ssd - Disabilities Message Board

halfpint830 · 03-07-2008, 09:21 AM

hi everyone hope all is well with everyone! just wondering if anyone is on social security disability? i was told by my surgeon and primary doctor to apply for it. now the thing is i am only 38 years old and was very active until this whole back thing happened. oct. 17 th i had my 2nd surgery. he put in 2 rods with screws and a spacer and did discotomy and lamanecoty and put in a bone stimulator and fusion l4-5 s1. with all i had done im still having sciatica pain and numbness and burning and back pain. have a hard time sleeping because my back pain wakes me up. i am on lortab 10/500 every 4 hrs amitripline 50 mg at bedtime lunista at bed time gabapentin 300 mg 3 times day. i was a school bus driver before the surgery and with the medicine and the problems im havinghe said i will never be able to do it anymore. i have drovwe for the last 10 years and it really bummes me out not to be able to do it anymore. my surgeon want me to go on disabilty and then try physical theraphy and send me to some one to evulate me and see what i can and can't do and then re-train me. just wondering what the steps are to social security disability and what to expect. thank you all so much any post will be greatly apperciated. halfpint

pulskaki · 03-07-2008, 11:16 AM

I have applied for ssd but have no results yet It has been 6 months so far they have ask for papers to be sent in and I did so and now it is just the waiting game I will keep posting with updates so watch for rhem....KIM

deeannek · 03-07-2008, 01:27 PM

I am on ssdi it takes awhile to get but worth it cause you will get medicare too. I had to get a lawyer but I did finally get approved.

BlueAtlas · 03-07-2008, 03:52 PM

I'm working on it.

You can apply online through the Social Security website. It's not hard to do, but it is rather time consuming. Be sure to print out all the pages and keep copies.

Most people are turned down the first time they apply, that is, from 70-98% of people. Then you can file an appeal for reconsideration. Most people get turned down then, too. Then the third time, you go before a judge and that's where most people will get approved if it's going to happen. The system is designed to discourage you. They would like you to give up. Just keep trying. The first time, do it on your own. The second time, you may want to hire a lawyer. They only get paid if they win for you. Their fee is set at 25% of your backpay with a cap of $5300 or $5400.

I've gotten my first rejection letter and am in the reconsideration stage.

Hope this helps,
Emily

halfpint830 · 03-07-2008, 05:10 PM

thank you so much for the replys. thats how i applied was doing it on the internet. i had done it about 2 weeks ago. they called me and had me mail them the paper work they needed. just wanted to know how hard it was to get thank you so much now i know what to expect.