Disability

[libodem]

Sucks. I got turned down this fall and have been so depressed ever since I can hardly get out of bed. Thank the Goddess we have each other.

[thatgemguy]

1. Don't let the bastards get you down!!!

If you have have resources for mental health treatment, GO. But,don't give up regardless, that's is what the system wants you to do. Take care of yourself.

Peace and Much Love!

[libodem]

8. Doing the

Appeal process now. Thank you for the support.

[Irishonly]

2. Were you turned down by Social Security?

If you were I hope you file an appeal. I would also enourage you to find an attorney or advocate to represent you. I ended up having a hearing and won. It was at least a four year battle. Stupid jerks couldn't figure out if I could have worked I would have. Most advocates will meet with you and tell you if you have a case. They used to be limited on what they could charge.

A good friend is going through the same thing. It just isn't right what is happening to disabled people.

[libodem]

3. Thank you

I have a decent attorney and we are appealing.

[dana_b]

6. good. and don't give up the faith although it may take

quite a while (as the previous poster pointed out). I also an fighting for disability due to a severe back injury. Mine is different because I worked for the state and have been fighting the insurance company that they used for supplemental disability. I also have a claim with Social Security but have not heard back from them yet. I am hopeful but realistic with SS.

[efilon]

4. I was denied three times before I got mine.

The judge that I went before denied my claim even though the occupational therapist there said that there were no jobs in the economy that I could do. I repealed that and had to go before the judge again and he pretty much had to approve my claim as he had been informed by SSD that he had not done things right. Took me a little over three years to get SSDA, thankfully I had disability insurance from my job to help until SS finally went through.

[MedicalAdmin]

5. I lost my appeal and lost disability insurance with a denial.

I'm luck in that I still have some work, but I am severely limited in my option. I just don't have the energy to fight any more.

Glad someone is getting through the system. Its ... hopeful.

[Ruby Reason]

7. Hang in there and keep trying.

My husband was recently turned down and the man is in such pain he can hardly move some days. We are looking to keep going, but it is discouraging. Now we are in the hurry up and wait stage. It does suck.

[Irishonly]

9. Have you contacted an advocate?

I had a horrible battle and when I was approved I received medicare. The first thing ordered for me was a wheelchair. My husband applied and I was having fits that he would not see a lawyer. He was approved the first time and was approved quickly. His case worker was shocked he was approved so quickly.

[Ruby Reason]

10. Actually we are just starting to work with a lawyer.

But so far it has been us, the paperwork, and the phone.

[irisblue]

11. advocate? same as lawyer?

it's not easy with the anxiety, and it's leading to migranes. it can go from minute to minute for me. are advocates the same as lawyers? are they paid the same way?

[Irishonly]

12. I am not sure they are the same

I ended up with a lawyer after I talked to an advocate in New York City. He told me that in most cases you need an advocate or a lawyer because the system is so hard to work with. I couldn't find an advocate here so I went to a lawyer specializing in SSDI. I was at the hearing stage when I hired her. My hearing went smoothly and I got an apology from the judge. I know lawyers are limited in how much they can get from your settlement but I don't what the per centage is now. I imagine advocates work under the same rules. The terms may be interchangable. My lawyer told me she was my advocate.

[llij]

13. my heart goes out to you.....also, are folks who are on getting update letters

I am currently on ssdi and was just issued an update letter. I have a mental health diagnosis and the last time social security communicated they just said that they would would "check in with me from time to time." This sounded casual so I was lulled into a false sense of security. I am not blaming them maybe I miss read what they said. I had heard that the government was making cuts so I am wondering if others got update letters. This is not a review but they use this info to decide if you should be reviewed. I am also in quite a dither, depressed anxious. I need medication, etc. My world would crash down. Like libodem, I am not in a good position to go out and work. I hope that social security changes their minds about your case, libodem. If you can find a lawyer that is economically viable such as one that will charge if you win or even a legal aid department at a university try to get up and seek out legal help. Appeal, appeal, appeal!!! You may need medication...try to find a way to go on if you are not on already and emphasize the medication with social security. If you are not already in treatment seek it out.

