I'm in the process of applying for disability SSI. This seems to be my biggest cause of anxiety at the moment. I'm just wondering how its going for any of you that are in the middle of it and if anyone has been denied and for what reasons.
Steve
I am also in the process of filling out my SSDI paperwork. WOW!! It is so time consuming and they only allow 10 days to fill it out from the time they send it, which is about 2 or 3 days before you actually get it, so you actually have about 7 days to fill it all out. I,like you, am stressing out about it. I know how I feel, how little I am able to do, how I felt when I was killing myself getting to work every day, and I want to make sure that the person reading my forms know this too. I keep reading and rereading what I have written to try and make sure that I am saying what I want to say. Because of memory fog and lapses, I have problems keeping things straight in my brain and actually writing what I am thinking. I will look back and it will not be what I meant to say at all.
Good luck with your paperwork and SSDI approval work. Would everyone please keep us, and any others going through this process, in your thoughts and prayers? As you who have gone through it, you know how stressful it can be. Please let us know if you have any pointers or helpful hints.
I think one of the things that has helped me the most is the Sjogren's ruling from the Social Sec. Admin. that is on this site. It was passed in March of 2008 and has some wonderful hints and things that they will look for in your paperwork. I am sure there are more wonderful things that I don't know about so I would appreciate any and all help.
I hope and pray that your day is wonderful.
Good luck to both of you (and others) who may be filing for SSDI. It is nerve wracking and stressful, for sure. Be sure and fill the papers out thoughtfully and in detail. If you think it's important, don't leave it out. (Whatever "it" is.) Lucy
good Luck
Thanks Lucy. I actually have a disability law firm that is taking care of it from start to finish. But, that doesn't make it any less stressful. I still have to fill out the forms and such. I'm just over-stressing about the small details and wonder what I could do to screw it up.
Steve
Steve, enough negativity now. Let your lawyer guide you and try to have a good attitude. It will be, or it won't be whether you worry about it or not. I know it's impossible to not worry, but try and throw a little distraction in for yourself once in awhile. A movie, a walk, positive remember! Lucy
I'm working on getting on SS as well. Right now I just have to go to a Rheumalogist appointment August 6th, and about two-4 weeks after that I should find out if I am aproved. And if I'm denied, I just have to have an Apeal...or whatever it is. And hopefully after that I'll be on it....or I can just reaply...which I don't really want to do. Too much work. Been working on this since Jan. 08 and it's been a pain.
But there is a good thing with all this waiting and all. I hope anyways.
I wish all of you the best! ^_^
Steve,
Good luck with you SSDI case. My wife started the process over a year and a half ago. She has been denied twice and is now waiting for a court date which will take between 20 and 24 months. We are also going though a lawyer.
She has Sjogren's, transverse myelitis, severe asthma,high blood pressure and diabetes. The doctors who are contracted by thee SSD system are whoever bids the cheapest to get the business. My wife was "seen" by a Chiropractor. She was "checkout" by the "doctor" for 10 minutes. Even know she takes 17 different meds each day, is numb on her right-side from her chest to her toes, and has asthma so severe she has to stay in our house with air purification machine running 24/7, she was told by the "doctor" and system that she should be able to work everyday with out any complications.
Hang in there! It's just a long process. Hopefully your state isn't as backwards as mine.
God's blessings,
Mark....
Sorry Lucy. Am I being negative? I just feel like I need to prepare for a "fight" that I don't have in me!
Steve
Steve,, I think your probab;y preparing for the fight ahead,, I would love nothing better then to get SSI,, but how can I possible hold out for how long it takes to get it,,, lose my home,, lose my car,, my INSURANCE,,, its set up for the working people to work till they drop over becasue they cant stop working,, or they stop working and go under,, and have to go back to work,, wish it were simple,, but its set up for some to fail
Mark, Have you ever thought about calling your congressman and telling his people about your plight? I think it is time to make some waves. There is something very wrong with this picture. Chiropractors have no darn business dealing with autoimmune issues. Irish ;D
You are right Navydad. They expect you to be totally not able to work or have any earnings yet they'll make you wait 6 to 18 months. If you make any money in that time they have a problem with it and expect that you can actually earn a living. They seem to expect you to starve and live in a cardboard box until they get around to awarding you. Crazy system.
Good luck with this Steve!
I was one of the lucky ones who was approved with my first application.
The only suggestions that I can give you are ones that others gave me at the time - kill 'em with details. Anything even remotely connected to your illness should be documented. I attached several other pages to the form because I ran out of space on the forms. I also had my hubby add comments to the document in respect to several things that he noticed, as well as tasks that he had to pick up after I became ill. I thought of, and wrote down, how Sjogren's has impacted my body and affected me on the job, even minute details. I was approved two years ago.
