Little OT... Social Security Disability ?

[chris1gill]

Hope nobody minds my asking, but has anyone applied for disability anytime recent? I applied, they found I had physical disability, the letter came today, but my application has to meet non-physical requirements, and that is done by a different department, so that department will contact me separately regarding if I qualify for the non-physical requirements... Anyone have any idea what this means & how long it takes? It's already been 9 months!!! Thanks for any info, I appreciate it!!

[SueM in MN]

I don't have any advice, but just want to wish you luck and invite you to post about your experience. Even though it isn't Disney related, it might be helpful to other people.

[Wheelsie]

Well if its the Dept of Disability Determinations your in for a LOOOOOOONG wait and alot of unnecisarry repeating paper work

When I had my 10 yr review (dont know why I even need one Ive been in thing all my life and never will leave it LOL) This particular Dept kept giving me the run around and sending me papers to fill out that said it'd been 14 days and I needed to fill them out (they came in the same pile of mail) this happened daily for months...

Finally at the start of the new yr DH and me went down to their office spoke to the HEAD SUPERVISOR in charge of everything (I had 3 sets of the same forms in my hand) and I didnt leave that office till I spoke to someone....

It turns out that there was no communication between the case worker and her secretary so they were BOTH sending me out these papers daily...

Well it finally did get straightened out and I was told (and they likely lied LOL) that Id never have to go thru the 10 yr review for the rest of my life

But bare in mind I have had my handi all my life and it will never change....it may be different for someone that has to file for it

[chris1gill]

Hi Wheelsie,

I don't know if it was the same department, that might be the department that just approved me LOL I don't have a clue, but they didn't read the initial application & denied me the first time within 28 days... based on my ability to do a job & stand on my feet (I was in a WC by the way LOL)... so then I appealed... they lost the appeal & I didn't know that for 3 months until I called!! Then my caseworker has been calling like every week asking me for some new medical record... so that is all done, I guess they've decided that I'm unable to work (DUH....).. but so now I get to wait for the non-medical determination... What is that? I've not got a single clue!! The only thing I can think of, is that they verify income or something... but it definitely said Don't call back until I hear from that group... Well, just like with my appeal, what happens if they lose me in their system & I don't hear from them?? Craziness I tell you, sheer madness!!! Ya know, it's quite odd, they never even sent me to one of their doctors or anything... I thought that was pretty strange, but as I've seen about 30 different doctors from 15 different departments, maybe, just maybe they had enough info!!! It stinks when each of your major systems decides it isn't going to work anymore (and no I'm not kidding:confused: )

Thanks & I'll let you know as soon as they let me know.. my next Disney trip is in December, do you think I'll know by then? :bounce:

[Wheelsie]

Yes do let me know..either here or by email or PM :)

they may have you know by Dec... but it is beaurocracy..and you know how that can be LOL

[Wes]

I wonder if it is just a determination that you have enough work credits.

Here is a link to the SSA web page that may be the answer (http://www.ssa.gov/dibplan/dqualify2.htm). The page is titled: "How Much Work Do You Need?"

[LindaDVC]

When Dan went in to the S.S office to go off disability-- they didn't have a form that said still disabled but choosing to go to work!

They had disabled - still disabled forms
and disabled -- no longer disabled forms

But they did not have a form stating still disabled but able to work form!!

They kept saying are you sure you want to go to work!!
We were there hours and they kept trying to figure out what to do! They finally adapted a form!

He is very happy to get rid of that agency! Now he is fighting with the insurance company to buy a hoyer lift ( my back is getting older:p) and a shower chair. Paper work never ends!!!

Linda

[chris1gill]

Oh Linda, How I know about Paperwork!!! Dear God the stuff we've gone through is just unbelievable!! Insurance, doctors & now disability.. it is certainly never ending... I keep telling everyone I am just too sick to put myself through this!! How sad is that? And you are right, getting anyone to pay for durable medical equipment, forget it, they don't want to pay!!! Maybe we should start our own support group to gripe about our paperwork LOL.... I'll let everyone know when I hear something...

