Judge Rules in Disability Hearing

Today at 12:30 Beth and her lawyer entered the disability hearing for SSI benefits. There were a judge, two doctors and a vocational specialist there to review her case. The paperwork for her case filled an entire legal brief case. They are huge!

The court psychiatrist ruled that she met criteria for affective disorders. He also ruled that although she had a history of drug abuse, the drug abuse did not cause the mental illness. The mental illness was documented well before the addiction. The medical doctor ruled that her knee was impaired but not incapacitating.



  She was awarded the maximum amount of 700 dollars per month plus medical coverage. Since we filed before her 22nd birthday she will also qualify as an adult disabled child .  That means, that when I die or collect social security she will become eligible to collect some of my benefits as well.

She was rejected three times on the basis of paperwork reviews. This was the first hearing in front of a judge. She never spoke and was in there for about 15 minutes. It could not have gone better. It will now take another 3 months before any money comes through. We owe the lawyer about 6000 dollars which will come out of the settlement. She also has to pay back welfare to the tune of 2000 dollars. They were giving her 200 a month for the past two years.

We are greatful for this help. We will keep her with us as long as possible or as long as she will stay. She was a nervous wreck last night and this morning. She was pacing and voraciously chewing her fingernails. She wanted to go out with friends for the last few days but we said no. Usually no does not matter to her and she will find a way even if it is out the second floor window in the middle of the night. However, she did not go.





I can tell now when she is using heroine because her pupils are little pin prick points. She was not using heroine. She is very social and happy on cocaine so I saw no signs of that either. We will tolerate almost anything short of violence as far as her mental illness is concerned. It is the drug use and all that goes with us that makes us want to keep our distance. Pray for us to let go and pray for her to hang on to her sobriety so that this child of mine can find some peace. Pray for our family to finally feel that we have done our best no matter what else happens.

Thank you for letting me share.