Filing for disability

[arlyn]

I'm going tomorrow to start the process.
I'm aware the they always deny the first time around, but aside from that, does anyone have any advice for me?

 

[strange_wings]

My mother didn't get approved until she had some state advocate helping her case and that was the third time through.

Research it as much as possible and hope your state doesn't have a bad backlog.

 

[sharky]

Research... HAVE lots of documentation( ie doctors visits ) ready.. Know whether or not your condition is one THEY have already on the books as a disabiling condition .... If for physical discuss it with your reg Dr so they know what is coming and can think about how / what to write... My mom got it right off but she also would have qualified yrs earlier... Be prepared they may send you to your states vocational rehab if of not early retirement age

 

[goldenkitty45]

I work on the last end - after you get turned down twice from the local offices - where you file for a hearing before the ALJ (hearing office level).

If you get turned down the first time (95% do), file a recon and more then likely you will be turned down again - be sure you provide all updated medical records, as much as you can during this time.

If you wind up before the ALJ, its probably best to hire a disability lawyer (they will take a percentage if you win) or go to Legal Aid or other reps that won't charge a fee) to court. The reps/lawyers can get your file up to date easier then you can in ordering medical records.

Good luck. BTW our backlog is about a year behind in getting the cases heard. Some areas are better then others. If you want to email your state, I'll let you know if there is a big backlog or not.

 

[paulena]

Surprisingly, I was approved on the first try, like others have said, make sure your medical records are up to date and the drs know that the paperwork is coming!! I have a friend that has been rejected 2 times, of course, she is appealing the decision, with the help of a disability lawyer.

 

[catkiki]

DH has been denied twice and now we have a hearing before the ALJ on March 10. It is a long, long process. We started DH's claim in Feb 2007. If it is approved, they will send back pmt for the 3 years we missed. DH wants to buy me a good car with some of the money.

 

[fifi1puss]

My sister went through the process recently. Most everyone gets denied right off the bat. I would submit it to get it going and than if you are denied get a disability lawyer that gets paid when you get your disability money. All the other things people say apply, make sure you have all your records and everything is detailed.

 

[arlyn]

Hard to have records when I haven't worked since 99 aside from 7 days at a casino which nearly killed me.
I have no money and no insurance and I wouldn't have internet either if I wasn't getting that for free.
My mom has done it, it'll take longer though without records and I'll have to go to the doctors they send me to for diagnosis except for my asthma which was diagnosed when I was 5mos. but I'll still need lung function tests.

Thanks all for the tips, everything will help.

 

[sharky]

Originally Posted by Arlyn

Hard to have records when I haven't worked since 99 aside from 7 days at a casino which nearly killed me.
I have no money and no insurance and I wouldn't have internet either if I wasn't getting that for free.
My mom has done it, it'll take longer though without records and I'll have to go to the doctors they send me to for diagnosis except for my asthma which was diagnosed when I was 5mos. but I'll still need lung function tests.

Thanks all for the tips, everything will help.

the only issue I see is the length of time... You likely can get SSI which is actually easier from what I have heard... see Social Security only goes back on ave ten years ( 20 of 40 possible credits which you get 4 credits a year if you make over 4000$)

 

[-_aj_-]

i pray its not like this country for disability the women that lives across the road had a blood clot in her leg and they had to amputate from just above the knee and she cant claim a single thing off anyone

my mother broke her ankle needing pins and a plate to make it "normal" she cant bend it move it nothing and she like the neighbour is on disabilty living allownce which is a pitence

i hope you have better luck over there than we have over here

 

[catmom2wires]

Unless I'm missing something, you may want to seriously rethink this whole idea. For one, if you don't really have a diagnosis for which you've been receiving ongoing treatment, there is no way you'll be approved. The argument will be "How do we know this isn't something that can be easily treated?" You will need to go in with a working diagnosis, not depend on the disability doctors to diagnose you. That isn't their job. Their job is to determine if your current medical condition forbids you from doing ANY kind of work.

Which brings me to the next subject... Don't you work in a bar? If you are currently employed, you cannot file. You must be unable to work in any capacity in order to file. Sharky was correct in saying you likely do not have enough credits to file SSDI, so you'll have to file SSI. I'm not sure if it's actually easier to be approved, but I do know your payments will be much much smaller than SSDI.

Sorry if I've missed information in other threads concerning your health issues. Frankly, I was not aware of you having any issues, as you seem to live quite a full, active lifestyle.

Good luck!

Cally

 

[arlyn]

I'm not employed and I've had asthma since infancy which is getting worse with age.
My bartending is barter work (basically someone doing me a favor), all it gets me is a place to live and it's only a summer thing and only 2 nights a week, anyone can pull beer from a cooler one bottle at a time, but I can't do the stock work or the cleaning associated with the job.

I have many qualifying diagnosis but no current records since 99 when I was last insured.
I could have filed then, but I was still able to do the work I was qualified for and did not.