Please believe me, this "disability" journey is "up and down," "good and rough," and it is imperative you attempt to stay focused -- be at peace -- and know thyself. In order to successfully proceed with an expeditious Social Security Disability Insurance application, it is extremely necessary to "deeply" understand and accept your current situation, and internally answer the following question about your disability, and that is, "Is it true?" If your medical practitioner has advised you that working full- time/part-time is not for your best interest, or that you should not work due to your medical condition; or your family has given an intervention that you listen to your physician and not work -- the answer to the "Is it true?" question is: "Yes. It is true."
If you have worked for many years, it is so very hard to accept the fact that you are being told "....you are disabled." It's hard. But, now it is time to face it -- and take a quiet moment to meditate, pray, and ponder the moment, and then verbally say, "Yes, it is true." Then, move on with the realization of your situation, take action with your life, and proceed to review ALL of your disability benefit options.
On a good note, there are many options available, and for a quick reference they are listed in the book. (www.applyfordisability-on-your-own.com) Also, an easy method to process the decision of how to apply, i.e., should I hire an attorney to apply for my Social Security Disability Insurance benefits, or should I do it myself via the Social Security Administration (www.ssa.gov) website? (Book reference: The Process Decision -- "Them or Me?")
You may think -- it's the government, and it's probably very difficult to apply on my own. You hear of the horror stories of it taking 2-5 years to receive disability benefits. Believe me, I thought the same for a couple of minutes...but, I went on the Internet and reviewed the Social Security Administration website -- and found it to be very user-friendly and felt it could be done by me alone via applying for disability online.
Also, I found out that attorneys receive a portion of your "back-pay" and if I applied on my own -- it would all be mine, and I could control the process timing from my end -- versus going back and forth with attorneys, secretaries, etc. for years to come. Please: no offense to the attorneys, advocates, etc. at all. Many people will need attorneys, especially if they are not able to take care of their financials, etc. BUT, the next four statements below could be a "financial-saver and bring peace of mind" if you can answer, "YES" to the below statements:
1. Read with understanding,
2. Use a computer comfortably,
3. Feel comfortable and confident to speak on your own behalf to an
SSA representative, and,
4. Believe you can take control and apply on your own to reap your benefits,
then the answer to the aforementioned question of "Them or Me?" is "Me!"
To learn more to help relieve any fear, doubt, and/or anxiety of this unknown, please take this moment and visit my website. (www.applyfordisability-on-your-own.com) I purposely tracked my entire application process, and wrote the book and now blog for you. The experience of applying for Social Security Disability was totally unexpected for me, and it was meant to be shared to help many people who need their disability insurance -- they have paid into from every paycheck since their first job taking out FICA taxes. This is not a hand-out from the government. It is YOUR disability insurance YOU paid into for the unexpected. "...as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation." 2 Corinthians 1:7 NKJV
Also, if you want to actually "hear" how you can begin your disability application journey, the following link is a copy of me being interviewed on The Maggie Linton Show, August 19, 2015 on SiriusXM Urban View-Channel 126. Go to the following link:
https://www.hightail.com/download/ZWJWd0VKY3l5UkZ3SGNUQw
The link is available until November 21, 2015.
Blessings,
Jarita
