I don't really wish to offend here, but my sister is dying with cancer, and she is fighting them to get on disability, and she since the age of 18, and I do mean continuous. She has brain cancer, and had radiation 5 days a week, and then a gamma treatment or however that is spelled.

The sad part is, I have a friend in Missouri who is overweight and got approved the first shot, and even got an increase because she lives with her boyfriend and she has to pay all the bills. Truth being, he drinks all the time. She gave him her card (bank) card and he overdraws her. I am sorry, but my sister is not going to know anything until September about hers and she said they no longer do back pay. I do not understand any of this, but I guess just because she is my sister, I am kind of not happy about this.

I am one of the really lucky ones. I suffered with my back and working for two years before I got the nerve to apply for SS. I was so afraid of the battle and the long term financial strain. I hired an attorney that specializes in disability and workers comp and is very well known for winning. When I went there she told me she could get it for me after looking at my MRI. She said she wouldn't take the case unless she knew she could win as that is the only way she gets paid. We applied in April 2010 and I got my approval letter on my first try in July 2010 and got my first check in November 2010. It was truly a miracle to me. I did not get any back pay because of getting my first check 6 months after filing so the government paid my attorney fees. I had heard it just all depends on the case workers lap it falls in when you apply and that the golden age for applying and getting approval is 53. While the income is much appreciated it still is such an adjustment to live on. They claim I make too much on my social security to qualify for any Medicaid, food stamps, etc. so everything comes out of my pocket. There is a 2 year waiting period for Medicare so I have no health insurance and require health care. It is a no win situation.

My disability was disallowed because I'm making too much money, $880 a month from unemployment, so I'll contest it. According to a social security guy, disability would only give me my full social security check that I will qualify for when I turn 66, but that's an extra $200 a month and that's help. I'll start getting my social security around June 20th. I qualify for medicare in July. I'm just wondering if the cost of an attorney would be more than the extra money I'd get.

By law an attorney can only take a percentage of your back pay up to a max of $6,000.00. I honestly already can't remember what the percentage is but it is pretty standard among all attorneys I think. If you are at the door for Social Security I don't even know if I would mess with the trouble of trying for disability. It would only involve you getting back pay up to the time you draw regular social security right?

aww Lucy - I'm so sorry to hear about your sister. Maybe a lawyer would be helpful in your situation? My sister is on disability - and has been for years. She was strung along for a long time - with a lot of red tape and after she got a lawyer - bingo - she got her disability.

backpainhurts,,,yes,,that is exactly what to do,,,you almost have to hire an attorney,,that is how it goes thru much faster.. DH had a serious work related injury back in 1996. After the settlement part of it,,,he worked for ohhh,,maybe 7 more years and due to his inability to work his original job he worked in the office,,,could no longer travel,,,long story short,,,lawyer advised he go on disability,,,,,lawyer handled the entire thing,,he retired in 2003 and started receiving the checks,,DH has 12 screws and a plate in his foot, had both knee replacements,,,hands go numb,,carple tunnel,,,and now he just had to have surgery on foot again,,,the other one this time,,,but to look at him you would never know it,,,but to watch him walk is difficult for me cause he was such a robust hardworking guy,,and I might add an excellent dancer,,but that is gone,,,:(

DH said he saw alot of people who didn't warrant being on disability,,,how they got it is questionable,,but know they are far more strict with it today...

backpainhurts,,I think I tend to disagree with you on that,..You get more drawing SSD than SS...with disability you qualify for medicare right away versus,,,social security age has to be almost 66 years old,,,there is a waiting period of about 10 months after your 65th birthday that entitles you to medicare,,,

I just filled out 2 sets of forms sent to me from the Department of Assistive and Rehabiilitative Services to further determine my disability eligibility. One was for the effects the disabilities are having on my daily life. The other on my work history,,what jobs I performed,,,equipment I used,,,and how the disabilities have hindered me doing them. They had to be filled out by me. Doctors weren't aloowed to do it. Has anyone had to fill out these forms?

My own experiences are a little different--I am military disbled. I took nothing for 25 years and then, when I became too ill to work, my daughter took me to a VA Hospital. While they were treating my heart, they applied for a disability rating which I recieved (along with nominal money compensation)15 months later. After 10 years, I applied (at the suggestion of my doctor) for an increase--that took 8 months and then a complete disability claim and have recieved that since. I was ashamed to be a Vet for many years and now am glad that I served and my country is giving me my compensation for it.. It does affect my Social Security until 70, but I am getting by now, so I will wait.

foxydad - that is what my sister had to deal with - all of the forms. That is when she finally turned to a lawyer. She was unable to sit up for more than 30 minutes at a time - she had so many back problems - she was a secretary and they still turned her down until she got a lawyer. In the long run - I think it is the better way to go to get a lawyer.

That is SO hard for me to say because generally I think we are all better off staying as far away from lawyers as possible! But in these cases - it might be wise. There is that group, Binder & Binder that advertises on TV - who knows? They may be able to help.