Hey there!
I'm looking for anyone that has won the disability battle. Any ideas or advice are welcome.
I applied last year and was denied because of my life insurance policy. I have cancelled that policy and have decided to file again with legal representation.
Peace & Love...Neasy
One more thing - I tried to work several times while applying. It was so hard for me to give up my job. That did not hurt me as I never lasted more than a couple months. They called them "failed attempts". Also, get lots of doctor support. My doctors were very supportive. HUGZ
Your life insurance should have nothing to do with SSDI but were you filing for state SSI? State SSI does have asset and household income limits. I have a very old whole life policy. SSDI is disability insurance and they cannot make their decision based on any assets or other income. They can only look at what the client is making at the time of filing and even then if the client can prove that they cannot continue earning that much they may still win.
I filed in Oct 05 and am awaiting the ALJ's decision.
I really don't know what the hell happened last year when I applied for disability. I had no idea what I was doing or where to start...still don't.
I filled out the application online and did a couple of phone interviews. I was denied full disability right from the start because I made per month over the cap. They continued for what I believe they call supplemental and silly me being the honest person that I am told them everything. Some of the questions were do you have a life insurance policy, savings account, IRA, stocks & bonds etc... Evidently because I have a universal life insurance policy and can borrow from it they count that as an asset. The woman I dealt with told me that you cannot make over I think it was 0 per month at the time or have assets that are 00 or greater. In a very subtle way she told me to get rid of/hide everything and re-apply. I had to laugh at Daisy's post when she said it took her 3 weeks to fill out the online application. Boy did that bring back memories!
I am working, although only 3 days a week now and soon cutting down to 2 days. It's crazy...I've gone from working 2-3 jobs to working one job. When I started this job 3 years ago, I worked 5 days a week. I'm not married and no other source of income so it's been really tough. I don't even want to think about finances when I cut another day off my paycheck.
My appointment with the disability attorney is today at 2:30 so I'll let you all know how that goes. Hopefully he will be able to help. Keep those post coming with the tips and advice....I'm totally lost in all this so I appreciate the help.
Peace & Love.....Neasy
Neasy getting a disability attorney was a good decision. They will be able to wade through this for you. Is your Dr in agreement? That is a necessity to be awarded.
Good luck and let us know.
Bonny unfortunately my doctor is a joke and am currently looking for a new one. As in some of my other posts...this is the same doctor that didn't even know who I was or why I had appoinment after 2 1/2 years of appointments every 6 weeks. Also, they have lost my medical records and as of yesterday they have still not found them. Of course, maybe he felt just stupid and embarrassed enough at my last appoinment that he would be supportive regardless.
Peace & Love...Neasy
So there's the update. I know I've completely lost it, I'm feeling sorry for myself and I've totally flipped out but what better place to do it than right here? Man, I seriously need to find a pyschiatrist! I am so right on the edge and feel like I'm just going to snap!
I can't even do my Peace & Love on this post because I feel absolutely neither at the moment.
I am soooo sorry. I hope your RD can find your records and will help you to get your disability. I wish for you the best and hope you will finally be approved. I mean you deserve it after going thru that awful study and it just making you worse.
Huggs!
Neasy- What about living with family and not working? Is that at all possible? I don't know what I would have done. I deeply believe I cannot work. I can't stand, sit, or use my hands well. I am constantly trying to "get comfortable" Anyway, I know how it is. I had Brett at the time and I had LTD for two years which paid well. If I would not have had that, I don't know what I would have done. I honestly do not think Brett would financially support meThe firm handling my case told me to be sure and tell my psycologist evereything bothering me as it really helps. He then wrote a letter describing what this disease does to my mental processes to SS. Get yourself into a psychiatrist and say the same thing that you just wrote to us. Just a suggestion.
Neasy---I got disability last year first attempt. I had to quit work entirely before they said to even bother applying. It is scary ---no income and not knowing if you will be approved. I had worked only one type of job (P.T.) for my whole career ; and of course that's very " physical"---so that helped me. I used Allsup for representation---all they do is SS disability claims. Good Luck!Neasy, I'm so sorry you are feeling so bad! I agree with Bonny about the psychiatrist. Seriously, depression is a very real problem for those of us with a chronic illness.
This illness is changing our lives profoundly, and depression is a direct result of your illness. I am on SS Disability and one of my qualifying illnesses is severe depression. My pain specialist is the one that reported that problem. It is "severe, pain-related depression."
When you are feeling hopeless, as you are, you absolutely need to see someone who can talk to you, possibly advise you a bit, and prescribe anti-depressants. There are many of us here who are on anti-depressants, and I honestly do not want know where I would be without them. They have had to be changed a few times over the years, but there is always help available in that area.
Are you having a lot of difficulty working the days you are working? Do you think your doctor will remember enough to know if you should be working or not?
It is not easy to get aproved for SS Disability. Nearly everyone is denied the first time out. A few get approved on the "reconsideration" phase. But the vast majority end up in the "ALJ hearing" stage. This is usually where you are approved, if you are going to be. And I really think you definately need to have an attorney for that stage, even if you don't for the others.
