I just recently applied for SSA and SSI on Oct. 26. So yep, I'mma "baby" to this whole process. The lady who helped us fill out the application was so nice and helpful, I went out of the office really feeling good about the process. I felt kinda bad though, cause I had like 5 or 6 breakdowns, and was crying like a fool. At one point, she even came from behind my desk to bring tissues and hug me for a little bit. (yeah, I'm totally emotional at times).

Three days after filling out the application, I got sent like 6 different manilla envelopes chocked full of forms from the DDS office. Pain Evaluation, Fatigue Evaluation, Headache Evaluation, Function Report, Work History Report, and a DDS Information Sheet. I filled those out and returned them (what a nightmare!!!) It was like life stopped for the time it took to fill them out. I had hubby make copies of the forms before we returned them.

I have read that you are supposed to be honest and as complete as possible in answering the questions, but one of my friends (who is going to law school at the present time) read over my forms and told me I gave them too much information???

I guess I'm so anxious about this that I'm not sure exactly what I have questions about, if that makes sense. I guess one of the questions is.... is it actually possible to give too much information? I mean, I tried to answer them completely when they asked a question, but my problems seem like they merge and blend in together so totally, that its hard discerning where the numbness ends and pain starts. See, I'm a stay at home mom since 2002, so if something starts to hurt, I stop and rest. I rarely reach that 7-10 pain, cause I have the opportunity to take very frequent breaks during the day, to take naps when I feel fatigued, etc.

Any information or opinions would be extremely appreciated. Oh, for the record, my whole goal for SSA/SSI isnt monetary, its all about health insurance. I dont have any at all, so every doctors appointment is comming out of pocket. We've checked into free clinics, and being a rural community, we dont have access to any of those. Closest thing is the health dept. and all they have are Nurses, and a gynecologist that comes in once a month for paps.

Course now, if we win, I'm not saying I'd turn down any money... LOL, mama didnt raise a dummy. But we honestly want the health care, its more important, ya know?

Thanks for listening and for any input, God bless you all!!!!

Dawn

first off good luck. second thing is you will have to wait 24 months on the medicare and it only covers you. I hope you have enough recent quarters to qualify. again good luck and keep us posted.

We're not sure about the quarters, as in the past 15 years I was off of work a total of 6 years taking care of children 3 and under. I understand that you have to have "recent" quarters of work. However, the lady at the SS Office said something about if I didnt have enough work credits, they would go off my husbands work credits? (He's been employed through our entire relationship, 2 years of dating and 14 years of marriage).

I find it all so very confusing. Let alone the fact that we were told a couple months ago that I didnt qualify for a Medical Card of any kind.... although our children are lucky enough to recieve health assistance via our state plan because to provide them hubby's family plan insurance through his work is almost 1/2 of our monthly income.

The medical card people sent us to the disability people. After filing the application, the disability people told us that to get help with medical bills, our only option was to go to the medical card people. Which we did, and who said, basically, "Sorry for yer trouble, but there's nothing we can do to help" *sighs*

If your husband can get you covered through his job it may be well worth half his pay check. He could ever get a part time job at Starbucks or Sears. The 2 places I can think of that give benifits to PT workers. I was one of the rare cases that was approved on the first apply to SSD.The decision did not come for 9 months though. But I had Cobra through my job too. But after you are you have to wait 24 months to get any medical coverage. What is your disability?

that everyone hasnt heard the whole story *blushes*. I have Arnold-Chiari Malformation Type 1, Chronic Myofascial Entrapment, Anxiety/Panic Attacks, Slight Carpal Tunnel, Extreme Fatigue, Decompression of Cervical Vertabrae 1, 2 and 3, and a semi-sudden drop in visual acquity from 30/20 to 90/20 best corrected vision (80/20 in left eye and 100/20 in right eye), over the past year and a half/two years. I havent driven since 2006, it was just too frightning thinking my vision was so bad I might have an accident with the kiddos in the car.

I had actually accepted the offer of a job as pianist/organist for our home church in 2005. I've played all different types of keyboards all my life since starting piano lessons in 3rd grade. So thought it would fit in nicely with wanting to be a full time stay at home mom to our kiddos, plus 1 hour 3 times a week was definately something I could handle, and it would have meant 120 dollars of extra income each week. But it was then that I actually noticed how bad my eyesight had become, and we started going to opthamologists, who were all dumbstruck by what was going on, since everything was "structurally sound" as far as the mechanics of the eye went. However, one lovely lady had the foresite to send me to a true neuro-opthamologist who decided to bite the bullet and put into writing that the Arnold-Chiari may very well be the cause of the vision loss. I am currently waiting for the MRI results from last Monday, we should know something either Wed. or Thurs.

Thankyou so very much for your responses. God Bless you!!!

Dee

Morning dont forget the important part is to explain how all of those diseases/conditions limit your ability to work and taken as a whole make it impossible.

Have you had surgery for the Chiari? I'm having an MRI in December to check for Chiari. The last 5 years I have been having a lot of complications due to having aquired hydrocephalus. Plus doctors not knowing I had it.

Its really helpful, and will keep ya'll informed. Or bug ya with more questions, whichever comes first .

Monicad - yes, I had ACM surgery in June of 2000. Have posted about it in the ACM subforum at the site here. Hope you have good luck with your surgery. If ya wanna compare notes anytime, I'm not an expert, but I like to think I'm a survivor

Once again, thankyou all for your comments!!! God bless you!!!

Dawn