I can no longer perform my duties as an educator. This pains me to have to leave what I love doing most. I want to know as anyone had any luck receiving SSD for Lupus and Fibro. I am only 44 and have taught for 10 years. Should I start with an attorney? What should I expect through this process. Also if I am on LTD can I still apply? Just wondering if anyone has gotten to this point and applied for SSD. Thanks for any advice.
I say go for it. Once you’re accepted you’ll feel much better. I went on SSD at the age of 25. They gave it to me for Lupus before lupus was eligible for a diagnosis. It is now a legit disease on their list. I did not get an atty, I did my application over the phone in Jan. 1996 and was accepted in Dec. 1996. The back pay is retroactive back to the 1st date of 1st application. Good Luck and please keep us updated on how it goes and how you’re doing.
I say you should definitely do it. I am in the process of it right now. I am working with a company called ALLSUP who is helping through the lengthy forms, etc. I know of many who have used an attorney from the get-go. My personal opinion is that you should get help. They take a percentage of your retroactive pay should you win, but my opinion is that it is all worth it as it can be a huge hassle. I know of MANY people with Lupus who are on SSDI. So, you should go for it.
I am 44 and had to file for SSD three yrs ago due to Lupus, Fibro, RA and other related problems. I also hated to do this but I could no longer do my job that I loved due to the pain and loss of brain power! I did have to hire an attorney because they turned me down but was granted my disability the first court appearance. I wish you luck!
Def go for it. I applied in like 1988 and it took two years, I finally called a counselmen in the area and I had an answer in days and it was YES!! I was very lucky so I have learned over the years, most take 2 years but declined the first time and approved the second with or without the attorney. I am in upstate NY. However, the attorneys are limited to the amount they can take and its not much but worth its price in gold for not having all the stress. Wish you all the best, go for it, if you have kids they get a % as well!! ((hugs))I have Lupus, Fibro, and Gastroparesis.
yes...i did...am on disability and it has been a blessing and a... started to say curse because I get flack from people who dont understand,...but that is just pride that it hurts, so I could do with less pride anyway. lol anyway...get a lawyer right away if you can. they can help the whole process go much musch easier...
I think JC has a lot of good info on filing for it.
keep us posted:)
oh...and of course, I am sorry you have reached this point...it is not an easy place to be...but once we accept what is, we can get down to the business of making the most of it instead of fighting so hard just to get sicker for the fighting.
Yes go for it, but I would get a lawyer. some one that doesnt get paid unless you do. I try going through the process by my self and I got denied. but know I have a lawyer. Let them do everything for you.. Good luck..
I just got approved 2011, I filed myself online and waited 5 months for a answer ......then the answer arrived ....I did recieve SSDI....which was wonderful. I did not get a attorney but I know alot of people now are applying for disability so I know the checklist is on the SS website on what the Dr.s look at who review the case. So good luck to you my friend...
I'm caught between a rock and a hard place. I have lupus and fibro and my lungs are at 70%, so i just started breathing treatments but not like I should. I am currently working full-time. I have my good days and bad but it's getting harder, i'm having a flare and the pain meds i'm taking at work doesn't help because the pain breaks through but i can't take the stronger med because of the side effects. I inquired about ssi last year and i was told because i'm still working and i make more than 800 dollars a month i wont qualify. If i stopped working i'll lose my health insurance and my prescription, so what can i do have no choice but to work as long as i can. Besides even if i do qualify for ssi, i'll still have to wait 2 years in order to get to receive medicade. The lupus wont' kill me but without meds to control my symtoms..... Aisa64
I understand, I went through exactly the same thing! But I was so fortunate to have some money put away and my husbands income was able (barely) to support us while I was off those two yrs that we made it. However I had to use every dime we had in savings to pay for my med ins that by the time I did get my SSD we had no money at all. It has been rough since I had to leave my job, since my husband is and was, self-employed we had to pick up ins on both of us at around $1000 a month. And after I got my SSD I only draw $1187 after medicare so it isn't much money to speak of. Basically it pays for my meds! I'm so very sorry you are going through this as there is no easy answer for those of us with this terrible disease!!
hello dottie....yep it is the same here too...it is very common to get turned down the first time...idk why
Dottie said:
I'm on SSD and I did use a lawyer. The lawyer when I applied I only had to pay her IF I was turned down. What she did was after I got my first payment she took a percentage of that. I felt it was worth every penny. I went to her office and they helped me fill out all the forms. Then when I received notices to see certain Drs I made the appts and went. I didn't have to worry about collecting any information from anyone. The lawyer contacted all my Drs for the reports needed. If you decide to use a lawyer make yourself a list of any and all medications you take including over the counter, also a list with name,title, address and phone # for any and all Drs. you have seen since the beginning. Here were I live in NJ everyone seems to be turned down once and after the lawyer collected more info I received notice I was accepted.
Keep us updated on what you decide and how you are doing.
Yes I applied for SSD, but because I did not work the year prior to filing I did not qualify. I thought that when you worked for a school you don't pay into social security, I might have misunderstood, but thats all I know, just check into it it cant hurt. I am applying for SSI, they said that I do qualify for that. Good luck and let us know if we here at LWL can help in any other ways. Many blessing and hugs.
