Re: question for All / Disability? - Bipolar Disorder Message Board

MYworldinterrup · 12-22-2006, 02:41 PM

Thank you all 4 the advise about therapist vs. social worker. I feel like an idiot 4 even asking my case mgr about it now. I like her but she's alittle intrusive. I don't know, maybe it's just me. I wanted 2 know if anyone is getting social security/disability benefits? And how long it took 2 be approved? I started this process in October and they said I'll probably be denied the first time. What's that all about?

blauermonday · 12-22-2006, 09:24 PM

Hi there!

It took me 5-6 months, and I was super lucky to get approved the first time. From what I have heard and researched, most people get denied twice. Having a diagnosis isn't enough, a body has to have care providers say that your illness prevents you from working and how, with specifics, like can't lift, can't follow instructions, dizzy from medicines when gets up, etc. Having regular appointments/a good relationship with the care providers helps, is important. I don't know why the process has to be so difficult for people who have a hard enough time taking basic care of themselves except so it will weed out people who don't really need help. Unfair in a way, but I guess it preserves the money in the system. I guess it would be worse if all the money was gone already. If you have any other specific ?s I will try and help out. You can do it!

MYworldinterrup · 12-23-2006, 06:57 AM

Thanks Monday! Did u have a company/attorney to represent u? They said that's the best way 2 go, so I got Allsup to help me handle it.

jgr01 · 12-23-2006, 10:26 AM

Hi Myworldinterup

are you in the US?
If not, (I am uk), my doctor gave me a sick note, I put my psych name on the form and that was it. I then had a telephone interview and I have to visit the social every 6 - 8 weeks for an interview - but with all the hoo-ha over here about mental illness they are very reticent at the social to deny what any doc says about mental illness. We've had a number of high profile murders by mental patients in the last couple of years. There's a real big push to get the whole thing recognised and de-stigmatised in the UK - THANK GOD.

Hope you succeed- i know it took me ages to actually realise i could claim, then ages to accept that i needed to and that wether it was held against me in later life, well what can you do - i can't work right now and i need the safety net. I have also paid A LOT into the state for just this occassion! We are lucky with our national health service here.

Good luck

xxxx

blauermonday · 12-24-2006, 06:16 AM

I actually did it on my own, wonder of wonders. I think Social Security has bipolar disorder on some sort of hot list, really recognizing how hard it can be to maintain a job with its set of symptoms. I used the online application. I could have applied years earlier, but would have needed professional assistance as I didn't have the diagnosis yet. Getting help makes it much easier, and improves your chances, and probably even reduces the amount of appealing you have to do. I guess I was just stubborn. I had a business law course in college, and thanks to it sued the place where I got married for breach of contract, and thought if I could do that, then I could fight for disability benefits. But in the time where I was getting my momentum up, I lost many months of retroactive benefits. So it goes; I am just inexpressably thankful I was so blessed, lucky, however you like to call it. Financial woes after my soon-to-be ex went on a cross country road trip extravaganza were the last straw for me and I ended up in the hospital, and when I got out, the lump sum was deposited in my bank account. The timing was extraordinary, and in a few ways, literally saved my life. I wish you good luck yourself, and speedy determinations!