I contacted several attorney's prior to completing my online application for SSDI. Each one of them told me to apply and if I was denied then they would represent me.

I applied and within two months I was approved. I got my award letter in July and my SSDI started in September.

It must vary by state. But I'd hate to pay a lawyer for something I could have done on my own. If I had been denied I'd have hired one.....but not before.

I don't disagree with you at all, Cheryl. In fact, that is why I scheduled a consultation with an attorney -- because I thought it couldn't hurt. I just didn't have good luck in finding one that I felt would provide much assistance prior to receiving a denial from SSA.

As I said in my previous post, though, if you are able to find an attorney that truly wants to help you to succeed in your claim quickly, it might be a good idea, because you might not have to push through denials and appeals if they can help you get approved the first time.

I still stand by what I said, though, that I believe that attorneys vary in the way they approach it.

Sorry for the misunderstanding. It must be the way I worded my previous post.

~ Faith

applied denied 3 or 4 times lost track lawyer been on it for two years now, Who ever said mention even the smallest SX you have, mention it, they are right, as far as i can see its a complicated system with rules and critieria being determined by machines

Good Luck Baxter

The MS Society helped me, here in Canada, and it's a good thing because there were so many things that I didn't even think about until they questioned me. In fact, some of the "issues" they brought up seemed "silly" to me, but I went with their advice and was approved immediately on both LTD (private) and CPP (government).

They want to know EVERYTHING, but especially what precludes us from working. For me it was mainly fatigue and unpredictability/unreliability due to relapses. At that point I was having a relapse every three months, and they usually lasted 3 - 4 weeks, so what employer would accommodate that?

They wanted to know precisely what a relapse 'looked' like too.

The other thing was that they wanted to know that I couldn't do ANY job (not just in my chosen career), and not even a part-time one. My employer had accommodated me, by allowing me to work from home for two years, and I was still unable to squeeze in 7 hrs of work per day. That worked in my favor because I had clearly been TRYING to stay in the workforce.

Detail, consistency in answers, and doctor records. That's what they want.

Cherie

Right on Cherie, I forgot to list these things you say, my MS chapter up here helped me also the way you describe.

Joe

My advice is just to be honest. And report any symptom even if youdon't think it has anything to dow ith MS. Cause if that symptom added to your MS symptoms add up to someti=hing bigger, it may count for something. And be patient in waiting. It took my the two denial and going to court to finally get mine. The original judge assigned to me was going to sign it without seeing me but he remembered that he knew me so he had to have another judge take my case. Good luck

The costs of living each year are nice.

I waited about 10 months to file, wasn`t sure what was going on with my health but something was up, DW convinced me to file.

It took 19 months here in Ohio, denied twice and approved at an ALJ hearing, the same month I got my correct dx. I hired an attorney after the first denial, just easier for me because I couldn`t get around well.

Medical records may prove your case easier than anything, first 4 or 5 doctors couldn`t figure what the exact problem was, but a documented history of a problem. The correct dx just icing on the cake at the hearing.

keep a simple journal ... and whenever you see your lawyer or doctor - when they ask 'how are you?' ... always answer that you are in pain ... or hurting all the time .. as soon as one issue goes away, another one appears ... it's frustrating ...

remember to keep you own mind positive that you are doing your best ... but the SSDI, doctors and lawyers ONLY see either you on a very limited time basis .. and what's on paper ... or a number, not a person!

when asked (by my lawyer) to have my doctor fill out the MS questionnaire - 5 pages!!! .. I first made a copy of it .. filled it out myself - so when I went to the doctor with the blank set and my set ... it took less than a week to get it back from the doctor SIGNED ... and when I brought the signed 5-pager to the lawyer - he said "that was fast!" ... I said that I've been waiting for over a year ... and learned the hard way ...

and, I got a letter from my neuro (seperately) about my symptoms making it difficult to work at a job at this time ...

keeping my fingers crossed for you!!

Hello,

In addition to the above suggestions, I offer the following.........

Find a place on the application to include every MS symptom you ever had, even if the symptom hasn't returned in a long time or has never returned... because MS damage often occurs again where there already once was a lesion.

For each symptom above, ALWAYS try to follow this format:

"My MS tremors stop me from performing activities of daily living, such as cutting food with a knife, writing with a pen, holding and drinking from a cup, brushing my teeth and more."

"My MS-caused flatulence, which is extreme, stops me from performing activities of daily living because co-workers become embarrassed and don't want to work with me or even work anywhere near me."

"My MS Optic Neuritis stops me from performing activities of daily living because I can't always read a computer monitor because the brightness makes me go blind."

"My MS spasticity stops me from performing activities of daily living because the medication Baclofen, which is medically necessary for me to take, makes me too tired during the daytime to concentrate on work."

Do not worry about repeating many times the phrases "My MS (fill in the blank) stops me from performing activities of daily living because..." and "which is medically necessary for me to take."

Best of luck.

~Annie

Great advice, and those are the kind of smal details that MS Society told me to put in my applications as well.

Is this sweet Annie123?

Cherie