Disability

General
1

Hi to everyone, I've have SLE, Connective Tissue Disease, Sojgrens now Scleroderma. My Rheumy retired and I was one of the lucky ones to gain an appointment. She took over 1 1/2 practices including her own patients that will travel a distance to see her. The first thing she did was sit and asked me how I've been feeling. Scared me my old Dr never asked. Then she asked did he ever talk to you about your labs, I laughed because he would say I want you to look them up your a nurse. Well she doesn't believe in that at all. Everything came back positive then out of the blue she asked how my Scleroderma was????? I said what she felt bad, I told her I've had SLE since I was 13 yrs old. I was recently diagnosed with ? Gastroparesis. I went to see a surgeon and they noted on the CT that my stomach is hardening. ( this was before I knew about the scleroderma.)

This was one of my worst years of my life for emotional problems. Last year I was in the hospital for every holiday. I'm only 46 but I feel a lot older.

Has anyone went on disability? I live in Ohio and I'm a registered nurse. Is it better to try to do it on my own at first or get an attorney? I never thought I would be asking this type of question. I can see my illness is getting worse. I'm off my old medicine and now on Imuran 200 mg and Prednisone. Looking for advice.

2

Get an attorney from the get go- let them do all the work. They will get
And the same percentage in the end if you win and they get paid nothing if you lose. I used to apply for disability on behalf of children I worked with and it was tedious and hard. I just don’t have the energy or concentration that I used to have so decided to go with an attorney from the start. Good lick!

3

I say to get a list from SSDI. They must supply you with all the people who can represent you in your area or look in yellow pages under attorneys for disability or SSDI. I won my case in 3 or 4 months! no courts nothing!!

The person i hired use to actually work for SSDI and got sick of how very sick people were denied. He knows how they work and how to get your case passed quickly. He was honest about my chances and even explained how older you get the easier it gets to win SSDI. So even though not attorney he has to pass tests to show he is educated enough in the laws of SSDI to be able to represent someone.

I will say this that before you just jump in you might realistically want to think about it...such as can you afford it?, do you really want to stop working and yes you can always choose to go back to work. Ask all your doctors what they think about you going on it because if just one is not for you going on it, it can prevent you from wining and tie it up for years even with best person representing you!

With scleroderma, like lupus there are different kinds so you might want to find out what kind you do have and what your rheum feels about the prognosis of it plus all the other issues you have going on as well.

I know people who been able to keep working and others who had to top way before me. One thing i noticed is one's that stop are not near as happy as people who kept working....so you might also want to consider speaking with therapist or counselor to make sure about how you feel about going on SSDI and life in general.

I find it very sad that your rheum in the past has not once asked how you were doing? that is just a very basic question that every doctor should be asking their patients. Plus, if your doctor does not go over the labs than who else will. I have had one rheum who( once he got very busy) also started not being straight about discussing labs, he kept saying they were okay when i knew i was in flare...well they were not okay and so for few years, i thought feeling sick so bad was because of it being in my head not realistic...taught me to trust myself once and for all finally!

So i am very happy you have a doctor now who does care! The best news is she will now refer you as needed to specialists like her! I had entire team and they all just cared so much. You feel totally safe which is very nice feeling and you do not worry even 1/8th as much because you know they are there to help you.

Also as a RN there are many part time jobs that pay excellent. Or full time but not the 12 hour shifts most RN are doing which is hard when you are sick.

You might try....i do know a guy who did it all on his own. Just list everything chronically and that is true..what they basically want to know but problem is your age...you are not yet in 50's so winning is going to be harder. IF you do not want the stress i hire someone...someone in person not online or over from out of town.

Just really think about it because your income is going to be a lot less then what you make now as RN!

But i am happy you finally have a decent doctor...speak with her about it too. Often your good doctors also know who can help you with SSDI. I hope you stay out of the hospital for this holiday season...just being in it scares me due to all the germs.well you know as RN!


4

I highly recommend that you read LOTS on the disability digest listed above. They are an invaluable asset. I am 45, have almost the exact diagnosis as you, live in NJ and have been awaiting a decision since May of this year. My short term disability has run out and we r now running the household on fumes, $ wise! Have been denied twice and are now awaiting trial date, which the lawyer tells me will be 1-1 1/2 years away. Sigh…let’s hope we can stumble thru til then. Maybe u will get better results! The system is broke, but we have to believe that EVENTUALLY they’ll catch up! Best of luck! I’ll be rooting for both of us!

5

I was diagnosed with lupus injanuary I went on my employee disability when I was returning to work in feb they found masses on my overies and kidney the mass on overy benign but kidney was removed because it was malignant surgeon said he was 99 percent sure he removed it all but ssd approved me for the lupus the women at disability said it was becase my doctors returned all the paperwork in timely fashion and I kept all doctors appointments as scheduled I was approved in august I went back to they have aprogram called ticket to work u can work for 9 mo ths

6

I have been on disability for 7-8 yrs. Like you- it is something I never thought I would ever have to deal with.

Glad you are preparing for the future because attorney or not it can be a drawn out process.

