Hopefully this resource page on social security disability and appealing judgments will help those who found they can no longer work and scared to death of poverty. You will find mostly links to great resources including the Social Security Website itself and where to find a lawyer http://www.nosscr.org/.

Remember Social Security Disability lawyers only charge a fee if they win your case and the Social Security sets the fee and withholds the money so no money exchanges hands between you and the lawyer.
Mr Jonathan C. Teller, a New York City lawyer was referred to me by nosscr. I was told by my lawyer to forgot about fairness and logic. He specializes in social security disability. I guess I learned years ago, men talk and God laughs.

But..as you can see that doesn't stop me from learning as much as I can. Why throw up your hands, when you have been given a head to work with. There is the other expression that God helps those that help themselves...

Our cases are vastly different so we won't necessarily easily find the answers we are looking for. Consensus is that on first attempt more than half on turned down on initial try...even with a great paper trail.
Mental disability has greatest chance. You certainly will get a lot of incorrect information so you might need a genuine lawyer whose primary practice is social security disability. Social Security sets their fees and limits the amount they can get..right now under 5400 dollars..or about 25% of back money social security owes you.

There are times when your attorney will have to obtain your medical records relating to your disability and may have to pay your doctor to get them or may incur on rare occasion other expenses. Those you have to pay for in addition to money withheld by social security if you win.

Even if you file late..say you haven't worked in fifteen years and hadn't known you were eligible for ssdi or were to proud to go for it..the most back insurance you can collect is one year previous to your filing...not fifteen years...I threw that example in because two people told me I was ineligible because of time elapse...NOT TRUE..just more difficult.

If you get turned down, you should go the appeal route..many people do and win. It is easier to win when you appeal...So two lessons, when in doubt apply for social security disability and don't let pride or doubt stand in your way. The longer you wait even when your case is legitimate the harder it is to win..your paper trail gets fainter..2. Prepare to appeal with a Administrative Law Judge (ALJ). A lawyer might not be a bad idea..they do not cost you anything unless you win and if you do hire one, social security withholds their fee so no money exchanges hands..

My lawyer, Jonathan Teller, a New York City lawyer who specializes in social security disability law was exceptional. He didn't promise me a rose garden and asked me incredibly painful questions and reduced me to tears and in so doing prepared me for the appeal.His website is http://teller-law.com which also offers information He also had an incredible understanding of what it was like to be bipolar which shocked me and knew exactly what he was doing. He sized me up and knew I had to have a friend accompany me. He also prepared an outline for the Judge which made it much easier for the Judge and collected the hospital records etc. I realized at least with my case, I would have been a fool if i hadn't hired a lawyer.

I am convinced if I hadn't had Mr. Teller referred to me, I wouldn't have won my appeal. He could probably state the process of what the judge was looking for and needed in his sleep to win the appeal!

You might also want to contact your local Legal Aid if you can get through to them. Supposedly they work pro bono. No hearing is held at this level, but the decision of the Administrative Law Judge is reviewed for error. About 1 in every 500 cases is reversed.

An appeal can be taken to what is called the Appeals Council if the ALJ decides against you and then to the to the United States District Court. These should be made within sixty days each. No hearing is made at either of those levels.

SSDI(Social Security Disability) requires a certain amount of credit earned for prior work, whereas SSI(Supplemental Security Income where you get Medicaid) is based solely on financial need, regardless of prior work.

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http://www.nosscr.org/

The National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives (NOSSCR) is committed to providing the highest quality representation and advocacy on behalf of persons who are seeking Social Security and Supplemental Security Income.

6 Prospect Street - Midland Park, NJ 07432-1691 - (800) 431-2804
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http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/42/ch7.htmlSocial Security Updates

http://www.claimantsdisabilityservices.com/updates.html

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid

http://www.medicare.gov/Official government site for Medicare
The amount of your coverage is also dependent on whether you have coverage under Medicare Part A, Medicare Part B, or both. Medicare Part A typically pays for your inpatient hospital expenses and Medicare Part B typically covers your outpatient health care expenses including doctor fees.

Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA):

Based on the increase in the Consumer Price Index (CPI-W) from the third quarter of 2000 through the third quarter of 2001, Social Security beneficiaries and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients will receive a 2.6 percent COLA for 2002. Other important 2002 Social Security information is as follows:

Tax Rate	2001	2002
Employee	7.65%	7.65%
Self-Employed	15.30%	15.30%
NOTE: The 7.65% tax rate is the combined rate for Social Security and Medicare. The Social Security portion (OASDI) is 6.20% on earnings up to the applicable taxable maximum amount (see below). The Medicare portion (HI) is 1.45% on all earnings.

Maximum Earnings Taxable:	2001	2002
Social Security (OASDI only)	$80,400	$84,900
Medicare (HI only)	No Limit

Quarter of Coverage:	2001	2002
Earnings required	$830	$870

Retirement Earnings Test Exempt Amounts:

As of January 2000, the Retirement Earnings Test has been eliminated for individuals age 65-69. It remains in effect for those ages 62 through 64. A modified test applies for the year an individual reaches age 65. (The Senior Citizens’ Freedom To Work Act of 2000, signed into law by President Clinton on April 7, 2000.)
	2001	2002
Year individual reaches 65	$25,000/yr. ($2,084/mo.)	$30,000/yr. ($2,500/mo.)
NOTE: Applies only to earnings for months prior to attaining age 65. One dollar in benefits will be withheld for every $3 in earnings above the limit. There is no limit on earnings beginning the month an individual attains age 65.
Under age 65	$10,680/yr. ($890/mo.)	$11,280/yr. ($940/mo.)
NOTE: One dollar in benefits will be withheld for every $2 in earnings above the limit.

Social Security Disability Thresholds	2001	2002
Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA)
Non-Blind	$740/mo.	$780/mo.
Blind	$1,240/mo.	$1,300/mo.
Trial Work Period (TWP)	$530/mo.	$560/mo.

Maximum Social Security Benefit: Worker Retiring at Age 65 in January	2001	2002
	$1,536/mo.	$1,660/mo.

SSI Federal Payment Standard:	2001	2002
Individual	$531/mo.	$545/mo.
Couple	$796/mo	$817/mo.

SSI Resources Limits:	2001	2002
Individual	$2,000	$2,000
Couple	$3,000	$3,000

SSI Student Exclusion Limits:	2001	2002
Monthly Limit	$1,290	$1,320
Annual Limit	$5,200	$5,340

Estimated Average Monthly Social Security Benefits:	Before and After the December 2001 COLA:
	Before 2.6% COLA	After 2.6% COLA
All Retired Workers	$ 852	$ 874
Aged Couple, Both Receiving Benefits	$1,418	$1,454
Widowed Mother and Two Children	$1,719	$1,764
Aged Widow(er) Alone	$ 820	$ 841
Disabled Worker, Spouse and One or More Children	$1,325	$1,360
All Disabled Workers	$ 794	$ 815

you can get an idea of social security budget and projections of 2003 here