How Can I Stay Afloat While Waiting for Social Security Disability Benefits?

Long story short version
Finally got my hearing with judge. I didn't have an attorney by choice. The judge asked me four times before we started if I wanted to reschedule so I could get an attorney.. I said no each time. I'm thinking I can tell her better about my everything than an attorney. She said ok and we proceded. I thought it went great. So a month goes by and finally I get an unfavorable decision. I cried for about an hour. Now I must find a lawyer. Most lawyers don't want the case at this point. Time is running out. I can not go much longer. I wrote the govenor president first lady and the vice president. I think SS should make it mandatory that applicants get legal representation
Thanks no I got to get busy less than 50 days to find help.

Since January 1 2016 the waiting time at Moreno Valley has changed 3 times as far as wait time for a hearing 15 months then 16 months and recently 17 months.
I'm pass 17 months soon to be 18 months and no word or any hope of a hearing. Exhausted by the delays of government bureaucracy! I'm soon to be homeless no income nothing left after 3 years total of dealing with a broken system !!! Social security is not a hand out !

Even having an attorney does not speed up the process been waiting 18 months now the office just increased its waiting time to 17 months. I'm still pass that so I expect to see another increase soon. Currently above the national avg for waiting period .
It's changed 3 times since January! 15 then 16 then 17 months

I was approved back in 2012/for SSI rite after I was approved I had to turn myself in on a legal matter and was incarcerated for four years,my condition has gotten a lot worse and I've had a heart attack and had a pacaker implant along with several other disorders, last month SSA denied my claim and I had to file.an appeal this is so not rite because I'm in bad shape.,nor am I getting the proper medical attention wht can I do to get some financial assistance to helpe while I await being approved?

if everyone would start calling their congressmen and senators and have their friends and family call also maybe we can get change the people need to start standing up we put them in office and we can take them out

This month makes 2 years I have been fighting for my social security disability, I have ms (multiple sclerosis) and a brain aneurysm, I also have been diagnosed with severe anxiety disorder, major depression, ptsd, and I have lost my pariphial vision and have short term memory loss. Also have paralysis on the right side of my face. I have seen dr after dr, went in front of the judge in may, and after 4 months he said I could work as a telemarketer (we don't have jobs of that sort here). My husband passed away April 7 and since then I have literally had no source of income, I have sold about everything I owned just to have electric and water, I have no extras like cable, or wifi or anything. I have a lifeline phone and am at a friends on their wifi right now. I don't know how they expect a person to make it while they take their time to make a decision....as far as gov't assistance, my kids are all grown so I'm not eligible I do draw snap benefits but that's it. If they don't make a decision soon I will be living under a rock somewhere

I have endometriosis, IC & pelvic floor dysfunction. I am in constant pain. I applied in June of last yr and was denied due to age and education. I lost my job becasuse I could not perform due to procedures, surgeries and flare-ups and although I had reduced my hours to part-time and had FMLA, they let me go. I retained an attorney and he filed an appeal in August of 2015. I have gone through every dime that I have and have tapped out friends and family. I applied for state assistance and was told that they did not agree with my doctor so they said I can work or do the work search program. If I could work, I would. There is no amount of social security or cash assistance that can surpass what I can earn working. I don't know what else to do. I live in MI. I would appreciate any suggestions.

Oh how my heart goes out to all! This process is not only difficult, but so very long to get through. My journey started in 1991 after several on the job injuries. I only knew how I felt and no one had any answers for me. It did calm some over time, then in 1998I was involved in a serious car accident. That really threw my life in a different direction. I was a single mom and had no choice but to work to support us and I did, for 16 years! In September of 2014 I then applied for disability. I have fibromyalgia, bipolar depression, anxiety!/panic attacks, afibrillation, sleep apnea, shingles twice now, chronic fatigue, chronic pain, migraines, chronic headaches, prediabetic, and now I have to look into a hip and knee issue! That is just a highlight of things!! I have had a lawyer from the get go because I can no longer handle the mental part of all this. I have reached out for help, I do get food assistance but was denied cash help. Go figure! I have no money left, I lost my apartment and sold off many things that I was finally proud to own. I am blessed to have my mom's help with expenses, but she is on social security and has limited income. I've had two denials now. They reapplied for me in April and I was told 3 months for a hearing.....then oh no, it will be another 3 months...and now, well Columbus Ohio is backed up anywhere up to 5 months!! I told my lawyers that I am officially broken!!! If ever there was a time I would say the hell with this, it is now and I would go back to work!! BUT I can no longer work! I just don't get it. I told someone that I have a full time job, me! So when people ask if I am working, I will have that for an answer. Too bad I can't get paid for taking care of me. It is the hardest job I've ever had! Keep the faith and stay strong my friends!

