How did you get on disability?

[ashling]

[Syrinx]

1. I don't know exactly

But I think it starts at your local federal courthouse, and it helps if you have a good lawyer.

[LuvNewcastle]

2. It all started with a phone call.

I called and said that I wanted to apply for disability payments. She took down some basic info and said that I would get a call back from someone who would ask me more questions and get details. A man called me a few weeks later and asked me about a thousand questions.......questions about my health, my finances, my daily life, my past. After I answered his questions, a fat envelope of forms was sent to me with about 1000 more questions. I answered each question and sent the forms back. Then there was a long period in which people who were associated with me were sent forms and asked about my situation -- my mother, my doctors, people at the hospital. I think that period was the most crucial, and I think that the recommendations of my doctors carried the most weight. My family doctor was, by this time, convinced that I would receive disability. A few more months went by and I received a letter informing me that I had an appointment with a doctor they had chosen who would make a final recommendation. The visit didn't last long. The doctor asked me a few questions and then asked me if I had anything to say. I had little to add and I was told that I would soon receive a decision on my case. I think it was about a month later that I was called and told that my disability had been approved.

[Altoid_Cyclist]

3. Like a lot of people, I had to go through the first denial and use a Lawyer for my appeal.

It was two years of constant stress as I continued to look for a job while awaiting the procedural chain of events to take place. Finally, a few days after X-Mas in 2009 my Atty. called to say that I had won the appeal. It would have been a lot happier time if I had not had another MI the week before he called.

In the end, I got it because I have brain and spinal cord damage from a bicycle vs. auto collision, serious heart disease and most importantly, my case was switched from western PA to a judge in New Hampshire. She wrote a letter stating that technically, I could still work. However, due to the economy being in the toilet, my age at the time(52) and all of the health problems, she declared that as far as she was concerned, I was 100% disabled since no company would ever hire me.

We have friends in the area who have been waiting for three years or more and are still waiting for their appeal hearings since they were turned down once or twice already.

Edit: I forgot to mention that this web site contains a lot of useful information. http://www.disabilitysecrets.com/

[Vannort54]

7. Ssdi

Took me one year now getting $2036.00 a month

[oceanspirit]

9. Wow

I am on SSDI and only get 700.00 a month. I guess it all depends on how much you have in your SSDI pot.

Oceanspirit

[independentpiney]

4. It started with having a stroke that left me partially paralyzed...

I went on NJ temp disability first ( 6 month max) while going to physical/occupational therapy. I tried going back in to work after a couple of weeks to do office work, which revealed I had lost a lot of cognitive functioning along with the more obvious outward physical damage.

So I called the local SSA office, they mailed me a bunch of papers to fill out and then setup an in-person interview at their offices. After a few weeks I was sent more paperwork to fill out and then I was scheduled for an appointment with their Doctors. Probably a month or so later I received my approval letter.

The entire process took less than 6 months for me, and I almost feel guilty when I hear about the nightmares so many people have to go through. I think what really helped me was the very thorough documentation my occupational therapist sent in.

A very good resource if your considering applying is http://ssdfacts.com/forum/index.php

[Inchworm]

5. I was kind of lucky I guess

After my accident, I was in the hospital for 4-6 weeks Physical Therapy/Occupational Therapy. By the time I was "released" the hospital social worker (I think that's what the position is called) had everything set up for me.

:hi:

[sakabatou]

6. Brain injury + Autism = Disability

The forms and phone calls were done by my parents, counselor and others.

[newfie11]

8. This maybe late but I will tell you my story

I got my disability the first time I tried. I have arthritis making it impossible to do the work I had done for 40 years (x-ray technologist). I quit work. I had multiple specialists documentation. I went down to the SS office to start everything. I got the notification in the mail that I was approved.

Why was I approved:
Because the job I did is very physically demanding, on your feet for 8 hours, pulling large portable machines, lifting patients, etc. There was nothing else I had ever done for work that would prepare me for a less physically demanding job.

Because I was 59 years old at the time.


If I had of been younger I am sure they would have said I could be retrained for some type of desk job.

I hear the horror stories about folks that should have been approved but weren't and I have no idea why.

That is my story.

[oceanspirit]

10. The older you are:

From what I understand, is if you are over the age of 50 and apply for SSDI or SSI, chances are you will be approved immediately. Apparently we are too old to find other work. Not the case. I wish I could go back to work. I have a spine injury and other assorted things wrong with me. I only get 700.00 a month being on SSDI. I can't live on it, and my husband doesn't make enough money to support me, so we are so hurting. I've been on SSDI for almost 1 1/2 years now and i just don't know how I"m going to continue on what they pay me. I suppose I should be grateful, but losing a job that I made 24,000 a year just doesn't cut it. I know 24,000 a year isn't much, but sure was better that what I'm making now. I have over 200 or more dollars a month just on medication co-pays alone. I am responsible for the groceries in the family, my own medical bills, and my 6 animals, which by the way I had before disability. So no comments please on how I shouldnt have that many animals if I can't afford them, cause I could when I was employed. I used to be employed at a local University, and enjoyed (as much as I could with all the BS floating around) my job very much. Now I volunteer at a local no-kill animal shelter to pass the time away. I love it, don't get me wrong, it just doesn't pay the bills.

Oceanspirit