I was able to get Soc Sec for my chrons with all of the documentation of my hospitalizations, surgery, and work performance before and after diagnosis. Unfortunately, it is not as easy for some. I was lucky enough to have all of my documentation in order and to have some knowledge of the application and approval processes. I hope this helps. My best advice is to make sure that you have documention, hard proof to show Soc. Sec. and if you get deninied, appeal immediately, it can take 3 times, if you get no satisfaction after 3rd attempt, contact a lawyer.

I found it impossible to work also. I ran my own day care in my home for 8 years. The parents were great and understanding. It was the only way i could support my family. It turned out to be the best and most rewarding job ive ever had. When my husband got re-located i found it impossible to work a "public" job. Ive been told no about ssi for cd also.

I applied for it and turned down!!! I contacted a lawyer she said it usually will take about 2 yrs of not working before you can get it for chrones and then if you get it. I think god every day that he gave me the job i have no Home health so i can go to the bathroom when i need. I used to work a factory and had to go on piece work and it depended on the whole mod on what we made it was very hard to do in the bathroom all the time. good luck

I was diagnoised with CD back in 99/2000 which hospitalized me at the time. Lots of people told me I should apply for disability, I didnt then I wanted to work as long as I could and support my family. a couple of years ago we moved back to Alaska from AZ and I found myself geting really sick and not being able to work so I applied. I was denied right off the bat and the one obscure page they looked at in my medical records said nothing about my CD. So I immediately appealed it and I have a hearing on November 15 of this year. Ill let you know how it goes. I have had two bowel surgeries since the appeal was sent the last one was mid September of this year which I am still healing up from. One of the things I learned during my research is that you have to paint a picture of how bad it really is for you on your worse day. I would go ahead and file just to get the process going and if they deny you appeal it.

Ambrose

It took me three years of fighting to finally get accepted. It was a very hard time, but luckily when they finally approved me they had to back pay me for 3 years.

I knew how sick I was so I went through the entire process without a lawyer. It was finally the courts own "medical expert" who said that I should have been approved from the begining.

My husband and I are managing to support ourselves with our bookstore, but if that ever goes bust, I can't imagine either of us being able to work in the system again. (He has severe psoriasis). My son's friend has been on a disability pension for CD for several years. I'll have to see how she went about it. Of course, this is Canada, and our medical system is a bit different.

like one of the other people said paint a picture of the worst you have ever felt and you run with itthru out all the paper work. i filed in aug of 2001 in feb of 2002 before my surgery iwas approved on the first try. i hate to say it but act like you are dying from this or you will take forever to get it. i here fromalot of people before i tryed and they said it was very hard for them. and they will send paper work thru out the months you will be waiting . so keep a copy of what you said in your last paper work. so your words are fresh in there minds. they did have to take my paper work to the board at the end but it was approved. it is well worth it . becuase is covers all six months or longer that you have been applying. so youwill get a lump sum. at the end ofall your work. i didn't work two years before i aplied and they paid me for ALL the time i was out of work. i think i got something like 20 grand. and if you have kids they pay them as well for you illness. of caorse it all comes togeather. so i wish you alot of luck.like isaid make copies so when you are in remission , you write about the worst of crohns.if you can't carry a certain weight you tell them, if you can't cook for your self you tell them if you can,t clean you tell them.

You have gotten a lot of very good advice here. I am on SSD and was approved last spring.It was my first application but took over 8 months from when we first applied to gettinh the check in my bank account. If I could give you anything more it would be this~go to the office in person for your application. You can do it online but the intake worker can actually make a difference in how they input things into the computer. Also~bring EVERY piece of medical documentation you have available to you~blood work, colonoscopy reports,medications, exam notes~just anything. I had already gone from full time to part time ~ changed positions, tried retraining for another profession before I applied~so it was very clear that I had tried everything and that SSD was my last resort.
If you are still working it won't bode as well for you. If you can, bring a family member with you to the interview and any doc appts. that they send you to.
I hope my experience helps you a bit - good luck.

I know I didnt start this thread but it gives me hope to hear the stories of those who have gotten on. When I was diagnoised over seven years ago several people advised me to apply for Disability. I didnt because it felt like I was giving up and I didnt want to let this disease have the upper hand. Of course as much as I tried to work and even changed the type of work I did I only ended up working not quite three out of the last almost eight years and I havent worked since August 05. I really hope and pray that I will get approved as well as all of you who are going through this same process.
Ambrose Stapleton

I felt that I didn't want to collect SSD in the beginning as well. I was/am a very proud woman and have always worked, always contributed to my family~since I was 14 years old. It was an adjustment to accept the SSD. but we needed it and all those years I worked, I contibuted into it. it is not a hand out~it is something you have earned and payed into.

Hi Gregg, my name is gail, and I was diagnosed in my senior yr of high school with c/d. I couldn't work for a yr and 1/2, after I graduated, then I work at a bank as a teller 4 about 7years. After I had my son at 22 my c/d got worse, and I tried to work but found it difficult. So I moved back home to live with my mother, cause my meds were 300.00 a month. I applied for Soc Security, and SSI, and was turned down for both the first time. So I reapllied, and was approved, but I had to see Soc Sec psychiatrist, and it to five months but I was approved from the first time I applied it took in all 10 months for me to get my Soc Sec and SSI, it didn't even take a year just 10 months, and that was back in 1993. I was also given Medicare A and B immediately and medicaid. I would apply do as they ask, and it they turn you down, reapply,immediately like I did, And If that doesn't work, then I would get an attorney.

Good luck, and if you have any questions feel feel the message me and ask, I don't mind answering any quetions you have...Gail68

Gail: thanks for you reply ( and thanks to all the other people who have given me information ). As you know all to well this disease is depressing enough without having to worry about being " suspect " and possibily humilitated by someone from SS Disability. Could you give me an idea of the kind of questions you were asked and the documentation you provided ?I haven't had any surgery yet and don't plan to unless it is ABSOLUTELY necessary !Between the stomach cramps and the frequent trips to the bathroom I am lucky if I can work two hours a day !Afternoon and evening are the worst times for me. A few hours after eating breakfast or lunch the real problems begin.I have had to stop working and often reschedule or cancel appointments. You wouldn't believe the number of phone conversatios I have had while in the bathroom. Thanks again...
Gregg

they will ask if you cook , clean , if anyone helps you, if you can work,and what you can do and how long. its been years for me but i am trying to help a little. how much you can pick up by pounds, if you can clean your self, if you can take care of your kids or do you need help with them, and they will ask these q&a over and over again so they know what you are saying is the truth. so that si why tou keep copies of your Q&As. what meds you are on there are so many procedures they have done. i didn't havemy surgery yet either when i filed mine. but just had it when i got back my respons from them . like i said it is so worth it to your self and your spouse so you don't feel like you can't help them. plus you can still work . but you can only make 400 dollars a month. so even that can help out and i think you can even goback to school too. so keep your head up things will work out. i have even been working part time . i did tell my boss before he even hired me. and was very great about it. and also they can not , not hire you because you are now disabled. my job even knows if i call in that i have agreat excuse that i am sick. so don't be scared about that either. so again good luck i hope it works out. donya