Arthritis Information -disability+RA

 

What constitutes disability? Do you have to be completely unable to work, or does age figure into it? I'm 59 with RA, OA, fibro and Sjrogren's and work full time although with great fatigue and sometimes pain. My rheumy wants me to keep working and I need 3 1/2 more years as my job as a special ed teacher to be able to retire with health benefits. I'm trying to get a reduced workload but may not be able to do so. I'm tired of 9 hour days, a long commute, and physical therapy I need to do to keep moving. I'm impaired according to the doctor , not disabled. Any ideas about this out there? 

Hi Linda

I have had RA for 22 years I am 55 now and I am on disability. I had a retail job 13 years ago and  I was on my feet 8-9 hrs a day. The pain along with the fatique was mind numbing as you well know. I could know longer do my job like I should. I applied for disability through my job. With the help of my rheumatoligist I got the disability. As for insurance I only got 18 months of cobra. I applied for medicare at the same time and got it as well which then I was able to get medicare insurance.  They key to the entire disability question is if your doctor will help you. If not maybe the state will train you for a different job. You would probably qualify for re-training.

It was the hardest time of my life to go on disability, buy my body is much better off. Now I do Tai Chi, water exercise and walk when I can. I also started a local support group which went from 6 people to now 125. Good luck to you and maybe you should take your rumy to a support group meeting.

LINDAK

I AM 47 AND HAVE BEEN ON DISABILITY SINCE 2003. I TRIED THE FIRST TIME TO FILE FOR IT ON MY OWN AND WAS TURNED DOWN BECAUSE THEY FELT I WOULD GET OVER RA IN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS. WHAT A JOKE!!!!!! I FINALLY WENT THROUGH AN ATTORNEY WHO SPECIALIZES IN THIS AND WITHIN 3 MONTHS I WAS APPROVED AND THEY HAD TO SEND ME BACK FOR FOR THE TWO YEARS THEY HAD TURNED ME DOWN. I ALSO AGREE THAT YOUR DOCTOR CAN BE THE DECIDING FACTOR. I THINK I WOULD MAYBE GET A SECOND OPINION FROM A DIFFERENT DOC. GOOD LUCK. MELODY

SORRY I MEANT PAY ME BACK FOR THE TWO YEARS. THAT WAS A PRETTY NICE CHECK, BUT WE SURE HAD SUFFERED WITHOUT ANY PAY WHILE WAITING.MELODYI agree with Melody, an attorney can be key.  It is the same with workers' compensation and that sort of thing.  Those systems are designed to turn you down.  You need someone that understands the law to make your legal argument, along with medical evidence.  Even the most deserving of people can get turned down in bad circumstances. 

Good luck.
Thanks Judy, I am going to try working half time next year and see if that makes a difference.My rheumatologist does not want to put me on disability and I don't qualify for disability through social security because I have worked for over 10 years for a school that does not pay into SS. I have to wait for 65 to qualify for Medicare. I think the doctor's main reason for keeping me working is the medical benefit issue. I am between a rock and a hard place right now. Thanks for the support. LindaThanks friends. I guess the key is my rheumatologist. She says I'm impaired not disabled. I have an extremely stressful job and work long hours and put in a long commute. With PT at the end of the day I'm exhausted. I'll be 60 this summer.I hate to have to go to another doctor since she's been working with me for over 8 years, but I think disability retirement might be the answer.   Do you think I can get a second opinion and continue to see my old dictor?  Will she be offended if the other doctor disagrees with her?LINDAK, WHO CARES IF YOUR OLD RHUEMY GETS UPSET? THIS IS YOUR LIFE YOU ARE DISCUSSING HERE!!!! IF YOUR DOC GETS UPSET, THEN I WOULD SAY SHE IS NOT DOING ALL THAT SHE CAN FOR YOU. I KNOW IT IS HARD TO CHANGE DOCTORS OR TO THINK A DIFFERENT ONE MAY DIAGNOS DIFFERENTLY BUT EVERYONE SEES THINGS IN A DIFFERENT LIGHT. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW SHE COULD SAY YOU ARE IMPAIRED AND NOT DISABLED. THIS IS A DISEASE THAT IS NOT GOING TO GO AWAY!!!!! SOMETIMES YOU CAN GET A PARTIAL DISABILITY ALSO AND THAT MAY ALLOW YOU TO AT LEAST CUT BACK ON HOURS AND GET A PARTIAL PAYMENT FROM DISABILITY. YOU MIGHT CHECK INTO THAT. I DON'T WANT YOU TO THINK I AM SAYING YOUR DOC DOESN'T KNOW WHAT SHE IS DOING. I AM JUST SAYING THAT YOU KNOW YOUR PAIN MUCH BETTER THAN HER AND YOU NEED TO DO WHAT IS BEST FOR YOU! GOOD LUCK ON THIS. MELODYI have been turned down for ssd 2 times, My doc can't see why they turned me down. I am home now and not working for over a year now.Its hard just getting thru the day at home for me being alone here, almost out of funds too.Rheumy said when they call me for the meeting with the ssd judge he will write letter this time. Wish me luck my fellow gimps and have a good day all
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