[leah52]

My pwp was granted disability through his employer disability insurance this past spring. This week we have his Social Security disability exam. What should we expect? Anything we should do to prepare or take with us?

[reverett123]

If you mean a medical exam by a physician of their choice, I had one of those in June. I'm sure each is different, but in my case the MD was excellent and gave me a far more thorough exam than my neuro ever has.

I did just as the instructions said and took my meds exactly as prescribed. As a result, I was in bad shape and literally had to crawl out of the place. But I asked the doc if she had any doubts as to the diagnoses and she gave an emphatic no, there were no doubts. I could tell that although she was just an MD she had had experience of some sort with PD.

Don't overdo it, but remember that the doc is, in effect, evaluating your PWP for a job. Can he drive at 7:00 AM every mornibg? If his meds don't kick in until 9:00 or 10:00, then he can't punch a timeclock. Or work anywhere else for the most part. Does he have to hit the john frequently? If confrontation wrecks him, then that rules out working with the public.

The standard used is can he work 40 hours a week at something he knows or can reasonably learn. Pick a few different jobs and mentally go through a day with each. When is he functioning his best? Everything else should be examined and problems identified. Then translate them into the relevant symptoms. If the doc is a hard *****, then just be sure you mention the symptoms that you know limit you. If the doc seems sympathetic, add the reasons you see a problem with a 40 hr week with that particular symptom.

Good luck.

Originally Posted by leah52

My pwp was granted disability through his employer disability insurance this past spring. This week we have his Social Security disability exam. What should we expect? Anything we should do to prepare or take with us?

[chasmo]

Originally Posted by leah52

My pwp was granted disability through his employer disability insurance this past spring. This week we have his Social Security disability exam. What should we expect? Anything we should do to prepare or take with us?

one of the questions he'll be asked is if he drove to the appt. Obviously he should not drive to the appt.

The other thing that you have to consider is whether you want to be seen at his best or at his worst. This can be accomplished with meds, either taking or withholding them. You know your husbands disabilities and symptomology better than anyone else. Make your decision accordingly.

I would think that his employer disability award would go a long way towards getting him approved for his SSI.


Charlie

[stevem53]

Thorough documentation