[libodem]

14. Tomarrow I go to their shrink

For an evaluation. I got my taxes done for for free today. 7000.00 dollars worth of meds, no insurance, I get $90.00 bucks back. I lived on about 12000.00 dollars of savings.

[rl6214]

15. I have been trying for 1 1/2 years to get my disability approved

I have a bad back, am blind in one eye and have complications from being diabetic for 28 years. I have been turned down twice and am now waiting for a hearing that MAY come in 6 months or so I am told. I have an attorney that specializes in SSDI so I am hopeful that everything will come thru. Stay strong and don't give up. Best of luck to you.

[libodem]

16. Thank you

I finally got my disability about a month ago. Now, I have Medicare. I got a supplemental policy (part d) just yesterday. I can go to the ywca, curves or axium health
club. I need to work out in the water because land exercise hurts too much. Best of luck to everyone trying to access benefits. The depression counted as much as the physical deficits in the end.

[rl6214]

19. I finally had my hearing today and

I was approved by the judge at the hearing. I am so relieved. I will now also be getting Medicare (need to go to my attorney to pick with one I will get) and then like you choose a supplemental as well to make sure all of my expenses are covered including all of my prescriptions. In the end it took just over two years and a 30 minute hearing and it all came down to the accumulation of physical problems I am suffering from. Best of luck to all.

[Youngat50]

17. Has anyone had a problem with doctors not filling out disability paperwork?

My sister has had increasing problems with nerve pain for some years now. She is trying to file for disability, but is having a problem finding a doctor that will do the disability forms. I'm not a doctor, but I believe she needs some neuro testing in order to document the problems and show the severity of them. Despite our pleas to do so, she did not seek help while she was working and had insurance, so her problems are not documented very well. She is one of those people who does not like to admit she is not well.

She is now trying to find a family doctor to begin the process of getting tested and getting the needed medical records, but every doctor's office she calls states that they do not do disability paperwork because it's too extensive and takes too much time.

Has anyone else run into this?

[libodem]

18. Once my income was low enough

I got into a sliding scale clinic that had residents for drs. I didn't care for their protocols but I got my disability. Drs don't want to give up on you or see you give up on yourself.

I think that is how they see it.

[rl6214]

20. I had problems with drs filling out paperwork as well

The most important thing is going to a dr regularly and showing she is seeking treatment. My case came down to years of doctors visits and then having an advocate or attorney get the records from the doctor to present to SS.

[otohara]

26. Some Pointers

She will have to go to a doctor who will do the neruo testing - have the doctor write a report with the results and a letter stating she is no longer able to work... ever.... Send it with her application. Do some research on the net to help with the application in regards to what ever her disability is and take notes. Don't fill out the app until you've got all your talking points precise and short. If she needs more room to describe why she can't work, type it out and tape to app. Keep in mind they will reject if she's able to do even the mildest tasks - state she need help.

I would look for on the internet for a neruo doctor who is disability friendly - perhaps an older doctor and male.

[Vannort54]

21. Ssdi

If you are younger than 55 it's hard to get approved. Ever since the economy tanked every buddy that has a little pain applied because of no jobs. And a majority of the younger people it that have to apply for mental because they are not old enough to have any real physical problems. This is why getting ssdi is hard to get. It only took me one year to get my ssdi. But I worked almost 40 yrs. So I paid my fair share if FICA taxes. Also you need up to date medical records and test to show that you cannot work anymore. But everyone who has applied for ssdi is treated the same so that's why there are millions waiting. And that's why the long wait.

[libodem]

22. Any more

It is not a medical problem as much as a legal one. It is the lawyer not a doctor who makes the case.
Of course they have all the medical records but Dr's must swear an oath to the AMA, not to assist patients to access benefits?

