I am planning on filing for total disabil... - Cure Parkinson's
I am planning on filing for total disability this year. Does anyone have any advice on the process and is it hard to get for PD?
Here is a helpful article
Parkinson's Disease and Social Security Disability Insurance
Parkinson's Disease Client
Here is an explanation of Social Security's five-step process to determine if a Parkinson's disease patient qualifies for SSDI:
1. Determine if an individual is "working (engaging in substantial gainful activity)" according to the SSA definition. Earning more than $1,000 a month as an employee is enough to be disqualified from receiving Social Security disability benefits.
2. Conclude the Parkinson's disease disability must be severe enough to significantly limit one’s ability to perform basic work activities needed to do most jobs. For example:
Walking, standing, sitting, lifting, pushing, pulling, reaching, carrying or handling
Seeing, hearing and speaking
Understanding/carrying out and remembering simple instructions
Responding appropriately to supervision, co-workers and usual work situations
Dealing with changes in a routine work setting
3. Parkinson’s is listed under the category of impairments known as neurological. If the following criteria are met, an individual is found to be disabled under the Social Security as meeting a medical listing: Significant rigidity, bradykinesia, or tremor in two extremities, which, singly or in combination, result in disturbance of gross and dexterous movements, or gait and station. An individual who has the preceding clinical findings and has a diagnosis of Parkinson’s will be found to meet medical listing 11.06. An individual who has similar findings with a diagnosis of Parkinson’s may be found to “medically equate” the aforementioned medical listing.
4. Explore the ability of an individual to perform work they have done in the past despite their Parkinson's disease. If the SSA finds that a person can do his past work, benefits are denied. If the person cannot, then the process proceeds to the fifth and final step.
5. Review age, education, work experience and physical/mental condition to determine what other work, if any, the person can perform. To determine Parkinson's disease disability, the SSA enlists medical-vocational rules, which vary according to age.
For example, if a person is:
Under age 50 and, as a result of the symptoms of Parkinson's disease, unable to perform what the SSA calls sedentary work, then the SSA will reach a determination of disabled. Sedentary work requires the ability to lift a maximum of 10 pounds at a time, sit six hours and occasionally walk and stand two hours per eight-hour day.
Age 50 or older and, due to the disability, limited to performing sedentary work, but has no work-related skills that allow him to do so, the SSA will reach a determination of disabled.
Age 55 or older and, due to the disability, limited to performing light work, but has no work-related skills that allow him to do so, the SSA will reach a determination of disabled.
Over age 60 and, due to the disability, unable to perform any of the jobs he performed in the last 15 years, the SSA will likely reach a determination of disabled.
Any age and, because of Parkinson's disease, has a psychological impairment that prevents even simple, unskilled work, the SSA will reach a determination of disabled.
Thank you so much for the great info. I am 55 yrs old and I was diagnosed in Oct 2007. I worked full time as an Accts receivable for 10-1/2 yrs. My boss laid me off in May 2010. Her final words to me were "just think - you should be able to collect unemployment for 1-2 yrs - when that runs out you should be able to get disability." I started taking meds in Dec 2010 and I get around good but I honestly feel I am unemployable. I can't keep my mind focused for long periods of time and my Dr told me I should file. I am not sure what to do.
I recommend an attorney. I believe the laws were written in such a way that only an attorney can get through to those who decide. When an attorney’s office works mostly with getting people their disability status they know exactly how to do it quickly. In other words, there is no learning curve for them,
I spent a lot of time doing all the paperwork needed. I was denied. We went to an attorney, gave her all the papers I had filled out and in about 6 months I had my disability check…minus the attorney’s fee. The law says they get their money before I get mine. .
Thank you so much. I want to find an attorney that will fill out the initial application instead of waiting for the first rejection letter like some of them ask you to do. Do they pay you from date of diagnosis or date of application?
If I remember correctly from the date of first application.
Good idea to begin with an attorney. I thought it was so obvious that I tried myself.
Rethinking my answer I believe it begins from the last day you worked.
I was a Mr Mom. I was denied because I didn't have enough "Work Credits".
I had this happen to me. I taught for almost 10 years, stayed home (homeschooled my daughters) for 20 years and went back to teaching 4 years. I was blessed with a 4hr a day job (teacher's aide) for a year...long enough to get my quarters in.
I didn't have any problems at all. I just filled out what I was suppose to fill out and my doctor filled out a section. It takes some time, but there are directions
and I think there is a number you can call if you have any questions. I got approved the first time it was sent in. Good luck!
Wow, amazing! I have my first denial and have sent in my first appeal. I am stage II with some stage III symptoms. Definitely bilateral in all of my symptoms. I am/was a nurse, prior to diagnosis I was let go from a job due to my tremors and memory deficits. After I was diagnosed and on medication, I thought I could go back to work, my doctor did not.
I am a single mom so it was a NEED, I found and started a "desk job". I was put on leave after 5 weeks. I had done really well the first few weeks and then the cognitive issues started again and gross tremors started again.
I had to go through an attorney to get my work records, but included it in my appeal. I now agree with my doctor that I cannot work as a nurse...I have met with Voc Rehab and do not yet know if they can help me with finding a part-time job that allows leniency for sick time. Looooong road!
i got it in 6 mounths i went with allsup it was in a parkinsons newsletter
I also went with allsup and recieved disibilty in 9 months. If I recall though, you have to file the initial paperwork yourself which usually is denied and then an attorney or any other help angency can take over and start doing all the rest.
