From time to time, I encounter a claimant who wants to compare his/her Social Security experience to someone else's. This is usually a claimant who has either been denied or has been waiting a long time to get a decision. This individual will begin to talk about Uncle Billy and how he got his Social Security disability check on the first try--and in just two months!
First, I am happy for Uncle Billy. It works out that way for a few people but not for the majority. Second, I wonder how Uncle Billy's claim was different from the average claim?
How old is Uncle Billy? If he is over 50 years of age, it's unfair to compare his case to someone who is 30 years old. Age plays a major factor in getting approved.
Which judge did Uncle Billy appear before? Some judges pay 70 percent of their claims, while some pay only 12 percent. If Uncle Billy lucked up and drew a 70 percent judge, good for him.
What was Uncle Billy's medical impairment? If he had several incurable diseases, it is not fair to compare his claim to a person's who has less severe conditions.
How much education does Uncle Billy have? What type of work did he do in the past? Did he perform skilled or unskilled work? Was his past work sedentary, light, medium or heavy? Did he have any transferable skills? These will all bear upon a disability decision--and they are different for each individual.
My point is that no two claims are alike. Differences in age, education, past work experience and medical impairments make it impossible (and unwise) to compare your claim to someone else's. Decisions are also somewhat subjective. One decision maker might approve a claim, while a different decision maker might deny the same claim.
First, I am happy for Uncle Billy. It works out that way for a few people but not for the majority. Second, I wonder how Uncle Billy's claim was different from the average claim?
How old is Uncle Billy? If he is over 50 years of age, it's unfair to compare his case to someone who is 30 years old. Age plays a major factor in getting approved.
Which judge did Uncle Billy appear before? Some judges pay 70 percent of their claims, while some pay only 12 percent. If Uncle Billy lucked up and drew a 70 percent judge, good for him.
What was Uncle Billy's medical impairment? If he had several incurable diseases, it is not fair to compare his claim to a person's who has less severe conditions.
How much education does Uncle Billy have? What type of work did he do in the past? Did he perform skilled or unskilled work? Was his past work sedentary, light, medium or heavy? Did he have any transferable skills? These will all bear upon a disability decision--and they are different for each individual.
My point is that no two claims are alike. Differences in age, education, past work experience and medical impairments make it impossible (and unwise) to compare your claim to someone else's. Decisions are also somewhat subjective. One decision maker might approve a claim, while a different decision maker might deny the same claim.
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