They say if you're able to stand and greet people at a Wal-mart then you're not disabled. Although, you may know that you're unable to work they will go to great lengths to find you to be healthy and able. You will most likely get denied but the trick, or so i've heard, is to appeal, appeal, appeal. This will take months. I don't have much experience. I applied for disability last month and after filling out my fair share of paper work only for more to come in the door i admitted to myself that i'd never be granted it and just gave up.

There's plenty of people on here though that have experience with it. They'll help you out. Best of luck! Don't get lost in the paperwork.

My advice to you is use your own doctors. Do not use the ones the state provides, because they are employed to thin out the number of applicants.

I would also start building a case history of any debilitating psychological symptoms, including panic attacks, anxiety, depression, and document as many symptoms that you might experience even during remission as possible.

thanks guys. I know its going to be hard. I'm preparing myself for the worst but hoping for the best (better). My neuro actually thinks i'm more affected phsycologically than neurologically. MS Is totall devestting to the emotions. especailly when you are in pain all the time. the list goes on and on

It should be easier as of july of this year.

edit Change in Disability evaluation 6/2008
Friday, July 18, 2008 | An Anxious story

####from post:
http://www.patientslikeme.com/forum/show/17277?post_id=191157#191157
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A small news article from todays paper:
The House passed a major civil rights bill on Wednesday [June 25, 2008] that would expand protections for people with disabilities and overturn several Supreme Court decisions issued in the last decade
The bill, approved 402-17, would make it easier for workers to prove discrimination. It would explicitly relax some stringent standards set by the court and says that disability is to be "construed broadly," to cover more physical and mental impairments.
Lawmakers said Wednesday that people with epilepsy, diabetes, cancer, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis and other ailments had been improperly denied protection because their conditions could be controlled by medication or were in remission.
In deciding whether a person is disabled, the bill says, courts should generally not consider the effects of "mitigating measures" like prescription drugs, hearing aids and artificial limbs. Moreover, it adds, "an impairment that is episodic or in remission is a disability if it would substantially limit a major life activity when active."
The Senate is expected to pass a similar bi-partisan measure.

My note: This is a major breakthrough for all of us!





###My edit, of Confirming sources:



http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h110-3195&tab=summary



http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h110-3195

i don't want to sound discouraging but i applied in feb 2007 and was denied twice, now have an attorney who says we most likely will not get into court until feb-june 2009, the courts are very, very backlogged. you can be in terrible health, financial ruin, they don't care. they truly hope you'll give up, get a job or die! i'm serious, my sister-in-law had brain cancer that spread throughout her body, she was dying. her daughter applied for ssd and she was denied. these are the jerks we have to deal with, it sucks! just be prepared, i had over 10 years of documentation, testing etc. and i am still waiting.

So is this bill already passed? Its already September. I hope it is. I have to start the whole process over, and I am going to do it differently this time.

I applied in July 2007 and got my first denial in December 07, appealed and now its going to be approx 2 years before my hearing. If I get denied then... Its a long time to wait on something you need.

Just remember that you may be denied several times not because you are not disabled but because they hope you will not reapply so they won't have to award you disability. If you and your doctor feel you are disabled don't give up. Good luck
Tam

I applied in October of 2007. I was "officially" deemed disabled on Nov. 5th, but didn't get approved til May of 08. Good Luck.

Sounds weird saying "Good Luck" like that..sounds like "way to go..I'm glad you're disabled"..ya know.

Take care

Winning disability is a major victory for people with MS. We are discriminated against because our symptoms are often invisible, especially if you have recurring remitting MS.

Of course, its better to be healthy than to win a pittance of tax payer money, but the health care coverage can really make the difference for some people.

I'm about to apply myself. I'd rather deep throat the barrel of a 12 gauge, then stand there and greet people at walmart.

I used to do computer work with databases but my hands are too numb now, to do it at high speeds without making major mistakes. Also i did construction work, won't catch me dead on a ladder now, might catch me dead on the ground after trying to use one.

Another problem is every job nowadays (that i qualify for) doesn't offer medical insurance until 6-12 months. Medicaid will cut me off immediately if i find a job. So uhh no point in losing my medical. Luckily i got my medicaid right before my DX. I must have spent over 100k with 2 hospitalzations, expensive meds, and specialists.

Its discouraging moving back with my parents at my age, now i see no way out in the immediate future. I plan on going back to college and getting a psychology degree but with these gas prices how would i drive there?

It would be really great if i could get disability until i can graduate college (again) so i can find a job using just my mind.

please what ever you do dont give up you are going two need to get a attorney thats the only way you stand a chance of getting it maybe sooner do your home work trust me i know

There are several other posts ont his topic if you look through the archived lists by clicking ont he backward numbers. I have suggestged to go to the website, DisabilityKey. I suggest looking at the previous posts.

This all sounds so scary. I guess you have to wiegh out the options. work and be half dead, get fired because you are not produtive and are out alot, or go for it and wait it out. Ther worst scenerio i;d have to move back home with my parents too. I'm 43. My parents are great but i wouldn't like that feeling of losing my independence, i'm sure it would be awkard at times too living with parents. Another note, I'm actually applying for disability as well with where I work. I'm in the state retirement systmem. Weve had people get disability, noone has been turned down yet and you get it in 3-4 months. My luck, i;ll be the one turned down. But i've also heard that if you get disaibility through the state, it makes it easier to get SSN, but that might just be hear say i don't know. I feel all of us, i mean they make it so hard to get disability and some peole can't handle it, some just fall off the deep end and kill theirselves because they are in such pain phsically and mentally.

I applied in June and was approved in August. My only problem was when they said I was officially disabled. The process was painless. Just be sure to keep a journal not only your physical state but also your emotional one. Good Luck.