Chronic Pain Support Group
Physicians and professionalsdefine pain as chronic if it lasts longer than three to six months and is persistent. It's distinct from acute pain that is a direct result of injury or trauma. This support group is dedicated to those suffering from chronic pain. Discuss treatments that have worked for you, find advice for your specific experience, and find support. You're not...
Hi-
I've been on this board for years but never thought to ask about Disability. I know some of you are getting that, and I wonder if anyone can give me straight answers instead of reading the government page that has a lot of gibberish.
I've had RSD 16 years if I'm adding right. Lately, the complications of the disease have made it difficult for me to do things I normally do, which is killing me. I still do free-lance travel writing but the pay isn't enough to cover the babysitter. Other than a few perks, it just isn't doing a thing as far as helping us financially. And being gone 5 days a month is SO hard on my foot/leg. It's 2 flights each way so 4 flights a month. It's staying in hotel rooms where either the room is too small to stretch or the floor is too used for my germ phobias. It's catching a cold/flu once a month. And it's making my back, as well as my foot/leg, spasm so bad I can barely breathe.
That said, I never thought I wanted to leave. I love travel even with all the problems. But when the snow flies, I'm gonna be in trouble as the cold makes the RSD much worse. I spend days after each trip resting in bed or my chair, days I could spend with my son and DH. Since my son was born, it just isn't worth it. For years I've been gone a week a month and 2 weeks in the Spring. I've been caught in hurricanes and was in London during the volcanic ash incident that kept planes grounded. I was in Hurricane Sandy, staying in NYC in Times Square in the huge Sheraton, no way out. It's getting dangerous & babysitters here make 10 bucks an hour! That's w/o taxes, etc. And I work now as a free-lancer, so no benefits, no real money, it was a job intended to keep me busy after my baby and my mom died. It worked but now it's costing ME money half the time.
So I wonder about disability. I don't know how much longer I can keep up this travel. But my main question is: am I eligible if I'm married? My DH makes good money, but we have (like many people) too many expenses. Wouldn't they just tell me to live off him? I mean, I'm not alone or anything, and yes, he makes enough for the mortgage, the cars and all the things we have. Barely. With the economy this way, I have to wonder if we'll ever be able to just live. The tiny amount I get for free-lancing is not enough. Not with a child.
When I was 1st diagnosed with RSD back in 1997, I was living in another state and had to quit my job teaching preschool b/c of the pain. Even when the meds finally worked, I didn't. My mom made me an appt. with Disability and I got the date wrong. When I didn't show up I got a denial letter from them. I hardly remember what was going on but I never miss appointments. I recall my Mom, recently diagnosed with cancer, being very worried about me, yet quite angry that I missed that appt.
Then the meds started working. I got a job at a bookstore and met the man I would marry. We met in 1998 and married in 2000. We've moved several times since then, living in 4 different states. I'm settled here in MI now for about 7-8 years. Is it done by state? Is it Federal? Can a spouse get benefits if the other spouse makes a living? I mean, if DH making money means no way, then I can stop worrying about it. If it doesn't matter what he makes, then is RSD eligible? I've gotten to the point where walking w/o a cane is rare, and I'm so tired all the time. That's new.
I appreciate any advice- I really am in the dark here. Thanks!
I've been on this board for years but never thought to ask about Disability. I know some of you are getting that, and I wonder if anyone can give me straight answers instead of reading the government page that has a lot of gibberish.
I've had RSD 16 years if I'm adding right. Lately, the complications of the disease have made it difficult for me to do things I normally do, which is killing me. I still do free-lance travel writing but the pay isn't enough to cover the babysitter. Other than a few perks, it just isn't doing a thing as far as helping us financially. And being gone 5 days a month is SO hard on my foot/leg. It's 2 flights each way so 4 flights a month. It's staying in hotel rooms where either the room is too small to stretch or the floor is too used for my germ phobias. It's catching a cold/flu once a month. And it's making my back, as well as my foot/leg, spasm so bad I can barely breathe.
That said, I never thought I wanted to leave. I love travel even with all the problems. But when the snow flies, I'm gonna be in trouble as the cold makes the RSD much worse. I spend days after each trip resting in bed or my chair, days I could spend with my son and DH. Since my son was born, it just isn't worth it. For years I've been gone a week a month and 2 weeks in the Spring. I've been caught in hurricanes and was in London during the volcanic ash incident that kept planes grounded. I was in Hurricane Sandy, staying in NYC in Times Square in the huge Sheraton, no way out. It's getting dangerous & babysitters here make 10 bucks an hour! That's w/o taxes, etc. And I work now as a free-lancer, so no benefits, no real money, it was a job intended to keep me busy after my baby and my mom died. It worked but now it's costing ME money half the time.
So I wonder about disability. I don't know how much longer I can keep up this travel. But my main question is: am I eligible if I'm married? My DH makes good money, but we have (like many people) too many expenses. Wouldn't they just tell me to live off him? I mean, I'm not alone or anything, and yes, he makes enough for the mortgage, the cars and all the things we have. Barely. With the economy this way, I have to wonder if we'll ever be able to just live. The tiny amount I get for free-lancing is not enough. Not with a child.
When I was 1st diagnosed with RSD back in 1997, I was living in another state and had to quit my job teaching preschool b/c of the pain. Even when the meds finally worked, I didn't. My mom made me an appt. with Disability and I got the date wrong. When I didn't show up I got a denial letter from them. I hardly remember what was going on but I never miss appointments. I recall my Mom, recently diagnosed with cancer, being very worried about me, yet quite angry that I missed that appt.
