Disability for Fibro - Disabilities Message Board

moetwins · 12-09-2008, 02:26 PM

Hello everyone, I have just started to apply for SSI for Fibromyalgia (I also suffer from social anxiety, general anxiety and depression) and I was wondering if anyone has either gotten or tired for SSI for having Fibro? I am only 24 and I have heard that the younger you are the harder it is to get, is that true? I just filled out the paperwork online but now it says I have to make an appointment and go to an SSI office, has anyone ever done that before. Please give me any insight to what this process will be like. Thanks so much for your help!

chicubs · 12-10-2008, 06:09 AM

Yes it is true that you need to make an appointment for a interview with Social Security after you filled out your application.

I just have a few questions that if you could please answer would help me in answering your questions better.

First of all it can be allot harder to get approved for SSI or SSDI when you are only 24. That doesn't mean it isn't impossible, just allot, allot more difficult.

Are you seeing you a doctor right now and is she/he aware that you have applied for social security? It is extremely important that you have your doctor's backing and their documentation to show your disability. Without this it will be impossible to be approved.

Are you working now? And how much have you worked. The answers for these questions depends on what type of disability you will be approved for if you are. SSDI is usually for people that have worked allot. You get points (I think that is what they are called) for how many years you have worked. Now SSI is usually for people that have a very low or no income. There is a set amount of how much money that you can't have in the bank and also a set amount of money that you cannot be making a year. I do not remember what that amount is off hand.

Usually the first time around you will be denied. And I am guessing here, but I think because of your age you will be denied the first time. It is then usually the time that you can get a lawyer to help you. You could also right now have a lawyer take a look at your case and see what they have to say about your chances to get approved. They don't usually charge you for this service (I believe).

The main thing that you need to be sure of is that to make sure that you have your doctor's backing on this. Do they also believe that you are unable to work at any type of job? Because like I mentioned earlier without their help you really do not have much of a case, especially with your age.

I hope that I am not depressing you!!

But it is important that you know what you will be up against during this process. Some people have waited years to be approved. I was just recently approved. But it was my doctor that suggested that I apply for social security disability. I have reflex sympathetic dystrophy, it is a nerve disease, to put it in layman's terms. Anyway, I am 49 years old and worked at my job 22 years. But I had always worked at some full time job since the age of 16. I have been off of work because of the RSD since November of 2005 and I was approved October 9th of 2008. So that was three years since I had to stop working until I was approved. See I can still do math

I wish you all the luck in the world in getting approved. Perhaps if you could answer some of the questions that I asked we could help you better.

Take Care,
Chris

moetwins · 12-10-2008, 01:36 PM

Hi Chris, thanks so much for replying to my post. I will try and answer all of your questions the best that I can. I haven't talked to my doctor about applying for SSI, should I have done that before I filled out the paperwork? One thing that I am worried about is after February I will no longer have health insurance, therefore I won't be able to see a doctor and I know that you need medical evidence to prove that you are disabled so I don't know how I will be able to do that. I am not working now, I haven't worked since 2004, I did attended a community college PT for a few years but I haven't been able to even do that in over a year now. I hope that helped with the questions that you had, you have been very helpful, thanks so much again!

chicubs · 12-10-2008, 08:52 PM

Hi I just read your answers to my questions. Yes I would let your doctor know that you have applied for social security. The Social Security Office will be getting in touch with your doctor because he will need to fill out some forms on you as well as giving them all his documentation that he has on you.
I too did not have health insurance the last few months before I was approved. We first paid for our own health insurance and when that became just too expensive we had to go without. So every time I needed to see my doctor I had to pay cash for it. And since we made too much money I was not able to get any other kind of help.
Since you have not worked much I am thinking that you are applying for SSI then?
In Feb. when your insurance runs out you could see if your community offers some kind of free medical help. I'm not sure how that will work as far as your claim for SSI. Does your doctor that you have now realize that you will not have any insurance in Feb.? Are you living on your own or with your parents? Can their insurance help you at all?
Well I guess the first thing I would do is talk to your doctor and see how he feels about your condition and if he feels that you are not able to work at all. Everything is in his ball court because without his help I don't see how you will get approved. Has he ever said anything to the effect that you will not be able to work because of your condition? Good Luck.
Chris

moetwins · 12-11-2008, 02:20 PM

Thanks so much again for your help! My doctor doesn't know that my insurance will be up in February, what's happening is that until I am 25 I am covered under my Dad's insurance but after that I won't be eligible for it anymore. I can try and see if my community offers any help for the uninsured, that is a good idea. I am still living at home right now too. I had one more questions I have seen many doctors (neurologist, orthopedics, pain management) but does it have to be my primary doctor who signs that I am considered disabled? I haven't see my primary doctor as much as the others so I am worried that she won't know how much I suffer. Thanks so much again for your help.