Disability in Maine

[jenny1951]

Originally Posted by Evan_Lanctot

I have hired a lawyer, and they fillled out the application. But they won't get paid unless I am approved. I know that one area where one can get approval is having stroke(s).

I did have one phone interview with SS. I didn't send in my med records but I thought they would obtain those.

If you have less than $2k in assets, then you should be eligible for SSI while you are waiting for them to review the application for SSDI. Make sure you ask your attorney about that. Your attorney should have submitted the mrecords with the application, as this will greatly speed up the process. You can't rely upon the SSA to ensure they have all the medical records. The only way to to do that is make sure your attorney provides this information.

[Evan_Lanctot]

Originally Posted by jenny1951

If you have less than $2k in assets, then you should be eligible for SSI while you are waiting for them to review the application for SSDI. Make sure you ask your attorney about that. Your attorney should have submitted the mrecords with the application, as this will greatly speed up the process. You can't rely upon the SSA to ensure they have all the medical records. The only way to to do that is make sure your attorney provides this information.

They filed for SSI at the same time. I'll have to check. I was told SS would get the records. Not true?

[jenny1951]

Originally Posted by Evan_Lanctot

They filed for SSI at the same time. I'll have to check. I was told SS would get the records. Not true?

They should request the records, yes. Providing your own copies not only speeds up the process, IMHO, but also ensures they receive everything. I saw numerous specialists so I wanted to be sure they had all the info. You should be fine with an attorney doing the legwork, just follow up, follow up, follow up is my advice.

[Evan_Lanctot]

I listed every medical insitution ever.

Some good news(and bad): my cousin suddenly passed away to my aunt(his mom)is giving me his car.May move to PA.

[Northern Maine Land Man]

Get a letter or something from your aunt that it's OK for you to have this car. You don't want to have to explain why you have it in Massachusetts or some such place.

[Evan_Lanctot]

or Vermont.

Done and done.

[Three Wolves In Snow]

Originally Posted by tarragon

Hope things work out for you Evan. Sometimes it's the ones that really deserve the help that seem to be the ones that suffer and then there are those who can just scam the system.

It's not just MaineCare either. I went to the Career Center the other day to speak with a Vet Rep.

I have two part time jobs, (not enough to live on), and was told by others to ask about "undermployed". Maine doesn't have that.

What does Maine have? Well, it has $1200 a month in Unemployment benefits for people who don't work at all but if you make any money at all in any kind of job, even if it's only 16 hours a week and is less than TWICE the amount people get on unemployment...oh well.

The message I'm receiving? I should have only applied for seasonal jobs and when got laid off, cruise on through with my $1200 a month until the next season. Don't even try to find a real job because being responsible and trying to do it on your own, the right way, gets you a big fat, "Sorry! Too bad for you!"

Sofa surf? By all means, we will provide for you.

[cebdark]

It's sad when you can get more on disability now than working 3 part-time jobs 7 days a week.

But, having said that, trust me - there are still many people who work exactly that amount and still couch surf. Or (as is the case of a co-worker of mine) has a room in their kid's basement. She had medical expenses from years ago that she's still paying off by working full-time on one job and part-time on two more. She raised 4 kids with NO assistance by doing the same thing.

Now she's 52 years old and still working her rump off.

People like her just don't cause enough controversy and sell enough papers to get much press.