I got my disability this year. I hired an attorney and he said that we needed two specialists to write letters to determine that I was disabled. I was shocked at all the diagnoses when I read my hemo's letter-2.5 typewritten pages. He really helped and my GP really helped. I didn't have to go to court, got a call from the judge's attorney and he said if I would move up my request by one year they would honor it that day and no court. I very happily agreed.

My first rejection letter came about 6 months after I filed. Got the attorney and within 4 months won my disability. Every state is different on the timeline. Our state is so backlogged that they are pushing them thru very quickly. File as soon as possible, that way if something does happen your family will receive your benefits. I have a small son and that was the reason I eventually filed. They do backdate, but I have heard from people in other states that they received the same offer as me. Good luck and it is real easy to file online and keep copies of everything you write to them.

Can you apply for disability if you currently work, but see that it is a serious possibility that you will not be able to for too long, or if you can show that your MG is causing you difficulties on the job?? Or do you need to be unemployed to file?

You can file while you are still employed, but to be disabled you have to be out of work for a year. Since the process takes a long time, file while you are working and when you get the rejection letter stop and get an attorney. You can still work on disability but only for a few hours and little money, I wouldn't recommend working for the first 3 years if you are approved because they will do a review.

I applied for disability and recieved my denial letter after 6 months. Now i have appealed it and waiting for another response going on 2 months now. I cant imagine being able to work right now with every day being so different! I sure do hope i get approved! As for UCLA they believe that mg is treatable and we should be near cured. hmmm? however possibly after my surgery, but not as for now..

It's really tough. My neuro told me that I wasn't disabled, even for purposes of a hang tag for my car. This was at a time when I couldn't walk 50 feet, button my own shirt, eat or speak understandibly. His reasoning was that anyone with MG would go through a bad period but would ultimately improve: the bad times were only temporary.

I applied for disability and it took about 6 months before I got my denial letter. I then got a lawyer and it took 17 months to get a hearing. I got approved at the hearing. I would recommend to get a lawyer from the start.

Thanks for the replies so far. It seems most people's bad experiences come from Social Security Adm. Has any filed for disability through their own private disability policy (if they have one)?

I applied for Social Security Disability on-line and received my first check 5 months later. I wrote explicitly how I could not even walk 50 feet without getting short of breath and having to sit down. You have to be very specific. I am very thankful after seeing so many having problems getting theirs.

Gosh you sure did get lucky! i too was very specific! I put 25 feet! and how i need assistance to even get off a damn toilet.. And thats not a lie! I cant believe i didnt get it! i wonder how much more disabled i really need to be! owell! hopefully my apeal will go thru!