Hello

Well, I just hung up after a 75 minute phone interview to begin the process of filing for disability. Whew! The representative was very nice and patient, but I gotta say, it was exhausting. I know this is going to be a long process. It feels discouraging right now because I am so tired and just don't have the capacity to fill out long forms and answer a million questions. My husband will help me fill out the forms thankfully.

How important is it to get a lawyer involved? I answered the question honestly, just not always sure what was being looked for. My family doctor is 100% behind me, as is my oncologist. I am hoping this will help.

Guess I am just looking for something encouraging to lwet me know that my efforts in filing are not wasted. I have heard so many horror stories. Is it ever just a matter of being truthful and being accepted???

Thank you
reachout

May the force be with you :)

I think most people get a lawyer after the first denial if there is one. If you have your Dr. behind you, maybe you will be one of the select few who get it on the first try.

Hey Reach: I got a laywer after I was denied. It does not really matter when you get one. They get paid if you win. I would get one though. I think that it just makes you feel better knowing that when you go to court you won't be alone.
After you get denied the second time you ask for a courrt date. It takes about 1 1/2 to get. At least that's how long it took me. I had my lawyer ask for an on the record. That's when the judge looks at all paper work and decides with out seeing you. I had that and was denied. Now I have a court daye for March 11th. I just feel better knowing i'll have a lawyer with me. Also she will help me figure out what questions will be asked. She has also told me what other things I will need. I have two grea letters from my doc's as well as the records. I have a list of med's from my pharamacy as well. I make sure I got to Doc's all the time.

Just know that it takes forever that it sucks really bad. I pray you get it the first try. Keep us informed.
Jeane

I would not involve an attorney unless your initial claim is denied.Don't be worried due to the horror stories.My experience has been a nightmare...but I am one of the few.And I still am pursuing full force ahead!
You mentioned your oncologist being behind you so I seriously dought you will have any problems.
I believe that ssa has now given any type of cancer a priority over any other disability.As they should!
Regardless of the disability my best advice is ....not only tell a DR where,how and when.....but always how it effects you on a daily basis.Best of luck to you and keep me posted.MB

Hello

Wow, I sure do appreciate the time you folks took to respond to me. Smiles.

I am not suffering from cancer now... it is the aftermath of treatment from some years back that has just progressed with nerve damage and pain and lymphedema. I lost part of my left thigh to the cancer. I had a physical and mental breakdown in October 2006 (the second major one) and my stamina is just shot. It took me a full year to get out of the depression from non-functioning to fairly normal now. Had a heart attack in 2003 and multiple surgeries. I have just kept fighting back and trying to work. My body can not take anymore. I have also developed fecal incontinence. Now, that is an embarrassing one to discuss with Disabilty people.

They kept wanting me to give one specific reason and I kept telling them it is a combination and culmination of many issues. They kept asking, well, what is the big reason? Does there have to be one single reason? I have been reading about disability online and my mind is spinning. I am trying to be as truthful as I can with these people, but the truth is that it has been a process getting to this point in my life and it is a culmination of a few issues.

Thank you each again for taking the time to share witrh me.

With hope always
reach

To answer your question - yes. Be truthful and it very well may pay off on your first try. Did on mine. From what investigation I've done too, some states have higher incidences of first try approvals vs. denials. In my case, I gave them all the info they needed and then went back to my treating sources to make sure they sent in the documents without delay. Most of the time waiting is for the medical evidence to get into their hands. Once they have everything from every treating source, they work up your claim for an answer.

It's hard to say why some have to go through years of applying and appeals. I think the social security examiners I talked with were happy to be dealing with me rather than a lawyer. Just an opinion. I was approved within 6 mos. So was my son (24). It's all in the medical evidence they receive - they are trying to figure out if you can do "ANY" type of work - not just necessarily the job you used to have. Good luck.:)

When I applied and filled out ALL the paperwork the most important think I felt was to get across why you cannot work. To explain how your disabilities make it impossible for you to do any work. Tell them also what you cannot do at home anymore due to your disability. While many do not get approved on the first time some do. Maybe you will be one of the lucky ones as I was. I did not get a lawyer, thought I would after the second denial but that never came.
Good luck to you. Keep a paper record of everything.

