I have. I applied in April 2011. I have been denied twice "Not Severe Enough" both times. I am now waiting on my hearing with a Judge and my lawyer on Dec. 5th. In the meantime I will be going to a new Rheumy on October 30th which may be a plus as my understanding is that my previous doc was not big on disability. It has been over 3 years since I have been tested for anything and over a year since I have seen a Rheumy so hopefully all this may be to my advantage. I live in North Carolina but I don't think it is easy to get anywhere. I know a young lady that has RA so bad she has to do chemo for some pain relief and they turned her down also. You apply yourself the first time, if you are denied that is when you get a lawyer. They do not take any money from you if they don't get it for you and a percentage of the total amount or a certain amount whichever is greater. If you go for it good luck and don't give up.

Why do they make it so hard for people with actual debilitating illness to get disability but then people are on welfare and SSI for the most idiotic reasons...

Ugh.

Thanks for your reply. Good luck to you as well!

I don't know why it is so hard. I have seen several people on disability that makes you wonder-who do they know??? Someone once told me though that they used to give it to everyone and there was so much fraud that now they make it tougher than it should be. I have heard of cases of people not being approved until after their death. Go figure. Something wrong with this huh?

If the medical profession doesn't even consider it all that bad how will anyone make the government believe that it is?

They are now more lenient. Most people are denied unless you have a serious injury that required surgery or surgeries.
It was MUCH harder yrs ago than now to get it. Age plays a role your doctor plays a role over 50 yrs old you stand a much better chance. Mostly because you've paid into the system.
Disability shouldn't be easy- its going broke in fact will be broke by 2016. Maybe earlier if they don't re-fund it. 70% or more are denied on first time applications. Used to be much higher.

I snagged this tidbit: In short, while many, many applicants for Social Security do get denied, those that have very severe impairments that make it impossible to work are often able to get benefits on the first try. To significantly improve your chances of winning your disability case the first time around, you should:
Have your doctor fill out an RFC form stating the limiting factors your condition deserves.
Learn about the medical-vocational allowance and the RFC you need to be disabled.
Learn what type of RFC Social Security should give you for your disabling medical condition.
Find a lawyer to represent you.
Also remember you get BACK PAY from the date of the first application.

Hi Tom,

What is RFC?

Denied three times. Got a lawyer and finally got it. Stick with it. They try to scare you off and discourage you. Don.t allow either. Good luck.I also have had five back surgeries. But My age was the hang up. Was in mid thirties. Unreal.

Found some good information - a "Patient Education Sheet" on the Sjogren's Syndrome Foundation" website - also found some stuff on the website below- BTW - found out that RFC stands for
residual functional capacity - according to the article below - your RFC represents what kind of work you are still capable of doing despite the limitations from your medical conditions and any treatment you may be prescribed because of your impairments.

Good luck - today is Saturday - I'm spending the weekend looking at my disability and early retirement options - I've come to the conclusion that I just can't work any longer which really saddens me - I'm really not ready either emotionally or financially to take early retirement (I'm turning 64 in March) - I love my job but it just too fast-paced and demanding and getting to difficult for me to do. Keep posting your successes with your quest for disability and I'll do the same - I know of a great disability lawyer but he will only step in after I've been turned down the first time.


http://www.disabilitysecrets.com/conditions-page-1-61.html

Just an update - I had my hearing on Dec 5th and just found out this week that I was denied again. Anyway, I could not believe some of the stuff I was reading in the Judge's report. Absolutely absurd stuff and several discrepancies which really sort of pissed me off and he questioned my credibility. I have never been anything but honest and above board. Anyway, suddenly my lawyer is on an extended vacation and his assistant is no longer with the firm???? Strange, but I spoke to one of the other partners and he claims my Rheumy blew it for me. He felt he almost did it deliberately because he doesn't believe in it. Anyway, his recommendation was to wait out the appeal period 65 days and open a new claim and this way I do not have to use this Rheumy at all. So, that is what I am going to do. It will take another two years, but I certainly didn't have any support and I won't give up the fight.

Good luck to you.

So sorry, Janet. SS is such a headache - wishing you the best in the future.

Thank you Jeninheels. I appreciate the words of sympathy. You are so right about SSD. I often watch a commercial on tv from a law firm called Binder and Binder and they say you paid for your car and you are entitled to it. You paid for your house and you are entitled to it. You paid SSD all the years that you worked and it is not a handout it is an entitlement. They are so right but it doesn't seem to hold any value with the judicial system.

Thank you again. I sure hope you don't wear those kind of heels for real!!!!