DesertFlower,

I just read your reply to my post and I just had to start a new thread to you about disability. I have learned so much in the last few months and I am paying a heavy price for the many mistakes I've made so I wanted to pass on to you everything I know. I know the fear you are living with, it's horrible. And so I'm writing this out in the hope that I might be able to help you.

1. Apply for benefits right now. Just do it immediately after you read this. Go right on to the social security website and apply online. You don't have to do the entire application just give the very basics. I stopped before I even had to put down my diagnosis (or diagnoses my case) because I wasn't sure. Just get to the point where you give basic information and you have locked in your application date. They will then show a page which you will print which gives all of your information, a case number and a date by which you have to get the application completed, which will be 6 months from today. This is very, very important because this is the date that they will back pay with and this is the date from which they start counting the two years until you can get medicare. The application is free, it literally takes 5 minutes and you have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Please, please, please fill it out.

2. Fire your doctor. Find one who will support you and will not presume to tell you how you feel.

3. Your disability benefits are based on your work history. You have five years after you stop working to apply for benefits BUT the monthly payment that is calculated goes down from the moment you stop working or start working part time. By the time you are 5 years out it won't be even close to being enough to keep you alive. But, the moment you apply they stop decreasing the amount.

4. Myasthenia gravis is on a list of fast track diseases. They have to consider your case quicker than others. The general criteria is that, after being treated for the disease, you still have weakness or trouble breathing. Google myasthenia gravis and social security disability for more information. Also, the allsup site (a company which does disability claims for people) has a page on mg which is helpful and which you can look up. If I remember correctly, the criteria they listed for being able to work was the ability to sit for six hours and stand for two. That is so beyond anything I'm capable of I literally laughed out loud when I read it.

5. Don't do this yourself. First, you're too exhausted to try to juggle all of the paperwork and deal with the doctors. Hire an attorney or a consultant or allsup. They know all the tricks and can help you enormously. And you'll have a better chance of getting your disability awarded.

6. Disability attorneys can not charge you a dime until you get a disability reward. At that time they can take up to $6,000 or a certain percentage (I'm sorry, I forget what that is). They tend to drag their feet to get the payment to themselves maximized and it's one of the most lucrative fields in the business. Nonetheless, you're still better off hiring one. Or maybe you could luck out and find a private consultant like I have. She's a gem and will charge me only $2,000 when we eventually win.

7. Document everything. Pictures, videos, medical records (your attorney can get these for you, don't exhaust yourself with it because with some doctors it's like trying to pull a tooth).

8. Expect the social security department to lie to you at every turn. I stupidly thought that being a part of my own goverment that I would at least get straight answers. Turns out they lied to me about qualifying for widow's benefits and I lost $24,000 over a period of years before I got smart.

9. This is going to scare you, so hold on. It is almost impossible to get disability if you are still working. That means that you are going to probably have to gamble your life savings for a few months. I know it's awful but the alternative is to work until you collapse and then try to fight for this.

10. Be strong and forge ahead. You've paid a fortune for this insurance in your worklife. This is not a handout, it's insurance you've paid for and deserve to get if you are sick and cannot work.

Okay, I think I've covered everything. I hope this can help you a bit. Hang tough!

Ally