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Here's the history: (Questions at end)


My husband has had SSDI since 1999 because he's in end stage liver disease. At the time of application (we had all gone into the office), my son and my self inadvertently applied at the same time.


We all 3 have received checks each month since then. My son because he was a child of a disabled father; myself because I was a stay at home mom of said child.


I've known for a long time that MY benefits would be cut off when he turned 16, unless he was determined a disabled child. So back in May of last year, I went down for what I thought was a SS*D*I appointment to get a disability dtermination for DS so I would not be cut off as his caretaker.


Also, I had discovered that there are precious few services for a child who is not in the school system. I was hoping that a disability determination from SSDI would open doors for him. (I know all about IEP, 688, etc. but seriously do not want to take on our school department.)


It turns out the person who set up the appointment set it up as an *SSI* appointment and of course we were turned down due to income, with no look at medical records, only financial.


I was told to reapply 3 months before DS's birthday, on December 1. So I made an appointment for December 4, 2006 and duly filled out, extensively, the applications and appeared.


The man who was to take the application mentioned he was doing, again, an SSI application, when I had specifically requested a SS*D*I appointment. He stopped right there, saying he ONLY did SSI and went to find someone who could do a SSDI application.


He came back with someone he said was the SSDI supervisor and she would take the medical part and he would finish the other part. She took all my info, saying it was the most complete application she'd taken in a long while.


In the middle of the application, DS decides to act up, objecting to my answers to her questions and being disruptive. husband finally took him out to the car.


I had asked for a copy of some form she had filled out, but in the chaos of DS, never got it. I found out later I had come away with no names of either the man or the supervisor, in addition to  no copy of the form.


I was told to check in February for the status. I started checking in early January. (I've seen the posts about the 800 phone number now, but not back then.) I called the 800 # because it's so impossible to get through in our local office.


I was told that the file showed no indication of any application being filed, or any disability determination going on. The man said he would send an inquiry to the local office and that should spur some sort of activity.  Nothing happened.


The beginning of February I called the 800# and again, there was nothing. The woman who answered said that there was nothing in the claims system and she was going to put something in indicating a pending file, in the local office. She said this should have been done in January. I should hear something in 7 days. Nothing happened.


The middle of February I finally got through to the local office and asked for the SSDI Supervisor. I was connected to a woman who identified herself as a supervisor. I explained the above and asked about the status of the application.


She asked for a description or name of the woman who took the application. I had a vague description and no name. She said, well, that description did not fit her, and she was the ONLY woman supervisor in that office.


But she had a good idea who it was and would call me back. She did call back 3 days later and said that the woman who had taken our application still had it sitting on her desk, untouched. She would be sending it to disability soon.


I called today, the 800#. Nothing in the file. I have, of course, been cut off by now as DS turned 16 yesterday. The only thing in the file is the cut-off letter I received the end of February.


So I tried, unsuccessfully to reach the real supervisor and left a message.


Is there anything I should be doing, now the cut-off is in effect? Should I file an appeal? There's just 22 days left to appeal, from the date of the letter, which I did NOT receive 5 days after the date on the letter, more like 2 weeks. But I can't prove that. I'm thinking I should just file an appeal anyways, to cover all bases.


Is there something else I should be doing? Thanks for any help anyone might have.


Pam R.


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