Wes, Thank you for the link, I just surfed over there.. you might be right, it might just be the credit determination... I'm quite sure when I applied the girl said I had enough credits.... This all started when I was 24 & got very bad by age 27, but they are setting my disability date at age 29, to coincide with my legs failing... lungs failing didn't count I guess... I might fight it, but then again I've been through enough... So, it looks like they count the credits differently if you are under age 30, which might actually hurt me since they adjusted my disability date.. I'll let you guys know as soon as I know! Thanks....

[LindaDVC]

The insurance co will pay for the medical equipment but we have NY Bluecross Blueshield and live in NC! Dan works for American Express here in NC but the co is based in NY. We have been trying to coordinate benefits between the two states for months!

NC keeps denying BUT if they would forward the paperwork to NY it could get approved! It sounds simple but we have spent hours on the phone with vendors, NC and NY! Someday we may have the equipment.

Linda

PS 21 days til our next Disney arrival so at least we have our respite vacation coming!

[nancycels]

My daughters are mentally retarded!! now, they've been that way since birth, but SS keeps sending me stuff to get them re-evaluated to be sure they still qualify for SS. OK, now i cd see if they thought the initial testing was off, and as they grew up,they might pick up some more skills, but they're 24!! u'd think they'd be a little smarter about stuff!! its so aggravating!!! plus they give them static about working!!!! now, i know they'd get more from SS if they didn't work, or worked less, but u know what? i'd rather they worked!!! and so wd they! but imagine,this is our brilliant gvt at work, trying to keep people from trying to work!!!
what they really need are a few good employers willing to hire the handicapped for full time positions! these are what seem to be few and far between! as it is they are working in 3 different convenience stores and still are part time!
of course what really aggravates me, is that they expect people who have mental handicaps do be able to deal w/their garbage! i swear, half of the stuff is just so they can deny benefits that people who are really handicapped need badly!

[Wheelsie]

well I dont know if the rules are different for the mentally handi than physically but....

I love to work..enjoy it in fact...so I (on SS ) work...
its more my cup of tea to be out in public than that of DH... thats no prob for me :)

what IS the prob is that in order to keep my SS...I can only work 20-25 hrs a week...and if I make anything over 740 dollars in a givine month I get my SS taken away...

I think that reaks!!!!!! because between my SS and my paycheck we just cant.....it just reaks!!!

ok done ranting...

*rolls down from her specially ramped soap box*

[mikamouse]

I guess I had it easy!! I was hospitalized back in 88...doc told me to apply for ssdi...I did and was approved in 30 days,,,and got retro active for years past that! talk about a major check!!! I got the retro check....20 grand, before the award letter..then I got one more for my daughter.....I am on perament diablilty...and they have never reviewed..now they are doing the same for my daughter so when she is 18 she will have medical coverage!

[chris1gill]

Hi MikaMouse,

You DID have it easy!!! Was it due to a heart attack or condition? My MIL had a major heart attack, and was also awarded SSDI right away, no questions asked... I just found it ironic they denied me on the basis I could stand and walk, when in fact I'd been hospitalized with hemiparalysis (or something like that) & it's not improved all that much!!! I don't honestly think they read the application!! Thanks for the info :)

[SueM in MN]

My dad, who had non-Hodgekins Lymphoma and a heart attack brought on by his first round of chemo, finally got approved a few months before he died. Even when he was terminal, they kept sending stuff to make sure he was still disabled! And he was just short of actual retirement age, so it's not like he would have had 20 years of disability ahead of him if he had lived.

[mamajoan]

Hi Guys, Boy I was glad to find this thread. I am having a bunch of trouble with workman's comp insurance... they are putting me thru a major run around. To be short about it, severe injury unable to return to work as PTA, WC did not like what original doc had to say they sent me to their doc who gave me 100 % disability NOW they don't like what THEIR doc said so They have a lawyer appealing the California WC board decision. I have yet to hire an attorney because I was told from day 1 that my case was so straight forward that there would be no problem.... well la de da :) I have so much paperwork it is unbelievable. I have always had a great deal of compassion for my patients who have gone thru the battles with WC and SS ... but dang I am hating to have to live thru it... My friends tell me I am too nice and too honest, that I should fight WC Harder. THANKS for letting me vent.