If or when it comes to the point that you can't work at all,make sure you have all of your medical reports, testing results, copies of lab reports and any other "on the record" type of thing that can prove your are no longer able to work at all. If I remember correctly, they figure that if you earn at least 0 a month, you are considered able to work. I don't know how they expect anyone to live on that, but, currently, that is their rule.(I may be off on the amount, but I am pretty sure it is 0)
Please go see a psychiatrist, and get treatment for your depression! That is so very important. When you are depressed and desperate, it is hard to even think clearly enough to make the decisions you need to make. I am speaking from experience, and I know many of the others will back me up.
Best wishes to you. Please keep in touch with us and let us know how you are doing. I care very much, as do many others.
Gentle hugs and Blessings,
Nini
Roxy,
I honestly do not think Brett would financially support me
I am sorry I don't understand how Brett feeling he was taken by his first two wives pertains at all to advice in obtaining SSDI. I think Brett would be very happy you shared that with the public. Nini, There is no attack here. I have a right to my opinion just like anyone else that posts on this forum. Please have respect for others opinions also, that is all I ask. I would have PMed Roxy, but she posts PMs on the board. Neasy and I are friends. I have known her for the entire time I have been on this board. Neasy - the depression dx is a good idea. Depression is one of the dx that got my SSDI and fibro, besides RA. Hi all, Sorry I haven't been around. I've been in some major pain and doped up on pain killers. Although I'm still painful today, I am much better and able to get out of bed and get around...even if it is slowly. I'm hoping to go back to work tomorrow. It seems there a couple of things to address here. One being Roxy's post. Roxy and I do go back a long way and are friends. Although Roxy did post on the board and didn't send a PM, it really was intended as a conversation between Roxy and I. On the other hand, Roxy has always been very open on the boards (one of the reasons I adore her so much). Roxy has always been helpful and caring and if that means giving advice along with sharing life experiences as a means of letting you know she can relate to your situation and you are not alone...that's Roxy!
As for how things are going, not much has changed. As I stated earlier, I've been in a lot of pain so I've been dealing with that issue. I haven't found a pyschiatrist yet but have found another source that I've put a call into and am waiting for a return call. Evidently, USF has a pyschiatric department where you can get counseling and they charge based on income. Although you do meet with a student, the sessions are recorded and the professor is involved. It might not be what I had in mind but it's better than nothing at all. I've actually heard some really good things about the program so we'll see what happens. As far as working and applying for ssdi, I am faced with some very difficult decisions to make. I do believe that while I'm working, although only part time...I will certainly be denied. If I leave my job (which I have no doubt I will lose eventually) to apply for ssdi, I lose my income and health insurance and there is no guarantee I will be approved or even if I am, how long it will take. I've always been independant and a very proud person so this is all so hard to swallow. I've had people mention things to me like food stamps, ssi and medicaid but again, I have no idea how all that works or if I would even qualify. My age (38) is a huge obstacle in all of this. I think my biggest fear of all is not being able to go to the doctor. My disease is not in control and up to now it never has been but the thought of not being able to go to the doctor or get any medications scares the hell out of me. So right now, I'm reasearching and trying to find out as much as I can about any and all options. I return to the doctor in 2 weeks (Yes, the same idiot) and I'm going to find out if they ever found my medical records from the last 2 years, how well he's documented everthing over the past 2 years, if there have been obvious changes on the x-rays and if not can he refer me for an MRI. During the study they only x-rayed my hands, feet and lungs. I'd be very surprised if there's not obvious damage on the hand x-rays. The majority of my severe flares are in my knees, shoulders and hips....perhaps they should take a look huh? I'm actually dreading the upcoming appoinment knowing that if I walk in there again and he "DOESN'T KNOW WHO I AM OR WHY I AM THERE" I will most certainly flip out and go off the chain. Thank you all for your caring, support and advice. I appreciate it more than you could possibly know. Peace & Love...Neasy
SarahGo ROXY, you keep posting girl, hugs Janie.
Neasy,
I have yet to go down this road so I have no advice to give you. I do want
to wish you luck and I hope it all works out. I too would have nobody else
to support me. I am a single mom with a little one and it freaks me out
as well. Please keep on fighting.
BeckyNeasy, I am worried about you. PLEASE POST AND LET US ALL KNOW YOU ARE OK Neasy - you have to think of yourself and try any means possible to get help - like others have said depression comes with this disease and is a valid disease in its own right. I have been on my own 7 years and it has been a battle - I dont live in the U.S. but nevertheless it has been very hard - but - I am still here, have some good friends and good days. I am an expert at cost cutting measures and living on next to nothing so if I can help PM me. Deanna who unfortunately hasnt been on the board lately is the expert here so maybe someone can ask her to come back, heaps of us miss her. She could give so much practical advice. Go on antidps if needs be and find a good counsellor who will support you.
Best of luck to you and all the others that have to fight all this on their own but keep strong. Situations change constantly so hopefully better times are on their way.How are you doing Neasy?The depression can be debilitating. I am almost in the same boat, I can not afford not to work but physically just can really work any more. I am 36 and also know I would be denied as well. Its just plain wrong.
I guess I really don't have any words of wisdom other than you are not alone. You do have people that care, even if they are in cyberspace. Hugs and love
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