I am fortunate enough to have a job that I love, and while it's really demanding intellectually, I have nearly complete autonomy to determine my own priorities, so if I'm having a really bad day, I can do something relatively mindless like approve the bills that come to me.

I've adjusted my meds a few times trying to mitigate side effects like fog, but I'm hanging in. I keep Tramadol in my purse, so if the pain gets out of control I have a way to take the edge off enough to get through the day.

How long have you been out of the workforce? SS has some rules about quarters that you might want to check out on their website. The window closes at some point, but it's at least 10 years, although there is a requirement for how many quarters have to have been worked in that period. Just something to look at and know where you stand before you put yourself to a lot of trouble applying. A call to your local office will do it to if that's your preferred form of communication (I hate phones LOL) as they can pull your records up while you're on the phone and talk about the specifics of your situation.

I hope things work out for you - it's always a hard decision, and scary too. I was out of work for eight months before I took this job, and had been working reduced hours at my previous job, so I was scared to death when I accepted a 40-hour job, as I haven't done that since 2005.

So far I'm hanging in - not making any plans to change anything except to keep tweaking my treatment plan until I have a better balance between pain control, energy, and cognitive issues.

I will be applying for SSDI. For the past few years I've been an internet content writer, writing content for business websites. Unfortunately, though, my fibro has badly affected my hands. I can type a little--such as posts like this--but my hands start cramping quickly if I try typing continually and with internet writing, that's what you have to do. There are deadlines and you must do many content tasks per day in order to make enough to pay your rent, bills, etc.

I can't think of much else I could do for work. My outside-job work has consisted of office-type stuff, but even with meds I can rarely get my pain below level 7. Sitting and typing all day or standing all day is out of the question. Honestly, I can't think of a job that *isn't* out of the question. With my pain, I could never be counted on.

I started filing for SSDI with a place called "Citizens Disability". When they sent me some papers, I started seeing some hidden fees, so I dropped them. I'm going to call a disability lawyer. If you do decide to file, Deanna, do not try to do it yourself. Call a lawyer. A disability lawyer will not charge you unless you are approved, and then they'll usually take about 25% to 30% of your retroactive first payment (retroactive to when you filed).

Do not try to go it alone. People who try to file by themselves are always denied. Always!

Good luck to you whatever you choose, hon!

*gentle hugs*

You have to have a certain number of work credits in the past 10 yrs for SSDI. If you don't have the work credits, SSI is the only other thing you can apply for. But, SSI is based on disability and income and resources. It is a welfare program. Basically is you don't qualify for food stamps and/or medicaid due to income and resources you won't qualify for SSI. Your hubbys income is counted as is other household income.

I work full time, desk job that is not physically demanding. My job is low stress and intellectually interesting. Although, Sitting for a long time is tough because of my back. So, I sit on an exercise ball. It prevents or diminishes pressure on the spine. My tailbone is not pressed. I also have a bracelet that buzzes at me every half hour and I try to obey it and get up. I can just get up and stretch my arms over my head, or walk down the hallway to go to the restroom, or whatever.

Getting going in the mornings takes a lot of willpower. On the other hand, once I do, I am fine. I have been thankful many times that I have to get up, else I might be tempted to stay in bed. I am sure I would take a nosedive if I did.

Sometimes I have to rest a little when I get home before I exercise. By that, I mean a walk or a little tai chi in front of YouTube. I don't have young children. Dinner is often very simple. Hubby helps and does at least half of the cleanup and sometimes all if it. A cleaning lady every 2weeks is essential, as is an iRobot that vacuums daily. Hubby helps with the laundry on the cleaning lady's off week. We split doing the groceries so that when I go, I mostly get the fresh fruits and veggies that I like to pick out myself.

Work makes me get up, dress up, wear makeup, and smile at people. That social pressure is important. Otherwise, I would be too tempted to feel sorry for myself and dig myself into a hole.

I am so glad that this subject has been brought up...

When I became disabled with my seizures, I didn't want to admit to my limitations. By the time that I finally admitted to myself that I could no longer work, they had changed the SSDI law. Please, everyone, if you are thinking of filing for disability, please do it before the 5 year mark.

My husband has been sick for the past several years. Last year, on 12-31-2012, he was diagnosed with cancer. what was ironic, that was the same day his chance of receiving disability was going to run out, my son had to hurry up and file on that day for him. They consider the last ten years of your work history to average your monthly disability amount, but they only will let you file within 5 years after you've stopped working.

Example: He stopped working in March, 2007 and his deadline for disability coverage would have ended 12-31-2012.

Hopefully, this helps. I am new to forums and I can't explain things very well! :)

Gee, I may not be able to get SSDI because it's been too long since I worked. I did work as a "freelance" artist when I submitted and published for magazines in the past 6+ years, but I spent so much time caring for my mother when she was ill in the hospital and then pregnant, etc. Creative pursuits went to the wayside.

