Hello to all;
I am a pastor and just filed for social security disability. I have had chronic pain for years and it is finally causing me so much trouble that I cannot work the way a pastor should.
The question I have to anyone who knows, would it jeapordize my filing to still teach a Bible study during the course of a week? Yesterday I resigned from my church as pastor because I cannot be working while I am applying for disability and I cannot perform the functions that I once could. So now I am wondering what my limitations are.

If anyone can help would you please email me or put up a post?

Thanks,
Snowfrog

Hi Snowfrog~

I tried to reply to your post last night, but my computer kept performing "illegal operations". Hmmmmm...

I'm not sure how working, even very part-time, might affect your pending application for SSD. I DO know that you can still draw benefits and work at the same time, but that's after the fact of receiving a disability award, and then you can only make up to a certain amount before it starts decreasing your benefits. It would stand to reason that working should not prevent you getting disability, since it's allowed after receiving benefits....but reason doesn't always prevail.

Perhaps it would be helpful to contact a disability attorney and ask, just to be sure.

I wish you the best,

~Teri

If you haven't already, log onto www.ssa.gov (http://www.ssa.gov) ....you'll find a lot of information there

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Spina-bifida occulta; Congenital Scoliosis (dextrorotatory and 'S' curve, 42 thorasic and 57 degrees lumbar); Meningomyelocele (split cord @ L1); Diastematomyelia (re-sectioned at L2-3); tethered cord @ S-3; cysts on cord; various developmental abnormalities of the spine: narrowing of all disk spaces, defects in posterior arches, ectasia of the spinal canal and dura, segmental disease, sclerosis in L. iliac bone and adjacent sacroiliac joint, unilateral osteitis condensans ilium, hypertrophic facet disease L4-5 and L5-S1.

Surgeries include, but not limited to:
Lumbar fusion-1968
Fusion with Herrington Rod instrumentation-1970
Femoral osteotomy-1971
Tethered cord release-1987
Rod removal-1987
Chiari-type pelvic osteotomy-1988
Trochanteric osteotomy-1989

As long as you are not making over a certain amount of money, it should be okay. If you make more than minimum wage x 40 hrs/week you will not qualify. YOu need to be disabled or expect to be disabled (per a doctors definition) for at least 12 months to qualify for SSD.

It's always a good idea to consult with an attorney. SSD attorneys work on a contingency basis so you don't have to pay anything up front. Then thye only get paid a % of your retroactive SSD benefits if you get them.

love and prayers,

aj in Oregon



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~ 48 year old female; currently self-employed as an artist/designer/woodcrafter.
~ Previously worked in the restaurant biz for 27 years (not so good for someone with a bad back!)
~ Hereditary and congenital scoliosis, but it never caused any problems until I was 40+ years old.
~ 76 degree curvature had increased 2 degrees in two years 1999-2001; indicating surgery was necessary.
~ Surgery in March of 2001.
~ Fusion and insturmentation of C7 - T9.
~ Fourth rib removed; 5th and 6th rib cut back halfway; removed ribs were morselized and used for the grafting, plus additional bone harvested from hip.
~ After tthe hardware was attached, spine was straigntened 20+ degrees.
~ 2 weeks in the hospital.
~ Brace worn for five months. Bone growth stimulator device also worn several hours per day.
~ PT 5 mos. after surgery caused increased pain.
~ Follow-up surgery to remove hardware scheduled for Feb. 2002.
~ Round 2 of PT 2 mos. after hardware removal.
~ Medically released to return to full activity in July 2002.
~ Increased pain upon returning to regular work schedule.
~ Round 3 of PT in April/May 2003; continually increasing pain.