going on disability | Arthritis Information

is anyone on disability? or filed for it??
i am 2 years into the appealing process, and just would like some info on it thanks
Yes. I am on disability. I did not need to go through the appeal process. I was accepted after the SS dr. visit.

What info are you looking for?

I applied for it but was told I didn't have enough work credits. I was a stay at home mom for a few years then took care of my mom when she got real sick with diabetes>she went blind and had lymphoma and died in 2000. Then in 2001 my dad was dx with cancer of the liver and took care of him until he died in 2002. So I had several years where I didn't have income so no credits. They told me if I could work and make 00.00 a year I would be eligible in (can't remember exact number) of years. If I could work, I wouldn't need to spend 3 hours in the office at social security office to be told this.

Good luck. I hope everything comes out in your favor and soon!

i am just wondering if it takes so long in other states. i have not seen a ss ra dr. they have just gotten my med records from my ra dr . I am on disability. It took me a long time to get it. I applied June 2003 and was finally approved April 2006. I got denied twice, got a lawyer who specialized in disability and was finally approved at my adm hearing. I never saw a SS dr.I have been on disability for almost 10 years, after teaching school for 20. If I remember correctly, the process took almost 2 years, and entailed TONS of paperwork?! Initially I was declined and at least here in NJ, I was required to have an attorney represent me for the appeal process. I was sent to a SS doc - a CHIROPRACTOR, believe it or not! He took one look at my voluminous medical folder, noted my multiple joint replacements and shooed me out of his office! Hang in there and try to be patient - if/when you are finally approved, you will be paid retroactively from the date that you first applied. Let us know how you make out and good luck!!

Dogmom
I understand almost everyone is denied at first and has to get a lawyer to fight for it. That's so unfair! Why have we been paying for disability all these years if it's so hard to get?I finally applied two weeks ago. I live in Illinois. I have already been contacted by the case worker. I asked her how the process goes, and she said since I'm so current with all my doctor's visits, etc., that I should probably not have to see one of their doctors. That would be nice. Hopefully, my RD and GP will be quick to send the information on to them. One can only hope.[QUOTE=CinDee]I applied for it but was told I didn't have enough work credits. I was a stay at home mom for a few years then took care of my mom when she got real sick with diabetes>she went blind and had lymphoma and died in 2000. Then in 2001 my dad was dx with cancer of the liver and took care of him until he died in 2002. So I had several years where I didn't have income so no credits. They told me if I could work and make 00.00 a year I would be eligible in (can't remember exact number) of years. If I could work, I wouldn't need to spend 3 hours in the office at social security office to be told this. [/QUOTE]

CinDee, have you looked into SSI (rather than SSDI) which is not based on work credits? You are limited to how much resources you can have to qualify, but it may be worth checking out. It doesn't pay as much, but then again every little bit helps. Here's a link:

http://www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/11000.html

As for the original question, I am about to apply for SSDI and I expect to be declined. I transitioned to long term disability last month and am receiving benefits from my private disability insurance provider. They require me to apply for SSDI (and appeal if I am declined), because if I receive it then the private insurer only has to pay me the difference. They've referred me to a law firm and I think I may get a consultation now as opposed to waiting until I've been declined.

I received my first check six months after my initial application. I understand this was unusual, but I had prepared by talking with all four of my doctors and getting their approval as well as gathering a lot of test results myself and sending them in. My age was in my favor also as I was over 50 at the time. I also had left a long term job three years earlier to take a less stressfull one with shorter hours in order to keep working. That was in my favor too.

I would say to go ahead and apply but make sure your doctors are on board with the decision first, because it is their records that will determine whether or not you will be successful.
Ann

I was approved 61 days after applying so no help on the appeal. I can only suggest that you review all of your paperwork and insure that all of it supports your claim.I filed in Oct. 2005 and this past March finally had my hearing. I couldn't believe it with all of the medical records I have along with a representative, but the judge wants me to see a SS Dr., lol. I guess it was better than being declined.

