People do get approved vodpop, so don't give up hope.

You do have to prove that you can't do any work, not just the 'skilled' job that has brought you the best salary.

Do you think there are any jobs that you could perform fully ? If so, have you tried to do them ? Being let go from a menial job because you couldn't perform would help prove that you cannot sustain any gainful employment.

A few examples of the jobs I've had and either been let go from or left prior to being fired are: receptionist (although I'm magnificent on the phone), property manager, cashier/cashier manager, chiropractors assistant/receptionist, fast food manager, day care attendant.
Pretty diverse experience background.
The only thing I have excelled at was a job where my manager and co-worker constantly kept me on track and the job was highly routine. And even then I consistently forgot things they just didnt hold it against me, where other places/people would have. THey were very understanding.
Haven't found another place like that.

You mentioned fast food manager not working out. Do you think you could hold down a full time job as a fast food worker ?

That is what SSA means by substantial gainful employment.....they wouldn't consider you totally disabled because you couldn't do the manager job as long as you could do the entry level job at the fast food place.

If you could work the entry level fast food job full time for $7.25 an hour (x 40 hours per week and 4 weeks per month) = $1160 a month. That's more than SSA's cutoff so they would find you don't meet the criteria or being totally disabled.

I TOTALLY agree that I don't know how the heck anyone could live on that amount, but I don't think SSA feels that is their concern.

What I meant in my first post was that if you had tried working a minimum wage job that seemed physically possible for you to do and the employer felt that you could not fulfill the job requirements and gave documentation of that, maybe that would have help your case.

From what you said, it sounds like you may be physically able to perform some tasks, but it's the 'brain fog' issues that keep you from being successful. That is a really tough one to prove for SSA. My case was similar in that some days I look and feel pretty normal......it does look like I should be able to work. Unfortunately, those days are very rare Our cases are not as obvious as, say, someone who was totally paralyzed after an accident. That person, it would be obvious to anyone, could not work. Try to look at it from SSA's point of view.....they can't just give away cash to someone who could be 'faking' their complaints. We have to prove to them that we can't work. Was the tumor benign ? Are your seizures well controlled now ? Have you read the SSA stuff on epilepsy ? Any chance that you are on their list of recognized diagnoses ?

Especially because concentration is an issue for you, I would really recommend getting a lawyer to apply for SSDI. The process is likely to be a long one, so don't lose hope !

Best Wishes. If you have any specific questions, you might want to start your own thread so it's 'all about you' and doesn't have everyone else's approval/denial comments mixed in.

I didn't see anything there that relates to this topic. Was that the right link ?

I have TOS, RSD, occipital neuralgia. I am on narcotics and have to lay down frequently to use ice packs and cervical traction. Most days I cannot bathe or get dressed. The geniuses at SSDI suggested that I could be a school bus monitor.

Doh !

Wouldn't a school bus monitor be a part time job? The school bus drivers in our county are part-time. That seems to miss the point, doesn't it?? SSDI wants to prove that you can work a 40 hour week, right? I'm bum-fuzzled.

Thanks finz I've been looking for that, now I have to figure out who I was talking to. Working on three computers at the same time gets confusing at times. Sorry, I will ask the administrator to move it to useful sites.

Yea, like others with a brain injury, I look totally normal just have functioning issues. Cant maintain focus or concentration for very long and following verbal instructions is near impossible. Multi-tasking is a joke (used to be very good at it too, which is sad). I think working at a fast food restaurant would be much more difficult of an environment than people realize. I've done it and it takes a lot of multi-tasking, theres a lot going on at one time. Not my kind of environment.
I just got hired on in a manufacturing facility doing something totally new so gonna give that a try and see how it goes. I would prefer to work if I can, just tired of getting the short end of the stick. Hopefully it will be more my kinda thing and will work out well. I'll be doing inspections so who knows..

Hope everything works out for you. I too would like to rteturn to work someday if I can get all of my issues taken care of. I do not like sitting at home everyday all the time. Plus all of my family and my wife's family asking when am I going to do this or that. Some people just do not understand. It just makes it hard when all the family gets together and they talk about work and I can't really add anything to the conversation. I am sure some of you feel the same way at times.

I am so sorry to hear yoou were denied. Do appeal. You can do your own appeal if you want. Also contact SSA and get your records to find out more about why they denied your claim. If you get a lawyer they will need it anyway.
They appeal is just about the same application as the first except you can only put in what is new since the date of your denial and anything you forgot in your first application. Depending on how thorough your first application was and how much medical evidence you submitted, also the RFC (Residual Functional Capacity) form from your doc and an Adult Function Report from you, there may be a lot of evidence you can submit with your appeal.
Chances are not in your favor, 86% get rejected with or without a lawyer.
If you decide to appeal on you own you need to work fast becausse of the time line.
Good luck, hang in there.