I got approved SSDI on the first time; while on active duty payments to start Oct 2013. I am not posting this to brag but rather to pay information forward. Some things I learned thanks to this forum and my wife. This is what I did and I was awarded first time.
When you apply try to turn in copies of your profile, commander’s fitness statement, and your unfitting memo with your application. If you don’t have them when you first apply turn them in when you get them.
Stop by your local Social Security office at least once, wait in line and talk to a live person and ask if there is anything you need to turn in or fill out, and then get it to them or fill it out right away.
Prepare a folder tabbed with everything you can think of that their docs might want to know at your appointments: Copies of your profile, commander’s fitness statement, your unfitting memo, your NARSUM, lab results, x-ray results, mri results , CT scan results, all results, all studies (Like sleep or nerve), counseling’s or NCOER’s, prior PT cards (So they could see what you were), awards, badges (the three valor badges are important, CMB, CAB, CIB), and anything else that can show both where you are health wise and where you were before you got hurt. Make copies of all with your social blacked out and offer them to the Docs and nurses.
Read over your NARSUM before your appointment so that you have fresh, jargon, talking points, and you can give a list that matches what they will get from your branch and VA.
Read over the psych portion of your NARSUM (If applicable) appointment so that you have fresh, jargon, talking points, and you can give a list that matches what they will get from your branch and VA.
Do not criticize your branch or the VA (it wastes what little time you have with them and it distracts from the real point; how broke you are)
Make sure all SS docs know that you are saddened to have lost a career (No bitterness at the branch, VA or anything else)
Do not tough anything out for them, if it hurts tell them don’t let your body language tell them use your words.
Contact your SSDI case worker every two weeks to inquire if there is anything else needed.
Then hurry up and wait they have a certain amount of time to make a decision. If you’re like me and need to punish yourself with daily updates, do it online at the SS website, don’t harass your case worker more often than absolutely necessary.
I did all of these things and I was a first time go; many of the others who were a first time go did similar things. And remember the Social Security office has statistics, and goals like everybody else. If you are in an area where there is a lot of federal money being spent on programs like this you may be turned down the first time just because you were accidently too late to apply. Re apply and make a plan like the one above and do it again. If you are on your second time around definitely consider an attorney.
Thank you all for what you do; and thanks to all you SSDI guys and gals with the incredible advice that helped me make the plan above.
When you apply try to turn in copies of your profile, commander’s fitness statement, and your unfitting memo with your application. If you don’t have them when you first apply turn them in when you get them.
Stop by your local Social Security office at least once, wait in line and talk to a live person and ask if there is anything you need to turn in or fill out, and then get it to them or fill it out right away.
Prepare a folder tabbed with everything you can think of that their docs might want to know at your appointments: Copies of your profile, commander’s fitness statement, your unfitting memo, your NARSUM, lab results, x-ray results, mri results , CT scan results, all results, all studies (Like sleep or nerve), counseling’s or NCOER’s, prior PT cards (So they could see what you were), awards, badges (the three valor badges are important, CMB, CAB, CIB), and anything else that can show both where you are health wise and where you were before you got hurt. Make copies of all with your social blacked out and offer them to the Docs and nurses.
Read over your NARSUM before your appointment so that you have fresh, jargon, talking points, and you can give a list that matches what they will get from your branch and VA.
Read over the psych portion of your NARSUM (If applicable) appointment so that you have fresh, jargon, talking points, and you can give a list that matches what they will get from your branch and VA.
Do not criticize your branch or the VA (it wastes what little time you have with them and it distracts from the real point; how broke you are)
Make sure all SS docs know that you are saddened to have lost a career (No bitterness at the branch, VA or anything else)
Do not tough anything out for them, if it hurts tell them don’t let your body language tell them use your words.
Contact your SSDI case worker every two weeks to inquire if there is anything else needed.
Then hurry up and wait they have a certain amount of time to make a decision. If you’re like me and need to punish yourself with daily updates, do it online at the SS website, don’t harass your case worker more often than absolutely necessary.
I did all of these things and I was a first time go; many of the others who were a first time go did similar things. And remember the Social Security office has statistics, and goals like everybody else. If you are in an area where there is a lot of federal money being spent on programs like this you may be turned down the first time just because you were accidently too late to apply. Re apply and make a plan like the one above and do it again. If you are on your second time around definitely consider an attorney.
Thank you all for what you do; and thanks to all you SSDI guys and gals with the incredible advice that helped me make the plan above.
