Disability
 

Hi all

My work offers good long term disability benefits, something I might consider down the road if I do not get better. The problem is that if my case is rejected my employment will be terminated with some minor compensation.

So I am trying to get a better idea beforehand whether or not it is common for protracted PCS cases to obtain disability benefits. My employer is non-US, but they will be heavily influenced by how companies and social security in the US treats complicated PCS cases.

FYI in my case, in additional to the usual PCS symptoms, I have acute and worsening convergence insufficiency that has baffled doctors and made me unable to read.

Disability cases for PCS are difficult to win in the US. Many use attorneys to present their case but employer based disability may not offer that option. Social Security uses standards set out in the Social Security Disability Blue Book in most cases. A big problem is the inability to objectively diagnose many PCS symptoms. They tend to discount patient claims as subjective.

Are you in the US working for a foreign company or ?

What doctors have assessed your convergence insufficiency and what treatments have they tried ? Can you use just one eye to read ?

Medical Examiners often are some of the least knowledgeable docs, at least in the US.

btw, I'd suggest seriously considering pressing on while asking for any help at learning ways to work with your limitations.

Thanks so much for your response Mark.

Can I ask: when you say "I'd suggest seriously considering pressing on", you mean pressing on with disability application?

I work for an international organization that is much more lenient than social security, especially because they prefer to give you disability instead of requiring you to work at a job with a much different skill set.

I asked about social security because that will be a reference to them, indirectly, since we are located in the US. It will strengthen my case if I can bring cases or studies showing that people are granted disability for PCs in the US or other countries.

As to my eye issues, I will discuss this in another post, since I would like to focus on disability issues now (I am quite stressed about my long term prospects). My vision has gotten worse over time after each setback, that is why it is baffling doctors. I am at a point where even the simplest eye exercises (a 10 minutes visual therapy) sets me back for a couple of weeks.

By pressing on, I mean continuing to work and find new things that you can do. Inactivity is a prison.

I don't think you will find Social Security cases to show as a reference as they are confidential. Yes, many do get Social Security Disability. I was approved in 2009 after starting my application in 2006. Ten years of not working has been tedious.

It will not be inactivity, I understand how tedious this is. After disability, I am allowed and have the opportunity to have a very low effort job elsewhere, one that does not need much reading and high frequency reports, but still allow me to interact people on a frequent basis.

Any advice on how to go about disability? I have so many doctor visits in the last 2 years and so many diagnoses and treatments for PCS to vestibular migraine to Mal de Debarquement, and evidence of psychiatric issues and treatments. I have proof that my vision has deteriorated since my original accident. It was my optometrist and vision therapist who told me that my vision is now worse than it has ever been.

Working with one eye gives me massive headaches and I am even slower and more confused when I do so (it requires so much effort!).

I am not giving up yet, but it will make me feel better to have a good idea of plan B.

Thanks so much

You should work on documenting where your functions are now, not where they were and how they have progressed. Read the SS Blue Book Disability Evaluation Under Social Security

Look at both neurological and mental and even visual.

Thanks so much Mark.