Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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SSDI Application (self.Blind)
submitted by NoConfidence_2192
I have started the SSDI application process and have my first meeting with them, by telephone, next week. Does anyone have advice about what I should expect or prepare for?
TwoSunsRise 5 points 1y ago
Sorry to be a Debbie downer but expect incompetence and take very detailed notes. Like, who you're talking to, any questions and answers and the date and time. If you need info from this meeting, it's likely they won't have it in thier records. You should get approved, just make sure it's well documented.
NoConfidence_2192 [OP] 4 points 1y ago
Thank you. Much better to know that now.
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Used to work with government a lot in a previous job. I know that you sometimes have to walk them through things a bit
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Used to work with government a lot in a previous job. I know that you sometimes have to walk them through things a bit
masthews 5 points 1y ago
You’re legally blind I assume? If so, I wouldn’t stress over it. I used to work at a disability law firm and nobody ever got denied disability if they were blind. Different story if you have a broken disc in your back or some sort of chronic pain that is hard to represent on an x ray. My only advice is to not underplay the extent to which you’re impacted by having a disability. Pull out the sob stories if you need to.
NoConfidence_2192 [OP] 2 points 1y ago
Doc says I am and with what I don't see its hard for me to argue otherwise. Thank you. This will help keep any remaining anxiety to a minimum.
This is more about trying to be prepared than being worried about the outcome. I do have a minimal amount of vision that allows me to use a computer under the right conditions but everything takes time and nothing is fast. There is really no pulling up information on demand for me right now if that makes sense. That's why I am trying to put together as much information they may ask for as I can ahead of time. Really the idea of not being prepared makes me more anxious than any chance my application might be rejected.
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Thank you.
This is more about trying to be prepared than being worried about the outcome. I do have a minimal amount of vision that allows me to use a computer under the right conditions but everything takes time and nothing is fast. There is really no pulling up information on demand for me right now if that makes sense. That's why I am trying to put together as much information they may ask for as I can ahead of time. Really the idea of not being prepared makes me more anxious than any chance my application might be rejected.
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Thank you.
WideOpenEmpty 2 points 1y ago
Whatever you do don't talk about what you are able to do now like obviously use computers. There was a time you were denied if SSA thought you could do anything at all for work.
Blindness may be a slam dunk tho unlike my soft tissue clients.
Blindness may be a slam dunk tho unlike my soft tissue clients.
NoConfidence_2192 [OP] 2 points 1y ago
Thank you. I will keep things simple then.
TechnicalPragmatist 1 points 1y ago
You need to have worked enough quarters for ssdi though. Or else you’re not eligible and they will propose ssi instead. Which I am on. I am on ssi and not ssdi.
NoConfidence_2192 [OP] 2 points 1y ago
I turn 50 tomorrow and worked pretty consistently most of my life. At least I did until my las employer decided starting to need the white cane meant I could not possibly do my job even though I was doing it very well. Seems to be an attitude shared by most of the other employers around here for the type of work I do because most of the interviews I have had seemed to end as soon as the white can when I walked in the room. Has been a bit frustrating because I am actually very good at what I do, and in fact am probably better at it now than I ever have been. If I could just convince people to let me do what I know I am good at there would be no need to go down the Social Security path at all. Like I said, frustrating.
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Sorry for getting sidetracked with venting. All that to say, I should have more than enough quarters in for SSDI. Thank you for the helpful information and thanks for letting me vent a bit. Be sure to have a good day.
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Sorry for getting sidetracked with venting. All that to say, I should have more than enough quarters in for SSDI. Thank you for the helpful information and thanks for letting me vent a bit. Be sure to have a good day.
TechnicalPragmatist 2 points 1y ago
Well what did you do for work then?
That’s so unfortunate but happens a lot there’s a lot of discrimination when hiring or working with the blind person. Sorry that happened to you though. So many people find it hard to be employed because of it. And the discrimination is bad but they do it in a way that they can’t be blamed. It’s all over the place. Frustrating for sure!!!!
Not a problem.
And that’s good.
That’s so unfortunate but happens a lot there’s a lot of discrimination when hiring or working with the blind person. Sorry that happened to you though. So many people find it hard to be employed because of it. And the discrimination is bad but they do it in a way that they can’t be blamed. It’s all over the place. Frustrating for sure!!!!
Not a problem.
And that’s good.
NoConfidence_2192 [OP] 2 points 1y ago
Tech type work, usually taking care of large number of computers, often for hospitals and hospital systems. There seems to be more working blind people in tech than anywhere else so I was hopeful and will keep trying, but I keep feeling like there is something missing in how I am looking, interviewing, something. I will figure it out...and hopefully SSDI can help keep things together until I do.
TechnicalPragmatist 1 points 1y ago
Ah, I see yes you can do that and there’s a number of us indeed.
Sorry to hear about that, hopefully you can find something.
Sorry to hear about that, hopefully you can find something.
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