[Blindtlk] Question about SSI

[David Andrews]

I think they now call RLFP, retenopothy of Prematurity.  It is what I 
have, but in one sense, it doesn't matter.  You can either see or you 
can't.  If you can't it probably doesn't matter why.

Dave

At 11:32 AM 5/16/2016, you wrote:
>retrolentrilfibroplasia I suspect, that was my first diagnosis but 
>the last eye doctor I visited told me it was Microthalmus.
>
>On Mon, 16 May 2016, Ericka via blindtlk wrote:
>
>>Date: Mon, 16 May 2016 12:28:20
>>From: Ericka via blindtlk <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
>>To: Blind Talk Mailing List <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
>>Cc: Ericka <dotwriter1 at gmail.com>
>>Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Question about SSI
>>Very interesting. As a sidenote, I'm kind of jealous of those of 
>>you with a diagnosis. 40+ years later and UW Madison hospitals and 
>>clinics still hasn't a clue. I have I wear the retinas look like 
>>I've had oxygen at birth but didn't and wasn't even a preemie. 
>>Someone use the fancy term recently for it, but I don't remember 
>>what it was. It was the first time someone had given it a name 
>>besides congenital folds of the retina. I have some vision in one 
>>eye but as I've grown older it's become less and less useful. 
>>Social Security's never questioned me but once that I can recall. 
>>They sent me a form to fill out recently and I never had to see a 
>>doctor for them.
>>
>>Ericka Short
>>"What is right is not always popular; what is popular is not always right."
>>
>>from my iPhone
>>
>>>On May 16, 2016, at 10:13 AM, Jude DaShiell via blindtlk 
>>><blindtlk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>>
>>>My eye condition is microthalmus and because of that I expect 
>>>that's how my social security record got permanent blindness 
>>>written on it.  For those that don't know, microthalmus is a 
>>>prenatal condition in which the eyes never develop enough to 
>>>see.  It's not known if this condition is genetic or caused by the 
>>>environment the newborn lived in before becoming a newborn yet.
>>>
>>>>On Mon, 16 May 2016, A Kelly via blindtlk wrote:
>>>>
>>>>Date: Mon, 16 May 2016 08:59:32
>>>>From: A Kelly via blindtlk <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
>>>>To: Blind Talk Mailing List <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
>>>>Cc: A Kelly <gadgetgirlkelly at gmail.com>
>>>>Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Question about SSI
>>>>Yes, some Social Security offices in NY, do require an in-person 
>>>>visit by you.  They may also send you to a doctor of their choice 
>>>>to ensure you are blind.  When I asked why do they do this, I was 
>>>>told some people suffer temporary blindness and never report when 
>>>>their vision returns.  With that in mind, Social Security may ask 
>>>>you to come to their offices over the years until they are 
>>>>convinced your blindness is permanent.  Hope this helps.
>>>>
>>>>Regards,
>>>>Gadget Girl
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>On May 16, 2016, at 8:15 AM, Sami Osborne via blindtlk 
>>>>><blindtlk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>Hi all,
>>>>>
>>>>>I'm having a rather frustrating issue with Social Security here 
>>>>>in NY, who are providing me my SSI benefits.  A few weeks ago, I 
>>>>>received a letter in the mail from Social Security telling me 
>>>>>that I need to show up in person at their office because they 
>>>>>wanted to prove that I'm actually blind even though I provided 
>>>>>them with all the documentation and was approved almost six 
>>>>>months ago.  What bothers me is that as I said, they asked me to 
>>>>>show up in person at their office.  My mom thought that we could 
>>>>>just talk to them on the phone, and she called and spoke with 
>>>>>them (I couldn't because I'm at my blindness training center for 
>>>>>the week and only go home on weekends).  My mom said that she 
>>>>>even spoke with them two or three times.  The first time they 
>>>>>said that they would call me personally at home to set up the 
>>>>>appointment for showing up in person, but obviously I wouldn't 
>>>>>have been able to speak with them since I'm not home during the 
>>>>>week.  My mom gave them my cell phone n
>u
>>m
>>>b
>>>>er, but they haven't called me that way either.  This is a very 
>>>>frustrating issue in my opinion.  I have asked other friends of 
>>>>mine at the training center that I'm at if they had to show up at 
>>>>their Social Security office six months after they were approved 
>>>>for SSI benefits, and they said no.  My mom thinks that it 
>>>>depends on the state, and that the reason they do that is 
>>>>probably because they want to make sure that you're not cheating 
>>>>in getting SSI (by the way, the people at the training center 
>>>>that I'm at come from all over the country).
>>>>>
>>>>>So I'd like to know if you guys have gone through a similar 
>>>>>experience, and if so, have you had to show up in person at the 
>>>>>office or just talk with them on the phone?
>>>>>
>>>>>Hope to hear from you soon, and for those of you who just 
>>>>>finished with college, I hope you're enjoying the end as your semester!
>>>>>
>>>>>Thanks,