Not everyone with Lupus matches SS's definition being eligible for SSI/SSDI, nor is kidney function the only deciding factor of when they'll become eligible.

Agreed.

My comment was in response to a blanket statement that lupus was not disabling and should not qualify one for disability, as a poster stated was made by Judge Judy.

The young lady of whom I wrote was an inspiration. I just wanted to honor her and her courage. She really touched my life.

"a blanket statement that lupus was not disabling and should not qualify one for disability"


Misassumptions regarding lupus (and most diseases or conditions) can happen on both at either end of the spectrum. Saying that "lupus is not disabling and should not qualify one for disability" (*not Judge Judy's exact words) is not correct. Saying, ""lupus instantly causes total disability and should result in automatic disability approval" is also not correct.

The symptoms of lupus (SLE) will cause some level of disability. Many unfortunate lupus sufferers will experience total disability at some point in the course of their disease; that may come sooner or later in the course of the condition for different people.

I'm appalled by what Judge Judy said. I think it was insensitive at best (I have my fingers crossed that maybe she will make a public apology and clarification) and incredibly bigoted and/or ignorant at worst. 'm also a little confused by it. In describing her dil, she says somedays she's exhausted, somedays she gets done what she needs to. Judge Judy never actually says that what she needs to do ( I'm paraphrasing, but here's the link if anyone needs it : http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j...55123115,d.eW0 ) includes SGA. Heck, I get done what I NEED to. Unfortunately, bathing, housework, working at a job, driving the kids to school because they missed the bus......none of them are NEEDS, they are WANTS.

Then she says that sometimes it's debilitating and sometimes not. Is that supposed to mean that for some people it disabling and for some people it's not ? Or does it mean that just because her dil isn't that bad some of the time, she expects ALL people with lupus can do SGA ? Does she "get" that employers usually aren't too fond of employees who only show up 1/2 the time ?

Will she still be saying, "Meh" if her dil ends up on dialysis ?

It sure sounds like she did !

I heard a News person talking about that 60 minutes program. Then he said that the SSDI will run out in a number of months. I looked it up on the internet,and saw that they can only pay 80% of SSDI after 2016. This freaked me out.

Has anyone researched this,or talked to a paralegal person about this? Brokenfriend

Congress can vote to transfer funds from the retirement pot to the disability pot. They have done that in the past. SSA's actuaries predicted this 'shortfall' years ago. Congress would have to vote on it. Talking to a paralegal would do nothing. A lawyer could do nothing.

I predict Congress will act the way they usually do - make a bunch of headlines and sound bites, create a large amount of unease, argue with each other, thump their chests, and in the end, vote to move money from one pot to another.

Now none of that helps the long term solvency and whether our children or grandchildren get the same deal that current beneficiaries are getting since this is unsustainable in the long term.

I agree with this perspective.

Brokenfriend, that's just what they want you to do. Then they can come riding in on their white horse and "save the day" at the 11th hour. They've done this before and will continue doing it as long as they can get away with it. Please don't let their antics upset you. They have an agenda and don't care who gets hurt while they play.

Thank you Janke,and Kitty. I feel better after reading your replies. Brokenfriend.

I found out today when I went to my appointment that what I heard on the news,and what I read about SSDI on the Social Security website about SSDI running out of money in 2016 is wrong. The Social Security person said that it was false information. I read it on the Social Security web site,and it was wrong there. I must have gone to the wrong website. He said don't believe everything that you read on the internet. I handed back the telephone to my case manager in relief. Brokenfriend