Atsugi
Moderator emeritus
- Joined
- Jan 11, 2011
- Messages
- 5,921
- Reason
- Lost a loved one
- Diagnosis
- 12/2010
- Country
- US
- State
- FL
- City
- Orlando
30-day Social Security process
We called SS in April, saw the local office with the following papers in hand, and within 30 days, we had received our first SSA benefit deposits and a Medicare Card. The fast track is this: "ALS is a Compassionate Allowance Condition needing a Quick Disability Determination"
(Someone might be confusing this with another fast-track program called TERI--Terminal something. That's NOT the right one.)
This is how we did it.
I wrote a single page to take with me to the SSA office, and set in on the counter for myself and the SSA worker to see as we spoke. I had a stack of papers, mainly medical records, highlighted where two neurologists had written "Diagnosis: ALS."
<big bold words for everyone to focus on:>
<QUOTE>Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
is a
Compassionate Allowance Condition
needing a
Quick Disability Determination
This disease is rapidly terminal.
An SSDI determination can be made immediately without delay according to POMS Section DI 23022.100
<END QUOTE>
Here's the action checklist I used:
To Do: Call Social Security to make an appointment
Go to: Local Social Security Office.
To Bring:
1. Social Security Form SSA-827 "Authorization to Disclose Information to the Social Security Administration" (sign it, have a witness sign it)
2. Adult Disability Report - not sure I actually had this
3. Disability Benefit Application
4. SSNs and Social Security Cards for all family members
5. DD-214 for veteran (not sure this was needed, but I carried it everywhere)
6. W-2 from last year
7. Names and addresses for all your jobs during the last 5 years (Seriously. They're going to call every employer to verify.)
8. Birth certificates for all family members
9. Checkbook with ABA and Account Numbers and a voided check (So they know where to send payments)
10. Medical Records with patient ID #, address, phone and treatment dates for all doctors (They'll contact each doctor.)
11. Test results and names of the ordering physicians (We had our EMG report ready for SSA to copy.)
12. Medicines and the names of the prescribers (We used nothing)
Question to Ask:
A. Ask about benefits for spouse who cares for children under 16.
B. Ask about benefits for children under 18.
Disease is Rapidly Worsening
Oct 2010 Patient was healthy, active, strong and mobile
Nov 2010 First Symptom: Right foot weakness
Dec 2010: Diagnosed with ALS
Jan 2011: Needed a cane to walk
Feb 2011: Needed a walker full time
Mar 2011: Confined to a wheelchair
Apr 2011: Both legs are totally useless
-- Right arm is very weak
-- Left arm is getting weak
SO THERE IT IS. In a few weeks, we were receiving over $3000 every third Wednesday. Your mileage may vary.
-- Take a drink and candy bar with you, cause you'll be there an hour. They said you could do this over the phone and just drop off some other papers, but I did it all in-person. Get the name and number of every SSA person you speak with.
Be aware that, upon death, you'll need to inform them so they can stop paying you, and then they'll take back any overpayments.
We called SS in April, saw the local office with the following papers in hand, and within 30 days, we had received our first SSA benefit deposits and a Medicare Card. The fast track is this: "ALS is a Compassionate Allowance Condition needing a Quick Disability Determination"
(Someone might be confusing this with another fast-track program called TERI--Terminal something. That's NOT the right one.)
This is how we did it.
I wrote a single page to take with me to the SSA office, and set in on the counter for myself and the SSA worker to see as we spoke. I had a stack of papers, mainly medical records, highlighted where two neurologists had written "Diagnosis: ALS."
<big bold words for everyone to focus on:>
<QUOTE>Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
is a
Compassionate Allowance Condition
needing a
Quick Disability Determination
This disease is rapidly terminal.
An SSDI determination can be made immediately without delay according to POMS Section DI 23022.100
<END QUOTE>
Here's the action checklist I used:
To Do: Call Social Security to make an appointment
Go to: Local Social Security Office.
To Bring:
1. Social Security Form SSA-827 "Authorization to Disclose Information to the Social Security Administration" (sign it, have a witness sign it)
2. Adult Disability Report - not sure I actually had this
3. Disability Benefit Application
4. SSNs and Social Security Cards for all family members
5. DD-214 for veteran (not sure this was needed, but I carried it everywhere)
6. W-2 from last year
7. Names and addresses for all your jobs during the last 5 years (Seriously. They're going to call every employer to verify.)
8. Birth certificates for all family members
9. Checkbook with ABA and Account Numbers and a voided check (So they know where to send payments)
10. Medical Records with patient ID #, address, phone and treatment dates for all doctors (They'll contact each doctor.)
11. Test results and names of the ordering physicians (We had our EMG report ready for SSA to copy.)
12. Medicines and the names of the prescribers (We used nothing)
Question to Ask:
A. Ask about benefits for spouse who cares for children under 16.
B. Ask about benefits for children under 18.
Disease is Rapidly Worsening
Oct 2010 Patient was healthy, active, strong and mobile
Nov 2010 First Symptom: Right foot weakness
Dec 2010: Diagnosed with ALS
Jan 2011: Needed a cane to walk
Feb 2011: Needed a walker full time
Mar 2011: Confined to a wheelchair
Apr 2011: Both legs are totally useless
-- Right arm is very weak
-- Left arm is getting weak
SO THERE IT IS. In a few weeks, we were receiving over $3000 every third Wednesday. Your mileage may vary.
-- Take a drink and candy bar with you, cause you'll be there an hour. They said you could do this over the phone and just drop off some other papers, but I did it all in-person. Get the name and number of every SSA person you speak with.
Be aware that, upon death, you'll need to inform them so they can stop paying you, and then they'll take back any overpayments.
