Are there any on here who have had to go on Disability because of PA. I,m only two months in and not ready to give up yet but I like to educated as much as possible so I can make the best decessions for me. I have been out of work since Oct 30th and the MTX has not started to kick in yet but I am only on 10 mg, third dose Thursday. I go back to my dr. the 20th and he said if I wasn't better he would up it. I am having to tread lightly with all my other medical problems.
If there are others on Disability, how long a process was it, ect?

Hi Glenn,
I'm sorry that you're still hurting. I hope that the MTX turns out to be just what the doctor ordered and that you can get back work a.s.a.p. There's a couple of people who post here who are either on disability or who have applied for disability. Hopefully some of them will come along and describe their experiences for you. In the mean time, here's the links to some previous discussions that will hopefully will helpful to you:
;
.
I hope this helps.
Good luck. Keep us posted and I hope you feel better soon.
Mike

Hi,
I just wanted to add that you may be eligible for disability from your employer. If you think you are, you may want to refer to their summary plan description which will describe eligibility, process, etc. The links provided were regarding soc. sec. disability. Usually employment disability offsets social security if you receive both. Feel better..Laura

Under the Advocacy tab there is a section from the Foundation about applying for disability. It is located at the following:

Under the Advocacy tab there is a section from the Foundation about applying for disability. It is located at the following:

Hey Mike? How did you miss this link?
Thanks for the reminder Moderator, :) all too often many of us that frequent the message boards forget about or just overlook a great deal of the useful information that is available to everyone at
Thanks for the reminder and best of luck to you Glen!

Are there any on here who have had to go on Disability because of PA. I,m only two months in and not ready to give up yet but I like to educated as much as possible so I can make the best decessions for me. I have been out of work since Oct 30th and the MTX has not started to kick in yet but I am only on 10 mg, third dose Thursday. I go back to my dr. the 20th and he said if I wasn't better he would up it. I am having to tread lightly with all my other medical problems.
If there are others on Disability, how long a process was it, ect?
Hi friend,
It often is a long process applying for social security disability. There are others here who have gone through the long process of applying, getting turned down (often) and then appealing. I am starting this process myself; I am currently on medical leave with my employer. I am on 50% pay (as a state employee in north carolina this is what I get on extended medical leave). I am now applying for a supplementary disability insurance policy that was optional for me on the state plan. I mention these things because different jobs have different kinds of benefits (I had totally forgotten about the supplementary disability insurance, for example). At the same time, I have to start the process of applying for social security disability. Taking thea advice of some who've written on the boards, I elected to go ahead and hire a national law firm to help me with this process. Since you are new to the diagnosis or treatment of PA, I think one of the most important things to tell you is to keep good documentation of all your symptoms, and make sure you mention all of these things to your health provider. Ask lots of questions! Keep track of appointments, meds, and how specifically your PA is interfering with your life....how much (or little) can you do that is required .... in typing, lifting, bending, raising your arms, crouching, etc.
I am learning this disability business as I go - in real time - right now. I will be reporting in on my experiences to hopefully help others who are applying as well.
Good luck to you, and please let us know how you are doing.
MK

Hi Glenn and Mary Kay,
It's starting to sound like we need to start a disability club here on the boards. :( Do you suppose Binder and Binder would offer us a group discount? :confused:

Can I be in the club, too? I'm in the process, as well, the waiting part at the moment. I don't think Binder and Binder is in my state, though :( As soon as I hear back on my initial application, I'll probably be getting some type of assistance for the appeal, though.

Can I be in the club, too? I'm in the process, as well, the waiting part at the moment. I don't think Binder and Binder is in my state, though :( As soon as I hear back on my initial application, I'll probably be getting some type of assistance for the appeal, though.
Sure! Come on in....the water's....well...umm....a long wait...lol. :rolleyes: Apparently it doesn't matter what state you are in for some firms. The attorney that I chose is in Kansas, and I'm in WA state. While you're waiting to hear back, I'd suggest getting all of your medical information in order, as you'll need it when you continue on down the road. It's been suggested to me to keep a journal of doctors, medical appointments, treatments, and the type of problems you have as well as your pain level, etc. The other suggestion that I've heard strongly reinforced is if you are dealing with any anxiety or depression, or your primary care doctor has rx'd something along those lines, get a referral to a mental health professional (psychiatrist, psychologist, or therapist) to review your status and have it documented. Apparently this is something that SSD looks rather closely at. Best of luck, and welcome to the club! :p

