Question on Disability Application
 

Hello everyone,

This is for those who have already applied for SSDI. I posted this Q on the SS Forum yesterday but thought I'd reach out here too. The SS Forum has helped a lot but I am way overwhelmed trying to find all the info I need while filling out my application. The application alone overwhelms me and I find it challenging to search through all the threads for info.

I am currently on the "Provide Disability Information" section of the online app. My question is that at this point, what else should I put in the "remarks" section other than specific info that needs further explanation from earlier questions? Is there anything else that would be helpful to say? So far I have only listed my additional symptoms/conditions that wouldn't fit in the main part of the app.

Thanks to all who read/respond!

It is difficult to answer your question because we don't know what you have already stated. Plus, we don't know what your specific disabilities are.

My only suggestion is to be sure to included comments about maintaining the pace required for a job and being able to always perform (persistence). If you have developed personality struggles, i.e. over-reactive, easily startled, etc. mention them.

Sorry Mark, I don't always know how to ask the right questions and get my point across clearly these days.

I guess a better question might be, do I include the comments such as you mentioned in this "remarks" part of the application or save them for the Function Report?

Right now I have only stated what my symptoms and conditions are for question 3A of the Medical Conditions section that tells me to "List all of the physical or mental conditions (including emotional or learning problems) that limit your ability to work." Those that didn't fit in the space provided, I added to the remarks section.

They are the following:

Traumatic brain injury
PCS
Migraine headaches
Attention/concentration deficit
Frontal Lobe and Executive Function deficit
Memory Loss
Anxiety
Nausea
dizziness
Panic attacks
mental and physical fatigue
irritability
brain fog
sleep disturbances
visual disturbances
tinnitus
hyperacusis
photobia
vertigo

Its been 8 years since I filled mine out and really don't remember much....I know I told them how I had to keep things simple so I don't overload.... Use of my memory book and alarms on my phone to keep me on task.....Not much has changed just a different way of doing the same things.....

Just keep it real, keep it simple, and keep it truthful....I wish you the best of luck my friend.

I suggest you list all of these issues in less technical terms. You don't want to sound like you found a list on the internet and copied it.

Traumatic brain injury
....................Mild Traumatic Brain Injury
PCS..............Post Concussion Syndrome to include:
....................Migraine headaches Migraine head aches (list frequency)
Attention/concentration deficit
....................Difficulty staying focused on a task
Frontal Lobe and Executive Function deficit
....................Leave this out. It should be in a doctors report unless you just
....................say, I struggle with decision making.
Memory Loss
....................Is this post traumatic amnesia ? or
....................Difficulty with short term memory
Anxiety ........Subject to anxiety attacks from sensory over-stimulation
Nausea ........Nausea (list frequency)
dizziness ......Dizziness (list frequency)
Panic attacks See anxiety
mental and physical fatigue
....................Easily mentally fatigued
....................Easily physically fatigued
irritability ......Easily upset
brain fog ......Feel like my brain is in a fog
sleep disturbances
....................Insomnia with unsettled sleep when I do fall asleep
visual disturbances ?????
tinnitus .........Tinnitus
hyperacusis ..Sensitive to sound
photobia .......Sensitive to light
vertigo see Dizziness

This application is about your ability to hold a job, not about your health so it helps to list your symptoms as to how they effect you ability to hold a job.

So, categorize these issues as
Directly effects my ability to hold/do a job
memory
sensitive to sound
difficulty staying on task


In-directly effects my ability to hold/do a job
sleep
tinnitus

Do you have a report from a Neuro Psych Assessment ?

Thank you davOD and Mark!

That is very helpful info. I had pulled the terms for conditions from my after-visit summaries but am changing them.

I do not have a neuropsych report yet. I had a consultation with a neuropsych last month but he decided to delay testing until August as he felt that testing at this point would most certainly exacerbate all of my symptoms and the cost outweighed the benefit for now.

I hope the NeuroPsych did at least a MMSE, Mini Mental Status Exam. It takes about 10 minutes. He tells you some words then asks some more questions then asks you about the word he told you.

Your SSDI application will likely be denied. Expect that. Almost all are denied the first time. Then, you re-apply through your State Disability Determination Service (The denial usually come from them) Hopefully, they will request a simplified NeuroPsych Assessment by a contract psychologist. They did with me.

My best to you.

Hi Mark,

No exams. He just interviewed my husband and I about the past 7 months. I just emailed him to see if he will see me before August. (Found out that my health coverage may change after August)

they usually they like a baseline? Something they can compare to later(Dr.)....

Your Dr.s office will also have some stuff to fill out also....Make sure they know all the things you suffer from....Use a memory book so you don't forget..