Disability?

[Christopher_O]

Was wondering if anyone has successfully applied for Social Security Disability? I've been trying for it for almost 2 years now.

[Michelle_Tower]

I was able to get benefits the second time around. I was able to find a disabiliy specialist near me that came to the hearing with me.

[jetjetjet]

Where are you from Chris-I am permanently and totally Disabled- I live in N.H.

[Christopher_O in reply to jetjetjet]

I'm from Northern Minnesota. The background pic on my profile is of view from the deck behind our house.

[diane1428]

I do have disability. Before I was told before I went to take someone with me and to think of my worse day. I went with my husband and actually was. Having one of my worst day. I also asked them to look up this site and read a little about us. She was very impressed with the site and three days later disability was granted. Be truthful and give them as much info as possible.

Best of luck

Regards Diane

[dar58]

It took me nearly five years to finally get approved. I was in Florida they hire an agency there like a middle person whom isn't for the patient but rather for the denials it wasn't until I hired a disability advocate and as soon as I went before the judge it was approved. The judge was so angry that he approved my benefits retroactive from day 1. That was well after they had stopped all retro payments for everyone

[Debbweb01 in reply to dar58]

Hi Darlene I just came from my vascular doc cuz thought I had a blood clot/Phlebitus in the calf and behind my right knee! I'm scared to death cuz I only have one leg left! He said my leg was hard as a rock and it was blood pooling around the leg and warm compresses with heating pad! W I know u had blood pooling and lots of it! What causes that! He did agree that my INR levels are not STABELIZED with my kind of numbers~~ 1.4-1.7 is that of a normal person! We all know I'm not normal!!! Lol... So Wat caused your blood pooling! In pain and disgusted! I have an appt with APS SPECIALIST IN NYC AT MT. SINAI ON WEDNESDAY WITH A DR. CAROLINE CROMWELL THAT I AQUIRED FOM THIS AWESOME SITE! Thx and hope ur getting better! I hope we can help each other out! Yhx

[dar58 in reply to Debbweb01]

Hi Deb I'm so sorry for everything you are going through. I would love to talk at length with you seems we have much in common here. Right now I am with my granddaughter and will be back online in a couple hours. If you would like, find me on Facebook send me a friend request and we can chat at length anytime you would like pooling yes. Hard painful scary etc

[Debbweb01 in reply to dar58]

Ok r u under Dar 58 on fb

[dar58 in reply to Debbweb01]

It's. Darlene Cabral. Pic of me selfie with red iPhone. facebook.com/darlene.cabral.1

[Debbweb01 in reply to dar58]

Ok I'm Deborah Webster on fb

[molly1969]

After 2 strokes. Was told I can walk talk and not classed as disabled. Aps was not classed as a major disabilatating illness. So I work 2 jobs to pay mortgage and bills. Have my bad days but keep on going. Good luck. Keep us informed please x

[Jolevans]

I gave up trying for any benefits as even on a bad day they reckoned I coud still work. The tests they did were things like standing on one leg and touching my nose with my finger. Not sure what that told them but apparantly if I can do that i can work.

I was then sent for an interview via the job centre to determine what Job I could do with my condition and he said he couldn't see what job I could do at that time because of all my symptoms and he didn't understand why they hadn't granted me any benefits.

Good luck!

[Bronte_Sisters]

Yes and I was approved in 14 weeks as fast as is possible, BTW. It is a huge topic. And you need lots and lots of information and also the right mental attitude. I do consult by telephone and online. I am actually thinking of writing an e-book. If you have already been denied that is even more difficult though not impossible. No one is empowered to grant a decision in a few days. SSDI is governed by extensive federal regulations, like taxes. Whether they are "right" or "wrong" is besides the point, whether you agree with those regs or not, doesn't matter: what is germane is understanding the regs and presenting your case in light of those regulations. SSDI is meant to partially replace earned income for persons who have paid into SS. It is not, not, not about how sick one is; it is about determing if your disease prevents you, on a long-term basis from SGA substantial gainful activity. It is only a 100% disability. You are totally and permanently disabled. Never partially and or short-term. SSI is for persons who have no or minimal paid work. It is welfare, paid jointly by federal and states and requires that the recipient is under Welfare Dept. oversight. It runs around $600-$670/mo. SSDI is the amount a person would get if they were full retirement age and runs from $800-$2400+. My brother who had severe cerebral palsy from birth and never worked got SSI. Well, I could write a book. If I sound tough, well, I am realistic. One just cannot whine one's way to a successful application. And if you hire a lawyer/paralegal, you sign over 20% of your backdated award, maybe $5-10K. If that person can't readily tell you what the 5 step process is, don't hire them. If s/he hasn't told you if you have a listed impairment run don't walk. Stay strong! Christa