[chris1gill]

Sue, I'm so sorry about what your Dad went through :-( It's not the first time I've heard such a story.... I often joke they approve the people who don't need it, and deny the people that do... I know that isn't completely true, but it feels like that when you are sitting on this side of the fence!!!!

Mamajoan, I think I concur that you need a lawyer... I know they don't get paid until you do & the company pays them, so I'd find a good lawyer... I thought my case was pretty straight forward too, but they denied it the first time around & then lost it for three months... The paperwork is neverending... and I have said on many occasions that I am too sick to be putting myself through this... that's a pretty sad statement IMHO!!! Anyways, get yourself a lawyer to fight for you...

Well, thanks guys :) I see I've got plenty of company so to speak!!

[Wes]

This is frightening to me. I suffer from chronic fatigue, which so far has not kept me from being totally disabled. I have changed to a more expensive medical insurance company because the HMO that I was on before made getting medical coverage into a stress test, so that dealing with the insurance was causing me to lose much needed sleep and still preventing me from getting the care that the doctor thought was medically necessary.

It appears that SS disability is a stress test too. Certainly I can understand them wanting to be thorough and making certain that they are not paying someone who should not be receiving benefits. But when the illness saps all of the person's energy so that they are unable to work, it seems that SS forces them to do the job of getting through the gauntlet of paperwork ... when the person is clearly not up to dealing with such a thing and that inability/disability is the reason they are applying in the first place.

Is it really this bad?

[chris1gill]

One word... YES.. .it is that bad... I'm sorry to have to say that, but it really is that bad... I often said before I applied that I was too sick to put myself through it, but once my legs went, I really started to need a lot of services which get very costly, that is the ONLY reason I applied, and it appears that it is the only reason I am getting approved... Fatigue, pain, two organs failing, none of that counted... It isn't a fair system by any stretch of the imagination... I wish you luck, you would probably be better off getting a lawyer from the beginning... Good luck!

[Rollwithit]

Just reaffirming that it is bad. My DH is on total and permanent disability. He was on it way back in 1981 shortly after our accident which left him a paraplegic. We would periodically have someone "surprise" visit us to see if they could "catch" him walking or something equally as insane.

He went back to work and lasted until 1996, when we had to make the decision to go back on it because of chronic problems he was having with his legs. He has to keep them elevated more than they can be down or he pays the price of having his skin break down.

The first time around was a nightmare. We had never seen so much paperwork in our lives and he had never had so many different doctors poke and prod him. The second time was a little easier, only because he had all that previous paperwork still on file.

We still fill out paperwork approximately every two years that requires a doctor's input that yes, he is still disabled. The frustration of having people that don't even know you question your motives your entire life can't be put into words.

We believed it was all a test of our patience and going through it together was the only thing that kept us strong. My prayers go out to anyone who has to experience this in their lifetime.

[Wes]

Originally posted by chris1gill
One word... YES.. .it is that bad... you would probably be better off getting a lawyer from the beginning... Good luck!

Are there lawyers or anyone else who can help get through the paperwork?

[Katie]

I am glad I found this thread.

My Dr. is telling me, I am almost to this point. I am a Rad. Technolgoist, which entiles pushing carts, wc's, people, handling cassettes non-stop, ect. Basically, everything I do, involves my wrists..which are detiorating at record speed.

I went to the SSI office on Tuesday..just to inquire about how and what....but, I think it is a hard battle to win.

Plus, you have to be NOT working to even apply. I went from my 50,000 yr salary to 20,000 salary when I went part time 8 months ago. HOwever, I am not sure, our family can contintue to thrive if I lose that salary too...for 6-9 months, then with NO guarantees.

My income from SSI..actually would be more than I make part time..because of my years of working and my yearly income being relatively high.

