Advice on Disability

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

No kidding, yes, the wording is very important now when filing for

disability, especially under the new rules being implemented.

Yes, it seems that if your current position requires travel, you need

to do it, or change to another position within the company, if one is

available. I don't know to what extent you travel, but international

travel for work (long flights/time zone changes/plus work) can really

wreck the CMT body. It does sound like working at home has been

beneficial when you can do it, though.

As for 'are doctors receptive to helping one file for disability'?

Some yes, some no. But the KEY is the doctor knowing you and your

symptoms and progression. Besides writing a letter stating you are

unable to work and list the reasons why, the doctor also gets sent

a " neurological report " (more papers for her/him to complete about

you, what you can and can't do.)

So it is real important your doctor and you talk about this. Best way is to open

your mouth and ask - lol - maybe start the topic by talking about work and how

you are having difficulty because of the progression. Say what's on your mind to

your doctor.

Something else to remember about disability: there is about a 6 month

waiting period from the date you file until your papers really get

processed. Social Security has to collect all sorts of info from

docs, labs, look at your tests, your application goes through many

hands and many stages. And you cannot be working when you file for

disability, so this means you need to have enough $ saved up to live

on for quite a while sometimes.

Second to that is despite what S.S. says you " could " get if you were

disabled today (they were sending these forms out in the last couple

of years), the actual benefits are most always less, and in no way

come close to a full-time equivalent of your working salary. Which

means receiving Disability and living on a tight/restricted budget

will be your lifestyle. After you have been on Disability for a

period of time (forgot how long) you CAN TRY part-time work, but that

requires MORE paperwork, and you can only make about $860.00 a month

and not loose your benefits. Anything over that will kick off

a " trial work period " in which Social Security CAN find that you are

ABLE TO WORK, and thus you loose benefits.

Just thought you might want to know this info as you plan. But of

course, , your health must come first, so if you can no longer

work due to CMT progression and your doctor advises this, then by all

means, file for Disability.

~ Gretchen