RICHMOND, Va. — A Virginia veteran has finally received approval for his disability benefits from the Social Security Administration after a lengthy battle that lasted more than three years. Joseph Carle, 53, expressed relief following his experience, which he described as a “never-ending nightmare” filled with obstacles navigating the agency’s systems.
Carle initially submitted his application for disability benefits in 2021. He described the process as frustrating, involving numerous medical appointments and extensive paperwork without any substantial progress.
After almost a year of waiting and repeatedly resubmitting documents, Carle was granted a hearing date. Unfortunately, the hearing was unsuccessful due to technical issues on the judge’s end, which led to a record indicating that the hearing never took place. As a result, Carle’s claim was canceled, necessitating a reinstatement process.
Even when he received an approval letter eventually, he found himself without clear information regarding payment. After reaching out to the agency multiple times, he was told to expect payment details by a certain date, but when that date passed without any communication, he encountered yet another setback when a representative told him the information he received was incorrect.
The toll of the lengthy process, along with his ongoing back pain from an injury sustained while serving in the Navy, compounded Carle’s stress and anxiety. He openly shared that this ordeal had detrimental effects on his mental health, even leading him to contemplate suicide at one point.
In a twist of fate, after contacting CBS 6 for assistance, Carle’s situation changed rapidly. A CBS 6 representative reached out to the Social Security Administration on his behalf, and soon after, Carle received confirmation of his approval. He expressed gratitude, noting that it felt as if a single phone call had resolved his prolonged struggle.
Despite the positive outcome, Carle remains frustrated by the lack of clarity regarding the issues with his application throughout the process. He advises others applying for disability benefits to meticulously track their communications and documentation with the Social Security Administration.
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