Sorry for your troubles. Hope you feel better soon

http://www.socialsecurity.gov/disability/professionals/bluebook/14.00-Immune-Adult.htm

Please visit this website if you are attempting to collect SSI or SSSi
both of these are federal programs that restict to low income, but if you're condition is on the "bluebook" of nautomatically quailifiy diseases, you atoumatically qualify for disability. The federal government consider RA to be Inflamatory arthritis, section 14.09.
If you meet the income requirements, fire your lawyer and schedule a meeting with your local SSI office with a copy of this chapter.


In brief, RA is considered by the federal government to qualify you for automatic diability, which your docters have been treating you for and the chiropractor admitted you had.

Best of luck!

Also, a rheumatologist is the one who should make the desicion, a chiropractors verification would not stand up in court, so I don't know why your lawyer called him.
I believe that your lawyer is not making any effort because he knows you qualify and all he has to do is remind the court of this nd then sit back and ollect on you sssi for the rest of your life. FIRE HIM....if your sure you meet the income requirements.
Being able to clean house does not mean you can work. It mearly shows that you can do a few things for yourself still.

Also, not letting your mom into the courtroom is suspiscious to me.
Fire him, and if you need another lawyer go to Legal aid, required in most states to help people who cannot afford a lawyer.

FIRE HIM and let him know that he has already recieved his compensation and is entitled to nothing more because of his lack of effort in your case. Write this to him and send us mail with signature required and keep a copy yourself

But this is only is if your income qualifies

I second the firing of your lawyer. My brother went to a hearing for disability and his lawyer was fantastic and tried to do everything in his power to help my brother collect, including having witnesses. There are good lawyers out there who won't waste your time.

Thank you all for your input. I am all for firing my lawyer.There is other things that he has said to me that offended me. Do I need to notify disability and let them know.? I believe they withhold his pay from me and send it to him.

Those rules aren't across the board though. I receive SSSI for RA. I was approved in 5 months without a hearing or a drs appointment. I also live in a economically-depressed area and my chances of finding a job that could accommodate me are very slim.

My brother has special needs and while he is physically able to work, he is mentally unable, but since he can hold an intelligent conversation, you aren't quite sure of his problems. He had to go through a hearing and my parents were his witnesses. So I don't think that that's set in stone who or who can't be your witness. I say this because there is no telling why they deny someone or approve them.

I really think you have a crappy lawyer who is NOT looking out for your best interests.

I too, think I have a crappy lawyer. The day I hired him he new I went to the free clinic and was in a RA research and could not afford a rhuematologist. He told me if he didn't think he could when he wouldn't take me as a client and he took me as one. Then the meeting we had after my court date was scheduled he said only going to free clinic and research would make it bad for me plus only being 49 . He never even suggested a witness. He said several cruel things to me, He said if I didn't say the same things as his chiropractor it would look like I was trying to pull the wool over on the judge. I said so I am to lie to the judge? He said oh no no. He made me feel belittled just like doctors make me feel. The worst part is I get to pay them good money to talk down at me!
Thank you all for your thoughts. Love and hugs to all,Terri

Okay, I admit I may have been hasty and angry in my reply, but IF you have enough work credits or IF you meet the required income, You should be considered "automatically" approved.by the definition in the bluebook chapter 14.09 'Inflamatory arthritis'

I would delay any further legal action and make an appoinment with the local SSI, taking with you all relevant documents and the copy of 14.09.

I do NOT meet the income or the work credit requirements and so do not quaiify, but they told me to reapply if my income was reduced because then I would qualify, based in the bluebook chapter 14.09, but I have not been able to work for 8 years. I recheck in june/july, when there new income guidelines come out to see if I qualify, as my husband has not had a raise in seven years. Perhaps I will this year, as we now quailfy for food stamps

I have thought about this since writing and you may encounter issuess if you have been recently employeed. Then you would have to prove why you were able to work, but you no longer can. These reasons can include increasing fatigue, increasing pain, lenthening sleeping time and need for daily naps, ect, ect. Ask your
Rheumy and research doctors to prepare your files for a disability claim. If you have been working, you will have to have your doctors files and your ra research, showing a decline in your abilties: fatigue, energy, joints, mental issues, such as depression. I notice you own your own business, so if you have been involved in the physical aspect of that business, this would cause a need for much more evedence of declining abilities and may, I admit, require a lawyer

I am sorry if I was offensive in my earlier arguments, but I KNOW that RA sufferers cannot work.

I wish you the best of luck and hope that I may of been of some help

Again, I am sorry if I was rude, it was not my intent.

In addition SSI is for people who have earned enough work credits and generally receive more income, as their payouts are based on how much you made.

SSSi is the program for people who do not have enough work credits but have a low enough income to quailfy. THis is the program that had agreed to accept me if my income and their % rate of poverty meet.

Persistance is the key, do not give up because you have been declined, but continue to ask and provide documentation, and your ablities do decline, (as they do), you will eventually win. In the meantime it may not hurt to see what, if any state benefits you may be able to get.

RA sufferers know that deformities are not the only crippling effects .

Plus, how many people have you seen in handicapped parking spaces who appear perfectly fine? Looking at someone does not show ablities.

I read over 51 percents. post and she (I am going with she because the birth statistics when my children were bore were 51 percent female) and she has many strong and valid points.
The government isn't going to announce the first time you see them that you qualify, they turn everyone down the first time, I think.

But I still think you should set up a meetng and talk to them again, with supporting documents. Make sure your drs know that your are applying. They will not rewrite records to your benefit, but files often need straighted up and orgainized, plus he will give you his opinion on whether he believes you quailfy.

If you have been working full time until now...it will be very difficult. If you have not been able to work, then it will be somewhat easier.

Also, 51 percent, Did your lawyer have nothing to say about there not being a job that people can just lay in bed and speak into a microphone? I am suprised by your lawyer; but I urge your brother to keep trying.

I am sorry if I have offended anyone, I get a little excited sometimes, but, truely, I do not mean to cause anyone to feel that I disapprove of them in any way, you guys have been the best thing I think I've found for my RA....support

Ahhh, I think I'm done, my fingers and back hurt now.

Best of luck to everyone.