Wait 6 months to file for SSI? - Disabilities Message Board

sleuthie · 01-31-2007, 09:52 PM

I filed for SSDI about 3 years ago and was denied. I was going to retain an attorney but had my surgery and desperately went back to work. I needed the $$$$. The surgery was a fusion and worked. I have had pain off and on since then, lately have had severe problems and now have a disc in neck that is causing debilitating neck and head pain. I also have moderate/severe sleep apnea and that has a host of problems including severe depression.

Anyway, I have went thru 2 jobs and my last/current job is where I ended up hurting my back again....from sitting in front of a comp with a headset on for 7 hrs almost straight...one fifteen min break. I started with nerve pain and burning in buttocks, thighs, groin and sciatic left leg, behind knee and in foot. and severe muscle spasms, then the head pain started a yr and half ago and last fall I had carpal tunnel surgery in both hands. My MRI for back is ok...for neck I do have a disc that doc believes may be causing this head pain... I have appt for pain dr on feb 6th. I'm taking everything with me, all my films and filled out pprwork. My problem is "I believe" that having different doctors for each ailment is going to hurt me. Each ailment individually by each doc really isnt a true reason for disability. However, combined they should be.

Anyway, I'm getting off track here. I have been off of work since right before Christmas 2006. So only about 1 1/2 month. I know that I will get the test to show that something is causing this back pain...I hope anyway. But do I have to wait 6 months to file for SSDI? Everywhere seems to say you can file after 6 months of being disabled. It seems like I should do it now since the waiting period seems to be ongoing. I mean by the time they get to me it will certainly be over 6 months?

Mz Migraine · 02-01-2007, 01:20 PM

You can file a claim if you.....

"are unable to work for a year or more because of a disability."

No mention of a waiting period.

Quote:

and my last/current job is where I ended up hurting my back again

Did you also file a Workers Comp Claim? If not why not?

sleuthie · 02-01-2007, 06:12 PM

Mz. Migraine,

Thanks for the response. I can't remember exactly where I read this about 6 months, so Im heading back to the SS website and just filing.

My back issues started in 1993 and have basically continued since, I have had 2 surgeries. My job is a sit down job if you can believe that. However, sitting for 7 hours a day doesnt seem to agree with my back.. I do call center cust svc. and you are constantly observed...all calls recorded and I have to make a quota sothere is no down time...like to walk around or something. So there was never an "accident" per say. I have never filed WC claims...I have always preferred to deal with the insurance. I do have std and ltd.

Mz Migraine · 02-01-2007, 07:07 PM

Quote:

there was never an "accident" per say.

Sleuthie, I am no expert on WC claims however, I do believe as long as the *injury* is work related/happened on the job, you can file a claim. If I were you, I would check into it.

The injury does not necessarly have to be caused by an accident I do not believe!

sleuthie · 02-02-2007, 12:43 AM

Isn't a little late for me to do that now? I mean I have been off of work since before Christmas. Wouldn't they question my late intentions? I gotta tell ya, I'm pretty stupid about that type of thing but whatever I can do, I WILL do. Unfortunately "they" don't tell you this type of thing when everything initially happened.

BTW...I was reading some old posts and you wrote that you claimed unemployment until your SSDI came thru. Just out of curiosity...How did you do that? Don't you have to file a voucher every week stating that you are ready and willing to work. Basically don't you have to be 'able to work' to file unemployment?

Thanks for all your info. Anything will help during the waiting period. I also have to pay back support for a little while longer so I really need to watch my P's and Q's.