A C182 PLT AT 9000 FT ENCOUNTERED ICING AND CLBED AS HE REQUESTED A HIGHER ALT. THE REQUEST WAS DENIED SO HE DECLARED AN EMER AND RECEIVED CLB CLRNC.

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WHILE FLYING AT 9000 FT; REQUESTED AND ASSIGNED ALT; WITH OAT 32 DEGS IN VMC; AND CLOUDS AT MY ALT AHEAD; I REQUESTED 11000 FT FROM APCH; WHICH WOULD BE ABOVE THE CLOUDS. THEIR REPLY WAS 'STAND BY.' I ENTERED THE CLOUDS AT 9000 FT MSL AND GOT A HEALTHY UPDRAFT AND NOTICED RIME ICE FORMING ON STRUTS; WINDSCREEN AND WINGS. BELIEVING THAT CLRNC TO 11000 FEET WAS IMMINENT; I RESISTED THE REQUIREMENT TO PUSH OVER TO MAINTAIN 9000 FT. APCH ADVISED ME TO REMAIN AT 9000 FT. I REPLIED I HAD ICE ACCUMULATING AND HAD CLR AIR AT 10000 FT; AND COULD EITHER CLIMB AS REQUESTED OR WOULD DSND. THEY REPLIED THAT I HAD BUSTED MY IFR ALT AND TO REMAIN AT 9000 FT. I DECLARED AN EMER. THEY REPLIED 'CLB TO 11000 FT;' WHICH I WAS ABLE TO DO; CLRING CLOUD TOPS AT ABOUT 9700 FT. PROBABLY I SHOULD HAVE REQUESTED 11000 FT EARLIER; OR MADE A 180 DEG TURN UPON ENTERING CLOUDS WITH ICING; ADVISING APCH. OR ADVISED THEM UPON BEING UPDRAFTED WHEN ENTERING THE CLOUD. COM COULD HAVE BEEN MORE TIMELY. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR STATED THAT ATC CALLED HIM TWICE ON HIS ALT AS HE 'CREPT' UP TO 9500 FT; TELLING HIM THAT HE BUSTED HIS ALT. HOWEVER; AS SOON AS HE DECLARED AN EMER; ATC CLRED HIM TO 11000 FT. THERE WAS NO TFC CONFLICT AND HE HAS HEARD NOTHING FROM THE FAA.