Disability paperwork

Heogog53 · Mar 25, 2010

First you need to find a doc who is willing to write a disability letter. You need to go check out the SSA website about how to apply for disability. GET A LAWYER. Granted they cost money, but take it from one who knows- you can't do this without one- and they earn their money, too.

In my case, I had a world re-known diagnostician, a well regarded doc who'd been treating me for awhile, a pain management doc, my counselor and my personal GP all write letters. I filed alone twice and was refused. YOU ONLY GET 3 CHANCES and then you are OUT. Besides, talking to a disability doc for the first time is free and they will tell you up front if you have a case. Get all your medical records, and everything else you think can help and bring it all with you the first time. They will also send out a huge questionnaire to fill in. Do it!!!!

Cindi Franck LPN · Mar 25, 2010

I know every situation is different, but documentation of your illness(es) helps. I was able to get SSDI on my first try for Fibromyalgia without a lawyer. I was surprized but I think it helped that I worked 30 yrs. and went to doctors for 20 yrs. in the same state and mostly same area of the state, making it easier. That's just my opinion. I applied and SS did the rest. They must have requested documents from my docs. So I guess I'm saying it wouldn't hurt to call SS and ask for the application and send it in. It took 4 months before I got my first check. I think it also helped to tell my last employer that I was filing and why. SS is looking to see if you can do the kind of work you have been doing. Good luck. I hope it turns out as easy for you as it was for me.

Heogog53 · Mar 25, 2010

I am so impressed that you got accepted first time out- and for FM!!! How recently was that, anyway? My case for FM was done in NC in the 1990's, when FM was not recognized as a health issue. I was lucky to have a great SS representative as well as one of my docs is a recognized certified disability doc. It took over 18 months and finally I had to contact my senator's office to prove that I needed to get my case to court ASAP, based on my inability to pay my bills(which you have to demonstrate with past due bills).

I hope that the Original Poster has your same luck.

Btw, once the adult is on SSDI, children are also included and you are basically given a stipend to help support them. If your income is low enough, you might be eligible for WIC and Food Stamps, the kids might qualify for whatever the name of the children's health care program is, something like CCHIP, aside from Medicaid. You'll get Medicare coverage, which is pretty good if your docs will accept it.

Good luck, my dear- I sincerely hope that it takes much less time than my case did.

mustlovepoodles, RN · Mar 28, 2010

Btw, once the adult is on SSDI, children are also included and you are basically given a stipend to help support them. If your income is low enough, you might be eligible for WIC and Food Stamps, the kids might qualify for whatever the name of the children's health care program is, something like CCHIP, aside from Medicaid. You'll get Medicare coverage, which is pretty good if your docs will accept it.
Good luck, my dear- I sincerely hope that it takes much less time than my case did.

I also agree with the advice to get a disability lawyer. They are invaluable in guiding you through the process. They know how it's done and they help you with the information gathering.

But first you have to have a doctor who is on your side, who is willing to fill out the copious amount of documentation again and again. DH was finally awarded SSDI after 3 years and one denial. It was a grueling experience, not for the faint of heart. You have to be willing to hang in there for the long haul.

After DH got on SSDI, he started receiving Medicare in about 5 months or so. Our kids were not eligible for Medicaid or Medicare but they were both awarded SSDI benefits. Also, as a result of our dramatic drop in income the kids now qualify for free lunches, which saves us hundreds of dollars per year. We also qualify for the Earned Income Credit on our federal income taxes, which means that we get back pretty much ALL the taxes we have paid. THis has in the past netted us as much as $8000! We don't qualify for WIC or Food stamps, but that's okay. We have a garden in the summer and we pretty much eat out of the garden for 6 months out of the year.

A side note--we hooked up with Angel Food Ministries to help us buy affordable food. THey have sites all over the U.S. and you don't have to join a church or even be a Christian to receive the food. Each month there is a food box that costs about $30-35 which contains 2-3 kinds of meat, rice or dressing mix, dry beans, some fresh veggies,frozen veggies and some kind of dessert. All this food is grocery store or restaurant quality. You can also order a fruit and veggie box--that's my favorite. We always get a big bag of apples, a cabbage, maybe some oranges or limes or pears. Carrots, onions, celery. Once in awhile they include a fresh pineapple or mango or plums. Sweet potatoes and white potatoes. It costs about $25 and lasts our family of 4 for at least 3 weeks. So for less than $75/month I can feed my family a lot of nutritious food. I still have to go to the store for milk and sometimes additional fresh veggies but it really helps stretch our food budget. Google Angel Food Ministries and check them out. :)

kemper1974 · Apr 2, 2010

I don't have to apply for disability yet (I have RA and Fibro) but have gone thru the process with my husband. The most important thing is to document everything! My sister in law worked for SSDI as an investigator, and she said that if there is a point where you even think you may have to be declared disabled, to start getting all your ducks in a row...make sure you see your primary doc, specialists and get seen by a pain specialist and a psychiatrist (there is a section for mental health evaluation..if you are depressed, or on meds it's good to have a paper trail of treatment) Also get the help of a lawyer, they usually won't charge you anything until the case is settled. In my husband's case, we also got an SSDI stipend for each of the kids until they turned 18/graduated HS/ Not much but it helped.