[Hidden]

I filed for disability because of the post thrombotic syndrome in my right leg. One of the main problems is that APS and other blood clotting disorders are not listed on the blue book of diseases. They do not really understand post thrombotic syndrome/chronic venous insufficiency. They also do not understand what the fatigue is like that comes from having APS. The only kind of APS they will give you disability for is catastrophic APS. I can work for three hours on my feet one day and then I'm limping and in pain for the next two days due to damaged veins in my leg. The only way to get disability for damaged leg veins is to have an open wound (skin ulcer) that has not healed for more than three months with conventional treatment. I do not have open wounds, but I have severe pain that I deal with daily. I gave up on disability and I will just survive some how. I can work 1 week a month as a driver and make more money then they were going to give me on full disability!

[Lure2 in reply to Hidden]

Hi Sirclotsalot!

I wonder if your bloodpressure is better now and the INR a bit higher also. You should take Clexane or Fragmin-shots if the INR is too low. Please ask for that. Please try to look for an APS-Specialist if you still have chestpain! Do not work with chestpain and high bloodpressure and a low INR.

If you can do those changes in health-status I am sure you can work driving and make money FEELING GOOD also. This illness never goes away but is treatable with the help of a Specialist who knows to give you the right drugs. We need anticoagulation! Check the D-vit, thyroid-panel, B12, iron-levels as Mary knows is important also.

That I wish for Christmas.

Kerstin

[mylafont]

I've applied. I was initially denied, which I expected. I have an advocate and in the process of appeal. It's taking a while to collect all the data to move forward. As a matter of fact I'll be contacting the advocate next week to touch base to see where we stand. There were still getting medical records a reports from docs last time I checked with them. I'm about 1.5 years into the process.

[MrBigDog]

After applying and being denied twice, I was finally approved after hiring an attorney. The first time I applied was before I had been diagnosed with APS. After suffering from numerous back, knee and shoulder injuries and subsequent surgeries, I was advised by my orthopedic surgeon to apply for social security disability. After being denied the first time, I returned to work in another field. I continued to work for several years until I suffered another shoulder injury that required surgery. Within days of the surgery, I suffered from bilateral pulmonary embolisms, "Showers of clots", is how the doctors described it. After seven days in the hospital coronary care unit, many blood thinners and months of blood tests, I was diagnosed with APS.

Again, at the urging of my orthopedic surgeon and my hematologist, I applied for Social Security Disability. And, once again, I was denied! After speaking with numerous people that were receiving SSDI, the one thing I found that most all of them had in common, was that they had used the services of an attorney before they were approved. Even with an attorney, several said they had been denied the first time applying. So, I went to an see a highly recommended Social Security Attorney in my area and was told the very same, that even with his help the odds of being approved on the first try, were not very good. Using the same information and records that I used on my on, he submitted my application and the waiting commenced.

To my surprise, just a few months after application, I received notice that my application had been approved, and that I would be receiving payment backdated to January 1st of the year I turned fifty. And, not only did I receive benefits, but my son would also receive benefits, (A little more than half what I receive), every month until his eighteenth birthday, plus he also got a lump sum payment backdated to the same date I did. Needless to say, it made for a very nice college fund, his mother and I agreed it would all go into a separate account just for that reason.

Even though my lawyer received a nice percentage of mine and my sons backdated benefits, it was well worth it to me, not to have to go through anymore of the heart breaking financial problems I had already suffered, ie. the lose of my job, my house and eventually bankruptcy. One thing I did learn during all of this, is that things change after you turn fifty, and according to my lawyer that is probably why my approval came so quickly.

Good luck!

Jamie

Living life one day at a time!

From a small town in the beautiful Commonwealth of Kentucky

[AnnNY]

I was just approved for disability two years after I applied. There was a huge list of my various diagnosises. A lot of it came from my cognitive struggles. I had a pro bono lawyer who practices in my area. I don't believe he is taking any of my back dated benefits. There were discussions of APS in my records, but I am undiagnosed. Also, since I'm 63 it is a little easier to get disability--a little.

[smartboredgirL]

Hello.

I was successful in getting SSI. Unfortunately, social security is denying everyone initially and sometimes even the second time. Just keep at it.

Consider hiring a lawyer.