How bad must my PD be to retire on disability?
 

I am a federal employee (24 yrs) and was diagnosed w/ PD 7 yrs ago. I am now 57 yrs old and would like to retire while I can still enjoy life. I am functional as long as I take my Sinemet/Pramipexole every 2.5 hrs, otherwise I cannot type or do any kind of lab work or do any presentations. So what is the criteria for disability retirement? If I refuse to take my meds, would I be eligible? Do I have to wait till I'm so bad off, that I won't be able to enjoy retirement?

ask your question on the ssdi board, some extremely knowledgeable people who hang out there.

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum28.html

i could comment since i applied at 59 and was denied thru the hearing judge level but my situation was very atypical.so wouldn't do anything but unnecessarily worry you. not sure how the federal employee system works..

The SSDI sticky threads have important information also.

The refusing to take meds when you have a known treatable condition to try to get SSDI would probably raise red flags and make for more problems..
A - you would have to put your diagnosis on the application as well as meds, and your doctor needs to verify/corroborate the diagnosis & medications, so not taking those meds that worked previously will raise a major flag..

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread148967.html
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread120255.html
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread367.html

The Five-Step Sequential Evaluation Process for a Disability Claim
- https://www.jameseducationcenter.com...ation-process/