Frankly, IMHO and only my opinion, you are wasting your time trying to figure this out on your own.
The official guidelines for disability are very stringent. For example, you have to not only demonstrate a medical/physical condition; you have to prove you cannot perform ANY kind of work. Very, very few except the extremely obvious cases get accepted the first time. Compounding the problem is every SS office, clerk, case worker, State, and yes, even judges, are different and will apply or not apply specific rules unequally with the general (though unstated) goal to ferret out any single item, no matter how small to deny your disability claim. So even if you feel you qualify you have met 99% of the criteria you will likely be denied because of the 1%.

If you are disabled, cannot work, and have not worked for a period of time (6 months to two years) you are eligible for disability benefits. So my advice is to assemble what information you have and apply. You might get it first time, but usually not. Then go out and hire an attorney, a Social Security Disability advocate. Unless you are also an expert in SSDI law or are willing to take massive amounts of time to become one you are just wasting your time.

The attorney will be paid only out of your past-due benefits, or any "back pay that you receive. This can be as high as 25%, but is often lower 10-20% is more common and you can bargain for a lower rate.

Also I think you mentioned you lost your job because of your disability. You may have additional benefits coming from there as well your attorney will know.

Those numbers probably will not mean a thing to the social security people., but they will be needed. They have their own tests, their own guidelines, and their own rules. Not everyone needs a lawyer, and as I said before I got mine right off within 2-3 months, and my ex got his right off within a month. You need your paperwork in order, and you will have to go to , or contact the social security place, and tell them you need to apply for disability, that will get the ball rolling. Sometimes they mail you paperwork, sometimes you have to go in and meet them. You can have someone fill out the papers for you. But you will need statement from doctor that you are unable to work due to ------------. You will need the soc. sec. forms also, because sometimes they send you to their doctor. Just please contact them as I have said before, and get this started. One visit or phone call will tell you exactly what you need. The job is not finished until the paper work is done !! You should not need a lawyer unless they think you are not that bad off, that is why I said get a doctor's form and have doctor fill it out. It is all online or at social security office.
Good Luck
BJ

The best person to answer your question is your pulmonologist. Even if he agrees you should be on disability there is a lot of work and preparation in getting approved.

When I applied, I chose to do all the work myself. I was approved within 6 weeks of my application with no problems.

The important thing is to have all your "ducks in a row" before you start the process.

1. Get copies of your medical records. Both test results and doctors notes. Make several copies. In my case I elected for a second opinion, so I had records from two pulmonologists and my primary care physician.

2. Decide weather you are going to try to continue working during the process. You can continue to work during the process, but that decreases your chances of being approved. This is a tuff one, because if you are not actively seeking employment you are not eligible for unemployment benefits. I elected not to work.

3. You can apply online. If you do that, answer all the questions accurately. You will need your medical records at hand for this.

4. If you get an appointment at a local office, again take copies of your medical records with you. I can't emphasize enough how important the medical records are. At this point you might also want to apply for SSI (supplemental security income), if you are eligible.

5. Be proactive. When you are assigned a case worker get his/her phone, extension, and fax number. At this point you have to be proactive in assuring they get all the required information in a timely manner. On several occasions I would receive a questionnaire in the mail just two days before it was due. In that case I would call the case worker and inform him that it was in the mail, as well as faxing the documents. Again I would send copies of my medical records along with the questionnaire. You will also have to stay on top of your doctors to assure they respond to your case worker in a timely manner.

If you are approved you will still have to wait 6 months before you can start collecting your benefits. SSI and Medicaid may be helpful during this time. Your SSI ( if you are eligible ) will start immediately and be retroactive to the date of your application. Your SSDI benefits "may" be retroactive.

This is just my experience with SSDI and I was fortunate to be approved so quickly. But as Gnott pointed out every case is different and must be supported with strong medical evidence.

