social security disability: good news

I talked to my lawyer this morning, and told him what I'd heard from the social security people. He called them, and then called me back to say that they have approved my application.

Apparently, "non-medical eligibilty" means that they automatically check everyone's eligibility for both SSDI, based on earnings history, and SSI, a significantly smaller benefit for disabled people who didn't work long enough to get SSDI. The lawyer told me that some of his clients get a letter saying they aren't eligible for the smaller amount and panic because they think it means they won't be getting anything.

The lawyer also told me that they sometimes deposit the lump sum retroactive payment amount before sending out the letter telling people that they will be getting benefits, and how much. That's especially true npw, since they were understaffed and overworked even before covid, and it's worse now. So, I will be getting money from them, which is both a relief and a bit of a surprise, but we don't know how much, or how soon.

(It feels a little odd posting this, without anything more concrete from the SSDI office.)

Social Security application -- I have the letter

The letter saying that my appeal was successful arrived in today's mail.

It says "Notice of Decision -- Fully Favorable" near the top of the first page.

They also sent an explanation of why the examiner made that decision, which I may or may not read.

Under "when will I get paid?" it says that goes through a different office, but it will probably 40-60 days from when they sent the letter, and who to contact if I don't hear within 60 days. I put a reminder in my google calendar, in case I need it. (Sixty days from Sept. 27, the date on the letter, is two days before Thanksgiving.)

Since someone asked on Discord: the lawyer who helped me with the appeals gets a standard percentage of the lump sum retroactive payment, plus defined "reasonable and customary" expenses.

Addendum: the finding is that I was disabled as of the claim date, Nov. 15, 2021, which I think means three years' worth of retroactive payments.