I was able to get disability on my own. We decided for me to try on my own so we would be able to get all of my back pay instead of half going to an attorney. Things were tight & I also had a year of being in & out of hospital, missing holidays, birthdays & major events for our 4 daughters.

Filing for disability is a daunting task. My advice is to start out by researching Social Security Disability website & Medicare.gov & look through frequently asked questions & familiarize yourself with the process and terminology. I know when you initial apply they will try to get you on SSDI if you fall within certain criteria such as income & severity of illness or injury while you are going through the process. Also research attorneys in your area that deal with Social Security Disability. It used to be that you could start the process on your own & hire an attorney at any time you felt you needed it. It took me a 1 1/2-2yrs to get it on my own. However - I started the process and shortly after received a letter that they were backlogged & reviews were taking longer to process. Anyway a few years ago a friend of mine hired an attorney and hers dragged on just as long.

Whether or not you hire an attorney one thing you really must do is start keeping a journal, diary, log sheet, or calendar (whichever you prefer )of your daily life. Things you need to document are: how you are feeling, what activities you were or were not able to do, physician or specialist visits, medications taken or changed, etc.. You are a RN you know what you need to chart but, you also need to include extra detail like emotional feelings, things in your life that are affected by your conditions(s).

Whether you have an attorney or not you will be sent questionnaires asking questions basic questions such as physician/specialists you see with their contact information, medications taken-dosage, why you take it, if it seems to help, etc. Then there are questions such as: How long does it take to laundry, how many loads, do you need assistance? How often do you grocery shop, how long does it take you, do you need assistance? How often do you cook, how long, assistance? Are you able to shower/bathe/fix hair/dress yourself or need assistance? Etc. Etc.

Questions that really make you stop and think about normal everyday things you just do & don't think about. I was like hmmm well.....I don't know. On a good day it takes this long on a bad day it takes this long or doesn't get done. There were a lot of questions I had to answer that way.

My aunt who is also an RN as well as a patient advocate read over it before I mailed it & she told me that you have to make yourself sound as pathetic as possible. I was like, what?, no way. I am not lying. She was like no - you need to think how rough it is when you are sick & you are trying to do all the normal things & just can't, how awful you feel when hospitalized & things can't do & missing out on. Let me tell you - it is a hard thing to do when you are having a good day and filling out the forms. That is where my calendar & notebook came in handy - reading through my notes about how awful I felt, how just getting from bed to bathroom was challenging.

Make copies of anything & everything you send to social security or attorney. If you get denied at 1st (almost all applications get denied 1st go round) you/attorney will appeal & get 2nd set of papers. Another questionnaire with almost the same questions as the 1st - only they will be asked in a different way (to try & stump ya) . By this time you will have kept a better log of how long chores etc. take.

Those are just a few basic things I think you should know regardless if you hire an attorney or not because an attorney is going to have to get questionnaire answers from you .

All in all - Research, Document, COPY, Keep Copies & File your correspondence and each & every paper you get from or send back to Social Security or Attorney .

Hoping some of this information has helped. I tried to condense my experience of filing Social Security on my own & what little I know regarding hiring an attorney. My opinion is if you have some time to start the process yourself (because you are still working & are trying to plan ahead) then why not try & keep as much of back pay you get if awarded disability. On the other hand if health starts to get worse sooner than expected than maybe an attorney may be best.

Sorry my reply is lengthy - I am in no way an expert on health, social security or anything, but have personal experience with several health issues & have experience with various aspects of paperwork (professional & personal).

Good Luck!

7

Hi, I applied myself..on line...I never went into the office at all...all the interviews were over the phone....I was granted disability within 5 months..(which is the normal waiting period now) ...I had no trouble at all..

Good luck...

Bernice

8

Hi, Well i feel that you Don't need and attorney to do what you can do yourself !!! At least i did and won, along with the judge ordering the attorney no moneies,because they did no work for me . I had a chance to talk with the judge and he was concerned about me!!! Wow!!!!! that was really a miracle moment, he even shared that his daughter was having some of the thingshappening to her , that he read in my case and other people flies , i guess you can say that God was there with me , he granted 2 1/2 year's back pay at a waitress tips and my rate of pay from the 3 jobs that i was working waitressing and man , i am blessed that he also granted me medicare with r x partial pay , but doctor visits are totally free !!! There is a god above!!! So i don't feel as though you have to give your money to anyone, to do what you can do for yourself , they are out to do nothing and want something ! Just remember , if they deny you don't stop , appeal until you go in front of the judge face to face , you can request this.Don't let NO ONE tell you different, am a witness and have your doctor to do a work evaluation sheet , and friends and family do a statement about what you have to have help doing around the house / home that they have witnessed . This should help you at least it did for me. Oh! most of all DON"T MISS NO APPOINTMENTS - NONE!!! they really do matter to the judge of why you didn't go to the doctor on an scheduled appointment(s) and being sick !!! seriously ! But wishes and prayers go out with you, just don't give up! It is along process - long and you will want to say forget it -BUT don"T ... Beverly L.