Hello,
You folks on disability, do you feel better now that you are not working ?
I am considering it, seriously. Please let me know how you are doing.

My PA is bad and is getting progressively worse, it seems like every day. I'm exhausted all the time from being in constant pain. How do you start the disability process? I don't even know where to start. Also, if you don't qualify for disability, does anyone know of a legitimate home business I could get into, ie, stuffing envelopes or typing??
Please help, I don't know how much longer I can keep dragging myself out of bed every morning and going to work. :(

This is tangential, but might be helpful. My mother-in-law who has heart disease, diabetes, and a number of other coexisting conditions has been working part-time on disability for a while now. She's far less stressed and consequently healthier than before. She had been in the hospital several times in just a few months leading up to her disability decision for chest pain, pancreatitis, and I forget what all else. It's ultimately a benefit to her employer b/c she's now at work all the hours she's scheduled for (even though it's less) rather than sporadic and in dangerous health situations. She still has structure with the part-time schedule (which she likes) and something to do, somewhere she's needed, which is also important. But b/c it's much less taxing, it's still healthier for her. Her doctor was the first to bring up the possibility of qualifying for disability, and in her case, her employer has long term disability insurance for the employees. She inquired with the human resources people at her work and went through lots of paperwork where doctors needed to verify that she was unable to continue working full time, so that was her process.
Good luck with whatever you decide,
Jesse

I am on disability. Arthritis and Rheumatic disease are some of the
SSD specifics that help with qualifying for your benefits.
Other specifics do include a grouping of multiple problems or the
side effects of medication that can cause for a person to be unwell
and unable to work.
There is a lot of criteria information at the SSD web site. It is available for public viewing. Just read the pages and they tell you what you need.
It is very honest.
However, applying for your benefits can be tricky and it is best to hire an attorney from the beginning.
Some people have trouble getting an attorney to take their case if they
have not been out of work for at least a year.
That's because Attorneys work on contingency for these cases and their
pay is taken right out of your back benefits. It's government regulated.
SSD pays back benefits for one year backwards from the date you file.
If you have one year of unemployment and illness, then the attorney knows that they will get paid.
The good part about consulting with an attorney is that they can help you sort your illness and figure out which place will be the strongest to build your case. You have to remember that SSD is not in the business of giving away
the benefits awards. They are going to want a clear and strong case.
Sometimes, as the patient, we get confused by our own illness.
We might think one aspect is worse or more important than another.
But really, it's not so much what we "think" but what our medical records look like and what kind of information gets sent to SSD.
I had aready been unemployed and sick for a few years before I applied.
I really did not think that I would qualify. My family sort of put it out there to me as a challenge. You know how people will look at you and say......well, if you are too sick to work, then you should apply for disability....
So I did. And I got my attorney first because truthfully, the paperwork was just too daunting. I was tired, I didn't feel well, blah blah blah.
You know how it goes.
So I applied and got my money in a few very short months. Paperwork turn around time. I had one face to face interview. I was too sick to drive to the meeting so SSD sent me a cab and paid for it. That was it.
The next thing I knew my case was done.
So, do I feel better now?
Yes.
The money really helps to pay the medical bills.
I dunno about the not working part because I would not be able to work even if I had to. So that is a non optional reality for me.
I'm just lucky that my income does not depend on me or I would have probably ended up homeless.
I started Remicade a few months ago and THAT makes me feel better.
What also makes me feel better is when some wise guy makes the eyebrow face and says......well, IF you can't work, you should apply for disability....
I can now say, been there, done that, and got it in less time than it takes to get your tax return. Amen.
And everybody already knows that no one, Absolutely no one gets SSD with out a serious case in less than two years. That reality relieves a lot of mental pain from people who tend to think that the ill are not really ill at all.
Most information I read on the application process warned that the process is at least 2 years. They say to plan for at least one denial and one appeal. Some people stay years in appeals.
It all depends on how your illness is experienced and how your case is presented. Both factors are equally important in my opinion.
I hope this is helpful.
p.s.
This information is for those of you who do not have the benefit of working
for a company that gives you long term disabiltiy.
For some, the process is a bit more civilized when businesses come in and take care of the money burden at the private level.
Additionally, the older you are, the easier it might be to get your claim.
When SSD looks at a case they are going to be thinking years.
I think there is a new rule that most cases now have to be reviewed about every 3 years just depending on what the disability might be.
Everyone is worried about future funds now, so I am guessing that the SSD process is about ready to get harder.
It is the younger patient and the patient who must rely on the government
systems who ends up with a little bit of a more difficult process.
So just tread carefully.

This is so confusing, do you have to be unemployed to file? I work full time, but I've missed a lot a time at work because of my pa and it's very hard for me to get out of bed and to walk.

Excellent post, Katee. Sue, why not start the process?

