Does anyone receive Disability in this forum and if so how in the world did you qualify? I applied in March and today I got a denial letter, stating that my condition wasn't severe enough.
Temporary disability may still be the route to go for now- what did you doctor write on the forms he submitted? Dealing with the pain, inflammation and fatigue of RA can make it difficult to do simple things, let alone manage a job. I know you're having a difficult time right now, but have you given careful thought to going out on disability. First of all, are you going to be able to survive on the disability benefit amount for the rest of your llife? Are you applying for SSI or SSDI? I don't think SSI is much, SSDI is based on what you've paid in. If you were able to get the RA under control, went back to work, and went out on disability later, your disability benefit amount might be more. Living expenses aren't gonna get cheaper, the longer you work and pay into Soc Sec, the larger your benefit amount. I applied for the full amount so I guess that's SSDI, I'm not sure. I have health insurance so I don't need Medicare. The fixed income thing isn't a problem as it would just pay for my health insurance, Dr. visits and meds at this point. My husband can manage the living expenses. Audrey, 6. Inflammatory arthritis (14.09)
includes a vast array of disorders that differ in cause, course,
and outcome. For example, inflammatory spondyloarthropathies include
ankylosing spondylitis, Reiter's syndrome and other reactive arthropathies,
psoriatic arthropathy, Behçet's disease, and Whipple's disease,
as well as undifferentiated spondylitis. Inflammatory arthritis
of peripheral joints likewise comprises many disorders, including
rheumatoid arthritis, Sjögren's syndrome, psoriatic arthritis, crystal
deposition disorders, and Lyme disease. Clinically, inflammation
of major joints may be the dominant problem causing difficulties
with ambulation or fine and gross movements, or the arthritis may
involve other joints or cause less restriction of ambulation or
other movements but be complicated by extra-articular features that
cumulatively result in serious functional deficit. When persistent
deformity without ongoing inflammation is the dominant feature of
the impairment, it should be evaluated under 1.02, or, if there
has been surgical reconstruction, 1.03. a. In 14.09A, the term major
joints refers to the major peripheral joints, which are the
hip, knee, shoulder, elbow, wrist-hand, and ankle-foot, as opposed
to other peripheral joints (e.g., the joints of the hand or forefoot)
or axial joints (i.e., the joints of the spine.) The wrist and hand
are considered together as one major joint, as are the ankle and
foot. Since only the ankle joint, which consists of the juncture
of the bones of the lower leg (tibia and fibula) with the hindfoot
(tarsal bones), but not the forefoot, is crucial to weight bearing,
the ankle and foot are considered separately in evaluating weight
bearing. b. The terms inability to
ambulate effectively and inability to perform fine and gross
movements effectively in 14.09A have the same meaning as in
1.00B2b and 1.00B2c and must have lasted, or be expected to last,
for at least 12 months. c. Inability to ambulate effectively
is implicit in 14.09B. Even though individuals who demonstrate the
findings of 14.09B will not ordinarily require bilateral upper limb
assistance, the required ankylosis of the cervical or dorsolumbar
spine will result in an extreme loss of the ability to see ahead,
above, and to the side. d. As in 14.02 through 14.06,
extra-articular features of an inflammatory arthritis may satisfy
the criteria for a listing in an involved extra-articular body system.
Such impairments may be found to meet a criterion of 14.09C. Extra-articular
impairments of lesser severity should be evaluated under 14.09D
and 14.09E. Commonly occurring extra-articular impairments include
keratoconjunctivitis sicca, uveitis, iridocyclitis, pleuritis, pulmonary
fibrosis or nodules, restrictive lung disease, pericarditis, myocarditis,
cardiac arrhythmias, aortic valve insufficiency, coronary arteritis,
Raynaud's phenomena, systemic vasculitis, amyloidosis of the kidney,
chronic anemia, thrombocytopenia, hypersplenism with compromised
immune competence (Felty's syndrome), peripheral neuropathy, radiculopathy,
spinal cord or cauda equina compression with sensory and motor loss,
and heel enthesopathy with functionally limiting pain. e. The fact that an individual
is dependent on steroids, or any other drug, for the control of
inflammatory arthritis is, in and of itself, insufficient to find
disability. Advances in the treatment of inflammatory connective
tissue disease and in the administration of steroids for its treatment
have corrected some of the previously disabling consequences of
continuous steroid use. Therefore, each case must be evaluated on
its own merits, taking into consideration the severity of the underlying
impairment and any adverse effects of treatment.
Denial is something they make it a point of doing. They know that by doing so, a lot of people will give up and either go back to work or find another way of making ends meet. One of the things that will help you is to make a long highly detailed list of all of your ailments even if they aren't relevant to the illness now at hand. If you managed to work around those, it will show that you aren't simply trying to get on the system. A lawyer who specializes in this process is probably a good idea.
I'm planning on going back to work, rather than apply for disability, because I think I can and would much rather give it my best shot than go on disability. If it appears that I can't cut it for whatever reason it will show my intent and desire to work were genuine. I was working some 7 and a half years before losing my jobs and being diagnosed with lymphoma and then getting FM.
Working is always the best option, even if you do it part time and apply for disability. There are also many jobs that you can do from home if that's best for you. And there are people who will hire you if you tell them upfront. Healthy people have doctor appointments and sick days too. It's not what you can't do, but what you can do that counts. Don't give up on yourself so fast.
Mike
appeal it. and get a lawyer, maybe. I worked for 2 years after being diagnosed with RA. It was hell. My RA was raging out of control and I was in extreme pain. After having my hand operated on because of RA, my doctor suggested I find a new line of work. I had been at my place of employment for almost 29 years. You could retire with 30 years of service. If I left it would mean losing all of my benefits. That wasn't an option. There was also no guarantee that if I did find another job, with my physical limitations and the amount of pain I was in, that I could do it. With my doctors support I applied for and was granted a disability pension. I then applied for SSD. I got denied twice and then got an attorney who specialized in disability cases. I got approved at my administration hearing. It took me almost 3 years from the day I applied until when I got approved. Audrey, the majority of people who apply for SSD do get denied. Their hope is that you will get frustrated and give up. If you think you are eligible and have the support of your doctor(s) keep fighting for your benefits. I started the process with a disability attorney and was awarded SSD on my first try 8 months later. My age (60) had something to do with being awarded and the many complications from RA and PsA were well documented. All my paperwork was in order, medical records well documented the diseases and complications. My work history also helped. I've worked constantly since age 14, even when I was in college. Good luck, it can be a tricky process and I strongly suggest that you retain an attorney. You don't pay until you've been awarded and SS pays the legal fees out of your first award. Good luck. Lindy
Ann
I applied for SSDI and was awarded in 4 months. Mine had nothing to do with the RA though. It's a VERY long story, but I was having many medical issues, and my doctor (of course) thought it was all in my head. I continued trying to work, and eventually got fired because my doctor would not give them an acceptable diagnosis. I still had FMLA left to use, but it didn't matter. I missed too much, and my doctor was an A$$.
Long story short, after a year of therapy, and an ENT that said my hearing was the worst he had ever seen, I was approved very fast. There is a list they go by. If your illness/disease is on it, then you are granted the SSI/SSDI. My hearing qualified me, but now I have FINALLY been dx'd with RA.
I fired my old doctor. He got me fired, I fired him. :)
Disability Evaluation Under Social Security
(Blue Book- June 2006)
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