~ Faith

I think the point Michael is making; is that being disabled in itself is a full time job. I know for sure it is for me.

Driving me to all of my appointments is almost a full time job for my 70 year old parents who live an hour away

Sorry to hear about your flare-ups.
I would discuss filing for benefits with my doctors. I found this book helpful.

http://www.amazon.com/Nolos-Guide-So...2830597&sr=1-1

Here are two forms the agency will send you to fill out. They are not filled out in the book.
SSA 3373 BK
SSA 3380 BK
http://www.disabilitydoc.com/disabil...ication-forms/

New question --

For those of you who have used disability attorneys to help in getting accepted:

Did your attorney do anything to help you get accepted on the first application --prior to denial? Sounds like mine would only remind me of deadlines, etc. I can read SS letters; I don't need to pay them 25% of my backpay to call me about a deadline.

Regarding helping with filing application/knowing how to word it, etc., "We can answer any questions that you have." Well, I've already filled it out. Too late.

I think I'll wait to find an attorney until I see if I need to go to court.


~ Faith

Well, I've already filled it out. Too late. I am sure you understand how to fill out these forms.
How does SSA define the levels of work?
How do you prove disability? There are two ways and what are they?

http://www.nhchc.org/DocumentingDisability.pdf

Your attorney should do an intake interview, and assist you in filling out all papers. Most times this can be done by phone. You send your medical records to the lawyers office, and they forward them on to SSA.
You would recieve a copy of all forms send to SSA, and a letter when medical records were submitted.
When you use an attorney, they may want the case to wait a year for approval. SSA has a rule, that a case has to last a year or be terminal to get benefits.

Good luck with your case,

The 4 doctors (neurologist, primary care provider/family doctor, psychiatrist, psychologist) that I see regularly, or, have seen off and on, during the previous 6 years are all supportive of my applying for disability. My psychologist says that she has had success with helping to get SSDI applications approved, in 6-8 months, without a denial, for other clients. At least 3 out of 4 of my doctors are willing to write a letter to SSDI, rather than just forwarding medical records.

While, emotionally, this feels somewhat disconcerting for me, because this is not the direction that I wish that I was going, I expect that it will help me to be approved more quickly and easily.

I completed my Disability Report Form SSA-3368-BK
and my Work History Report Form SSA-3369-BK online last week; I turned in my 18 Medical Release forms in person in the SSA office on Monday. I attempted to complete their Application online last week, too, but, after I saved it, I could not get back in with my Re-Entry number.

I have a phone interview scheduled for tormorrow. SSA told me that they could complete my application then.

Next week, I am volunteering to help in our church's VBS (Vacation Bible School) program, and then I may start to look for some volunteer work. I really don't have tons of energy, but if I find some small things to do, that will keep me busy some of the time. I worry that, if I am home full-time without something meaningful to do, that I will be at risk of depression.

~ Faith

Thanks.

The attorney's office that I contacted did not seem interested in doing much more than reminding me about deadlines, and helping with the appeal, if it goes to court. I decided not to retain them, during this initial application process, if I'm paying them for just about nothing.

I guess some attorneys might be better, but he's the only disability attorney from around here listed in the yellow pages.

The 4 doctors (neurologist, primary care provider/family doctor, psychiatrist, psychologist) that I see regularly, or, have seen off and on, during the previous 6 years are all supportive of my applying for disability. My psychologist says that she has had success with helping to get SSDI applications approved, in 6-8 months, without a denial, for other clients. At least 3 out of 4 of my doctors are willing to write a letter to SSDI, rather than just forwarding medical records.

While, emotionally, this feels somewhat disconcerting for me, because this is not the direction that I wish that I was going, I expect that it will help me to be approved more quickly and easily.

I completed my Disability Report Form SSA-3368-BK and my Work History Report Form SSA-3369-BK online last week; I turned in my 18 Medical Release forms in person in the SSA office on Monday. I attempted to complete their Application online last week, too, but, after I saved it, I could not get back in with my Re-Entry number.

I have a phone interview scheduled for tormorrow. SSA told me that they could complete my application then.

Next week, I am volunteering to help in our church's VBS (Vacation Bible School) program, and then I may start to look for some volunteer work. I really don't have tons of energy, but if I find some small things to do, that will keep me busy some of the time. I worry that, if I am home full-time without something meaningful to do, that I will be at risk of depression.

~ Faith

A lawyer should also be explaining if you are eligible to receive benefits.

Like...........how much will you be able to do volunteer work ? If you are able to drive cancer patients to their treatments 4 hours a day, SS will consider you able to deliver phone books. If you can supervise the bible school kids for the week, you can be a school bus monitor. It doesn't matter if you used to make $100,000 a year and now you can't keep a job that pays more than minimum wage because you miss a month every year to an exacerbation. SS will say that you can work for McDonalds this year, then Burger King, then Wendy's.

I got rejected on my first try. I just found out at my appeal hearing.....It wasn't about how eloquently I or my doctors described my pain that increases with any activity. It's about how long you can sit, walk, and stand.

Have you been out a whole year yet ? I just found that out too, you need to be out a year (unless you have ALS or are terminal) before you even apply.

Explaing all of that was what a lawyer should do

Best of luck in this long process Faith

hi I am new here but I have been on SSI for about 2 yrs. now. I was denied the first time but was told that everyone is I guess it's their way of making people sweat and weeding out the ones that would just suck it up and go back to work. I have two daughters now 8 and 5 and I am 27 applying was not something I wanted to do (that was for old people) but the more I looked at it there was no way I would be able to continue to work and take care of my girls. I was diagnosed with DDD and had my second unsuccsessful surgery at the age of 23 I have pain on a daily basis and my legs often give out on me with no warning. If you get the right doctors who will give it to you strat and back you up you should have no problem receiving SSI they might have you on partical SSI which is where you are able to work a limited amount of hous a week with out it affecting your ben. But iyou as a person know your limitations and if you feel that you need help there is no shame in applying like I said just about everyone I've talked to was denied the first time but just don't give up.