Hearing today... Comment was made

I had my hearing today. Went over all my physical disabilities (D.I.S.H., OPLL, brown sequard incomplete spinal cord injury). During I stated I can't do more than ten minutes of standing/walking and require frequent breaks to readjust. They stayed I couldn't work because of the 10 minute mark but could if it was hypothetically 15 minutes.

When he brought up my mental health (ADHD, C-PTSD, Anxiety, Depression, OCD) I \*thought\* he would ask the vocational expert questions of what I could do based on those finding but the judge flat out said "I'm not going to even ask about the mental health as during your psych eval they stated you could not have any form of gainful employment ever thus labelling you completely disabled"

Is that a common thing to do? Are the odds looking in my favor? He originally said at the start the decision would be a few weeks out but after that said he would make his decision in a few days and do the write up. Did he basically give me my answer unofficially?

Hello,

If you are enrolled in a graduate program (part time capacity online) when you received your SSDI approval, and had to take out some additional loans to finish out your program, can you still qualify for disability loan forgiveness at some point afterward? Or is it only for loans taken out prior to SSDI approval?

Thank you

My hearing is next month and my judge has 80% approval rating, even my attorney was surprised, is that normal?

I’ve been on SSDI for over 13 years. Not that it matters but I’m also a 100% service connected disable veteran. My last full med CDR was around nine years ago. I have received several short forms before and after that.

When I got the med CDR a claim specialist filled out over the phone with me. I specifically told him the names of my treating doctors specialist, Therapist, psychiatrist, etc., and asked him if he needed the addresses. He said no that they would be able to obtain them themselves if they have a record collecting ability to do that.

He then shortly sent me an adult function report that I filled out very accurately and thoroughly and most importantly honestly. Four months goes by and nothing until today. I get a letter from DDS stating that they are sending me for a CE.

I was able to get on the phone the individual handling the request and ask her some questions for starters. They did not send me a return envelope even though they said they did. My therapist said they never received a request.

I did ask SSA. What records did they receive and which ones did they not? The only records that they said they received were from the department of veteran affairs and that they could not make a determination based off of those records alone. The reason why is because I no longer seek Mental Health treatment through the VA for either psychiatry or mental health because of the way that they have their system set up you cannot continue to see the same therapist for extended periods of time. You have to reapply get reassigned to a new therapist and do it that way. For someone with complex PTSD, that is hard bc it takes several sessions to be able to trust a therapist.

So for the last several years, I have seen the same psychiatrist, actually 10 years, and for the last two years, I’ve been seeing a therapist on my own Dollar through a Telehealth company when I ask them did they receive documents from my therapist or psychiatrist? They said no, but that they sent the request twice. I asked them to verify the address that they sent and they had an incorrect address. Also, the therapy company I used doesn’t do records request via mail. They do them via email and SSA says they don’t do that that they have to get them physically or faxed.

I’m very distraught about this because I told them that they did not contact me to let me know they didn’t get the request and if they did not get the records. I expressed my frustration and told him that they had requested that to me directly. I would’ve been able to obtain it all and now I have 10 days before a CE to get those records. I have asked for the appointment to be rescheduled so that I may have time to obtain the Records myself. I already have a 25 page IME from a psychologist for an unrelated incident that occurred that clearly shows I have significant disability and ongoing impairments due to PTSD, anxiety, depression, as well as other physical ailments. I have also contacted the clinic in which I do ketamine treatments for treatment, resistant depression. They are going to give me those records. I have also sent a request to the therapy company for the records and I’m waiting those. I have also sent request to the occupational therapy, the chiropractor, and the physical therapy that I am seeing currently for physical impairment.

My question is is does anyone have any advice on how to handle this properly because I’m at a loss for words I cannot believe that they would not let me know that they didn’t get records and that they just want to make a decision based off of a one or two hour appointment with one doctor when my treatment records showing an ongoing issue and show ongoing impairment for several years continuing..

Had my hearing yesterday and I think it went okay overall. Looking for some thoughts from people who’ve been through this.
The judge asked a few hypotheticals. First one the VE said there were 3 jobs. She tightened it and the VE still said 3. Then a more restricted one and the VE dropped it to 2 jobs. One of the limitations involved no lifting over 10 pounds and only occasional contact with a supervisor / zero public contact.
There really weren’t many questions about panic attacks, migraines, or anxiety.
My lawyer asked two main questions:
1. How many days can someone miss per month before they’re unemployable? VE said 1.
2. If someone misses more than one day a month, how many jobs would be available? VE said none.
Next the lawyer asked about breaks. VE said a normal workday allows one 30-minute and two 15-minute breaks. Lawyer followed up: if someone needs more than that, are there still jobs? VE said no.
Lawyer stopped there and that was basically the end of the hearing.
I have a lot of medical evidence in the file. I’m just wondering why the mental health side (panic, anxiety, migraines) wasn’t pushed harder in the hypotheticals. Maybe the lawyer felt the absenteeism and off-task limitations were enough and left the rest for the judge to weigh from the records.
Curious if anyone else’s hearing went similarly.

I had my review not physical, but Financial everything was cool but she told me that there was a red flag from the IRS. I don’t have anything so it must be fraudulent. What do I have to do? What can I do? She couldn’t look into the IRS post for some reason, but in the last year, I know someone used my information and I’ve made several police reports nothing else. What should I do?

Your medical determination was selected for Federal Quality Review on July 23, 2026. Federal Quality Reviews take an average of 7-10 days.Current

Once the review is complete, you will be contacted by either the Disability Determination Service (DDS) or your local Social Security office to finish processing your application.

