I’m on disability. It was fairly easy for me. You must have a good attorney and a good doctor who will document everything for you.

Get a lawyer that takes cases and doesn't charge unless they win your case. Also you must apply for Medicare after you get on SSDI and it would be wise to get and an advantage plan...

I'm on disability now been on it ever since I was 19. I had to have and attorney. But when the seizures got where they was control I found and job. I still get part of my disability. Seizures are so unpredictable you can stop having them for a while and they come back uncontrollably this have happen to me before.

I have not succeeded yet, but I am in the midst of my second attempt. And this is my best attempt because I have both a better understanding of how the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission's special department that does the investigation and provides all the board at Social Security sees in making their decisions. The interesting thing is that my typing of this response was just interrupted by a call from HFI (my advisors and legal representation this time around) to explain to me the two stages of the appeal process. I know a LOT more about the process now compared to 3 years ago. And I am lucky that this time around the medical practice (Hawthorn Medical Associates) was swallowed into Steward Health Care Network since the last time because it is Steward that has the deal with HFI for assistance to their patience applying for SSI and SSDI).
The MOST important things I have learned are:
1. It is important to know what your state's laws are regarding who qualifies for SSDI. In Massachusetts, a person must be unable to work in any job to have a chance to qualify.
2. A mental disability is a LOT harder to prove disability qualifying for SSDI than the obvious physical ones.
3. Those who are successful have either a doctor who states (when interviewed by the Rehabilitation Commission department that works for Social Security to investigate) that you are disabled to the point of being unable to work.
4. Or, if you cannot get this, then you need to have another professional source to state exactly this and a lawyer to make sure the message is delivered to the judge in the 2nd stage of the appeal process.
NOTE: As was just explained to me on that call, I do not need to worry about if I receive another rejection letter after phase 1 of the appeal--this is only after Social Security reaching out to my health care providers directly to get their input. It is not until the 2nd stage of the appeal process that the legal team is the one contacting them and anyone else important to the appeal which they argue in front of a judge.

Phase 2 of the appeal is key for me because someone will finally be talking to the professionals who can tell them why I qualify for SSDI: Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission -- Fall River office AND Epilepsy Foundation New England. They worked with me directly in my job search and concluded that I could not find work and because of my limitations--including no access to public transportation or reliable transportation during the work day--along with the seizures, other effects from epilepsy, side effects from medicines, etc.

Years ago I just filled it out and got disability. Then I was taking off because I got my Associates degree. I was also able to drive for a short time. Now I reapplied and kept getting denied. I had to get a lawyer and I'm still waiting results. I can't believe they took me off because I got a college degree. My health hadn't changed at all.