Question On Psychiatric Evaluation!

[bm6546]

I have a question on my Psychiatric Evaluation. The SS sent me to see a psychiatrist for a mental exam approx. 4 weeks ago. They sent a copy to my doctor.

At the end of his report under "FUNCTIONAL ASSESSMENT & MEDICAL SOURCE STATEMENT" he wrote:

"At this point he would be too anxious to work in any environment. He would not be able to attend. He would not be productive. He should have psychotherapy related to this and I suspect with time he will desensitize. However, this will be a long-term process".

Under the SS rules with the main criteria being whether or not a person can work at any job, wouldn't you think that the SS should give me disability, or am I trying to be too logical.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Brian

[Philip Rogers]

John, I currently have a claim in for my heart, trying to get SC. I was medically discharged in 1966 with a heart condition. I recently had a heart attack and have depression with anxiety. I have not worked for almost a year. All my doctors have said that I am unable to work. The SS shrink said that I will not be able to work ever again. I am 60 years old and am only a couple years away to SS anyway.

Thanks again, Brian

Brian - you don't want SS at age 62 because it is reduced. If you can get the SSDI approved you'll get paid the full amount you would have received if retiring at 65. You're old enough that you stand a pretty good chance of getting SSDI. They seem to be more strict with younger applicants.

pr

[Guest jangrin]

Brian,

You are 60 years old. You have a very good chance of getting SSDI. If you get SSDI you would draw your entitlement under SSDI tax free untill you are 65. At 65 you will be converted to regular SS and draw the usual entitlement. If you are found disabled by SSA then you will be entitled to medicare for medical services 2 years after you start drawing your SSDI or turn 65 which ever is first.

The main thing for SS is that you have to be totally disabled for at least one year and your condition is expected to stay the same or get worse with time. Also, there is a mandatory 5 month deferment in recieveing benefits. The first five months follwing your inability to work are considered a "waiting period" and will not be compensated in any award decision for SSDI.

If the SS office feels that your current medical records are "thin" or "incapable" of supplying enough informatiohn to make a determination regarding you total disability, they will send you to "thier" exam doctors.

If SS re-habilitation specialists feel that you can perform "any" type of work, offered in most city or communities you will be denied SS, and be expected to relocate to an area that has those type of jobs available to the public at large.

Your doctors have to say why you cannot work. Just saying you can't work is not enough. They have to say how your illnesses keep you from being able to work. Yes, you are very close to 62. If you are sent to an exam by an SSA doctor, keep in mind that these doctors are on contract and they are tough because they do not want to loose the lucrative government contact.

Make sure you carry in all of the current medications you take to any appointments. Make sure you take a wife or family member to aid you during any exams and as a witness to the amount of time the doctor spent during any exams and to give imput regarding your problems and inability to due certain activities of daily living, etc. lifting , bending, carrying, dishes, yardwork, walking to the mail box, opening a jar, whatever, you are unalble to do

good luck to you,

Jangrin

Edited December 14, 2006 by jangrin

[LarryJ]

"If you get SSDI you would draw your entitlement under SSDI tax free untill you are 65."

How come I'm having to pay Income Tax on my SSDI?

They send me a 1099 and I put it down on my 1040 just like the good little boy that my Momma raised.

Am I screwin meself?

[Guest jangrin]

Larryj,

according to my attorney, SSDI is not taxable just the same as your VA disability compensation is not taxed. Once you are switched from SSDI to regular SS (at age 65)then your SS is considered income and taxable as any income is.

If I'm wrong my attorney gets fired. LOL

Jangrin

PS. give SSA a call and tell me what they tell you. Thanks!

Edited December 14, 2006 by jangrin

[Philip Rogers]

Larryj,

according to my attorney, SSDI is not taxable just the same as your VA disability compensation is not taxed. Once you are switched from SSDI to regular SS (at age 65)then your SS is considered income and taxable as any income is.

If I'm wrong my attorney gets fired. LOL

Jangrin

PS. give SSA a call and tell me what they tell you. Thanks!

Fifty percent of SSDI benefits are taxable if annual adjusted gross income is $25,000-$34,000 for an individual, $32,000-$44,000 if married and filing jointly. Eighty five percent of SSDI benefits are taxable on annual income exceeding $34,000 for an individual, $44,000 if married and filing jointly.

pr

[john999]

I believe that if you have income beyond a certain point then a portion of your SSDI becomes taxable. For instance if you had a private pension and some investments and were bringing in 35,000 a year in taxable income then the money you get from SSDI would become partially taxable. Me and my wife file jointly and she had about 25 thousand in taxable and I had about 20 thousand in taxable and my SSDI became partially taxable. I get some money from a taxable pension and investments. All passsive income. Given all the 401-K's and IRA's we never actually paid more than a few hundred dollars in tax. If you have questions ask a accountant or call the IRS. Lawyers give bad advice on taxes unless they are tax lawyers.

I get a disability retirement pension from the federal government since I was a civil servant and all of it is taxable. Not to mention the fact that my federal pension is offset by my SSDI. Before deductions it amounts to about 2000 bucks a month from both my pension and SSDI. What a joke for 20 years of work. If I had to live on it I would be have to be very frugal.