Actions | Poverty in America

Reform Social Security Disability SSDI and SSI Determination Processes

To: The U.S. Senate, The Governor and The President of the United States, see more...

Please Tell your Senators and Congressional Leaders, etc. that the time is now! America's Forgotten need to be remembered and assisted. Why must we needlessly suffer in abject poverty, unable to get access to Medicaid while we wait for Social Security Disability Determination, which can take years? Why leave us with nothing while we are unable to work or get health care?

I even went through the whole SSI process with a lawyer, took 2 yrs, but I won. Bitter sweet though, I got $2 K back pay for 2004-2006, then was told Ken made $100 too much for 2 people to get any more SSI, and I was 2 work credits short to get SSDI!

Recently as Ken separated from me and lost his job, I went back as I have next to NO income. They told me it had been 2 yrs, too long to automatically resume SSI. They are making me start ALL OVER!!! Will it take 2 more years?!! Now, I am without meds the Cataplexy is Horrible, and the applications to get PPA from Nord, etc are impossibly lengthy and exhausting. Uggh!

TX Medicaid system only will help me NOW if I get pregnant. To me, I would rather support one person, rather than them and their child they cannot afford. For me to get pregnant would be an act of stupidity/desperation due to lack of health insurance. My severe Narcolepsy with Cataplexy, Fibromyalgia, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Chronic Lyme’s Disease, and Diabetes, I did NOTHING to contract. Pregnancy, except for cases of Rape/Incest is self-caused. Why only help the pregnant?

I need health care very badly; I need food, the basics. I cannot work and my husband left me in April 2009. I have been forced to reapply for SSI/Medicaid while I am with nothing, though I won disability in 2006 when I had severe Narcolepsy with Cataplexy alone. Now I suffer in pain with Fibromyalgia, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Chronic Lyme's Disease, and Diabetes Type 2. I cannot even get a blood Glucose meter to manage my diabetes due to lack of medical care access, money and health insurance.

And Remember, PLEASE pass this Petition to ALL your family and friends, it is my life's passion for us, America's Forgotten, to be aknowledged and assisted URGENTLY! I have sent a print letter to President Obama and his Assistant Dale Kareem for Disability Policy! Here's to Change and Help for us ALL! I am tired of being sick and tired without ANY Medical care. I already won at the Hearing level 2006, why should I ever have to reapply? Cruel how the USA treats us as if they think we should just curl up and die? How can the right be Pro-Life, but just before one is born?

I am sorry to say, but as a Christian, I cannot lie, us disabled unable to work Americans are treated worse than any other population. I kid you not. I am embarrassed at how America's Forgotten, as I call us are treated! Like Dirt, Like Many think I should just curl up and die. I would be HOMELESS or DEAD if it not for my wonderful Mom and Dad who love me. Please sign my Petition, and Pass it on! Thanks so very much, and I will continue to fight for all of us!

I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me. Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord when was it that we did these things for you?' And the king will answer them, 'Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.
Matthew 25: 35-45

How can one pursue Happiness, if he/she is not allowed to be Healthy enough to pursue such? How can one have life, if one is denied health and food? How can one have liberty when they are treated like second class citizens?

Happiness lies, first of all, in health. ~George William Curtis, Lotus-Eating

Health and cheerfulness naturally beget each other. ~Joseph Addison

Life is not merely to be alive, but to be well. ~Marcus Valerius Martial

Without health, there is no point. To anything. ~Everett Mámor

"In health there is freedom. Health is the first of all liberties.” ~Henri Frederic Amiel

Report close
You must be signed in to report content.

