[hope26]

Hi,
I have a rare spinal cord disorder -- HSP, or Heriditary Spastic Parapalegia. I applied for SSDI in 2003 and was approved in 90 days. When I presented my application to the local SSDI office the gentleman that took my application said it was the best he had seen. On the ten page report, the first page asks the two most important questions - Describe what you have and then why it affects your ability to not work. They give you two lines to list this information. It is imperative to put "See Attached Narrative" and list what is wrong in very detailed, very descriptive, dialog -- how very bad this disorder or disease is affecting your life. Describe your WORST day. Talk about everything, don't hold back. Get gross if you are having problems with incontinence, talk about those lovely embarrassing things like peeing yourself. Talk about the pain. Talk about the emotional side of it. Even the stuff that only happens "once in a great while", like weird sensations or things your muscles do. Describe ALL OF IT. Overwhelm them with information - make them feel like they have it too. I stressed the parts about being unable to stand to cook or dress myself because I am really fatigued. How difficult it is to sit in a chair, get in and out of bed, or a car, to take a bath. Make it sound as terrible as you can -- but as intelligently as you can. I did not have to see one of their doctors. I did not have to go to any hearings. I had very good doctor information and that is also a key. I look at others who have probably worse problems than I who get refused and I can attribute that to not filling their forms out with details, details details.
Hopefully this can help those of you who may be filing in the furture.
Hope26

[caudaequinasyndrome]

if you have a line item such as paralyses or blindness you are approved.
i also think some states are worse than others

[hope26]

I have HSP which is not paralysis. It is parapalagia. This does not automatically give you approval. I belong to a support group on the Internet and there have been a good number who do not get approved on the first go round. It is a progressive disorder and not a paralysis. I was giving advise to help all who apply on being sure to give details beyond the two silly lines they give you on their first two important questions...
Hope26

[DiMarie]

This what I credit my approval. I attached and painted an entire picture. I was a police officer and it affected my ability to protect myslef or the community, I could not kick, fight, hit, lift, drag etc....

I painted apicture of not using button when it asked if I could, I put use pull over loose fitting. No iron, stretch wear easy wash, wear a few times before wash unless someone is helping me do launddry, I can't switch from washer to dryer, often clothes stay in the laundry basket or dryer where the family has to yank what they need.

Easy meals, no big home cooking, take out, frozen easy to prepare, paper plates.
No movies hurts to sit, last one was the year before my injury, cape fear.

Friends don;t call they don't want to hear the whine. 'All the for real life stuff.

I appleid without telling any doctors, first time approval, I was in college at the time, noted case with office of vocational rehab.

It was a relief. I noted every test, where they were done, the address phone no. Every medication, dose amount and how often I take them, all on seperate worksheets. It did take me several days if weeks to finish the entire form, they called twice for it.
Thanks for the post.
Dianne

[MJA - TOS]

I applied for SSD and was approved the first time with no lawyer. My accident lawyer was impressed.

I included all timesheets, med lists from pharmacy, letters of resignation from the jobs I had to quit. I even sent my resume and salary history. Everything was documented. I sent everything but the kitchen sink. I also gave a complete copy to my physician so he had it should SSD contact him.

I know they tell you to only fill out the form and add nothing else but I don't agree. My diagnosis at that time was myofacial pain, fibromyalgia. I hadn't been diagnosed with TOS at that point. I hadn't heard about the form only "rule" at that time. I just figured the more info on me thay had, the more they would know when they got the ap. I don't know for sure what clinched it but I'm eternally grateful!

[michael178]

It helps to have objective information. My wife holds a record of submitting one page with tests done several years apart each showing her disability. And she got her disability. The lesson is: if you can get someone to measure your inability to work, that will help.