Lupus Support Group

my doctor diaqnosed me as disabled when I was in and out of the hospital alot..I receive SSDI my husband made too much money for SSI.. I would have a talk with your doctor about it,..good luck

First I would contact the Social Security Office. Their # is 1-866-592-3734. In order to apply for disability you need to contact their office. You can't apply directly on line.
They will set up appointment for a phone interview. Then the process begins and as you probably already know, it takes a while.
Where is Wilmer, AL.?
I live in Bham and dealt with the SS office here. Good luck and be patient.
Age can be a factor. I started drawing Social Security last year because I turned 62 in October. I've just gotten my first disability check in August. They just added the amount to my Social Security. I did get back pay from a year to when I first applied i.e. applied in February 2008, was rejected in May 2008, appealed in June and was finally approved in February 2009.
I hope this will help you. The website is www.socialsecurity.gov
Best of luck to you
Virginia

Excellent info, Virgnia Ann. I'd like to add that there is a huge backlog on getting SSDI. And unless you are on dialysis or terminal, you WILL get turned down initially; everybody does; it's nothing personal. So just keep fighting for it. Appeal and reappeal.

Also, be aware that just because your doc feels you are disabled doesn't mean that SS will feel the same way. They hire the bottom of the barrel doctors. It's their job to turn you down so don't let them rattle you.

Make sure that you have LETTERS from your doctors summarizing your case. Your medical chart is NOT enough. Taken by itselt, these SSDI docs can draw weird conclusions. For instance, I saw the report on my case. It said I should not get SSDI because the EEG showed that I wasn't having seizures. Well, no one said I was!! I wasn't trying to get SSDI for any sort of seizure disorder and that test was irrelavant, but you can see how taken out of context it could be used to prove I wasn't sick. So get your rheumy and internist to write you letters dicussing how you are on your WORST DAY. Because based on the way our illness is, we can't judge which days will be good and which will be bad so it makes having a 9-5 job impossible for those with bad lupus.

Also keep in mind that just having lupus and lupus antibodies is NOT enough to get you SSDI. You have to spell it out for them. "I cannot work because I cannot go more than an hour without laying down in my bed for 2 hours." Fatigue doesn't mean anything to them, nor does pain because it can't be measured. But saying that you need to take large doses of drugs that make you drowsy---that they understand. And symptoms they can see. Take photos if you have rashes or swollen ankles and attach these. You need to be your own advocate. And don't bother with the SSDI attorneys. They will take 1/3 of your money (mostly back SSDI payments) and do very little for you. You are all capable of filling out your own paperwork. If you are going to hire one of these guys, then wait untll you have a court hearing. And even then you don't need an attorney. Just go in there and look sick. Bring photos, your paperwork and the judge will ask you questions. This isn't like a legal trial so courtroom rules don't really apply.

For those of you who have SSDI, you're not off the hook either: every few years, they will re-evaluate you!! I've had that done 4 times (I think). And if you have disability insurance, they will re-evaluate you too. My dis insurance sent a spy to watch me for 3 days. The spy was so good I didn't even see him/her. And since I AM disabled and therefore didn't do anything that I shouldn't be doing, I was fine. But it's scaring knowing the lengths these places will go to "trap" you. So be aware if you have this type of insurance.

Good luck with this.

Tracy

Great Info Tracy-thanks-I'm just on regular disability now, which I guess means I have to go back to work eventually--I can not even imajine doing that with the way I feel.
But I will document-a take photos too--I guess it cant hurt-and I can use it later if I decide to apply for SSDI-
thanks again

i agree with most of what Tracy said with one exception... i actually got a legal aid attorney for my SSD appeal... they didn't charge me Anything. look up legal aid in your area and call ask about it i was able to get a lawyer to do all the running and didn't have to pay one penny, and no they didn't take anything out of my back pay either. good luck to you hun ::huggles::

Lea

Legal aid is a great idea if they have it in your area. I wish I'd had one.

Tracy

Make sure you have the medical records that will substantiate your limited ability to work and the kind of work you are capapble of. As long as your work does not enable you to make more than $900 month because of your health they will consider you disabled. It's not easy. I had two declines and finally an appearance before a judge and board to be approved. Took almost 3 years. But considering i couldn't work, I had nothing to loose and finally I at least have the income of SSDI.