Obtaining
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) can be a time-consuming and stressful experience. Two out of every three applicants initially are denied. Howard Hoover didn’t let painful migraines put his life on hold. But as he aged, and his physical condition worsened, the added burden of migraines was too much for him to bear. Read how Allsup helped to ease his financial pain.
* This is a true story as told to Allsup.
Migraines drove the service technician into a dark world.
‘I Couldn’t Handle It Anymore’
By Jim Katzaman
Clymer, New York—Headaches have almost always been an unwelcome part of Howard Hoover’s life. He remembers having them at age 7. They were bad when he was in junior high school, including one time when he woke up on the floor.
Now 62, the Clymer resident has battled common migraines, classic migraines—those with an aura or visual disturbance such as outlines of lights after onset—and cluster headaches, the most painful headache anyone can have. Mr. Hoover and others have described the pain as boring, tearing or burning. The headaches have been compared to a hot poker behind the eye or as if the eye is being pushed out.
Rather than give in to the ailment that also afflicted his mother and sister, Mr. Hoover persevered. He finished high school and “little by little” completed college, leading to a career as a service technician.
As he aged, however, his physical condition worsened. His migraines led to chronic pain, anxiety and panic disorders. Treatment for his migraines, which only recently were acknowledged to be a debilitating disease, ranged from nothing to awesome doses of medication with depressingly worse results.
Talking about his youth, Mr. Hoover said, “Back then they didn’t have medicine for migraines. You just had to sleep through it. In the 1970s, the treatment was valium. Today’s treatment means taking 200 to 300 pain pills every month.” Yet, he ruefully added, no amount of medication seems to help.
Although the exact cause of migraine headaches is not clearly understood, in 1997, Mr. Hoover’s doctor’s thought the pains were caused by sinus problems. But two operations only made his condition worse.
“I couldn’t handle it anymore,” Mr. Hoover said of his last few years on the job. In 2002, his employer had all workers regularly rotate shifts to be changed according to the company’s scheduling—and schedules were changed with only four hours notice. Due to medications prescribed at night, Mr. Hoover was not able to function on the rotation of shifts. He was dismissed, regaining his job through the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Eventually, unable to tolerate even the sound of his truck, Mr. Hoover decided, “That’s enough of this,” and retired in March 2007. He might have resigned himself to a painful retirement without added financial aid if a string of events had not occurred.
It started when a friend was approved for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits, thanks to help from representatives at Allsup.
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 nearly 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.
“I never thought about applying for disability,” he said, “but with my migraines I was not able to function for weeks on end. My wife said I should call Allsup, which I did. They said they would look into my case to see if they could help.”
That was in March 2010. Allsup representatives gathered Mr. Hoover’s records and submitted his claim. As was the case with his friend and thousands of others who apply for SSDI benefits—even with Allsup’s help—his application and
disability appeal were denied. Allsup had prepared him for the initial decline, and he was not surprised.
“Allsup kept me informed,” he said. “When I called, anyone I talked to was able to help me. They always had an answer.”
The next step in the application process was a hearing before an administrative law judge. Several hearings were scheduled and rescheduled. In July 2011, the judge finally did an on-the-record review based on documents submitted by Allsup representative Danielle Schultz.
The judge decided in Mr. Hoover’s favor, which he said “felt great.” One loose end remained when Social Security officials, apparently not aware of the judge’s verdict, kept insisting that Mr. Hoover get a second doctor’s opinion.
“Danielle was really instrumental in straightening that out,” Mr. Hoover said. “She got involved and called the right people.” With the issue settled, Mr. Hoover received his first disability benefit check a month later.
“Allsup took care of everything,” he said, still battling his lifelong migraine foe. “Their first-tier people are really good. They are thoroughly trained and prepared, and I’d recommend Allsup to anyone in need.”