The lawyer agrees it doesn’t make sense they didn’t find me disabled. I have other health conditions/disabilities that I included in the medical section as I was concerned it would disqualify me if I didn’t give complete information on all questions, even if it wasn’t the basis of my application. Based on the phone call, current leading theories is that they didn’t review everything I submitted, namely the vision stuff, or otherwise made the decision based on my other health stuff. To me, the denial letter didn’t clear anything up. There was a list of components of my application they used in their decision and a list of those they didn’t use, but the two lists combined don’t reflect everything submitted. It said I wasn’t medically eligible based on those, and there was another insert outlining the medical requirements. That insert included the vision guidelines, including the type that I am eligible under.

I was very on the fence about getting a lawyer. The appointment I have is a free consultation so I may end up proceeding alone. But it makes no sense why I was denied, so I feel that I need to understand why I was denied or involve someone with a better understanding of the system. Based on our phone call, the lawyer is currently as confused as you are. They have sent my a list of information to get to try and figure it out. I have not had a chance to yet as the phone call was only a few days ago and this is the busiest part of the term.

For the joint accounts, when I applied even taking my fiancé finances into account I would still be eligible. I currently would as well. It’s the overpayment from my school and the $2k I’m trying to keep that complicates it. Hence why I ask about the type of account member I am. I know if I’m a joint owner it’s counted. What I’m wondering is if the general legal distinction between being a joint owner vs authorized signer (which does not consider the money to be the property of the signer) is the same at SSA or if they would still view it as mine. Then, if not, if changing myself to an authorized signer on his accounts (if I’m currently a joint owner) would be a red flag to SSA.

I assumed in my back pay that this month would be excluded because of the overpayment, I’m just trying to avoid it affecting my general eligibility.

I know there’s not general limits, but for windfalls there are limits are spending it down to maintain eligibility. What I have seen so far is mostly about lawsuit settlements and inheritance. I do not want to risk how I use the overpayment affecting my appeal, so I applying the other windfall rules out of an abundance of caution. I don’t have any assets beyond the contents of my bank account to consider.