Take care and good luck.

I was approved almost a year to the day of when I first applied. I was denied twice, got a disability attorney and was approved by the judge before it even got to a hearing. I was also in my 50's, which helped. I live in California. I would advise anyone to get an attorney, specializing in soc. sec. disability.

Good luck!

I applied and was awarded SSD 10 months later. My age was in my favor and I had worked for 49 of my 63 years, even when in nursing school. They did refer me to one of their doctors and I happened to be flaring badly, ankles, knees, hands, and elbows inflammed and very swollen, even though I was on 40 mg. of Pred. I think how soon you're awarded depends on several factors and one of them being, how busy is the SS office in your state? Some states are busier and further behind than other states. I also went into the process with an attorney. Good luck. Lindy

Qualifying for Social Security Disability Benefits

Arthritis is one of the leading causes of disability. How does a person suffering from arthritis qualify for Social Security disability benefits? According to Jim Allsup, the Social Security Administration uses a process called sequential evaluation to determine who will receive disability benefits. Mr. Allsup is president and CEO of Allsup Inc. Since 1984, Allsup claims his company has:

successfully helped over 100,000 people nationwide receive their entitled disability benefits.
achieved a 97% award rate.

Patients who have been helped by Allsup often suffer from rheumatic conditions and musculoskeletal diseases such as:

5 Steps to Determine Disability Benefits

What is the evaluation process used to determine disability benefits? Mr. Allsup explains the five-step sequential evaluation process:

Step 1: Are You Working?

Step 1 simply determines if an individual is "working", according to the Social Security Administration definition. Earning more than the Substantial Gainful Activity amount a month as an employee is enough for disqualification from receiving Social Security disability benefits.

What Is Substantial Gainful Activity?

Step 2: Is Your Condition Severe?

Step 2 implies that the impairment must be severe enough to significantly limit your ability to perform basic work activity. In addition, the impairment must last, or be expected to last, for a continuous period of not less than 12 months.

Social Security Disability Benefits: Do You Qualify?

Step 3: Is Your Condition A Listed Impairment?

Step 3 asks if the impairment meets or equals a medical listing. Social Security Administration breaks the body down into 13 major systems or listings. Included in these 13 systems are more than 150 categories of medical conditions that, according to Social Security Administration, are severe enough to prevent an individual from performing any work.

Social Security Disability Determination (The Blue Book)

Arthritis is considered under the Musculoskeletal Body System and has several specific medical listings or categories.

Inflammatory Arthritis

To satisfy the listing criteria, a person with inflammatory arthritis (such as rheumatoid arthritis) must have persistent swelling, pain and limitation of joints such as the:

Degenerative Arthritis

People who have degenerative arthritis (osteoarthritis) satisfy the requirements if they have significant limitations using their arms/hands or have a significant problem standing and walking. Those who have significant back or neck problems due to degenerative processes must have persistent sensory, reflex and motor loss to satisfy the listed criteria.

Conditions Not Listed

However, if a person’s arthritis does not satisfy a medical listing, Social Security Administration continues to the next two steps to see whether the person might still qualify for disability benefits. At the next two steps:

Social Security Administration looks primarily at how the actual limitations and symptoms imposed by arthritis affect a person’s ability to perform work.
Social Security Administration looks more specifically at the work-related impact of having arthritis.

Step 4: Can You Do Work You Did Previously?

Step 4 explores the ability of an individual to perform work he has done in the past despite his impairment. If Social Security Administration finds that a person can do his past work, benefits are denied. If the person cannot, then the process proceeds to the fifth and final step.

Step 5: Can You Do Any Other Type of Work?