When I had finally been fired from my teaching job at the Community College, my spirits sunk like a stone. I had previously cried in the Dr's office about being treated unfairly and felt I was being set up to fail, so he gave me an antidepressant, to cope with working, that gave me the shits the entire time, I took it. Told me NOT to stop taking it.
His words to me when I asked him to help me was, "Get a lawyer". I did. And won, on the second appeal, after seeing their shrink.
I see myself as honest and I told the shrink the truth as I saw it through the whole interview. I think my lack of deception was apparent to him.

[TexasBushwhacker]

25. Try getting a job when you are long term unemployed, disabled and over 50

When the economy is going well and there are plenty of jobs, qualified people with disabilities can find employers who are willing to hire them. When there are 3 applicants for every job available, not so much. I don't think it's fair to assume that every "buddy" with a little pain has applied. What has happened is that many people who were working while disabled lost their jobs and now can't find employers who will hire them. Employers aren't legally allowed to discriminate against people with disabilities, but they aren't required to choose them over someone who is able bodied either. In my case, I worked at in spite of my disability for 30 years and another 8 years part time. I'm pretty sure my disabled friend who worked for 30 years and is now living on $811 a month (plus $16 in food stamps!) and losing her home would work if she could. She was fired from her last job for having too many doctor appointments. I know living on less than half of what I made when I was working has been no cake walk either and I make too much to qualify for food stamps. If your disability makes it impossible to get hired, it means YOU CAN'T WORK, therefore applying for SSDI is justified.

[fenixcogswell]

23. got disability but Drs office screwing me

Hi. Keep trying. Get a lawyer it takes 3xs usually turned down to get it..but here's a Huge question. I only get $1832.00 a month. All of it goes to pay everything I can. However Drs office now wants to Raise its Copay amount per month by DOuble now $50.00 a month. Is there a law stating any min amounts to be acceptable as long as I am paying them something? Reply PM [e-mail]

[libodem]

24. I finally did get disability

And even with the Medicare, the office visits are expensive. My supplemental policy pays a lot of the prescription costs and they encouraged me to have a full annual physical this year. The total cost--$500.00 dollars to hear my heart, lungs and take my b/p. I'll be stuck with $48.00 to pay. I'm stretched thin. I wanted to wait on my pension until 65 if I could, but I'm not going to be able, too.

Meanwhile, I called in for a script last Thursday and I'm still waiting. Sometimes I feel like my Dr is just fucking with me, so I'll go away. He's been away and that is the real reason, but this sucks.

[zanana1]

27. Everyone is turned down the first second and even third time.

The best thing that can happen to you is a lawyer. they can cut through a lot of red tape and refuting Social Security,s ridiculous claims. My husband had to turn to a lawyer, but it worked.

[libodem]

28. Thank you

It came through for me a year ago in May. I did get a lawyer. And I recommend it as well.

Currently one of my friends, son is going to go through this process. He's bright enough but has a bunch of OCD behaviors, social anxieties, and agoraphobia. He hates people and flat out states he wishes he were dead. I don't know what kind of job he could hold?

He worked nightshift at a call center by himself for years. When they closed, that was the last he worked. Now, the unemployment is gone. He lives at home but can no longer contribute.


He is a real mess.

[RosieS57]

29. Emphasize this

I have been disabled and on SSDI for 19 years. Yes, I won it young....with an atty. but the county I worked for had risk management help, too. Better that I be on Federal benefits than endure a spinal injury at work (classroom teacher) and cost the county perhaps $5 million lifetime.

What I have found works universally is some truthful version of the following:

"There is probably SOME work I can do...but employers don't let you come in a few hours later or leave a few hours early. Nor can you work only every other day. Plus, you cannot have a half hour break after each 1 1/2 hours working. And employers won't keep me quarantined from other employees due to my compromised immune system."

If employers would accommodate all we need in order to not compromise our health further, we might work. But those are fairy tales and unicorn dreams.

I cannot work a full half day nor two days in a row. That is honestly unemployable.

Regards from Rosie