7 Year Dissability Review

[Shari]

I am currently on disability and being reviewed after 7 years.  I do understand that this is to be expected but of course it has me on edge.  I had filled out and sent in the required papers along with extra info.  I received yet more forms to fill out and it now feels like it did when I first applied.  

If anyone else has been through this process would you please let me know how things went for you?  Thank you.

[Crabcakes]

Hi Shari, I can't help you, so sorry. I would like to know about getting disability though. Everyone is urging me to do so, but I did not think I was that bad. However, it seems to get worse and if it continues like this, I will consider aplying. Were you denied the first time you applied?

I'm thinking in the near future, about the expense of addaptive devices, cushions, etc. All added exenses that I can't afford now. I may investigat disability. Does Social Security "recognize" Lupus and Sjogren's as disability-worthy? I know WE do, but you know the government!

[jonnell]

Im on disability for depression and obsessive compulsive disorder and have been reviewed twice, Ive been on it since 1998.  Both times I was reviewed they continued my disability.  As long as your doctor is willing to agree with your paperwork you should have no problem,  it also helps if you are on medication and being seen regularly by the doctor who signed your papers the first time.  Wish you luck, let me know if you have any more questions.   Hugs and Kissess   Jonnell and Jenna

[Jules48cats]

I just applied for disability in February. I got my first rejection letter and am going to see my attorney.  I thought once you were approved that was it.   You would think that once they knew a person was sick they would not put you through even more stress.   Good Luck and hang in there.

[jpd54]

I applied for disability last year. I haven't worked since Jan, 2008.  The first time I was denied.  I appealed in October, 2008, and I am still waiting for a hearing before the Administrative Law Judge.  I was told it could be another 6 months.  Who knows what will happen then.   I would also like some advice if anybody has any. 


      jpd

[jonnell]

The key is to have a doctor that agrees that you cant work for whatever reason.  They have to be willing to say that you are to disabled to work. 

[irish]

The way I have understood the procedure, the doctor really has no say in whether you should get disability. It is all the paperwork that you fill out that helps them make the diagnosis including all the medical reports, etc.

Your ability to do activities of daily living or ADL's are very important. This is what you can do around the house, at work, drive, walk, cook, wash clothes, etc. There are so many things that they watch for. I was told that even if your doc puts in your medical records that you should be on disability the gov doesn't totally take his word.

I guess I can live with that because if you stop and think about it we don't look sick so much of the time and can tell the docs about our health but they don't live with us. I used my husband as a sounding board when I filled mine out. I have always tended to miniimize symptoms(according to my docs) so he always thinks that I am sicker than I want to believe. Guess it is called denial!!!! It was also very interesting as hubby picked up on a lot of things where I was sub normal and it surprised me---I thought I had him fooled.!!Irish

[Shari]

I have heard nothing more......they had no time  line listed as to how long this will take to determine.  I wait.  Yes, I was denied the first time..appealed and had a hearing with the judge...He said i should never had had to been put through this, that it should have gone through the first time.  I wait....

[jonnell]

Having the judge on your side is a good thing.

[Shari]

Yeah, 7 years ago.  He is out of the equation now   I had a dream last night that I was notified that I was denied.  I was running around scared and piling up things I could sell for money.  I was soooooo glad to wake up!!  I will check my mail box today..cannot wait for this to be off my mind!!  Hope you all find a bit of something to smile about....or more than a bit..regardless of this disability thing I do have alot to smile about..every day !

[Chickpea]

Hi Shari

I hope this gets sorted out as quickly as possible.  It's such a stressful situation - no wonder you're having bad dreams!

I've just filled in my second DLA form (Disabled Living Allowance), three years after the first.  This is a great UK government benefit that you can apply for even if you're in full-time employment.  It's very generous and is supposed to help pay for things to make a disabled person's life easier like help in the house and garden, or to pay for taxis or for massages.  You can use half of it to lease a car on a special disabled scheme.

That's all wonderful but ... filling the form in is one of the hardest things I've done in a long time.  It's well designed and the language is clear, but you have to detail every difficulty you have in your daily life.  It means facing up to quite how tough life has become and writing it down.  It took me 6 hours over three evenings, many tears and some bad dreams too.  But it's in the post!

Hope you get good news soon.

Take care - Chickpea

ps I love your thoughts on smiling.  So true!

[Shari]

Thank you Chickpea and all others who have taken the time to read my thread and to post back.  I truly appreciate it.  Yes, the forms do bring reality to the forfront.  The form was suppose to, they said, about an hour and a half I think....MANY more hours than that.  I just felt so confused and drained then the next barrage of forms came. 

That program sounds wonderfull !  Massages would help me so much and also lawn and snow removal help.  Enjoy your day !

[Poochie]

Good luck Shari, I'll keep you in my thoughts and prayers along with my daughter.  She has been going through this mess for 2 yrs.  She finally listened to me after being denied twice, to get a lawyer.  The lawyer was dumbstruck as to why she was denied the first time.  She promised my daughter she would do everything she could to see that she gets it on this appeal. 

Just getting all the paperwork together and collecting all the records from the different doctors is enough to prevent anyone that is ill from doing it.  It is not an easy task, by any means.  And my daughter kept everything from back to 1991, and they still wanted more. 

Again, Good Luck Shari, I hope your disability is continued without any hesitation on the governments part. 

Hugs, Pooh

[djean87]

I FILED FOR DISABILITY FIRST TIME MYSELF WAS DENIED IMMEDIATELY HIRED AN ATTORNEY AND CONTACTED LOCAL CONGRESSMAN,GOT FORMS HUSBAND HELPED FILL THEM OUT HE ALSO MADE ME AWARE OF THINGS I NO LONGER COULD DO TOO,THOUGHT I WAS FOOLING HUSBAND AND SELF WRONG! AFTER GOT ATTORNEY WITHIN 5 MONTHS APPROVED.FEE FOR ATTORNEY WAS 500.00 WELL SPENT TOOK STRESS OFF OF ME.ALSO HAD FRIEND AND DAUGHTER AND HUSBAND WROTE LETTERS TO ATTORNEY STATING THINGS THAT I COULD NO LONGER DO.SO ISNT JUST DOCTOR STATEMENTS THEY LOOK AT.AM DIAGNOISED WITH LUPUS,SJS,RA,DEPRESSION,HTN.WISH YOU LUCK AND LESS STRESS TAKE CARE

[Shari]

Thank you Pooh for the well wishes and back at you for yur daughter.!

Djean87...I had a lawyer the first time and also had the letters from friends and relatives..it is helpful i beleive.  i am also reminded that getting copies of tests results etc. when they are done is a good practise.  I tend to forget what happened when and it is important when having to fill out these forms not to have to contact agencies at that point.

They say they will do this but my point being it serves me as a reminder of what has been going on healthwise in the past year or years.

Night night..I am hoping for better dreams tonight!!