disability benefits

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brokedownfool

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:(Hi, Ilive in Western Massachusetts and was wondering if anyone may know how I should go about obtaining disability benefits. I severely hurt my back about 4 years ago and only now after all this time trying to improve my situation do I understand that it's not going to improve. I was working towarRAB getting back to "normal" but now I realize that isn't going to happen. My pain is constant even with what I consider to be a large amount of dangerous medication. my only question to anyone is could you tell me how to go about obtaining disability benefits in my state. (Massachusetts) Thanks for any help. -T
 
You can apply for Social Security Disability Benefits online if you like, or go to your nearest Social Security office and get the paperwork there and complete it. It is best if you have copies of your medical recorRAB so that you don't have to wait for a response to SSD from the doctors. There are many items that you will need, so it is best to have that information gathered ahead of time before you start the application process.
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BH is very right in the advice she gave, the more real solid documentation you have, the better. there IS a disabilities board right below here with many many very knowledgable and experienced people, i would just very highy suggest you pop in there for any info you need right now an in the furure too.

the one huge thing you just really NEED to obtain BEFORE ssd actually does is your very own copies of ALL of your own medical recorRAB so you can just read thru them to check for any possible mistakes(happens much more often than one would think) and of course accuracy. i could not believe the level of missing diagnosis info that i was actually 'told' i had but nothing was actually written in my actual medical file. you just have to get this all checked out before hand so it contains the right info and you still have the time to get any possible misinformation or missing Dx fixed. i was denied the first go round but after obtaining certain documants and seeing their mental helth doc too, i was approved. just make certain to obatin everything first then include ANYTHING that really supports you lervel of true disability. they tend to look not at what you cannot actually do, but what you still CAN do despite your ongoing disabilities. so be prepared to defend yourself in that way. but DO head down to the disabilities board, they will help you deal with all the BS. i really DO wish you loaRAB of luck with this. just by the by here, and only because this is just a .gov site, we can post it here. it is www.ssd.gov . this just is the main page on their website. Marcia
 
I think you have to apply at your local Social Security
Office. Also do a online google search.
 
just go to that main webpage at the ssd site, you CAN do it all online, i did, even having to go thru that recon phase when i got turned down the first go round. not once during the whole process of getting on this did i ever have to show up at their office.

if you just go to that site, you can print off the entire applications that are needed, all the questions and stuff? then just fill this all out and send it all in, all at one time. they have really simplified the process so they don't HAVE to see like every single person actually applying? you just talk to then on the phone instead. it makes their job much easier and it works out well for us, the disabled so we don;t have to keep getting rides to their office, ya know what i mean? kind of a win win all the way around. but i was able to do all this online and mail and phone back in 2004 when i applied so you should not have any problems. just get this process going since it can be a lengthy thing in some cases. and get those recorRAB FIRST before SSD does. cannot stress that one thing enough to you. good luck hon, marcia
 
SSDI or SSI are federal disability benefits. For SSDI you must have a substantial work history, have contributed to SS over the years (some professions like teachers often do not as they contribute into a teacher's retirement and disability plan). Your first step should be to check out www.ssa.gov - there they can answer some of yoru questions by the information and FAQ they provide. Also, a few months before your birthday each year you should receive a mailing from SS that details out your earning history, what you can project for possible SS retirement amount in the future, and what you'd be eligible for under SS disability if you became disabled today. If you don't have that document you may be able to get one via the SS website or your local SS office.

Your state, MA, doesn't offer any type of state disability beneifts. The only states that do are NY, NJ, RI, CA, HI and PR.

Are you currently working? If so your employer may offer STD or LTD (short term or long term disability). I'm fortunate that my employer offers both and I had STD for 26 weeks and then my LTD started in Noveraber. I may have to apply for SSDI, the insurance company will mandate it, but I'm putting it off in case I'm able to return to work.

I highly recommend seeking out a SS attorney to help you down the road. SS application process can be long and frustrating. If you do chose an attorney - be sure their primary practice is disability law.
 
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