If you are confused by the process it is probably best to let the experts handle your case.

when I started having problems doing my job I started investigating and doing a lot of reading to see if I could get soc sec disability. I asked the lady at pulmonary rehab and she said according to ss standards I qualifyied. I do believe you need to go by fev1 and be below their guidelines. here is how I figured out , and then I applied but they need a pulm doc to request the info and your pulm doc needs to fill out the forms when they send to them, so talk to your doc, tell him you are having trouble breathing, as you work.
Disability Evaluation Under Social Security

http://www.ssa.gov/disability/professionals/bluebook/3.00-Respiratory-Adult.htm#3_02

http://www.ssa.gov/disability/professionals/bluebook/3.00-Respiratory-Adult.htm#3_02

although I did a lot of research on if I qualified I had my doc behind me , I did not get any records as such they sent to him for all my records and he filled out all the papers they sent to him. I left work 6 mo before I applied also, under medical leave. I had no problem , had it in a month and a half.

many disability lawyers will give a "free consultation; i (personally) would get an appointment & see what a "pro" says.
also, disability lawyers work for a percentage of what they win, so they may be more "honest" in taking a case compared to an attorney that gets an up front fee.

gro100 is a hero to me....i'd hire help LOL

Just casually drive over to you SS office and pull in any parking space and look directly across the street . . . you will se a sign that says Att. at Law - go there first and ask for a free interview because the first thing he/she will say is 'have you applied yet' and as you respond with a resounding NO look at the broad smile on the lawyers face and that should give you your answer - almost every posy here has one common word "LAWYER" /hank

I received my first retroactive direct deposit from SSI/SSDI within 4 months of my application date. All you get from the Fed's is the money. It's very important that when you go over the multi page application that you check the box that asks you if you have an "END OF LIFE" situation and to call the number they give you. Call that number ASAP and they will guide you through the process and will fast track your application to the head of the pile. You still have to wait 2 years for your Medicare, no exceptions. Meantime, go to your state benefit website and call them to make an appointment to see a counselor and they will set you up with state benefits if you are financially 'disabled' as well and they will get you on Medicaid within a month and any other benefits that you would qualify for. You will have a mountain of paperwork to fill out and submit and make sure you dot the i's and cross the t's and hopefully you'll be approved on your first attempt. Good luck! God speed.

Very good advice Capt. Also dcteag, if this is overwhelming to you, get a trusted relative or friend to sit with you, or go with you, and help fill out the paperwork. My sister did mine for my disability thru soc. sec. and she had to sign the papers also. Make copies of the main papers for your records, or if you turn them in, in person, ask one of the workers to make copies for you. Good luck with it all, and hope you get resolution soon
BJ

You need support from your pulmonary Dr. and if he/she says you qualify then file, you can even do it on line. Then there is the paperwork a massive questionair, then SSD for me. I went to a lawyer and he said sounds like you really don't need me, file and if they turn you down come back. No all lawyers are just waiting to take a percentage of your payment I sincerely hope it goes as easy for you as it did for me. I did quit working prior to putting in for it.

you can`t win if you don`t play. apply, and take it from there. nothing to lose, everything to gain. you won`t need a lawyer until you are " denied. " before i applied, i kept hearing all these horror stories from people who had " a friend of a friend " who kept getting denied, had to sell his house, had to get a lawyer, had to go to government appointed doctors, takes two years to get anything, have to keep going to court, blah blah blah, yadda yadda yadda.....pretty scary stuff! i was afraid to even start! i filled out everything online and THEN went and talked to a lawyer. after that, i played the game of filling out and sending back everything that was sent to me by the government. i had to jump through hoops but i WASN`T denied ! i applied in january and got my first check in july. since i didn`t get any back pay, i didn`t owe the lawyers anything. { as it turned out, they didn`t have to do anything. } as long as you have documented doctor stuff PROVING you are as SICK as you say you are, i think you will be ok. i did have THAT going for me.... i really am as sick as i say! HA! the FAKERS out there that try to, and do, get money for nothing, make it harder for those of us that ARE legitimate! i think that those of us with a CHRONIC disease are more likely to get it the fist time. BREATHE IN.....BREATHE OUT.....

Yes that's why over here they have really cracked down on those already getting disability...I know many who are conning n rorting the system and these need to be weeded out so the genuine are not put thru such a hard time.

I had to front a medical board with all my paperwork and doctors reports over at least a year. Once I proved I was incapable of holding down a job, I got full disability....took me 2 months with back pay to the day I applied...