# From denied twice to approved what changed in our SSI case

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-neurodivergent-connection-the-curious-storyteller-4254621/from-denied-twice-to-approved-what-changed-in-our-ssi-case
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-neurodivergent-connection-the-curious-storyteller-4254621/from-denied-twice-to-approved-what-changed-in-our-ssi-case.md
Podcast: [The Neurodivergent Connection / The Curious Storyteller](https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-neurodivergent-connection-the-curious-storyteller-4254621)
Published: 2026-04-29T17:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://podcast.ausha.co/neurodivergentconnection-thecuriousstroyteller/the-system-isn-t-broken-it-was-built-this-way
Audio file: https://pdcn.co/e/https://audio.ausha.co/RWLMxs5aPY1R.mp3?t=1776642271
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-neurodivergent-connection-the-curious-storyteller-4254621/episodes/from-denied-twice-to-approved-what-changed-in-our-ssi-case
Duration seconds: 4036

## Resource

SSI Pitfalls: What No One Tells You About Disability Benefits (with Former SSA Attorney Spencer) Fighting for SSI isn’t simple. I’m exposing the hidden hurdles—and how to avoid costly mistakes that put benefits at risk. I’ve battled Social Security myself, and I know how confusing and exhausting it can feel—especially with autism, ADHD, or other invisible disabilities. In this episode, I sit down with Spencer, a former Social Security attorney who spent 11 years inside the system writing and reviewing disability decisions. Together, we pull back the curtain on why mental health and neurodivergent claims get denied so often, what the law actually weighs, and how to prepare without getting tripped up by technicalities. You’ll discover what really drives denials, the role of vocational experts (and why their “jobs list” isn’t about you), and the key moments in an appeal that can change your outcome. I also ask Spencer the questions I wish I had answers to when I first applied—like what “partial wins” mean, when back pay gets reduced, and why waiting can quietly cost you your case. About the Guest Spencer is a former Social Security attorney who spent 11 years at the agency—seven writing disability decisions and four reviewing appeals. He’s the author of Social Security Disability Revealed and runs https://www.bishinspublishing.com/ where he educates claimants and professionals on the SSDI/SSI process. Timestamps 0:02 – Why I call SSI a trap (and my own case) 1:33 – Meet Spencer: 11 years writing and reviewing SSA decisions 6:57 – The mental health gap: why neurodivergent claims face extra scrutiny 10:34 – “It’s not over after approval”: ongoing reviews and common cutoffs 13:13 – The $2,000 asset rule and easy mistakes that end benefits 25:48 – Denied? Your 60-day appeal w…

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## Transcript

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