Thanks Dagonfli that was useful information. I have learn a from each reply that you all. My only problem now is that y Rhuemy does not think I should go this route at this time. he wants meto try other things. i refused the steroids because there are too many complications. my next drug is cymbalta i have reseach that one before trying it. Again thanks everyone for your input. sorry for the spelling errors having one of those days
Yes, I do have short term and long term disabilty insurance, hadn't given much thought to that, so worry about staying healthy so i can work and keep my benefits. I'd forgotten that's why i signed up for the group disabilty insurance just in case, thanks at least now if i've to on fmla, i've income coming in and my health insurance. I'll get fmla papers from job and get started. Feeling much better now,Asia64
Ann A. said:
Aisa64,
Do you have FMLA time that you can use? Do you have disability insurance through your job? When I got too sick to work, I was old enough for early retirement. But my financial situation would be much stronger if I had been patient enough to use up all of my FMLA and then use the group disability insurance that I had through the job. I was too sick think about doing it that way and no one reminded me of the option- I realize now that most of the people I worked with forget about that group disability insurance.
aisa64 said:I'm caught between oa rock and a hard place. I have lupus and fibro and my lungs are at 70%, so i just started breathing treatments but not like I should. I am currently working full-time. I have my good days and bad but it's getting harder, i'm having a flare and the pain meds i'm taking at work doesn't help because the pain breaks through but i can't take the stronger med because of the side effects. I inquired about ssi last year and i was told because i'm still working and i make more than 800 dollars a month i wont qualify. If i stopped working i'll lose my health insurance and my prescription, so what can i do have no choice but to work as long as i can. Besides even if i do qualify for ssi, i'll still have to wait 2 years in order to get to receive medicade. The lupus wont' kill me but without meds to control my symtoms..... Aisa64
Hi Purplefav, yes you should go ahead and apply for SSD . Make sure that you are going to the doctor regular , and keep all appointments , get all your medical records , and make sure that your doctor do the elvaution for the SS. You should get this from your Rhemyutologist ( it shows that you are totally disabile ) . I started out with an attorney, but fisihed the process by myself , only because the attorney was not doing their job . I was doing everything that they were suppose to have been doing so they quit , which was better for me , the judge favored on my behalf , but any gave me 2.5years instead of the 4years ( only because i didn't have records from the doctor 2years when the pain started ) . So make sure that you have all records includeing when you stopped working and any ER visits in your file.. Keep up with everything !!! It's a long process , but stay on top of it and make sure that your doctors know about you are going to be filing for SSD- okay !!! hope that this help you and good luck .... Beverly L.
Thanks Beverely, I never thought about keeping track of every ER visit and the many doctors I have seen in trying to get a sure diagnosis and rule out other things. Dragnfil that very helpful It can hurt to initiate the process and keep trying until something can get my symptoms under control. I have almost forgot what it was like to feel normal. I am thankful for the days that I do feel good. I actually went two weeks syptom free and that was an awesome feeling.
Thanks again all and I will keep you posted as to my progress. My prayer go out to you all for peace, healing, strenghth, and faith in the fact that there will be good days lets make the most of them until they find a cure.
Hey beverly I am also going through the social security situation, and I too am waiting my visit with the doctor to fill out the necessary for the lawyer. I wish both of us and anyone else that is going through this the best of luck, because I have heard and experienced that the judges can be assholes, so I hope we all get good ones, and keeping appointments is very important as well as keeping good medical records. I guess that I am lucky, that I only go to one place for everything, so it is easy to access the records. Many blessings and hugs. GOOD LUCK TO ALL FIGHTING SSI
I applied for SSD, and my situation with work was different, because I couldn't work much due to my handicapped daughter, but my lawyer said that I should qualify for SSI. and you are right your situation is different. I pray to God that we both come out on top whether we get it or not. Many blessings and hugs.
draginfli said:
Fighter -
I'm not an attorney or anything, but I thought that if you had paid in Social Security taxes during your working life, you were eligible to receive benefits if you needed them. I also did not work a year prior to my application. I didn't apply right away because I was hoping beyond hope that I would get better and I had money in savings that supported me for that year. I didn't or I hoped I wouldn't need it and I just wanted to get better and go back to work. Obviously that didn't work out, so after a year out of work, I finally applied. I was denied, but not because of the reason you were. I'm on appeal and will likely get both SSD and SSI on this appeal. Well... according to my attorney and her experience with other Lupus cases.
I'm sure you know what you read and what SSD told you though. I'm not debating that. Might be worth another check? Not sure how long you were in the work force altogether or any other details etc.... So sorry they didn't approve you for the whole shebang.
fighter said:Yes I applied for SSD, but because I did not work the year prior to filing I did not qualify. I thought that when you worked for a school you don't pay into social security, I might have misunderstood, but thats all I know, just check into it it cant hurt. I am applying for SSI, they said that I do qualify for that. Good luck and let us know if we here at LWL can help in any other ways. Many blessing and hugs.
To answer the question about teachers not paying into SS, only 14 states have their own retirement system, I guess Purplefav would know if they had one or not and if so not be eligble,
You can go back to the hospital and request your medical files and also to the doctors that you seen , it might take a moment for them to get the records but they should be able to pull them for you . Yes some days are hard but we must keep pushing to make those bad days be good days !!! smile talk with you later ... Beverly L.
Purplefav said:
Thanks Beverely, I never thought about keeping track of every ER visit and the many doctors I have seen in trying to get a sure diagnosis and rule out other things. Dragnfil that very helpful It can hurt to initiate the process and keep trying until something can get my symptoms under control. I have almost forgot what it was like to feel normal. I am thankful for the days that I do feel good. I actually went two weeks syptom free and that was an awesome feeling.
Thanks again all and I will keep you posted as to my progress. My prayer go out to you all for peace, healing, strenghth, and faith in the fact that there will be good days lets make the most of them until they find a cure.