Posted by Todd (216.199.4.194) on April 30, 2000 at 22:03:27:
In Reply to: Obtaining SSI posted by Carl D on April 30, 2000 at 13:44:07:
I'm not on, nor have I ever applied for, SSI. But I've spent the past year going through the world's worst divorce.
Document, document, document!!!!!
Did you get fired for excessive absenteeism? You are legally entitled to a complete copy of your employee file...get it.
Subpoena your former boss. Make him/her testify as to why you were fired (too many days lost to 'headaches').
Have friends (or better yet, mere acquaintences) who've seen you in the throes of a cluster? Drag them before the judge.
Any records of your (probably now former) insurance company refusing your claims? Bring those too.
In the US, our legal system is referred to as an 'advocacy' system. Advocacy is a derivation of 'adversarial', meaning 'me' against 'you'. It's war, folks, and that's the only way to approach it.
Haul out every piece of artillery you can think of.
I'm a died in the wool Republican conservative who HATES handouts. BUT, like most Republicans, I also have a heart. I abhor the social program abuse that occurs in the US. I also abhor the fact that this abuse has made it more difficult for the truly deserving to receive the aid they need.
If I have to pay taxes, I'm glad a part of them go to help people like Carl.
KTSSU,
T