The fact we even managed to connect was in itself a not-so-minor success. As I previously mentioned, my cell phone died and according to the SSI letter I received, my cell phone number was the number they would be reaching me at. But also on the letter was a number to "please call" if you can't keep the appointment (or presumably, if your cell phone has died).
The problem with this number is, when you call it, you get a prerecorded long spiel about how they're doing their part in fighting COVID (by having no office hours) and how, if you so desire, you can press "1" to learn about fraud. And once you finally get through this long spiel, you get to the menu where you are only given the options of pressing a button to: a) reach your party's extension (Ha!) or b) hearing about the office hours (which, as I mentioned, are none).
This number is completely useless. In all of the many, many times I've left messages "at my party's extension", I believe it's completely accurate to say that I have received exactly ZERO callbacks.
I called this useless number anyway and left what I knew would be an un-listened-to message at my party's extension.
Fortunately, in my "Sam Binder", I long ago wrote down what is apparently a super-secret phone number for the "local" SSI office. I have no idea where I got this number from. I can't seem to find it online - but regardless, I've learned this super-secret number is the only way to (maybe, MAYBE) get through to someone.
When you dial this super-secret number, you get the exact same spiel and you get the exact same options as you do with the other number - EXCEPT at the very end of this prerecorded message, you're given an option to press "0" and hold for the next available operator. (Pressing "0" at the end of the previous number doesn't work. The recording claims not to recognized that option.)
We can talk about pressing "0" and possibly being on hold for an eternity, only to end up getting cut off (and I'm pretty sure I might have mentioned something along these lines, maybe once or twice) but for now, what matters is I got a hold of a real live person, and I gave this real, live person my home phone number, and miraculously, the message made it to the elusive "Mr. Maxwell".
Mr. Maxwell was kind enough to call in the morning, rather than have me sweat it out to the end of the day. For that, at least, I'm grateful.
The meeting itself went fine. I found Mr. Maxwell to be semi-friendly and polite, which has been true for most of the people I've spoken to in that office (we won't get into a critique of the people in their other office).
Mr. Maxwell had no real comment on Sam's still on-going medical review. When he mentioned that this meeting wasn't about a medical review, I mentioned that Sam is undergoing one right now - and has been since February. Mr. Maxwell's only response was, "Yeah. Those things can take a while." Then it was on to other subjects. Thanks for clearing that up, Mr. Maxwell. Now I can continue to not relax.
Other than that, the meeting moved along fine. I answered all the questions, Mr. Maxwell really didn't answer mine. But we got through it - but like I said, who knows? I won't really know this went until the paperwork arrives, sometime the coming weeks. Until then, it's wait and wait and wait and see.
Maybe by then I'll be dealing with the medical review. Although, I'm told, those things can take a while.
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