Sue,
I know exactly how you feel. I was off work last year for six months with out pay as I ran out of sick leave after the first month and my company does not have a disabilty plan. I had to borrow against my retirement fund to pay bills.
I checked into filing for SSD. You do have to be off of work for at least 6 months before you can apply (I think the only exception might be having such an obvious immediate permanent disabling condition like losing limbs or something?)
When I mentioned disability to the doctor, he just looked kind of shrugged it off and said I'd be fine once the medicine had a chance to start working. Well, it helped for a while. I did get back to work - But now, I'm almost back to where I was when I took off last year. :( The thought of trying to live like this for another 20 yrs is NOT ACCEPTABLE! :eek:
But, if you're like me - you can't afford to be without the pay for the possible 2yrs? it may take to get the SSD. I'll probably also wait 1-2 yrs and possibly have to hire a different attorney to get disabilty retirement from my employer.
Here are some links to some info about SSD:
This link is to Social Security Website on how to file:
Social Security Online-Disabilty Programs
This link give tips on the medical exam that SSD gives:
SSD: The Medical Examination or C.E.
And this link is to a site that probably has more info than you can use from people that have filed for SSD - case histories - tips, etc.
The Disabilities Information Website
The biggest tip I have heard from everyone is to start documenting everything. All doctor appt. medicines, and most of all, how this effects your daily life down to the littlest things that you can no longer do. The bigger the package you turn in - and the better the documentation, the less chance maybe of a denial.
Hope some of this helps - keep us to date on what you decide to do. If I can't get some relief with different meds or something - I may be joining you - no other choice :(
Vicki

I can't be out of work for 2 years. As it is, I only make $8.50/hour & so does my hubby, we can barely pay the rent as it is. Boy, they sure like to screw people don't they. I'm at my wits end, I honestly don't know what to do at this point. All I know is that I'm 38 years old and feel about 90 and the thought of living like this is too much, I don't know what to do anymore. :(

Sue,
I know how you feel. I'm the same age as you and I too don't know how long I can keep going like this. I just took a week off a week ago because the p on the bottom of my feet was getting real bad. It was starting to look a little better and then I had to return to work. The first day I was back to square one. My feet are even worse now. It's to the point that it hurts my heels to put on my shoes. Now today the pa in my finger is acting up again.
My regional mgr. stopped in to the store I work at the other day. He asked me how I was doing and I told him what was going on. He suggested that I look into taking a short term disability. I just can't afford that. It only pays 66% of my pay. I guess at least I do have that if I just can't work any more. I'll just have to find a way to make ends meet.
Polly

I know this is all confusing and very hard on people who are sick.
Unfortunatly, there are not too many more simple answers.
It's important to learn as much about the system as you can, so you
can find resources for personal assistence when in need.
When a person files for disability they are forced to apply for SSI which
is Supplimental Security Income.
SSI is figured on your income. I forget what the ammount might be, but it is not a lot of money. If one might have even a 66% income with short term
disability through an existing job, then it might be wise to consider that
benefits' worth in your life. Some people don't even have that, and that's where SSI comes in. I did not qualify for SSI so I don't know anything else about that part of the process.
Soc.Sec. is now trying to assist with the disabled either returning to work after a while trying to get well, or with finding a way to have them work part time. Everything is changing and the problems of Social Security affect each of our exerieces in trying to find help during a time of severe need.
You have to remember that everything we get rides on the government decisions made about our current Social Security standard. You simply will not be able to get around the system, so it is best to log in to the Social Security web site and learn all you can.
To help understand your chances you might want to get out the phone book
and just start picking out attorneys and see who will talk to you.
Most give at least one free consultation, and if you are really lucky you might happen across some one nice on the staff who will also share helpful information. It just depends on who you get and maybe your approach.
I just picked my attorney out of the phone book and got lucky with my first try. My attorney did a wonderful free consultation. He was brutally honest and in the end I appreciated that. He was tough. And what I mean by tough, is that he was continually challenging, probing, sorting and telling me where
I was going to get all off track with my case. My view of what was important
and his view of what is important were not the same.
I have multi system problems and of course I was going to focus on the
malady of the day. I thought my crazy blood pressre was my biggest problem because it kept sending me to the ER. But my attorney thought differently and helped me sort all the tedious and confusing information and figure out the core of my case. After such a good free consult I had no need to look further. Sometimes things like timing and luck might play a role in who we come across, so why not widen your chances for opportunity for help by taking an active role in your personal benefits education.
I hear that not every one has such a good experience the first time out so I also suggest to stick to it if at first you do not succeed.
Good Luck to all.

No one answered my question here, but I found out from other sources.

Sorry that all the information here was not of any help
to your personal situation.
But it is wonderful that you found what you needed somewhere.
Hope all goes well and that you continue to find the right
answers that will benefit your very personal needs.

Hi everyone, for those who are interested, I came across
some new information on the disability qualifying process.
I was talking to a friend about the plight of the working
ill and disability.
My friend told me that there is a provision somewhere
in the rules of qualifying for disability.
As I understand, there is an 810.00 dollar amount on
income that might serve as a dividing line between what
would be qualified as disabled or not disabled.
The 810.00 dollar amount attaches to monthly income.
If the sick working person makes more than 810.00 a month
while working, then that "over" amount would disqualify the
applicant. Under 810.00 per month is allowed for consideration.
I don't know if there is also a 40 hour a week dividing line.
In the work provision for people already disabled and trying
to work, there is an 800.00 per month limit on how much the
disabled worker can make as income. There is also an hourly
limit on how many hours a disabled person can work.
I believe that limit is 20 hours and under, but definately 40
hours of work per week is disallowed.
Since there is a similarity on the income allowed, I wonder if there
is also a similar hourly limit.
If any one comes up with any additional information it would be
helpful to know.
Our conditions and benefits can be helped by taking a proactive
approach with our Senators and Congress people.
Maybe bringing the severity of our individual difficulty to their
attention is the way to make our system become more helpful.

Thanks to everyone on my behalf. I found out what I needed from work. Also I am sorry for the abrumpt response earlier. We have disability where I work so I do not have to depend on S.S.I.