Good luck and remember to save all test results, consults and get the medical records for all the doctors involved. Keep your own file, you'll be happy you did.
Jupiterjane
Good to know
no i called them and they did everything went to them first and it was done
I did call one company, they would not get involved if I had already sent the first filing. I spoke with another attorney here in town, she told me to come back when I have the second denial.
I am very organized, so attorney's see that and make the assumption that I can do everything on my own...
What stage were you on diagnosis?
When I had to apply for it, I found the majority of people do not know anything about Parkinson. So I took the time to educate them first. Even sent them information prior to sending in the paperwork. This made them aware of the symptoms, the depression, the unpredicability of tremors, moods and etc. etc. After I did that with SS and my insurance company, it was a breeze. And they certainly thanked me for this info'. A few people said I may not have gotten the disability had they not known how there is NO CURE, how it ADVANCES, and it's effect is DIFFERENT ON EVERYONE.
I got it the second time first time they refused it all i did was refile and it was granted...
The first post answer has excellent information. I was granted on the first application and I was actually surprised "Am I really that bad off?"
Highly recommend doing your own filing and not giving away part of your money to an attorney unless you need to.
Remember that the person reviewing your app is looking to check off boxes on their forms that add up to your inability to perform at work. You can make their job easy to check the boxes by being specific about what you can't do and PD symptoms that make it difficult to do your job, including the embarrasing stuff. This is not the time to be anything but truthful and thorough. This is a neurological condition so include cognitive difficulties, such as difficulty initiating, organizing and completing work correctly.
Good luck and post again if you need further help.
On the initial filing, did not include the actual employment information and why I was terminated from two jobs due to congnitive and physical symptoms, it was embarrasing to me! The first (a mental health facility) actually accused me of being an alcoholic and the tremors were from DT's, never mind that I passed the
drug and alcohol test!
With the second job, I had been diagnosed and even told them how debilitated I had become. I interviewed on a good day and the dept mgr could not imagine me being so sick. The first few weeks, I had rave reviews, then the stress kicked in and I could not remember stuff that I had previously done with ease...I included all of their notes so SSI should be able to know that I cannot do the job as an RN. I am almost 51 so I do not think that Voc Rehab will train me for a new job.
Susie,
I'm surprised you didn't take legal action, particularly with your first job. What both of your employers did was discriminate against you, blatantly, and I believe ADA was set up in part to prevent that. I sued my company as a result, they fired the VP of HR; got a manager for the admin staff (which my job was) and they got a $20,000 fine. But I am persistent and a squeaky wheel——"like a dog with a bone"——as one manager a long time ago said. You may be more laid back than me, I sure hope so!
It was long after that that I applied for disability. Denial.
Hello Dottie,
Yes, I think I could have a case against atleast the first employer, they were really nasty about things. I had terrible tremors and they still made me do daily blood draws, I felt for the patients, I would not want to have my blood drawn by someone who was shaking like a leaf!
I have just had it with the "Justice" system after everything I went through with my divorce. If I never see a courtroom again, I will be happy! Though once I had an attorney get my records from that hospital, I am going to send some select letters and speak my mind, I really was not treated fairly...
All I can say about filing has probably been said...GET A GOOD ATTY! I went thru 3 denials before I finally won. I thought I could do it myself, but I was wrong!!!
I was told all kinds of horror stories about the process but I used a lawyer and did some in-depth research. My process was easy, less than a month. I now do freelance graphic design work under the SS guidelines.
What you should realize is just because PD is obvious, and degenerative, you are instantly considered disabled the minute you are diagnosed. They did put me through my paces: I had to see an MD and a psychologist to be evaluated, like flash card tests for example: what did I remember in the pack I was just shown and I couldn't remember any of it.
A high school friend was just diagnosed and she got disability almost immediately. Another HS friend has essential tremor and she got it fast, too.
JeffJennings (above me), I'm so sorry you had such a hard time. An attorney is the way to go.
I was told all kinds of horror stories about the process but I used a lawyer and did some in-depth research. My process was easy, less than a month. I now do freelance graphic design work under the SS guidelines.
What you should realize is just because PD is obvious, and degenerative, you are instantly considered disabled the minute you are diagnosed. They did put me through my paces: I had to see an MD and a psychologist to be evaluated, like flash card tests for example: what did I remember in the pack I was just shown and I couldn't remember any of it.
A high school friend was just diagnosed and she got disability almost immediately. Another HS friend has essential tremor and she got it fast, too.
JeffJennings (above me), I'm so sorry you had such a hard time. An attorney is the way to go.
I filled by myself and received disability the first time. I FELT LUCKY.
I made sure my answers were consistent and were always truthful.
I got it the first time. I felt very lucky. Good luck to you. Educate them with your answers Good Luck!
Thanks! I got laid off in May 2010 and have been on unemployment since. I have been looking for a jpb since but I know no one is seriously going to hire me. I'm 55 with PD and my skills are getting more rusty by the day. I heard when I file for disability they may make me pay some benefits back so I probably better get an attorney.
I used Binderv and Binder. it cost 300.00 bu it only took one try. Approval was fast.