So, figure this out..I quit..and make more money from SSI..IFFFFFFFFFFFFFFf i get accepted. Which is up-in the air.

Or i continue to prod along, making half of what I am capable of..but am unable to work full time due tomy RA condtion.

I have had RA for 8 yrs. I am 33 now. I take the maximum amount of methrotraxate allowed, along with predisone(for 8 yrs..NOT GOOD), and relefan. We are in the works of trying to get my insurance company to cover REMICADE! I have 3 children at home.

My doctor wants me to have bilateral wrist surgery. Fusion or a total wrist replacement, which is only done in major hosptials around the country. If i have either done, the recovery time is 6-9 months PER wrist..and obviously, I can't have both done at the same time!
I am AGAINST surgery at all costs.

I am also against becoming a burden to my family, socially, financially, or in any other capacity. I will be a contributing member of this family.


I just do not know what path to take with this SSDI.
My husband makes close to 6 digit income..however, we are very used to my income and no income would change the way we live!

any suggestions?

[SueM in MN]

I don't have any advice for you Katie, but I feel for you. The whole thing is a bunch of gameplaying and they won't tell you what the rules are or what the outcome of it is until you go thru a certain amount of hurdles. Then they put more hurdles up and don't tell you what's beyond them.
A number of years ago, we applied for the TEFRA program (also called Katie Beckett program in some other states), which is a Medical Assistance waiver program. The child's income is looked at for eligablity (which means all qualify) instead of the parent's. We knew there was a co-pay that the parents had to pay monthly, depending on the family's income. Do you think anyone would tell us what the co-pay would be? Of course not. We needed to go through a whole long, time consuming and very insulting evaluation process. The insulting part was going to Social Services to apply for Medical Assistance. I arrived for an 8am meeting with a social worker and was told "Your meeting with the SW is after the group meeting about welfare that you are required to attend. That's at 9, but we tell you to come at 8 because "you people" are always late."
At the meeting, I had to listen to job hunting hints "Be on time for interviews... Make sure you have clean clothes and combed hair... You are expected to go on at least one job interview a week." This was despite the fact that both my DH and I were employed professionals.
When I finally got to talk to the SW, I found out our monthly copay would be more than we paid for our whole family for iunsurace for 6 months, plus OUR insurance would be the first payer, PLUS our SW would be our case worker who would decide what OUR insurance and MA would be responsible, PLUS any money that we paid in, but did not use during the year would go to the state. We decided, no way and spent the next 6 months trying to get them to stop billing us for our copay.

[chris1gill]

Katie,

I can't really say a whole lot other than if you can do ANY meaningful work at all, they will not approve you... I had initially heard that if you couldn't do the work for which you were trained, then you could collect.. but that isn't how it works... If it gets to the point where you cannot work at all, then you can apply & see what they say... but expect easily for the process to take 9 months to a year.... They denied me the first time because I could stand on my feet most of the day (which I never had to do at my job in the first place).. but as they wrote that, I was sitting in a wheelchair 90% of the time!!! They never read the application or the doctors notes, I'm quite convinced!!! They denied it & then lost my appeal for three months!!! The best I can say is find a disability lawyer & see what they say... it's hard to win in the first place & then even harder yet if you've been able to work even part time..... Good luck! I really understand what you are going through....

[LindaDVC]

I think a lot of the problem is that so many people who COULD work choose not to.

I am not judging any one here but I do have a friend who chooses not to work because she has knee problems.

My husband on the other hand chooses to work with quadraplegia. He has no use of his wrist , hand, or legs. He has breathing problems has had numerous pheumonias requiring trachs, vents, and months in ICU> Currently both legs have an infection and he has considered bilateral amputations to be able to continue to work.

I think they should encourage people to work. Help with benefits for those who are able to work. Reward people who try to work parttime. Have incentives or tax breaks for those who try!

One time Dan went back to work parttime and he made less than he did on disability! As his endurance increased and his hours could increase things got financially better. We could look ahead and see the advantages BUT those months when he brought home less were pretty rough financially and emotionally!
The system needs some MAJOR revamping.

