Social Security Disablity Community Group
This is for any one that has found themselves in the long wait for Soicial Security. Any one that has gone through this process or is in the middle of it. Venting is allowed.
Hi-I have been lurking here for a while, but never posted. I have DDD, a sero-negative autoimmune disease, lymphedema from breast cancer, and most lately, a MTBI. I will be 61 in Sept. Up until now, although my doctors recommended it, I have not applied for disability. In 2008, I was let go from my job, and have been unemployed since. I still didn't apply for SSD, hoping I could get a job. I only had 2 interviews in all that time, tried 2 jobs, but was let go because with all my illnesses, I couldn't do the work. I have exhausted all my unemployment benefits,and my neurologist said this is the time I have to start thinking about disability seriously. My brain injury was from a fall a year ago, and has left me with memory and concentration problems, balance problems and dizziness that she feels won't improve much more. Even if I was offered a job now, I mentally and physically couldn't do it.
I now wanted to start the process, all my doctors are on board, but I am scared-I don't know why. Maybe cause I am admitting to myself that I really am disabled?
Anyway, I contacted a disability lawyer, and he said he would feel bad taking my case because at my age, I probably won't have a lot of trouble being accepted.
Right now, I have $0 coming in, and no savings. I know it can take some while to go through the system, and I don't know what I will do to live on. Most of my unemployment over the last year has gone to COBRA in order to not lose benefits due to pre-existing conditions. Now that the unemployment has run out, what can I do to have the medical care I need? I am going to apply for food stamps, but how else do I survive? I have borrowed from my brothers and sisters and they can't help any more. I gone to churches, food pantrys, etc. during the time I've been trying to get a job. I am so scared.
Is applying for SSD a hard job? Will I be able to fill out the applications on my own? Where do I start? I just have so many questions, and am so down over all this. I can't drive far because of the dizziness, and was hoping someone from SS could come to my house, but it seems that they don't do that. I just want to make sure I do everything correctly. I haven't been able to pay my property taxes, so my home could be auctioned off at any time. I have never felt so useless in my life. I know that's wrong, but I lost my job because of memory and concentration problems I know were from the fibro., lupus, etc, but getting fired because I couldn't do the job is what it comes down to. I'm hoping getting disability will allow me to accept what has happened, but what good is it if I have lost everything-job, house, and everything I own, if it takes too long.
I'm really sorry this post was so long-once I started writing, it just kept going. Thanks for listening. God Bless everyone going through this mess.
Kathy
I now wanted to start the process, all my doctors are on board, but I am scared-I don't know why. Maybe cause I am admitting to myself that I really am disabled?
Anyway, I contacted a disability lawyer, and he said he would feel bad taking my case because at my age, I probably won't have a lot of trouble being accepted.
Right now, I have $0 coming in, and no savings. I know it can take some while to go through the system, and I don't know what I will do to live on. Most of my unemployment over the last year has gone to COBRA in order to not lose benefits due to pre-existing conditions. Now that the unemployment has run out, what can I do to have the medical care I need? I am going to apply for food stamps, but how else do I survive? I have borrowed from my brothers and sisters and they can't help any more. I gone to churches, food pantrys, etc. during the time I've been trying to get a job. I am so scared.
Is applying for SSD a hard job? Will I be able to fill out the applications on my own? Where do I start? I just have so many questions, and am so down over all this. I can't drive far because of the dizziness, and was hoping someone from SS could come to my house, but it seems that they don't do that. I just want to make sure I do everything correctly. I haven't been able to pay my property taxes, so my home could be auctioned off at any time. I have never felt so useless in my life. I know that's wrong, but I lost my job because of memory and concentration problems I know were from the fibro., lupus, etc, but getting fired because I couldn't do the job is what it comes down to. I'm hoping getting disability will allow me to accept what has happened, but what good is it if I have lost everything-job, house, and everything I own, if it takes too long.
I'm really sorry this post was so long-once I started writing, it just kept going. Thanks for listening. God Bless everyone going through this mess.
Kathy
Were you let go because of your disability, or were you part of a larger lay off? If it was a larger lay off, did your disability affect their decision to lay you off?
Were you covered by a disability policy by your employer? If so, it wouldn't hurt to find out if you qualify since you could have claimed disability before they laid you off.
You can file on line or go to or call your local SS office, they have personnel there that can help you fill out the forms either in person or over the phone.
You can get the number & address to your local office by calling the national number; 1-800-772-1213