u/Winter-Refuse8640

Hello all 👋

I currently have a 2019 Hyundai Elantra Value Edition around 170,000 miles. When I bought her, I planned to have her until she died....alas life seems to have different plans for me. It has become more and more difficult to get in and out with how low it sits. The seat has also become extremely uncomfortable. I currently use a cushion with the tailbone area cut out, but now the proper seat position is off and hurts my back. I have thoracic scoliosis, and lumbar DDD.

Current budget is honestly unknown, I potentially have several options for loan or outright buying, but I'm more concerned with comfort and accessibility at this point. I am wanting an SUV so I have more back storage area as well.

I'm not sure where to even start looking....a friend has a 2019 jeep grand cherokee that I tried out, and it was much too tall for me. I am 5'4.5" ... my legs are longer, with a shorter torso.

Checked my portal last night, and saw that it moved to step 4, so I called my lawyer this morning. She was in a meeting so I left a voicemail and proceeded to call SSA. While waiting for a rep, my lawyer called me back and just OH MY FUCKING GOD.

FULLY FAVORABLE!!!!!

I've been crying for the last hour calling my family and friends to let them know, and my lawyer has already emailed me the approval letter, which was mailed yesterday.

Now to see how long it will take to start receiving the benefits and then switching to Medicare and figuring out if I can be on a dual advantage plan or if medicaid will no longer cover me. That does have me stressed out a bit as I've been on medicaid for 8 years now 😅 but overall I'm feeling so incredibly relieved and thankful that I'll be able to pay bills without stressing and focus more on my health. 🙏🙏🙏 I'm so grateful to all of you for your support and advice the past couple of years.

Edit to add: My onset date is September 1, 2023 and I was approved based on:

bilateral sacroiliac joint dysfunction; bilateral lower limb piriformis syndrome; levoscoliosis of the thoracic spine; and mild DDD lumbar spine (20 CFR 404.1520(c) and 416.920(c)).

I was 24 at onset date, filed at 25, am 27 now, and symptoms first started when I was 20.

Had my hearing on the 8th, and my lawyer let me know that the portal updated to decision writing stage on the 14th. I've been trying to stay busy and not think about it, but I asked for an update today and it's still in decision writing 😭😭 I just want to know 😩

How long were yall in this stage for? And do you get an email about portal update when the status changes? Or does my lawyer have the best portal access and just wait for them to call me with the update? Or just keep checking my portal for it to go to step 4?