Hi Again

Maybe that is what I feel like is missing.... the opportunity to expalin what I can not do anymore. Like my husband has taken over 90% of the household chores... laundry and cooking and such. I put away a basket of laundry and then need to rest. I do not take care of any banking or writing checks because I get so foggy brained as soon as I get at all fatigued. To stand at the stove and cook causes great pain in my leg and gut. These things are why I had to stop working. I was working in a high school settingwhere I would assist students with Algebra and sciences and helping immigrants learn English. I just don't have concentration available anymore.

When will I get a chance to let them know these things? Will it be in the paperwork that is going to be sent?

Boy, it is so overwhelming me to me. I will have to take it step by step I guess. I am grateful to have this board available for advice and encouragement. This whole deal is causing me great anxiety. I feel like I am in a position where I have to defend myself and prove I am not a beater. I really loved my work and had planned on working another 10-15 years. It just didn't work out that way. Sigh. Did you all have anxious feelings going through this process. I sat here and sobbed for fifteen minutes tonight just feeling overwhelmed.

Hey, sorry for being such a baby here tonight. Need rest I guess.

Hope you all have a good evening. Thank you for your caring and sharing.
reach

I don't remember a place where this could be stated. I do remember them wanting to know all about the jobs I held, and what were my responsibilities. I wrote a separate letter detailing all the things that I could no longer do, or couldn't do well anymore, and why I couldn't work anymore, and had it included in my files.

Hi Reach,
If you're a big baby, then I guess I am, too! No, really, this is very stressful, and there's no reason to feel bad about needing to cry about it sometimes. I've done a lot of crying recently, partly because of pain and partly because of stress.

I got a big packet, about 10 pages long, to fill out about a month after I submitted my application. It was detailing what I can and cannot do and how my life is different now. I tried to be as detailed as I could, and I was completely honest. All the time I was filling it out, I was thinking, "If they wanted to come and investigate and secretly videotape me, would they take issue with what I'm writing?" Not that they would, but that was a good guideline for me to not exaggerate even the tiniest bit. If they ever really did want to videotape me, it would only confirm every word I wrote!

The waiting is so hard! I wish you the best,
Emily

Hello Friends

I can never convey to you the sense of relief I have had in being able to share my feelings here and have them met with support and advice.

At the end of that long, long phone interview, the representative did say I would be getting a packet from a state place with more questions. To tell the truth, I was so exhausted after answering so many questions that it got hard to stay focused and take all the info in.

After reading your thoughts here, I think I am going to sit down and make a chart of what I can no longer do and save it as a hard copy. I will use it as a guide to answer whatever questions come in whatever packet shows up next. Then I will put it in a proper letter format and submit it along with the packet.

You know, I have a very nice husband...married 36 years now. Smiles. However, he just doesn't seem to understand how emotional and stressful this seems to be going through this whole process. He just says, "Don't worry about it." I try not to, but sometimes have a feeling of my character being on the line. My quality of life is better without the physical and mental strains of working everyday. I still deal with a lot of pain, but it is more manageable when I can rest at will as necessary. I would like to not worry about it, but the financial struggle is tough with my not working.

Okay... you wonderful folks have motivated me to do something productive here. I am going to start making that chart and try to just take it all as it comes.

Hugs to all of you
reach

Hello Again All

Well, at the end of last week, I received a huge packet from the state. 6 pages or so of blah, blah, yada, yada and about 20 pages of questions. Holy Mackeral! Each question had to be answered and then explanation given. It was overwhelming for me, so I did not tackle it until Sunday. Then I did a section at a time over a few days. I just now finished.

I had made a chart of what I used to do and no longer can to prepare for a letter to include. Thanks for that suggestion. Fortunately, there was a page available to add any additional information I thought might be needed and I wrote my letter there.

I really, really hope this is the last of the huge paperwork. It was physically and emotionally exhausting. Hard to have to put down and read in black and white what can no longer be done. I really loved my work, but just can not function to do it or any work dependably anymore. I felt a bit demoralizd there for a few days, but I am back to accepting that what is, is.