Step 5 determines what other work, if any, the person can perform. Social Security Administration looks at:

age
education
work experience
physical/mental condition

To determine disability, Social Security Administration enlists vocational rules, which vary according to age. For example, if a person is:

Under age 50 and, as a result of the symptoms of arthritis, unable to perform what Social Security Administration calls sedentary work, then Social Security Administration will reach a determination of disabled. Sedentary work requires the ability to lift a maximum of 10 pounds at a time, sit six hours and occasionally walk and stand two hours per eight-hour day.
Age 50 or older and, due to his disability, limited to performing sedentary work but has no work-related skills that allow him to do so, Social Security Administration will reach a determination of disabled.
Over age 60 and, due to his disability, unable to perform any of the jobs he performed in the last 15 years, Social Security Administration will likely reach a determination of disabled.
Any age and, because of arthritis, has a psychological impairment that prevents even simple, unskilled work, Social Security Administration will reach a determination of disabled.

Problems to Overcome in Receiving Social Security Disability Benefits

More than one million people file for disability benefits with the Social Security Administration each year.

The bad news is, nearly two out of three who apply for disability benefits will be denied.
The good news is, expert help is available to assist with the process and improve your odds of winning your case.

Social Security Disability Insurance

Social Security Disability is an insurance program paid by your FICA taxes.

All working Americans contribute 7.65 percent from every paycheck to Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) taxes.

Under the Federal Insurance Contributions Act, FICA taxes total 15.3 percent of your earned income. A total of 12.4 percent of your earned income (up to an annual limit) is paid into Social Security, an additional 2.9 percent of your earned income (with no limit) is paid into Medicare. If you are an employee, you pay only half the FICA taxes (6.2 percent for Social Security + 1.45 percent for Medicare for a total of 7.65 percent), your employer pays in the other 7.65 percent. People who are self-employed pay in the entire 15.3 percent.)

Some of that payment goes toward disability insurance coverage by the Social Security Administration. However, bureaucratic problems plaguing Social Security Administration’s Disability Insurance program often prevent fair and speedy distribution of disability benefits to people who are eligible.

Problems When Applying For Disability Benefits

If you choose to apply for disability benefits by yourself, there are several problems you will face such as:

backlogs of unprocessed disability claims.
an average five-month wait after filing a claim before receiving an answer on the initial claim, and almost a year of additional delays if the claim is appealed.
backlogs of disability cases awaiting review, with hundreds of thousands of cases coming up for review each year.

Social Security Disability: How To Apply - Step-By-Step

Do You Need Representation?

Though initially designed to make it easy for people to represent themselves, it did not take long for attorneys and representatives to become involved in the disability process. Representation in a Social Security Disability case can be valuable since:

learning the details of the system can be difficult.
rules are increasingly complex.
experts know the details of the process.
experts may improve your odds of winning disability benefits.

61 Questions About Social Security Disability Services

Applying For Social Security Disability Benefits - 5 Part Self-Help Guide

This five-part guide is a practical approach to the Social Security disability application process for the disabled person who is thinking about applying and plans to do it without a representative.

There are steps you can take to give yourself the best chance for a favorable decision on your initial claim, thereby avoiding the lengthy appeals processes. This will involve some effort, and success is not guaranteed. You will help yourself by doing your part to present your case as strongly as possible.

Preparing For Your Day In Court

The Social Security Administration routinely denies about two-thirds of all initial applications for disability benefits.

Administrative law judges, however, eventually overturn more than half of the denials that reach their desks.

How do you prepare for this all-important hearing?
What can you expect?
How long will the hearing last?

How to Prepare for Your Day in Court

Why Should You Apply For Social Security Disability Benefits?

Why should I apply for Social Security disability benefits if my employer or insurance company is already paying benefits?

Those who do not know the answer to that question are shortchanging themselves. And so are employers who do not realize the lack of Social Security qualification is costing them a larger share of their employees; disability benefits than necessary.

5 Advantages of Qualifying for Social Security Disability Benefits

_{Sources: Allsup Inc.; IRS Publication 15; Social Security Administration}
_{For more about Allsup Inc. services visit the company’s web site at www.allsupinc.com}