Can I be in the club, too? I'm in the process, as well, the waiting part at the moment. I don't think Binder and Binder is in my state, though :( As soon as I hear back on my initial application, I'll probably be getting some type of assistance for the appeal, though.
Hey,
Yes, we do have quite a club forming! I just sent my initial forms into Binder and Binder today. It was quite an ordeal but made so much easier by the process they use. They had a case worker call me up and interview me; then sent me draft forms to review and I made corrections. Now I get my t shirt...literally...a little gift from Binder and Binder. I have to say they are extremely nice to work with and it makes me feel better to know that I've hired somebody experienced to oversee this business.
MK

I went with Binder and Binder and I COULDN'T have asked for more KIND. Caring, knowledgable people.. They really did everything the could to get me disability.. which after almost 3 years I finally got apporved for... Binder and Binder is nationwide and if they believe they will win your case it doesn't matter what state you are in. There was no Binder and Binder office in my state and they were sending in their lawyer to my hearing from New York City.... I would recommend them to anyone who is looking into hiring a lawyer..... Good luck to you all fighting for your disability.........

I guess I'm one of the lucky ones here. My disability claim went through without any problems. Then again, I have a lot of health problems besides p & pa.

I guess I'm one of the lucky ones here. My disability claim went through without any problems. Then again, I have a lot of health problems besides p & pa.
Sue, How long did it take to get approved from the time you filed your application? I am just wondering how long it takes when there aren't appeals, etc.
thanks
MK

how are u all ? well for my experience I applied for disability for my p. I have not yet applied for my pa, I was turned down, It took 9 months just for them to give me an answer, they had me going to doctors appointment that they had set up for me example, psycologists, dermatologist, regular family docs. It went on and on for months . although I regret not reading the " lost of pages" they sent to me explaining my deniel I just read the first part of it where it explains they denied me , I got so depressed that I throw it all in the garbage, cause I couldn't believe they thought nothing was wrong with me. The psoriasis was practically all over my face , How would they expect me to work at a fast food place, when everyone food would be full of flakes, and How can they expect me to work in public at an office with practically everyone saying yuk what happened and discusted to even recieve a paper from me . I MEAN I WAS HURT......
well to what I was getting at before I began to get upset as I wrote , is that I missed out on the part for the appeal.
but I'll be going back to apply again for my p and pa
I hope everyone that is applying for this assistance is accepted, It is a great help for medical expenses, You won't have to pay a penny cause medicaid will pay for it all , and then hopefully it would be easier to manage your p.
best of luck to you all,
PS: sorry that I had to get upset
your friend
mildred

Sue, How long did it take to get approved from the time you filed your application? I am just wondering how long it takes when there aren't appeals, etc.
thanks
MK
It took 6 months for them to approve me. You have to be out of work for a minimum of 5 months before they'll even consider approving you, at least that's what they told me.

It took 6 months for them to approve me. You have to be out of work for a minimum of 5 months before they'll even consider approving you, at least that's what they told me.
I don't want to pry, but I wonder what additional health problems you have... I'm considering applying, and I have been paying disability insurance for a number of years now - surely that has to help???
Every time I try to go back to work I get sick, flare, have to go back home... I wonder how sick is sick enough?? I haven't worked regularly since 2004...
MK - sent you an email asking these questions.
thanks,
patti

I applied for disability for my pa and p almost two years ago and was denied two times. i go to court March 7, 2007 for the final appeal to a law judge. i was told i was denied because of my age, i am 37 now. my p and pa is severe. i have pa in my hands, feet, hips, knees and ribs. my p is on my hands, feet and scalp. i have a few random spots on my back, thighs and armpits and every now and then i will have a flare "private area". i was told by my attorney that the laws are changing regarding social security disability and that if you are denied one time and you appeal then the next step will be to go before the law judge, it cuts out that second appeal process. maybe that will make it a faster and easier process for everyone who applies.