However, if I can be declared as "disabled" by my doctor, I can probably be able to get out of my insane student loan. No matter how much I would like to work, there is no way. Between pain and caring for my son with autism (yes, I went from being my mother's caregiver to being pregnant after her death, to being a mother of a baby with autism), a typical job will just not work.

I also have bad neuropathy in my fingers which makes it difficult to hold anything and type. My son's therapies at 4-5 days a week, let alone that he is 4 and not potty-trained. Truth is, he is the reason I get up in the morning and he makes me smile, so he is my blessing through all of this crapola.

I don't know what I'll do because I've been out of the typical workforce TOO long. But even things like sending in art for magazines does not seem like something that would work for working and getting SSDI. We make too much for food stamps, Medicaid, or free/reduced lunch for our girls. But not enough to buy all the fun stuff for the kids. I'm sure most of you can understand!

Sorry if this is TMI. I just appreciate the honest responses. :D
Dea

Hello deannaDaisy,
A good way to determine (if they haven't passed another law) if you are eligible is to go to their website. SSA.gov, I believe it is. They have a part where you can see how much you would get if you became disabled. Because once you file for SSDI, you will not be able to see any of this information.

Good luck to you! :)

I really have nothing to add to what others have said here, except maybe you should hire a lawyer to go through the process with you.

Good luck

Social Security used to send out yearly statements that told you how much you had put in and also what you would get monthly if you ever had to use it, not sure if they still do that as someone said, as soon as you file you quit getting those statements.

You could just call and ask or visit their website. We have a local office here where they also answer questions in person.

I think they still send out the statements but I heard somewhere that they are going to phase them out at some point, as you can get the same information from the Social Security website now.

I pull mine up every once in a while and it's good to check it even if you're not filing, as sometimes there are mistakes - kind of like your credit record - it's good to take a look, especially if you're still working.

I found they had missed a whole year of my records and it took about an hour on the phone, and then a trip to the local office with my W-2 from that year, but they got it straight.

Anyway enough about me - my point is that you can find the same information now on the Social Security website that they send you annually in writing.

Thanks everyone! I forgot that I worked privately (under the table, so to speak) doing daycare and other things, so they're not going to count that income. Darn it!

You all are so knowledgeable and helpful. THANK YOU!!

They no longer mail out those yearly earnings letters. You can go to the SSA website an create an online account. From there you can see an print out your yearly earnings.

You must have a certain number of work credits for SSDI alog with being found disabled. And your dr writting a letter or saying you're disabled won't do anything. They go by Medical Evidence from your medical records from Acceptable Medical Sources. They also factor in your age and education. It is not that you can no longer do your previous job that matters with disability, it is that you can't do any job in the national economy. The job may be in a field you've never worked in, you may not make the same amount of money, but that if they can find a job in the national economy, you will be denied.

I'm not trying to be negative, it's just reality. The disability process is a ling and complicated one. So if you need to file, you need to look into it now.

my Social Security Sign In Or Create An Account-
http://www.ssa.gov/myaccount/

Hi Deanna. I work full time with fibro and it's no easy feat. In the beginning of my illness I had to go on FMLA and reduce my hours to 12-18 a week.

Well, after a lot of research, coupled with finding an incredible integrative medical doctor, I was able to find a good fibro management program for myself. My daily pain levels were 8-10 along with unrefreshing sleep, stiffness, etc. After working with my integrative docs, massage therapist, and nutritionist I was able to return to work full time.

My daily pain levels are now around 3, not counting stiffness and unrefreshing sleep. I have even recently had several days where I have felt "almost normal", as Emily previously stated. If you would like to know my fibro management plan, just message me and I will gladly share it with you.

I have accomodations at work, that allow me to be more productive. I have ergonomic chairs, a typing dictation program, limitations on repeatedly walking up and down stairs etc. I also have intermittent FMLA, which allows me to take off up to four times a month due to flares. I also work for the school system and we get all of the major holidays off , plus spring and Christmas break , which allows me to rest and recover.

The hardest part for me is getting going in the morning. I still wake up feeling unrefreshed and stiff. After I get a hot shower or hot bath soak, my muscles begin to loosen and then I am able to be productive. I pace myself throughout the day and really rest during my breaks and lunch period.

I hope that you find an answer to your dilemma soon. My prayers are with you.

I applied for ssdi for my fibromyalgia and hashimotos got denied the first time now I am using Allsup. Has anyone used their services?

Yes, I used Allsup. They were terrific. I was approved on the first try in 6 months. That was in 2009. The system is really jammed up now. A lot of people who can not find work are applying. Allsup was really easy to work with and very nice. They just called me recently to see how things were going. I am very pleased with their service.