who is eligible for disability?
Im 39? years old and have MS. Im also a stay at home mommy of 3 toddlers/babies. I chose to stop working when I was prego with no. 1 because the stress almost cost me my baby.

My doctor said you have to document ll hospitalizations????

The definition of disability under Social Security is different than other programs. Social Security pays only for total disability. No benefits are payable for partial disability or for short-term disability.

"Disability" under Social Security is based on your inability to work. We consider you disabled under Social Security rules if:

You cannot do work that you did before;
We decide that you cannot adjust to other work because of your medical condition(s); and
Your disability has lasted or is expected to last for at least one year or to result in death.
This is a strict definition of disability. Social Security program rules assume that working families have access to other resources to provide support during periods of short-term disabilities, including workers' compensation, insurance, savings and investments.

See http://www.ssa.gov/dibplan/dqualify4.htm for the criteria SS uses to determine disability.

The ADA has a three-part definition of disability that is based on the definition under the Rehabilitation Act and reflects the specific types of discrimination experienced by people with disabilities. Accordingly, it is not the same as the definition of disability under other laws, such as state workers' compensation laws or other federal or state laws, that provide benefits for people with disabilities and disabled veterans.

Under the ADA, an individual with a disability is a person who:

Has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities.
Has a record of such an impairment.
Is regarded as having such an impairment.

See http://www.adata.org/about/definition.html#definition

I have learned one thing through my years of battle and that is the SSA does not usually follow their own criteria that they spend so much time and money having written up as guidlines. Sorry for the sarcasm but I really have lost most of my respect for government agencies.

I will mention that depending on your circumstances, you may be able to file for SSI. For that, you do not need work credits but financial need. It seems to me (from what I have been reading about people and their success stories) is that SSI is approved more often and in less time than regular SS. Maybe the monies come from a different fund, I am not sure.

Anyway, if I were you , I would certainly give it a try. You should be able to check the ssa website to see if financially you would qualify to apply. They would take into consideration your family income and size.

It certainly does not have anything to do with whether or not you have had two hospitals stays! That would be nice though.

If you meet criteria for SSI then you would also get state medical benefits. In our state its called medicaid.

You have nothing to lose by trying except messing with a bunch of paperwork! I say go for it.

I was never hospitalized for my MS before my approval for SSDI. Hospitalization is not a requirement.

Having your doctors 150% behind you in my opinion is necessary! They give much more credence to that then your opinion.