Good news for a change

[Raingrrl]

Last week I got some really good news...my application for SSDI was approved. I'm very lucky it was approved on my first application. After hearing all the horror stories, I was shocked. I'm sad to have had to give up my career to the monster but at least I can breathe a sigh of relief about having some income. They took the full 4 months to approve it so I was sweating it out.

[ssdw1958]

Congratulations 🎉🎈

[jimeka]

Raingrrl that is good news. Now you can start enjoying life more, blessings Jimeka 🦋 🌈

[Raingrrl in reply to jimeka]

Thanks @Jimeka. It had been a huge weight on my shoulders so it's awesome to be able to move forward without having to go to court.

[Nom_De_Plume]

@raingirl

Hey, that's fantastic news!✨ So happy for you!! What a relief not to have to worry any longer! (It's not right that it takes most folks so long to be approved. It's a lot of unnecessary hardship and worry when folks already have the burden of disability.) So glad they recognized the merit of your application without delay.😅

[Raingrrl in reply to Nom_De_Plume]

Thank you Nom_De_Plume! I followed the advise from a workshop I took on filling out the application. So I think that plus my age plus many years of M.S. medical records must have helped. I still sweated it out because I live solo and this is my only income.

[maryannd]

That is wonderful I know the what if's take a toal on us that we don't need so HAPPY FOR YOU😊

[erash]

Congratulations Raingrrl 👍

[Kevin_McMillan]

Congratulations Raingrrl! I have to write my brief and turn it in by October 10 to Federal court. This is to prove I have enough quarters to qualify. I became disabled young and was jerked around by workers comp.,like everybody else, tI was forced to file for SSDI. I has been a nighmare since age 38 and I'm almost 46. I had to get a senator involved, the Salem OR office threw away my file twice, 2 different attorneys were crap! I'm so relieved to here a good story!!

[ddeadred in reply to Kevin_McMillan]

wow...PIA

[Raingrrl in reply to Kevin_McMillan]

Thanks Kevin! I'm sorry that you are one of those who has been put through the wringer. One of my closest friends is still fighting to be approved. It has been going on for close to 5 years now. She has a different condition but it definitely has impacted her ability to work. I've lost track of how many times she has been to court. I had her story in the back of my mind while I impatiently waited for the decision.

Good luck to you! I hope you prevail this time.

[Kevin_McMillan in reply to Raingrrl]

Thank you Raingrrl, I'm sorry about your friend. I hope they get what is coming to them!!

[Diva1976]

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

[Juleigh21]

Congrats!! What a relief. I haven't applied yet. One of the gentlemen in my support group is urging me to but it seems like such a nightmare!

[Raingrrl in reply to Juleigh21]

It can be a nightmare that's why I was stressed out about it while I waited for the decision. The advice I got about filing out the form is to pick your worst day to describe, not your best, and describe it in detail. Its painful to admit to all your deficits in detailed writing but that is only going to help your case. They don't give you enough room on the form to do that so attach it separately. Its like they try and trick you into minimizing the information you provide. But...that is the opposite of what you should do.

[WAshingtongirl]

Yay!! 🎈🎉🎊 I'm so happy for you, Raingrrl !

[ddeadred]

I too was approved first time in 1994... then I went back to workfora few years, but had to quit again... 8 months to get back on in 2001... My recommendation is JUST STAY ON as the flip was nerve racking! CONGRAT ON FAST APPROVAL!!! xo Cj

[Raingrrl in reply to ddeadred]

Thanks CJ...there is no way I can go back to work between the cognitive issues on my bad days, the fatigue that shows no mercy and my precarious balance that has me one step away from the ground at all times.

[ddeadred in reply to Raingrrl]

Amen sista... Right there with you... 30+ year battle with the MonSter and a good day is one in which I don't fall... xo Cj

[ssdw1958 in reply to ddeadred]

I agree with you not falling is a good 😊 day.

