I don't think it would hurt to see what your options are. There may be benefits available in California that are different than the typical SSI. As for the federal SSDI program, the denial rate in some states is as high as 80 percent for the initial application, and the wait to get a hearing with a judge can be as long as three years depending on where you live.

You would think because SSDI is so hard to get, you wouldn't want to get involved, but actually, the opposite is true. If you believe you will still be disabled a year from now, apply now, because benefits begin five months after the date of onset of your disability (for most people, that's the date when they became unable to work full time). By the time you go through the entire process, you may experience a gap where you have no income at all (unless the state comes through for you), and you want to keep that gap as small as possible.

Doctors are usually very reluctant to support disability unless you are actively dying of something or they are certain you have a condition which will never improve. Problem is, without proper documentation from an appropriate treating specialist, the feds will go by the opinion of a doctor THEY choose, who usually concludes you can work no matter how sick you are. I lucked out and "sped" through the system in only nine months, but I had seven years' worth of medical records, two reputable rheumatologists supporting my case for disability, and a lawyer.

Hope something in here helped.

fanfaire

Want to hear something really interesting?

Long ago, when I was on my third go-round with the disability people, and I first walked into the Disability Lawyer's office, he said this to me. "you will get denied two times, then we will go in front of a disability judge, who will make the determination....that's the way it's done". Then he pointed to a folder and said "you see this person, she has brain cancer and they turned her down two times, they usually turn down everybody two times".

I never forgot that conversation.

Melody

If the subject here is about Social Security disability then what that lawyer said is pure BS lawyer talk. I know a guy who helps PNers with their claims (he's not a lawyer) and they are almost always approved on the FIRST try. There are PNers on this forum and a couple of other forums I belong to who have gotten their disability claims with the help of my friend Mike Finkelstein who charges NOTHING!

For any PNer who will be applying for Social Security disability you should get in touch with Mike. His email address is: mike3736@hotmail.com. He doesn't fill out the application for you but will guide you from start to finish and he knows what to include and what to exclude on the application. Mike is a PNer, completely legit, and simply enjoys helping fellow PNers. Although he does not charge for his expertise I would certainly give him a nice stipend once I got that first Social Security check. He will accept it but will never mention or suggest that you owe him anything. I also have his snail-mail address and telephone number if anyone needs it....just send me a PM. (I think it's NeuroTalks policy to not reveal peoples personal addresses and phone numbers on this forum and I know it is on the other forums I belong to.) I first came in contact with Mike some 6 years ago and about 3 years ago when I was on a vacation trip to NYC he came into the city and we had dinner and just about talked the night away...and Melody...he is almost a neighbor of yours.

Yes, I have heard of Mike on these boards. He is what I call a "good guy".

And Thank goodness for him.

Kudos to Mike for all the help he has given people to get Social Security.

Hi all,

I did talk to Mike, the specialist in getting Disability the first time around. He gave me GREAT advice. However, after seeing the specialist, I guess I chickened out. Because one of the things Mike advised was to have my doc sign a letter stating I am unable to function normally due to medication and pain... this doc doesn't believe that to be true.

I finally just got scared and went ahead and filed for my unemployment. I'm going to ride that out for a year. At least it is a guaranteed income for one year until the specialist can come to some conclusions!

My insurance is only good for four more months, then I lose that, so hopefully they can figure it out soon!

I'll keep you all up to date.... so far, all the tests he ordered last week have come up fine. He is the third doctor to have ordered tests, they are all from Kaiser Permanente (for you "non California folks", that is a large HMO group here)... so they all have computer access to the tests each other have done.

He has determined that there is a lot of pain, but no weakness.

That's BULL.... I'm much weaker than I used to be..... however, I'm "average" now, because I used to be an avid runner and had legs that were mostly muscle. I told him that too. I've lost a lot of strength in my legs and feet. I have trouble getting up from the floor, I have trouble walking, blah blah blah...

Thanks y'all for being there!

Great you talked to Mike - he was a big help when I got my SSDI.

To all, as Rafi said - we have Short Term Disablity (SDI) in Calfiornia that just typically just takes one doc statement - and again "runs for short term" - used to be up to a year..... SSDI is a whole other animal (Social Security Disability) - and a real challenege to get - cause even if approved the day you are disabled there is a two year wait to qualify to Medicare benefits... which is essential for those of us who are sick.... (also, SSI is again different - it is additional income under Social Security program based on need and has many qualifiers)

SLS - while it sounds like your doc is trying to find cause - if he/she doesnt believe your symtoms - it also sounds like you need better MD support - do you have a GP that has known you up to this point that could at least help with SDI (State Disability) since you arent working due to illness?

On your inusrance - your company, as long as they have health insurance (thus still in business) - have to offer you the option to purchase your same insurance with their group plan for 18 months after termination (they can only charge what they pay for you plus 2% handling fee), its law - people sometimes panic when they find out how much it is... but if you do drop it and then try to buy your own insurance you will qualify only for high risk medical insurance because of your health and the cost is absolutely astronomical and plan choices dismal. (Calif also has a "supplemented" high risk health ins fund that may bring the premium coser to market on private expensive policies - BUT - when I tried to get on it while waiting for Medicare and my COBRA rights ran out - the waiting list was over a year long and I had to wait that long).....

Sending you the best...

talking about...listen to them closely and do not chicken out.
If nothing else the disability benefits will pay for your insurance?
Given all that's going on healthwise-it's imperative that you keep CONSTANT continued medical coverage. It'll be a shocker when you see the costs but, otherwise you could find yourself subject to lots of 'pre-existing condition' exclusions should you have any break in coverage. Such as waiting 1-2 years before any treatment of X or Y. It's a budget buster but worth it in the long run.
As for COBRA You have to receive a letter offering it to you thru your former employer's group plan - the letter has to be sent to you within a certain # of days after your 'termination' date. Then you MUST respond to it and enroll in their plan within another X number of days after getting that letter [It has to be sent registererd/return receipt and all]. You have to make payments not only on time but better than exactly on time...a day late and you can be disenrolled.
After that 18 months is up, The insurance plan you are in MUST offer you some type of coverage as an individual [the offerings are usually less coverage for more $-as long as you pay, you are covered. If for no other reason, continuing health coverage will get you the plans' group fee discounts tho your co-pays and deductibles will be hier.
If I found myself in your situation, I would go get an outside 2nd opinion ASAP and pay out of pocket so you get the diagnosis you NEED and the treatments you need! Kaiser GP's are notorious for 'postponing' referrals and/or missing real key diagnoses...Just be sure you get the very BEST top neuro in the area and watch the GP sputter when he sees your diagnoses 'in hand'!

So...go, get busy! It's mostly phone, letters, and paperwork herding.
OK - some good hugs to boot! - j