After 4 years of waiting...I have been approved for SSDI!!

[Bozvotros]

35. You have to keep at it.

A certain percentage who qualify give up when denied. Insurance companies have routinely used denial of legitimate claims to cut reimbursement costs. I think SSDI may do this too but it may just be that they want more data. This means shelling out more money for appointments, tests etc. just when it may be hardest. Usually people go several years trying to work, quitting and losing jobs, hoping things will magically get better before they realize or accept that they aren't fit any longer.

My wife who has a certain severe inflammatory joint disease worked until her mid 50's when it had reached the point where she couldn't use her hands for several hours every morning. She applied for SSDI and was promptly denied. She was so disgusted and hurt she refused to appeal. We argued alot about that. But she was unable to hold any job that required manual dexterity, repetitive motion or ability to grip....or standing too long.... or having to hustle from spot to spot. There are damn few jobs that don't require one of those and they usually go to someone young. Not some women in their mid 50's whose knuckles are as big as a football player. When three years later she finally reapplied for SSI they certified her disability back to when she first applied. But since she had not appealed she simply got back pay to the time of her second application. That cost us about 30,000 and created a whole set of problems that we are still recovering from.

Sometimes the denial is one "soft" letter from one provider. If you get your records from them you can sometimes spot it right away and ask them to write another. Or find another provider in the same specialty. Just don't give up.

Oh... and congratulations. I know how much it can mean and how hard those years must have been. Happy holiday to you.