Diabetes Ends Two Careers for Illinois Man

Obtaining Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) can be a time-consuming and stressful experience. Two out of every three applicants initially are denied. Diabetes led to other ailments that eventually defeated Anthony Alexander’s health and put an end to his working life. Read how quickly Allsup turned around his failing finances.

 

 

 

Markham, Illinois—Diabetes has ravaged Anthony Alexander. Only 53, he has been afflicted with a separated right shoulder, torn rotator cuff in the other shoulder, arthritis and complications in his back, hands and knees. All of that, according to his endocrinologist, stems from his insulin-dependent diabetes.

 

“It seemed like my whole world kind of moved in on me,” Mr. Alexander said. He lives in Markham where, up until a few years ago, his life and career were much better. From 2000 to 2009, he was a residential mortgage loan originator, eventually transferring to commercial loan origination. Then he drove for a transit company for 11 months.

 

“I had been struggling with diabetes for five to six years,” Mr. Alexander said, “but it got bad after I left the bus company in December 2009. Then I found out that, even if I wanted to go back to driving, it would be hard to do so if I’m on insulin.”

 

He would have needed permission through the Federal Diabetes Exemption Program. Any hope Mr. Alexander might have had for such an exemption was dashed in February 2011. “Stuff just came to a head,” he said.

 

One morning he woke up with severe pain in his right shoulder after it separated during the night. He later tore the rotator cuff in his left shoulder, an injury more akin to that a baseball player might suffer. “I’m not even a pitcher,” he joked, trying to lighten an increasingly grim situation. Carpel tunnel in his hands, bone spurs in his feet, and problems in his pelvis and spine also cropped up. All of this, his doctor told him, was due to diabetes. His physical therapist told him that his back would never recover from the damage. Doctors and friends alike urged him to apply for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits.

 

“My mother and a friend suggested that I apply for disability because I was struggling to pay bills,” Mr. Alexander said. “I went into denial. I put my pride on my shoulders and tried to look for a job, but some days I couldn’t get out of bed.”

 

A friend had used a company named Allsup to help attain SSDI benefits, and he referred Mr. Alexander to Allsup in February 2011.

 

Allsup is a nationwide provider of Social Security disability, Medicare and Medicare Secondary Payer compliance services for individuals, employers and insurance carriers. Founded in 1984, Allsup employs more than 800 professionals who deliver specialized services supporting people with disabilities and seniors so they may lead lives that are as financially secure and as healthy as possible. Allsup has helped more than 170,000 people receive the SSDI benefits they paid for while working.

 

“I have a lot of faith,” Mr. Alexander said. “I prayed and meditated. Then I called Allsup. They told me I was a prime example for disability. My relationship with Allsup has been excellent from the word go. They’ve been professional and upfront. They are about the individual. They give straightforward answers whether you want to hear them or not.”

 

One of Allsup’s messages was that Mr. Alexander’s application would likely be turned down, which happens with most applicants and most of their first appeals. Indeed, that happened to Mr. Alexander, yet he was prepared to stay in for the long haul with Allsup.

 

The next step in the SSDI process would be a hearing before an administrative law judge. Based on other persons’ experiences, Mr. Alexander thought it would take 18 months to three years before the hearing would occur.

 

Unknown to him, however, Allsup representative Wendy Maple had compiled Mr. Alexander’s medical records and supporting documents and submitted them to the judge for an on-the-record review. If the judge accepted the evidence, an in-person hearing could be avoided.

 

In October 2011, just eight months after Allsup accepted his case, he received the letter from Social Security announcing the judge’s ruling in his favor. “I was in shock when I got approved so fast,” he said.

 

His diabetic torment continues, but Mr. Alexander now has steady monthly income to help him financially. “Allsup really pushed my case through,” he said. “They were always Johnny-on-the spot. I felt very comfortable with them and highly recommend them. They’ve been great people.”