http://www.socialsecurity.gov/disabi...le%20sclerosis

I got SSDI on the second try (5 years now, with no questions or contact), and here are some things I believe.

1, SSDI is not your friend. Think they are a slug like system, not helpful, slow, heavy, etc. You need persistence and knowledge on your side.

2. I already have SSD but went into their site and found it overwhelming, NOT user-friendly, hard to maneuver in but found what I wanted finally.


http://www.socialsecurity.gov/disabi...le%20sclerosis

Their Blue Book which states their definition of MS and what they consider disabling. I worked for the State and know of Government Employee's love of rules in making hard decisions so used their own words in describing my problems. I did not get SSDI on first try (While usually not a believer in Conspiracy Theory, I do believe SSDI turns down all 1st requests hoping you will get go quietly away) Used their words in my second attempt when I described my life and MS, NOT sugarcoating reality ,which is my tendency to do, and got SSDI on second try. Had I been rejected , had a lawyer's name ready for 3rd try.

3. Don't forget, children under 18 or 18 in High School also get benefits. No one told me, but I got $$$ enough (back pay) to get braces for both, The $600 a/month now goes into college savings. Kids are expensive

4. Do not be emotional or angry. This can raise hackles and defensiveness. Lawyers and advocates are unemotional and neutral, just stating facts, think this is why they are effective.

5. No one ever told me there is a work SS time factor. There is. Be aware, Work if you have to awhile if you haven't, BEFORE you apply.. Research it!!!

6. Have your medical (Neuro and PCP) doctors on board with you on your efforts.
__________________
Kicker
PPMS, DXed 2002

Link doesn't work I'd be curious to see what they say. Thanks for the advice though, one of these days....

Guess everyone at the SSD office must have been in a good mood when I applied years back, as I got it on my first try. The thing I remember most is answering page after page of questions and had my "interview" over the telephone. After all that, it was nowhere near enough to live on anyway.

Now I'm at that "retirement" age so now it's switched to regular SS -- still not enough to live on. Good luck everyone!

Was there an office party? Were they all drunk??

I've had a good experience with the SS office, too. I was approved on my first try and had my interview over the phone. The lady was very nice and professional. Although I'm sure there are cases where people have had negative experiences I'd hate for someone to get the impression that everyone has a bad one. While I agree that it's not enough to live on I'm thankful for the amount I get.

Kicker -- They didn't sound drunk, but then you never know!! My small town is an equal distance between two cities in different counties. One county is known for it's toughness and the employees aren't very friendly or helpful. Thankfully, because of the county where I reside, I drew the other one and I'm sure it made a difference in the way my claim was addressed! A break for once!!! Yay!!

I think every state and every office is a bit different. The guy who originally reviewed my case when I applied seemed very uninterested and indifferent. I was denied because they said I could do "some" less than sedindary work. Never mind my biggest complaint was fatigue and dizziness. For any vocation this would be a big problem
I was too tired to try again on my own so I got a lawyer. Its been almost 2 years since I got him.
I did get a letter from a judge telling me to make sure I had everything in cause I would be getting a court date soon.......I think that was about 5 months ago and I haven't heard anything yet.
I worry because I am in Michigan where the government is close to shutting down and the state is totally broke. Hope they didn't lay-off my Judge!

On my rejection, they said at my age and educational level I could get a job. I said "Like what?" and that I couldn't drive, could barely walk and no buses came by my house IF I could get down the 500 foot hilly drive (But no bus came by still!!!). Nobody answered my question or helped me get to a job, I was then approved. @#$%&*s

How pathetic is this?? Problem is there aren't many, if any, states in better condition.

I wish you the best of luck with your problems.

gmi

totally with what's already been said, both the good bits and the bad.

It appears the concerns that have been raised are not unique to the USA. After the experiences my hubby and I both had when making our own applications, I now believe it depends on just who processes your application ..... no matter what country you live in. Which state you live in may also give rise to different outcomes... I know it did for hubby and I.

My husband did 'heavy' work all his life, and when his back deteriorated to such an extent that there were days that he couldn't even walk, let alone work... he applied for a disability pension. He had many doctor's letters and some of those came from doctors they had sent him to, but still they refused him.

I've not heard of lawyers standing in your stead here in Oz for disability claims, so I wrote his appeals for him and it wasn't until the third attempt that they approved his application. Grrrr!
So much paper work and so many plane trips, because we lived 4 hours drive away from the nearest major city.

Then there's me.

Two years ago I had a nasty exacerbation following major surgery for bowel cancer (hemicolectomy). I went into Social Security to ask about sickness benefits because I had used up all my paid leave where I worked, and we needed money to survive.

The lass I saw there was really nice, and it was actually on her recommendation that I applied for disability support. It was something that hadn't entered my head for myself. My doctor filled out the paperwork ..... I was interviewed the following week, and approved that very day.

For me it was less than 2 weeks from start to finish.

That part was certainly a relief, but I hadn't forgotten all the hassels we had to go through for my hubby. His refusals made me so cross at the time because I could see how bad he was, how much pain he was in... and we knew others who were "ripping the system off ...
people who were only approved because they were very good actors. Any person who falsely claims benefits makes me very angry, no matter what benefit they're claiming.