This is topic I wonder are there any lyme lawyers? in forum General Support at LymeNet Flash.


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Posted by treepatrol (Member # 4117) on :
 
1. If so we need to build a list.


2. By there speciality, like SSD or Lack of treatment wont treat anymore?


3. By States.
 

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Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
 
great idea Tree!

we did have a new lawyer, DISABILITY RIGHTS LAWYER, join us 2 days ago! I sent my/your newbie links, and also asked what their specialty was: SSDI, SSI, LTD, workers comp, etc. They have NOT replied!

We also have OTHER lawyer members; don't know their specialty.
 

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Posted by ConnieMc (Member # 191) on :
 
I am not an attorney, but am a practicing disability advocate. I became interested in it after having to fight the system myself. I am a member of a nationwide network of disability advocates called Disability Advocates of America.

Advocates, unlike most attorneys, will take SS cases from the very beginning, at the initial level. Some even file the initial application for the claimant.

Advocates work hard on cases at the initial and recon levels to try to win as soon as possible. For example, my last 10 wins, only one has been at hearing level. The rest were initial or recon.

Not to say quite a few cases go to hearing ..... it is simply unavoidable in many cases, as I have 20 on the hearing list right now. However, if possible, advocates can try to find reasons to expedite hearings by filing on-the-record requests or filing for expedited hearings due to certain critical case issues.

Our website is www.disability-advocate.com. I received all my training through them and they are always there when I need them for advice and development of strategies.

Since I used to work for the other side, as a rehabilitation consultant for LTD and insurance companies, I realized I could never go back to that. Nothing like having to navigate the system yourself to see just how bad LTD and SS can be.

I have worked or are working a total of about 10 Lyme claims. So far, won one at initial level, one at reconsideration, and another by on-the-record at hearing level.

The wait for hearing here in my state is about 1 1/2 years right now. So in my state if a claim starts today and ends up all the way at hearing, the claimant might not even get their day in front of the judge for 2 1/2 years or so. Insane, considering these people are sick. But that is the current system.

We will forwarding a claim in to an atty once all our appeal options are exhausted. An advocate can take a case all the way through the Appeals Council to dispute an ALJ decision.

If anyone needs help from an advocate, contact our network at www.disability-advocate.com and someone will get back to you.

[ 19. November 2006, 06:04 PM: Message edited by: ConnieMc ]
 

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Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
 
In Iowa, it was 2.5 years before my ALJ, admin law judge hearing also for BOTH claims!
 

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Posted by chroniccosmic (Member # 7789) on :
 
This is a very timely thread for me as I'm having lots of trouble with a governmental agency. (I don't know if we have any rules about stating agency names so I will be cryptic.)

I'm going to add a brief rundown of my story and hope that it may generate some information. For three years, I have been trying to get my student loan discharged due to permanent and total disability. I was awarded Social Security disability three years ago by a federal judge. The State of Illinois Motor Vehicles consider me disabled, the only ones who don't are the ones holding the student loan.

A person is entitled to the discharge of the loan in the event of total and permanent disability. This agency refuses to acknowledge that I am disabled. They have denied my case twice already.

The problem isn't as much the time required by my physicians, my SS attorney, my US Senator and my US Representative but they keep adding finance and administrative costs so that the loan has now doubled! And they call my house 1-2 times daily threatening me.

I will contact the disability advocates to see if they can help. I'm wondering if this is a more efficient method than an disability attorney which I obviously can't afford.

Any suggestions welcome and Happy Thanksgiving!
 

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Posted by ConnieMc (Member # 191) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by chroniccosmic:
This is a very timely thread for me as I'm having lots of trouble with a governmental agency. (I don't know if we have any rules about stating agency names so I will be cryptic.)

I'm going to add a brief rundown of my story and hope that it may generate some information. For three years, I have been trying to get my student loan discharged due to permanent and total disability. I was awarded Social Security disability three years ago by a federal judge. The State of Illinois Motor Vehicles consider me disabled, the only ones who don't are the ones holding the student loan.

A person is entitled to the discharge of the loan in the event of total and permanent disability. This agency refuses to acknowledge that I am disabled. They have denied my case twice already.

The problem isn't as much the time required by my physicians, my SS attorney, my US Senator and my US Representative but they keep adding finance and administrative costs so that the loan has now doubled! And they call my house 1-2 times daily threatening me.

I will contact the disability advocates to see if they can help. I'm wondering if this is a more efficient method than an disability attorney which I obviously can't afford.

Any suggestions welcome and Happy Thanksgiving!

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Cosmic, those student loan companies are as bad as LTD carriers. They have their own rules of disability and do not follow any rulings of SSA. I know of another who was also awarded SS disability, but the student loan people did not acknowledge her disability. She hired an atty and LOST. Not only did she have to pay all the atty fees, but the fees, interest, etc on the loan continue upward. You need an atty for this, not an advocate. Make sure you check out any potential atty very carefully. I feel my friend got taken for a ride.

But warning you ... these people pull out all the stops ... schedule IMEs just like LTD companies, surveilance by PIs, etc. So be careful.
 

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Posted by Lioness (Member # 10655) on :
 
Things work in mysterious ways! I was on line this morning trying to find a lawyer b/c I am having trouble with my insurance company!THANK YOU!
 

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Posted by timaca (Member # 6911) on :
 
lioness~ regarding your insurance company, please do a search here at lymenet with the words "insurance appeal" and my (timaca's) member number...in the section of general support. You should come up with several threads on insurance companies which may help you.

Timaca
 

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Posted by Inpaininwv (Member # 10757) on :
 
It took nearly a decade of civil suite but I got my impounded taxes back. I was able to prove I didn't get what I paid for and couldn't use it.

The USDOE has a form that discharges debt for disability it needs to be signed by a Doctor and a Judge. They really don't want you to know about it either. If I still have it I'll scan it.


I'm on the 3rd filing for disability.

quote:

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Originally posted by chroniccosmic:
This is a very timely thread for me as I'm having lots of trouble with a governmental agency. (I don't know if we have any rules about stating agency names so I will be cryptic.)

I'm going to add a brief rundown of my story and hope that it may generate some information. For three years, I have been trying to get my student loan discharged due to permanent and total disability. I was awarded Social Security disability three years ago by a federal judge. The State of Illinois Motor Vehicles consider me disabled, the only ones who don't are the ones holding the student loan.

A person is entitled to the discharge of the loan in the event of total and permanent disability. This agency refuses to acknowledge that I am disabled. They have denied my case twice already.

The problem isn't as much the time required by my physicians, my SS attorney, my US Senator and my US Representative but they keep adding finance and administrative costs so that the loan has now doubled! And they call my house 1-2 times daily threatening me.

I will contact the disability advocates to see if they can help. I'm wondering if this is a more efficient method than an disability attorney which I obviously can't afford.

Any suggestions welcome and Happy Thanksgiving!

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quote:

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Originally posted by treepatrol:
1. If so we need to build a list.


2. By there speciality, like SSD or Lack of treatment wont treat anymore?


3. By States.

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