I have a friend that just went for the physical from the state doctor. he told her that he is recommending her for disability. Does it all come down to his say-so? Who else plays a part in the decision making? Just curious if anyone knows.

Thank you for your support. I will get a lwayer if I have to, but I truly feel at the moment that while legal support is important, moral support is paramount. Thank you all for biolstering me through this emotional experience.

Manana
reachout

Reachout, don't be discouraged if you get turned down. Almost everyone does on the first try. I filled out that same huge packet and I don't think they even read it. My "rejection" letter stated that I have no limitations in my walking, standing, or getting around. I do have limitations in those areas, and even more with sitting. I have two doctors saying that there's no way I'll ever be able to work again, but disability thinks I can. I never got a call to see their doctor. I am appealing, of course. It's a long process. Don't give up. Maybe you'll be one of the chosen few who get it the first time! There's always hope!

Emily

Hello Emily

Thanks for the response. Smiles.

You know, it is sad that there has to be so much fear and doubt when applying for disability. I do not believe any of us looked forward to a time when we just could not work, when our lives have to change because of disabilities.

I am curious.... did the Disability Board ever provide an opportunity for your own doctors to have imput? I know they wanted addresses and phone numbers, but it was never stated what they would do with them. I realize now I should have asked. Hindsight, huh? When I was in the midst of that interview, it was all I could do to keep my wits around me. They didn't even want to know everything... it was like they preferred one answer to what was wrong and for me, it really involves quite a few issues. I made sure to include them all in my written paperwork, but as you wrote, who knows how thoroughly the paperwork is read by them?

I wish you well in your own efforts. You sure seem to have a strong spirit! I am trying to maintain one also. I don't want my disabilities to be the center of my life. I am but a month into the process and already it is wearying and worrisome. I am going to mail those papers in and try to just put it aside until I am contacted again.

Peace, Emily and hopes for a good day
reach

The denial letter showed dates that they received records from everyone that I had listed. I also submitted records from my surgeon with the application myself, and they got them again. It doesn't seem like they cared much about what was there. Maybe they looked at them, maybe they didn't. But I guess at least all those records are already there for the reconsideration.

When you submitted your application, they should have gotten from you some release forms so they could get all your records. They will follow through with that. There seems to be no rhyme or reason to who gets approved the first time and who doesn't. I know people worse off than me who got turned down, and I know people better off than me who got approved. It might have to do with whether the rep had a nice lunch that day!!! My doctors told me not to take the denial letter personally and to appeal, as they are sure I will eventually get it. It's frustrating, but hang in there.

Figure on being denied the first time, and like my docs said, don't take it personally. It's the way the system works. Send in an appeal, and if you're denied again, which is likely, then go to the next level, going before a judge. That's where most people will be approved if they're going to get it.

Don't lose hope. Persevere!

Wishing you a first time approval,
Emily

Emily!

Friend, you jarred my memory for me! I did sign a few medical releases in the first packet of papers I received! It had completely gone out of my mind. Now I remember questioning why the packet held fewer releases than the number of doctors I listed and being told that because some doctors were in the same office that one form would be sufficient.

It baffles me that your own doctors would concur with your limitations and you could still be denied. It would seem sensible to me that a doctor with whom you have a history would be the best knowledge Disability could receive and would consider with the most weight.

I am going to keep on keeping on with this. I have paid into this since I was eighteen years old non-stop. I am 56 now. Maybe I couldn't stop the issues that have come into my life, but I can keep fighting to get the help I need. Gotta make that a mantra I guess. Smiles.

Emily, you are a very nice person. I appreciate the time you take to share with others as you struggle along yourself. Everyone on this board seems willing to help each other along. Lots of compassion... if it were possible for you to work, I would recommend jobs at Disability for each of you! Chuckles.

I guess this is all just life. It is not the bigggest issue in my life. When I compare the effects of applying for disability to other circumstances in my life, well, I guess there just is no comparison. This is just annoyance and will not change the quality of my life. I need to remember that and keep it all in balance. I will deal with any bridges if and when they appear.

Thanks for the post. It helped me regain some balance and perspective in this.

Wishing you well.
reach