I’m a new to this community

[BuzzyMom]

hello everyone!! Hope everyone had something to be thankful for today!! I’m thankful I can still work even though it’s only 3 day week.

does anyone have any pointers on applying for disability? I applied once and was denied then appealed it and denied again. I know I will have to keep applying but any pointers will be appreciated. TIA

[Xvettech]

hi and welcome! I too was denied. I hope someone can help and I thank you for asking!

[GrmaK]

You two need a lawyer. There are special lawyers that do just Disability cases. Look one up and they will help.

[kimondrik75683]

i WENT THROUGH MY mental heath doctor but you can try your PCP doctor they may be able to help you I know I new But I hope this helps.

[BuzzyMom]

thanks, will definitely ask her to help!!

[Royjr]

Are you still working while applying?

[BuzzyMom]

yes part time.

[BuzzyMom]

yes part time.

[jimeka]

Hi and welcome, sorry I can’t help as I live in the U.K. 💐

[kycmary]

First thing you need to do is jurnal everything about how you are feeling, what you can no longer do & list your medicines & how they make you feel especially if they make you more tired or spacy. List what you can still do, right every few days couple times a week.specially when you have a flair up if you should need to call your Dr about anything to do with your MS. It will help. Mary

[BuzzyMom in reply to kycmary]

thanks, I’ve been keeping a journal for about a year now.

[Helpmeup]

Hi BuzzyMom. The process can be very challenging, especially if you are still working, even just part-time. I had applied for disability about 15 years ago. I was working, but on a very limited basis. I was denied and filed an appeal. I was turned down again and finally realized that I needed an attorney that specializes in disability cases. I called the M.S. Society and they referred me to a Disability Lawyer that specializes in M.S. cases. Even then, it took my lawyer two more appeals on my behalf for a total of five years of fighting my case in court. She finally won my case and after five years, I started to receive my disability benefits. It is very important to keep detailed medical records and discuss your plans to apply with your doctors to make sure they are on board with your decision too. If you have any further questions about the process, please feel free to ask. After five years of filings, appeals, court dates, lawyers, and everything else involved, I have a lot of knowledge about how it works. Best of luck to you!

[BuzzyMom in reply to Helpmeup]

thanks so much!!

[NorasMom]

Make sure your doctor(s) support your decision to go on Disability. Without their support, you won't get anywhere. Check your medical records to make sure they identify the fact that you have an actual diagnosis of MS. The more things you have wrong with you, the better your chances, so get treatment for those migraines, high blood pressure, incontinence, every single little health problem that you may have. Get your doctors to positively identify as many issues as possible in their notes. Stress to them how these things negatively affect your life. Now is not the time to put on a brave front. Don't lie, but don't downplay what's happening with your body.

If you haven't seen your doctors in a while, make appointments and go over everything with them. Social Security wants to see consistent records, and only getting annual checkups doesn't cut it. It gets expensive, but the more doctors' appointments you have, the wider variety of your issues, the better chance you have.

If you have a cooperative employer, have them detail your deterioration on the job, when and why your hours were shortened, the accommodations they've made for you.

Unfortunately, they handed out SSDI and SSI to so many people who didn't really need it that they've changed the rules in recent years and made it a lot harder to get. You may very well need one of those lawyers, especially since you've already been turned down. Good luck!

[BuzzyMom in reply to NorasMom]

thank you so much on what o should do. All of my doctors know that I am and have applied for SSI. Every time I go to a doctor which I have many different ones I will let them know and stress to them how my condition affects my job.

[Peruzzot]

Welcome to the group!

[Essaad]

Hello and welcome. I'm thankful to Allah every morning he gave me life again. Have a beautiful day.

[BuzzyMom in reply to Essaad]

thank you!!

[Elizt3]

welcome!! I work full-time, but it gets harder and harder. I have thought about. whether applying for disability would be appropriate.

[BuzzyMom in reply to Elizt3]

the sad part is our condition will likely keep worse. I hope and pray it doesn’t everyday.

[hairbrain4]

If you have applied & been denied talk to a lawyer that works with denied disability claims. If you are still working that hurts your eligibility big time. Those of you applying for the first time put every symptom on your application even if it's only happened once. Your app needs to make the processor believe that you can barely function without lying or making up symptoms. When I applied yrs ago my nurse helped me fill out the form & she is the one that gave me this same advise.

[BuzzyMom in reply to hairbrain4]

thank you for the advice. I appreciate it

[Fancy59 CommunityAmbassador]

Hello BuzzyMom and welcome to our extended family! We are so glad you have found us. Unfortunately applying for social security benefits for disability has turned into a real circus for the disabled. I too applied twice and was turned down twice. The 2nd time I was interviewed I went through several pages of questions with them and as we finished they said you did everything required and we will be in contact with you Jane doe as soon as we get the results. I informed them my name isn't Jane doe and I gave them my name. At that point they said it didn't matter because all the questions were the same. What a joke. I then found out my only my last resort was to hire an attorney to get social security disability benefits. Look around and find an attorney that's specialìzes ìn getting social security benefits. I don't know about your state but in Kentucky where I live All attorneys have a set fee and none can charge more or less to go through this process. Make sure you have your hearing in front of the judge instead of via intercom or the phone et cetera. Statistics show that you are ĺess likely to be turned down for benefits if you do it in person in front of a judge. Your Attorney will go over all the ins and outs of the hearing and they will probably meet with you once or twice prior to the hearing.

Good luck and let us know how it goes. We want to continue to learn more about you and I'm certain there is much we can learn from each other. Until then take care and remember we are stronger together. Fancy59.

[BuzzyMom in reply to Fancy59]

thanks so much for the info. Sounds like that wha I’m going to have to do.

[falalalala]

Welcome!

[twooldcrows]

welcome ...

[Tazmanian]

Welcome

[kdali]

Welcome!

[BuzzyMom]

thanks to everyone for the sweet welcomes !!

[Mollyabigail]

Welcome, Buzzymom! Every state is different, I suppose. Mississippi here. I applied in late August, 2022. My paperwork went to a regional office, then to Jackson in November. I just signed into my account. It says they are 32% of the way with my paperwork. So, I am not the one to give pointers. Meantime, I am plugging away full time, just to keep my insurance. Best wishes to you!

[BuzzyMom in reply to Mollyabigail]

thanks!!

[carolek572 CommunityAmbassador]

Welcome to the forum, BuzzyMom Lots of useful advice. My experience is that if you are still working that that will affect you eligibility somewhat. Let us know of your progress.

[Bwine]

You need to hire an attorney. That’s what I did after being denied.

[tompumo]

You MUST get a lawyer - one who specializes in disability. They will take a small slice of your Disabilty as their fee, but it's well worth it.