[melack01]

Congratulations! Mine was denied, so now I have to work on the appeal.

[Raingrrl in reply to melack01]

I'm sorry you have to go through the appeal process. I hope you only have to do it once.

[melack01 in reply to Raingrrl]

Thanks, I hope so too.

[Doubled51]

Congrats. I had to got to court twice and it took 6 years before i was approved. But that was before ms. That was after 2 back surgeries and being medically forced out of job. But I was great when it happened. Again congratulations.

Donnie

[rlh1974]

Raingrrl I too was approved on my first go round. My former employer paid a boat load of money to make that happen. THANK GOD! Because I did not understand any of the paperwork SSDI was sending me. They handled everything! I am so happy you were able to get it done on your own. I am struggling with my depression of not being useful, and not having a career I worked sooooo hard to achieve without a college education! But, I look at it this way. We are retired! Not disabled! LOL! I am very happy for you and pray you can live off of what they give you! Praying for you!!!!!!!! And CONGATS my friend!

Love you all!

Rob

[ssdw1958 in reply to rlh1974]

Rob you need to find someone who can help you with your paper work look what I telling you to do I need to do the same we should call MS Society an get help so we get what is our what we worked for all these years.

[Raingrrl in reply to rlh1974]

Thanks Rob! I had a rewarding career where I knew that I was contributing to my company and my team. Like you I haven't figured out how to replace that in my retired life. I can't commit to anything because I'm not reliable as to how I'm going to feel and what I can do on any given day. Its so frustrating. But...I'm grateful that I was approved and now I can turn my attention to figuring out what to do with myself. (Besides take endless naps...)

[bxrmom]

Raingrrl I am so very happy for you!! It seems that they *SS admin) likes to take the longest time to approve if they are going to approve as that is what they did to me. So VERY happy for you!

Jessie

[rlh1974]

ssdw1958 Hi! My disability lawyer did all of it. Now my wife does it all. No worries my great friend. Plus one of my friends works as an attorney for disability rights! She has been a huge help! My wife is amazing with all of it. She according to the US government is my money manager. She has to have a checking account just for the SSDI, track every penny she spends on me. and then needs an interest bearing savings account for whats left over. HA! Whats left over! Funniest thing I have ever heard! Also, My daughter gets benefits because she is 15, my wife need to do the same for her! GAH! Also, I am not allowed to have access to the money! SMH! The government Drs in their wisdom whom have never met met have deemed me unfit to handle my own money. But Hey! I am getting paid! Peanuts, but getting paid. Unfortunately, You need an attorney to get it done.

Thanks!

Rob

[ssdw1958 in reply to rlh1974]

Thanks Rob the hard part is how do I find an attorney???

[Hidden]

Lucky you. What a relief. Fighting for it since 2009 and still fighting for it has been a horror

Happy for you

[RobertCalifornia]

I quit my job and filed for SSDI immediately. My neurologist wrote a note saying I was not physically able to continue my job. I filled out the application, got copies of my MRI reports which said in no uncertain terms that the diagnosis was MS. I went to the local Social Security office, my wife came with me. It was one of my bad days, I walked in with my cane and showed obvious signs of fatigue. I also had a copy of the federal law on long term disability which states that MS is almost always automaticly granted SSDI. After going over my application and making sure it was correct she let us go. Five weeks later I was granted SSDI. The first of September I go on Medicare. The interviewer and I were from very different walks of life, but I am sure her recommendation was to grant me long term disability. Good luck to all applying for SSDI.

[Nom_De_Plume in reply to RobertCalifornia]

@RobertCalifornia

Would you please clarify which Federal Law this was? Thank you!

[RoseySawyer]

Congratulations! I'm so happy for you. I am still fighting my SSI. It has been going on since March of 2016. I'm waiting the date of my court hearing. I still have hope. 😊

[Raingrrl in reply to RoseySawyer]

Good luck RoseySawyer !