Sign the Letter

Reform Social Security Disability SSDI and SSI Determination Processes

Dear Representative,

The time is now! America's forgotten need to be remembered and assisted. Why must we needlessly suffer in abject poverty, unable to get access to Medicaid while we wait for Social Security Disability Determination, which can take years? Why leave us with nothing while we are unable to work or get health care? The Social Security Disability Determination processes for SSDI and SSI are unacceptably leaving our most vulnerable citizens to a life of poverty and needless suffering, as the applicants must wait many months, and often years, for eventual Medical Approval, according to Social Security's rules on disability. We call for shorter determination waits for Initial Decisions, and also at the Appeals levels at the Reconsideration, Administrative Law Judge Hearing, Appeals Court, and Federal Appeals Court Levels. Furthermore, the Requirements for Work Credits for SSDI must become more lenient. If a person becomes disabled in his or her 20s, Work Credits should not be required for SSDI. SSI rates should meet the current cost of living standards, as SSI is the only source of income for many with disabilities, and it hardly even covers rent. Medicare should be available to SSDI recipients immediately upon receiving Medical Approval; they should not have to wait two years for Medicare to become available. Every state should be required to provide Medicaid to all SSI disability applicants while they wait out and fight the Disability Medical Determination Process. Most do not have health insurance, and living with their disabilities and lack of income often causes them to be unable to access the medical care and prescriptions they need so urgently. Many states, including Texas, only extend Medicaid to the disabled once they finally get approved for SSI. They should not suffer while they wait forever. Many states only extend Medicaid to pregnant adults and women with rare forms of Breast/Cervical Cancer. This leaves the majority of the poor without proper and much-needed health care. Furthermore, an SSI/SSDI recipient who has received SSI in the past, but was disqualified financially, should be able to immediately resume SSI payments as soon as he or she becomes financially requallified, regardless of the amount of time since SSI Medical Disability Approval. If there has been no miracle, novel treatment or recovery evidenced in the person's health and disability, reapplication should never be required. This ultimately causes undue hardship financially and medically to our poorest disabled population and causes the system to incur huge administration costs. The inability to drive due to medical reasons should automatically qualify one for SSI. Especially if an Administrative Law Judge has judged in favor of an SSDI/SSI applicant for a chronic condition(s) expected to last for life, Medical Reapplication should not ever be required unless there is clear evidence of a miraculous recovery. Please remember America's forgotten, disabled adults under age 65 struggling to survive and suffering without food or medical care, and even homeless, while they wait for Social Security to determine Medical Disability Eligibility. Sincerely,

[Your name here]

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Address:

City:

Zip Code:

Allow my signature to be seen by other community members.

Linda Gottschalk Green Bay, WI

Sent letter to Ric Keller , Steve Kagen , Barack Obama , Russ Feingold , Dave Hansen , Alan Lasee , Herb Kohl , Robert Cowles and Jim Doyle

about 15 hours ago
Sergey Novikov Rostov-na-Donu. 344029, Russian Federation

Sent letter to Nancy Pelosi , Xavier Becerra , John Larson , Rosa DeLauro , Bob Wexler , Richard Shelby , Jeff Sessions , Barack Obama , Bob Riley , Debbie Wasserman Schultz and George Miller

about 20 hours ago
dawn carroll lakewood, WA

Sent letter to Artur Davis , Norm Dicks , Adam Smith , Barack Obama , Patty Murray , Maria Cantwell , Christine Gregoire , Michael Carrell , Rosa Franklin and Troy Kelley

Nov 16
Randi Jackson Boston, MA

Sent letter to Michael Capuano , Steve Lynch , Barack Obama , John Kerry , Deval Patrick , Jack Hart , Brian Wallace , Anthony Petruccelli and Sonia Chang-dÃaz

Nov 16
shaylene sharpe ontario, CA

Sent letter to David Dreier , Joe Baca , Gary Ackerman , Dianne Feinstein , Barbara Boxer , Barack Obama , Arnold Schwarzenegger , Gloria Negrete McLeod , Robert Dutton and Hon. Norma Torres

Nov 15
Brenda Edmonds Charlotte, NC

Sent letter to Bill Young , Sue Myrick , Barack Obama , Richard Burr , Daniel Clodfelter , Larry Kissell , Kay Hagan , Bev Perdue and Bob Rucho

Nov 15
Nick Davis Toronto, NY

Sent letter to Nancy Pelosi , Xavier Becerra , John Larson , Rosa DeLauro , Barack Obama , Chuck Schumer , Debbie Wasserman Schultz , David Paterson , George Miller and Kirsten Gillibrand

Nov 15
Jennifer Davis-Webb Timmonsville, SC

Sent letter to John Spratt , Jim Clyburn , Barack Obama , Jim DeMint , Lindsey Graham , Gerald Malloy , John Land , Mark Sanford and Hugh Leatherman

Nov 14
Robin Vosburg Bakersfield, CA

Sent letter to Jim Costa , Kevin McCarthy , Dianne Feinstein , Barbara Boxer , Barack Obama , Arnold Schwarzenegger , Roy Ashburn , Dean Florez , Jean Fuller and Hon. Danny Gilmore

Nov 12
Cynthia Johnson Glen Ridge, NJ

Sent letter to Marion Berry , Bill Pascrell , Donald Payne , Barack Obama , Frank Lautenberg , Bob Menendez , Jon Corzine , Nia Gill , Ronald Rice and Cleopatra Tucker

Nov 11