I will go read some happy disney stories and look forward to our next trip which is at OKW 15 days!!!

Linda

[chris1gill]

Linda,

Have they changed the way they award benefits? I remember a while back (like a few years at least) They would award if you could not do the job for which you were trained, whereas now if you can get any meaningful employment at all, they will deny you... The other thing I wanted to ask you, how does your DH get to work or doctor appointments? It's a major problem for me, we're kind of rural, and my DH leaves at 6am & doesn't get home til 6pm... course meanwhile I can't drive anywhere..... Doctor appointments are another problem, it's 50 miles one way, and I see three doctors every three months or less and another every 2 months... plus any testing or whatever... so my DH is forever taking time off, driving home & then driving me to the appointments... Are there any services I should look into that could help me out with all of this?

Thanks!

[LindaDVC]

Locally here in NC we have door to door wheelchair accessible transportation. You have to be flexible -- Dan often goes to work an hour early and gets home a lot later than he gets off! I usually take him to the drs appts and arrange them as late in the day as possible so we don't interfere with our work schedules. On a normal day I spend two hours on the road taking son to school and heading to work so it is great I don't have to drive him to work daily too.

Dan works for American Express and they call him in to the office every now and then to see if their is anything they can make more accessible or easier for him. When he got Ned (his service dog) they were great and accepted Ned as the newest AmEx employee.

Amex has great insurance and other benefits so we have been lucky. I am diabetic and can't get private insurance. His benefit package allows me to contract and not have a fulltime position. In fact we just went by his office to get some of his incentive (bonus) money that will pay for our 3 seven day park hoppers!
Thanks AmEX!!! :p :p

Some areas don't have the employment options that we have in this area. We have very low unemployment and quite a few large customer service based companies.

Linda

[chris1gill]

Hi Linda,

Thanks! It sounds like you're doing okay, that is great! How would I go about finding such a van in our area? I haven't seen anything like it, but that doesn't mean it's not here!! I don't know about your DH, but where I am, nobody has really offered any services or any good suggestions about how it is I am supposed to live a more normal life given all the things that are wrong with me!! It wasn't until I was no longer mobile that I applied for Disability... It was really the last straw in a long medical battle... Anyways, it's been just about a year that I've not been mobile, and I'm still where I was a year ago.... I just feel like I live in a really BAD place to have these problems, but my DH is not willing to move to a more accessible location... It wouldn't be so bad if it was just the legs.. but the legs are not actually my worst problem.. my smooth muscles are failing (swallow is the big one, eyes are the next biggie, but then there are more that I won't get into, but you can probably just imagine....) So I think it is just the entire combination that have me rather overwhelmed... Oh, but I still look great sitting in my wheelchair LOL...

You can email me privately if you want, my email is in my profile! Thanks for any insight you can give me to get me more adapted to my situation!

[SueM in MN]

In many areas, there is a United Way sponsored agency called First Call for Help . It's a referal agency where they have databanks of information about all kinds of services. I referred people to them a lot in various places when I was a Public Health Nurse.
I believe that federal law requires any municipal or regional bus service to also provide services for people with disabilities who can't use the regular bus service. This can be with special small buses, vans, etc. And they can contract it out if they don't have the vehicles themselves.

[chris1gill]

Hi Sue, Thanks for the referral, I'll definitely give them a call... I should say we are in a pretty rural location... we don't actually have any bus service or taxi's in our town or any surrounding town... although we do have a towncar service, which I wonder if I couldn't work something out with them during their down time... But, I wonder if calling the senior center might be a good idea... more than anyone else in our town, I would think they would know about our area & services available in the town itself... Thanks! I'll let you know if I get any luck!!

[SueM in MN]

Calling the Senior Center is a good idea. They usually have someone that acts as a coordinator and knows what sorts of services are available and how to get hooked up with them. We worked pretty closely with the Senior Center in the towns I was working in. There may also be a County Commission on Aging or something with a name similar to that.