Disability

[tealmust]

Hello,

I was just wondering if anyone with PBC has ever gotten approved for disability due to the fatigue of this disease? I am having a lot of issue with this and it is very hard to function this way. I live in the US

Thanks

[CathyPBC Administrator]

Typically not. Fatigue is brutal for us but generally not considered severe enough as a medical condition in and of itself to prevent ANY meaningful employment. Social Security says even if you could hold a menial part time job, that is sufficient and reason to deny a claim.

[tealmust in reply to CathyPBC]

Thank you for the reply

[OdinsMom]

Don't know your stage. I got mine with stage 4 (cirrhosis), chronic pain and chronic fatigue plus the brain fog issue. Took 18 months and a lawyer.

[susanashworth in reply to OdinsMom]

Good for you!!

[tealmust in reply to OdinsMom]

Thank you for the reply and I am very happy you got it. I am stage 3 but i tell you, the fatigue makes it very hard to function. I cannot stay awake.

[CathyPBC Administrator in reply to OdinsMom]

That's encouraging to hear. I'm in the same boat, waiting for an Administrative Law Judge hearing and I have an attorney. This is my second appeal.

[claygi]

I am a teacher in CA, and I’ve been written as “sick” two days per week and three working. I get paid 1/2 time on days off, and full time for the days I’m there. Teachers don’t qualify for traditional “disability,” we have to go to our pension system to apply for it once we are completely unable to function at work, and the doctor deems it medically necessary. Fatigue counted as a debilitating factor. I applied for disability via the pension system and it was granted, but did not pay enough, so I rejected the offer, and continue to work the modified schedule.

[tealmust in reply to claygi]

Thank you for your reply. I am sorry it didnt work out for you. I get up, go to work and come home and sleep. Isn't much of a life and I have worked all of mine. It would be nice if they would take this disease more seriously so maybe we could have a little time to enjoy it instead of spending every ounce of energy working.

[ladyaraiza in reply to tealmust]

I also am dealing with the severe fatigue . I work full time and I take a nap at lunch to get through the rest of the day as well as go home and just rest...

[Kathy71172]

I am on disability and the main reason was the fatigue. It took over five years and a disability lawyer, but I got it and they even back dated it 5 years. It's a long and painful process. Don't give up.

[tealmust in reply to Kathy71172]

Thank you for the response. I saw my doctor the other day and he asked If I wanted to apply because he said I should qualify and he gave me the name of a lawyer but I had taken some time off work due to the fatigue and now I do not have the credits needed to qualify and my husband makes what they say is too much money for me to qualify on the other type of disability so it looks like I will have to work about two or three more years to have my credits again. Woohoooo just my luck.