I don't think you are being negative - just worried about this very important financial decision by SSI. As we all were when we applied. We're all here to support you - so feel free to vent, we've all been there!
I'll be thinking good thoughts for you.
Julia
Thanks Julia....that was just the right words. I was feeling a little "reprimanded" on the negative comment. I was just reading your blog. DIL....yikes!!!!! Good luck to you too and let me know what you think of that book....or did you read it already. I'm a diet addict too!
Steve
Irish,
I tried the Congressman thing. Got the form letter. We will just sit and wait.
Julia,
I glad you got yours an your first try! We gave them reams of paper and doctors reports and still was denied. Thank God your state pushed you though!
God's blessings,
Mark....
Mark:
When I couldn't get benefits for my autistic son I visited the office of my local state representative and they were wonderful - my son had his benefits in a matter of days.
Is there any other elected official that might be more responsive to you? What if you went to the local media for a feature story about your plight, provided you can find a sympathetic reporter, that shakes politicians up.
I think it is despicable that your wife who is so very ill is being denied benefits and I'll bet 99% of the public would feel exactly the same way!
Sue
Sue,
We had a reporter from one of the news channels in town who wanted to do a report on our problems with SSD, but our lawyer advises us not to let them do the story. She thought we might anger the courts and get a bad judgment. I disagreed but it's my wifes claim. Nothing like being between a rock and a hard place. Life goes on!
God's blessings,
Mark....
Mark:
My mother always said, "If you are paying them (doctor, lawyer), you might as well follow their advice." I hope justice prevails for you. If you still get a bad judgement then after that, you will have nothing to lose by going public or by making waves.
Your wife is in my prayers!
Sue
Julia, did they send you to exams but their chosen doctors? I have two lined up. One for mental and the other for an interist. But weirdly they are both at the same office on different dates. I just can't imagine what the interist exam will show them as its taken many doctors and many years to come to a Sjogrens diagnosis. Visually I look big and strong so I can't imagine what their report back would say.
Steve
Mark, Are you calling your wife's worker every time you see a doctor and tell you what is going on---what new meds and what the doc says, etc??? I did this because my case worker told me to call with any changes so I called every single time there was one.
Have you made an appt with your wife to go and talk to her doc who said that she could work. I think I would because sometimes doctors don't get it when it comes to the nitty gritty things involving our everyday lives. I know that my doc doesn't quite get it. I am sure he thinks I can do more than I can.
I would make videos of your wife doing her activities of daily living---such as walking, trying to do dishes, etc. I think that the key is to document everything down to the last comma and question mark. There are so many things that people don't think to tell anyone about their daily living that is really important.
I did mine on the computer in story/paragraph form and hit every thing that I could think of. They do not give enough room to write anything down in their questionaires. Have you written down your wife's medication schedule with the times when she needs to do her meds , etc. That alone should be interesting. How can a person work if they spend every 2 hours or so taking meds and doing inhalers, nebulizers, etc.
How about thinking about the stuff that your wife might have to do at work --visualizing them in your head--and giving examples of how she can or can't cope with them. Just a few thoughts. Have you got any friends who are nurses that could help you with your information in order to give it to the lawyer.
Also, do you think that it makes a difference that your state has had so many financial/job issues this past year or so???? I often wonder just how much impact this has on the disability. Irish ;D
Irish,
Thank you for your thoughts. I have done some of the things you have listed. I wrote in detail as to her abilities and the things she can no longer do. Most of everything is documented.
I have had to refocus my thoughts for a while. I am now looking for a new second job. I had to quit my other job because it was so physically demanding. This was by my doctors orders. My arthritis has gotten bad recently. Before I only had it in my ankles and toes, now I have it in three of my fingers on my left hand. I went to the doctor 4 weeks ago with a wrist problem. After x-rays it was confirmed that I have arthritis in my right wrist and back of my hand.. I now where a brace so I can use my hand and wrist. Let the good times roll!!
We will be contacting the lawyer this week to see where our case is at. Irish, I thank you for you concern. You and a few others are what makes this forum great.
God's blessings,
Mark....
Good Morning Mark and Steve......I really feel for both of you...it is a very stressful process to go through. Steve, I would'nt worry about the appointments being in the same place, what would they have to gain where the appts. are.
I think it is a good idea to keep a journal or pics also agreeing with Irish...the more documentation the better. I do beleive that having the letters from friends and family desribing how it all effected my life, both physically and mentally, and how it impacted my relationships was helpfull.
I do remember when I went throught this and was releived when it was over!!
I hope today brings a smile somewhere along the way!
Take care, Shari