Just got off the phone with Social Security and found out that I likely don't qualify for my infant daughter's SSI disability support because I make $400/month more than the supposed maximum allowed.

My daughter has a congenital heart defect, chromosomal disorder and several other health issues to work through

She has been hospitalized since birth and has been on breathing support for most of her first 8 months of life,

Even though I made all the "right" decisions for our family's safety and financial security:

Scrimped and saved to have a good emergency fund

Got a secure union job that fights for regular pay raises and COLA adjustments

Don't own a car, bike and bus for all travel

The absolute cheapest rent I can find for an acceptable one-bedroom apartment

Live in a city with access to a children's hospital for my daughter's multiple health needs and specialists she will need for the rest of her life

Piled on to the fact that my wife and I have no family financial support because I grew up out of extreme poverty and my wife is an immigrant with her whole family also impoverished.

Any Hexbears experienced with this process? Was told I could possibly appeal after getting a probable rejection letter in the mail.

  • SorosFootSoldier [he/him, they/them]
    ·
    2 years ago

    I hate to say this but you might need to lawyer up. I know the only way to get on disability is via a lawyer. It's one of those unwritten rules, you're going to be denied over and over unless I think you take it up with them.

          • BGDelirium [he/him]
            ·
            2 years ago

            That was the thing. The interviewer didn't even ask about a medical history for my daughter. Just the boilerplate questions about being disabled or blind.

            With all of her various ailments, she will likely meet whatever the definition of disabled is [as well as having some vision issues in one eye], but we are still in the observation, diagnosis, and recovery stages at the hospital.

            I think it being a phone interview versus in-person hurt as well.