Ok Im facing reality now..

[Yaps]

Nurse today and dr, have advised me to go on disabilty ..now.. do not stop, my future is somewhat dim , they say, and that I should enjoy 'what time I have left' their words not mine. I so didnt want this....
hate paperwork, and bk will hit the roof.. but.. Im seeing dr next week, to get appropiate documents, once I have these I am starting the ball. What really convinced me was the nurse, she has been the most informative there, and the kindest.
She has held me like a child when I cried , because I didnt want another cath and stent,that was right after the 'butcher 'had me, and to say I was terrified is stating it lightly.
Can someone tell me what documents I may need?
I will have to send for copy birth cert.. anything else I should know? Please? this is frightening me more than I can express.
Ive been paying my own bills for so long , never dreamt I'd need assistance. But they feel if I dont do this ..I will not make it through the year..their words..woof

 

[Karlynn]

Yaps, so sorry to hear of your news. But I was instantly reminded of Nancy's line "Never give in and never give up." I have a friend who was told to "enjoy what time she had left" almost 20 years ago. And she's still enjoying it.

 

[Granbonny]

Hi Yaps

Hi Yaps

I agree with the nurse...take the disability monthly payments. quit working and enjoy life. Your health will probably improve. Sleep in late, play with your dogs. ect...Have you ever considered raising puppies from a pure-bred? I have a single cousin in Mobile near you..that does well raising Rhodesian Ridgebacks. Gets like a $1,000..a puppy. Litter is usually 10.....Your doctor will have all the info you need and of course, he will have to sign for you....May take a while..other members may can tell you more. I know, my sister needs it but unable to get it...so she works for Red Cross 4 hours a day and Dad helps her out. I have a friend who got it..She had her spleen removed...and she is the most active, social person. Goes to all social functions..Never slows down.........I know she has to take a lot of meds..but I know other people that need it cannot get it..Just certain health problems qualify. : Thank goodness Red Cross pays for some of my sister's health issues...(Their insurance)................BTW..my cousin is a Vet in Foley, Alabama near you... I wish you all the best..Bonnie

 

[Nancy]

Joe went through the same thing in '86 or '87. The large corporation he was working for retired him on medical disability. He was fortunate that he had a pension and then applied for Social Security Disability. It took a while for the SSD to work it's way through the system. You will need voluminous documentation from all of your doctors going back as far as you can. An attorney specializing in this area can be most helpful.

So some 18 years and four major surgeries later, Joe's still here. I'm sure the corporate, high tension setting would have shortened his life.

Go for it and enjoy. It doesn't necessarily mean that you won't have a long life ahead of you.

 

[Mb]

Hello!

If your Doctor is encouraging you to go on disability, then you probably will not have a problem at all with getting approval.

My husband applied (finally), and was approved in three, yes, three weeks.

I do believe some of it has to do with your age, and your occupation, and what the Doctors report back to Social Security..

The program was designed to assist people who could no longer work due to serious health issues. You, and your employer, paid into the system, sort of like "insurance". If you qualify, get it, and do NOT feel guilty. When your health insurance company pays the Dr.'s bills, hospital bills, tests etc., I would assume you don't feel badly. So, don;t feel badly when that check gets deposited into your account each month.

FYI - I went with him when he applied. I brought a typed list of (1) his medications (2) Dr.s' names, addresses and phone numbers (3) Hospitals he had been in (4) his exact diagnosis (5) reports that I thought might be relevent - Everything went VERY smoothly. - Best wishes. - Marybeth

 

[Ross]

Social Security Disability sucks to get on to. Not everyone is approved immediately even if they present with grave diagnosis's. Some people get lucky, but most of us have to fight for years to get approved.

My best advice is to get an attorney that specializes in SS Disability. You don't pay up front and they get paid out of back benefits due to you from SS. You may have to shell out for your medical records. If you have an attorney working for you, it tells SS that this person believes the case can be won and they're more likely not to jerk you around forever. I learned the hard way. I fought it all myself up to the fifth level of appeal before getting an attorney. All it took then was one additional piece of documentation and a phone call to the administrative law judge from the attorney, and the case was approved. It only took 2.75 years to get it. Easiest money that attorney ever made!

One thing I've learned, don't believe a damn thing that SS tells you about the records they've sent for and received. They send one notice and if nothing is heard in 30 days, they make decisions on what they do have. In other words, they will not even try to get what you may need to prove your case.

One other thing, you will not get enough money to do anything comfortable with, so don't think that you'll have anything to spare because you won't. You may be a little better off if you get some relief from an employer, but there is no way you'll have any relief on SS.

Here are the need to know links for SS:
http://www.ssa.gov/OP_Home/cfr20/404/404-0000.htm
http://www.ssa.gov/OP_Home/cfr20/404/404-ap09.htm
http://www.ssa.gov/OP_Home/cfr20/404/404-ap10.htm