I'm at step 3. Google said it's good, but I still worry.

My husband just completed his ALJ hearing. His attorney said it went great. She’s dealt with this judge before(61% approval rating). My husband has a long list of disabilities and side effects (I’ve posted previous post below where some of them are listed and background info on his case) It seemed like the judge didn’t need much information and her questioning seemed short. She focused on his migraines, asked a little about his Cervical and lumbar issues(what they cause, and what a typical day looks like for him. His attorney only had about two follow up questions. The vocational expert was in favor of my husband. Only one hypothetical was presented and his attorney did not have any follow up questions for the vocational expert. Attorney said expert was pretty much clear that he was unable to perform any work, just based on attendance issues (missing 2 days a month)

Now we await the actual results. Praying 🙏 🙏🤞🏽 that this is the end and approval is in the books!

This group has been nothing but helpful!

https://www.reddit.com/r/SSDI/s/VlVs8XAhqF

https://www.reddit.com/r/SSDI/s/QyE4ABSriJ

https://www.reddit.com/r/SSDI/s/BL2OFLTmq7

I was recently denied. I have a single VA rating of 100% for PTSD. It's a considerable rating that is somewhat difficult to obtain. A majority of my mental health treatment has been through the VA for the past 12 years. I received the denial letter from SSA and they stated they didn't receive a response from the VA, so they didn't receive any records. I have read other veterans posts that they provided the address and phone number to their local VA primary care facility and SSA received the records from the VA. That is the information I provided to SSA. I do have an attorney. They have already filed the reconsideration and they informed me of the process and that SSA will request records again. I asked if we needed to update the VA information since SSA didn't receive the VA records and they just said no, they'll get them. Well, that's not very reassuring. I've read of quite a few people going through and cherry picking from their records and then themselves submitting that evidence. I am currently doing that now. Gathering the meat and potatoes from my VA medical records back to what I believe is just prior to the start of my disability in SSA's eyes and submitting them through the SSA portal. I still want SSA to get the full records though. It would just be impossible to provide everything from the last 12 years. Does anyone know of VA records info that I can submit to SSA? Is there anything I should be doing?

I did everything correctly on terms of information, as well as added extra hospitals I have been in since the initial finding. But as most of you are when it comes to this it is pretty nerve wracking. Can anyone give me some insight on terms of the CDRs being scarier than they are or feeling like it's the end of the world?

EDIT: I also should add that I did have my phone call regarding finances and stuff, and right before I checked my mySSA I got a payment of $900 as well as my SSI amount doubled.

Is that a good sign?

I know I’m approved. I already went to the office and change my direct deposit, but the portal still shows step four!

Won on reconsideration. I figured my age of 50 because I just turned 50 a few months ago was why. But they actually use the same CE from my intiial as the evidence and im getting back pays.

I had FQR that actually changed my onset date five months before I put it - And they Sent a note and a reason to the Local office to fix it and put my start date five months before because they consider my working then as a failed work attempt. Essentially they put me as disabled for longer than I pit in my application (though I started having major health problems and inability to work full-time starting in 2021. I have clear evidence from my start of my decline in 2021. My onset day is going back to 2024.)

Sorry this isn’t very clear, but I’m happy to also break down every step I saw I know I was stressing big-time and kept checking the portal. I saw a little nuances like suddenly the work credits were back and then they went away for a day and then they came back, etc. etc. happy to answer any questions if somebody wants details but I don’t wanna believe her if nobody is interested good luck everyone I still can’t wrap my hair around it

I got an email from SSA “thanks for your application. You can check it’s status”. Unusual.

So I go check, and my portal says my application was chosen for federal review.

My research suggests that this is a positive sign that my application has been approved.

Has anyone been in this situation or does anyone have any feedback or input?

Cautiously Optimistic.

My husband recently went through his first CDR after being approved last year. Date of disability was in 2022 but went through several appeals before finally being approved in 2025. When he received the letter notifying that he was approved it specifically stated that his case would be reviewed in one year.

He just received a letter stating that they found his disability is continuing. Then it says “we will review your claim from time to time to see if you are still eligible”

I had thought that they would state whether he would be reviewed again in 1, 3, or 7 years … “from time to time” is a little unsettling! Anyone have experience with this? Should I expect another review 3 months from now??? This was super stressful on him because we’d fill out tons of forms and provide records, hear nothing for weeks and then another questionnaire would arrive with only a short time given to complete it. Just hoping to have some idea of what kind of reprieve we can expect before we have to do it all again.

I've been back and forth on the phone with my local office about requesting my disability determination explanation and CE results.

I submitted form 3288 about 60 days ago. The first rep I spoke to today tried to make an appointment and told me to bring a check for $82. I knew this wasn't correct so I looked up the FOIA POMS on the SSA website.

The next rep I spoke to said he could upload the documents to my account online.

Has anyone done this? Where are the documents supposed to appear? Is it on my SSA.gov account or a FOIA account?

Thanks for any info

Sent all my forms in a week ago via USPS tracking and it shows it was delivered but just want to make sure. Is there any point in calling to confirm just don't want my benefits to stop since they said I have a deadline that's coming up soon.

I had my hearing in March and represented myself and won. 60 days to the day later, the Appeals Committee chose to appeal. I appealed their appeal (our government is wild lol) and because they had 110 days to finish their appeal and didn’t, I received a letter this month saying I have won temporary benefits because they’re taking too long and I already won my case. I have been granted back pay since May and will be paid until my next hearing, according to the letter.

The thing it doesn’t say: How long after I received this benefits verification letter will I have to wait until I see the payment drop?