Oh Well....... I might as well stick my big toe in to see how the water is :-)
My last several Dr. appts have had my Rheumy telling me " you should go out on disability". I have always told him I would not go out until I could not push my wheelchair. Well, it is looking like it may be a bit before that.
My only fears of going out are:
1. If I get to feeling better after a year or 2, there is no way I would ever get a decent job again (gotta remember that one!!!)
2. Again, if I get to feeling better, and go off of disability, then a year or so later need to go back, NO WAY!!!!!!!!!!! to get back on it again.
These are 2 very serious situations for me.
My regular physician has also suggested me getting my Left hip replaced :-(
Thanks,

I don't want to pry, but I wonder what additional health problems you have... I'm considering applying, and I have been paying disability insurance for a number of years now - surely that has to help???
Every time I try to go back to work I get sick, flare, have to go back home... I wonder how sick is sick enough?? I haven't worked regularly since 2004...
MK - sent you an email asking these questions.
thanks,
patti
Sorry Patti, I haven't been around in a while and just saw your question. I have:
Fibromyalgia, insomnia, chronic fatigue syndrome, lower back pain, extensive severe p, pa in my fingers and toes, osteoarthritis in my knees, ankylosing spondylitis (that's when the vertebrae in your spine fuse together), chronic tension migraines, trigeminal neuralgia, TMJ disease, costochondritis, borderline lupus, colitis, ibs, and depression. And I just recently found out from a MRI of my head I had recently that I have an angioma (a noncancerous brain tumor made of of small blood vessels that seep blood back into the brain causing MS like symptoms. I had to have the mri because of the symptoms I've been having and my docs thought I might have MS (short term memory loss, muscle weakness and limb heaviness) I also found out thanks to my dh's niece that it could either rupture causing either death or coma, or it could turn cancerous.
Mind you, I'm only 40 and I have all this wrong with me. I think the people at social security took one look at the list of things wrong with me and just approved me without any problems. :eek:

After a phone interview, a rep at Binder & Binder told me I fit the criteria, that they will be contacting me in a day or two to start the process (ordeal?)
I have a short-term disability insurance policy - 5 years I think - that might be easier to get started with, but I wonder if having a private policy is a no-no, or deterrent to getting social security...
Anybody know?
thanks,
patti

Well I have applied for disability through the VA. Being in the Air Force for 13 plus years I thought it might be a little eaiser to "get in" and with the VA they have degrees of Disability where with Social Security it's either 100% or nothing. I am working on my packet to return to them now and I am stuck on my Disertation on why I think I am disabled. Just a bit of brain fog I hope. At any rate lets keep this thread going and keep all of us posted on your progress. Good luck and my rayers are with you all.

This is something I am really hoping I don't have to deal with. My sister broke her back several years ago - snapped the cartilidge between her 4th and 5th lumbar. She could walk - but was in so much pain. After years of trying to *deal* with it and beginning re-training for a job less physical she got to the point she couldn't do any more. Sitting - standing - walking - lying down - any position for more than 20 min or so and she was in pain. She applied ofr disability and was denied - appealed and was denied (oh - she had already had two back surgeries and they were wanting to do a third) - finally applied again and was approved. Not for her physical condition - no - for her mental condition which was directly related to her physical condition. She had been diagnosed as bi-polar.
Unfortunatly it is easier to get disability if you are mental - a drug user or an alcoholic than if you are under 40 and have medical conditions. :rolleyes:
I have been keeping a good log of everything because of my Enbrel issues, so if I do ever get to that point I guess I will be somewhat prepared. How do they expect you to manage your financial life if you have to be out of work for 5 months at 50% pay (my work's LTD) and then it can still take months for approval? At that point I would most likely lose my house! One good thing for my sister - and I assume this is still the case - they did back pay her from the date she initially applied.
Good luck to you all.
~Debbi

Well I have applied for disability through the VA. Being in the Air Force for 13 plus years I thought it might be a little eaiser to "get in" and with the VA they have degrees of Disability where with Social Security it's either 100% or nothing. I am working on my packet to return to them now and I am stuck on my Disertation on why I think I am disabled. Just a bit of brain fog I hope. At any rate lets keep this thread going and keep all of us posted on your progress. Good luck and my rayers are with you all.
Glenn - Let us know how you do with the VA. I like Philippians 4:4 too :)
Debbi - I have heard so many horror stories... I'll keep posting on here in case anybody else needs the info. Promises to be an interesting process?
patti