I was injured and couldn't work beginning in Nov. 2012. I immediately filed for disability and hired Binder. After 18 months I had to go back to work because my money ran out. The lawyer changed my claim to a closed period. I had one hearing which I was denied. We appealed and that time they rolled and gave me a closed period settlement almost 3 years after I filed. I'm currently 58 and I have a decent job but I'm having much more difficulty again working. It takes all I can muster to get through a 40 hr week. My family doctor has said he would fully support me in a claim. Binder is no longer accepting any clients (?) so I don't know who to call (Dallas). I have heard that due to my advancing age it should be easier to qualify. I've also hear that once you are 60 there are different rules to qualify. Can anyone here give me a little general advice.

I cannot believe some of these stories I'm reading unbelievable. I have been waiting on a decision for my case I have a lawyer as well I have a bedside commode shower chair walker been in the hospital every month for almost a year judge has everything from my doctor hospitals nursing homes etc I have 5 children and I have absolutely nothing no furniture no beds nothing I went in a coma from a very violent marriage so I had to escape for me and my children safety I vomit everyday in pain everyday just yesterday just got out of the hospital now that I'm somewhere safe what are we going to do Jesus help us all what to do how long does it take to make a decision and you have all this proof

I fell 9 feet in 2010, I went through a workers comp case had a lawyer that was not great and scrwed up on my case. But anyway I applied for SSDI against my lawyers advice in 2010 I was denied, I re-applied and was denied again, I re-applied with a Lawyer made it all the way to a hearing and got denied again, I am currently in an appeal it has been 19 months into the appeal process and I still haven't received a decision on My case, the last time I called my lawyer they told me, my case says still pending and it could be another 6 months before I get a decision! I have a couple questions though. 1. What do I do If I'm denied again? 2. If I do get awarded My SSDI how far back do they go on back payments?
This whole thing has been life changing and very stressful to say the least! I can not get any government help beyond food stapms because our children are over the age of 18, I've done extensive amounts of research on grants, financial help, government programs, ect. But to no avail! It's really upsetting that it is this hard to get approved for SSDI when your case is legitimate, and I know its because of con artists taking advantage of this system that it makes it this hard for us honest folks! But if I was strung out on drugs and had face tattoos I'd be in like Flynn! I have a decent pension but I cant even start that process until I receive my award letter from social security! No body plans for this stuff to happen to them, so you are pretty much screwed once the temporary disability or permanent disability checks run out, so try to save as much as you can! Eliminate as much debt and bills as you can! This Journey is Long and Hard! I am a truly lucky man because My Beautiful Wife has stuck by me through all of this, She has rolled with the punches and never complained about our financial situation and it has been extremely hard! Good Luck to all of you and Merry Christmas!

I've been on disability since October 2015 for an autoimmune disease. My short term disability ran out in October 2016, my husband has been out of work, we have no income, no assets, nothing. We fortunately are staying with family now, but not for long. I'm awaiting approval for permanent disability but heard it can take a long time for my condition. I just found out I'm 5 weeks pregnant. Without a dime to my name, can I get an attorney to speed up the process or are there programs in place to help me and my husband out while my disability benefits get approved? Being homeless, hungry, permanent disabled, and pregnant is too much for any person.

I waited from March of 2015 to Nov.2016 to get a hearing date. I finally got my hearing in November. I heard yesterday, Jan.3 2017, I could Appeal the judge decision but it could take another 15 months for a decision on that. The attorney suggestion is try for SSI but not sure how long that could take. I'm not sure what to do?

Hi I've been unable to work for almost a year I've applied for sad and was denied twice, am I able to file for ssd until ssd is approved or denied?

I been receiving Social Security since I was 11 year old. I worked at three months last year and one month I make too much money they cut my check off and let me get six months or payment until they make a decision if I could keep my disability benefit. my six months run out this month they still haven't made a decision about if I could still receive my disability and now they telling me I got to wait on the state to make a decision and it can take up 6 more months. I have no any income and I have 2 little kids can anyone tell me what can I do