Then the meds started working. I got a job at a bookstore and met the man I would marry. We met in 1998 and married in 2000. We've moved several times since then, living in 4 different states. I'm settled here in MI now for about 7-8 years. Is it done by state? Is it Federal? Can a spouse get benefits if the other spouse makes a living? I mean, if DH making money means no way, then I can stop worrying about it. If it doesn't matter what he makes, then is RSD eligible? I've gotten to the point where walking w/o a cane is rare, and I'm so tired all the time. That's new.
I appreciate any advice- I really am in the dark here. Thanks!
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Can you identify these rom-coms from just a screenshot from the middle of the films? This is a multiple choice quiz so even if you're not entirely sure you can always take a guess and at least have a 25% chance of getting it right anyway, so why not have a go?! https://www.buzzfeed.com/alysaurus688/rom-com-screenshot-trivia-quiz
It usually takes app 2+ yrs to be approved for SSDI. If you are denied on your initial app you can appeal. It is best to have an attorney for the appeal. The attorney is paid a percentage out of your backpay. SSA does this directly.
Number Of Credits Needed For Disability Benefits-
http://www.ssa.gov/retire2/credits3.htm
However, to be honest, it is getting very difficult to get approved for Disability (never was easy for most). But, that should not deter you if you think you deserve it. You apply online and have to answer what seems like a thousand questions, many times the same questions, or very nearly the same, over and over. Almost everyone gets turned down the first time. Then is a good time to get a lawyer who specializes in SSD claims. If the lawyer takes the case (some will not if they think you do not have a case since they only get paid if they win; paid directly by SS from your settlement money BTW), then you just let them handle the case while you wait.
When you fill out the SSD forms you will be asked when you became disabled. This can be difficult for many since most of the time their disability was not caused by some accident on day XX, but instead is a disease that has slowly developed over time. Be liberal when you pick a disability date because if approved, they will provide back pay to the day you said that you became disabled. For example, my wife said she became disabled the day she retired from her job (due to medical reasons), but she did not apply for SSD until about a year later. When she was finally approved (6 months after application), she was paid from the date she retired.
Again, it is not easy, but you never know unless you apply and go through the process. Good luck!
The first thing you need to find out is if you are eligible. You need to have work credits within a certain recent about of time. If the freelance work is all you are doing you might not have the credit.
You have to be disabled and unable to work for 5 months before you can apply. You cannot work for even a day after that date or the clock resets. You also have to have a condition that is expected to last more than a year.
As you can see the risk is you have to be not working and not collecting unemployment or anything else while applying. If you are ultimately denied then you would have nothing for that period of time. It's a big risk.
I would check on the work credits first. Also check that yearly statement you get. That will tell you if you are eligible and how much you would get if approved. You would also get money for your son until he is 18. If that checks out then contact a lawyer.
If you can only manage to shower once a week because it's too painful, say so.
And you will need documentation from your doctors. Do you see them regularly? If not, you need to start. Complain about your pain and don't try to put on a brave face. The doc will note how you look and what your complaint is. If you appear to be fine but state you have pain, he will assume your pain is not that bad. If you're miserable, let it show. When SSD sends the doc a questionaire to fill out, they will include the questionaire that YOU filled out so he can see if your answers match what his records show.
If you work AT ALL before your application is approved, then your claim will be denied. If you can work, you're not disabled. They will offer trial employment, but don't take them up on it. You may think it will show them that indeed you cannot work, but it will show that you CAN work and they will deny your claim. Your date of onset must be after your last date worked. If you were working, you were not disabled.
Another thing to remember; if your paperwork says to return no later than 10 days after the date of this letter, be sure it's not late. Your claim file is among bazillions of other claim files and gets shuttled from desk to desk. If you don't reply in time, they deny your claim and the file is off their desk.
Even if your disabling condition is on the approved conditions list, you can still be denied, based on whether your doc states that he believes you to be disabled or not.
SSDI is disability insurance. Your premiums are deducted from every paycheck, and benefits are paid without regard to income. So no worries there.
Good luck Jen.
Sorry...I didn't mean to write a book.
Even if you get an attorney, you need to followup with DDS/SSA and Always make sure they have received all medical records and info they have requested. You also need to verify that they are aware of updated medical records, have requested them and received them. Approval or denial depends on this. Attorneys and their staff are human just as DDS/SSA workers and drs office staff are human and they do make mistakes. Things are misfiled, lost, etc. Even though your attorney will get a certain percentage of your backpay if you're approved, You Have The Most To Lose If You're Denied. If you get an attorney, be sure and read the Fee Agreement before you sign it. The fee agreement does not cover copies for medical records, travel, etc and usually you are responsible for this.
I was denied 3 times and working on my 3rd appeal... 4th go-round with essentially the same paperwork... (The letter for today is 'U' -- Can you say, "Unbefuckinglievable" boys and girls?) when I finally was referred to a good local attorney by my Chiropractor... I happily handed all my "stuff" over to him and a few months later I got my letter that said I was approved, how much I'd get per month, and when my 1st check would arrive. I set up direct-deposit a little later, for both my checks and my son's checks, and it's been automatic ever since.
Just remember... Attorney...Attorney...Attorney...
Peace,
Dave
Thanks again- and I wish you all well!
If you don't have this go to SSA.gov and order one. This is the starting point. If you aren't eligible then you will need to find out what other programs you might qualify for.