied Dec 1 so I imagine they will spend a month or 2 looking for records then find out they have less than I gave them on day one. Its been 3 weeks and I have not recieved anything from them. Any idea how long it takes them to make contact back? I hand delivered my paperwork to them.

LIKE I SAID- Getting SSD is a battle. You need a lawyer no matter what.. There's a federal limit how much the lawyer gets. First time applying always get turn down. I was turn down 3 times, It took over 3 & half years to battle mine. And it takes months to get replies.
It's a long haul, and stressful too. BUT I FINALLY WON MINE BECAUSE A ERROR WAS MADE THAT MY LAWYER DIDN'T GET, SO WE REPELS IT AND WON. The doctors that check you out, work for the gov. They make more money "claiming you can work". But the so called doctor that check me out didn't believe I have AS. By the end of the appointment, I couldn't walk, drive, and in pain for days for what he did to my body.