A message of hope for disability applicants

[Guest guest]

Dear Group,

I received the news today that I have been approved for Social Security

Disability. I seriously doubt I have to explain what a relief this news is and

how this removes a tremendous amount of stress from my shoulders.

Since I was approved on my first try, I was astounded and literally almost

fainted when my caseworker phoned me and gave me the news. I couldn't help but

cry the whole time we spoke and it took me some time afterward to recover enough

to give the news to my family and friends. The excitement pushed my pain level

up to a 10 by the time I phoned my Mother who has supported me both financially

and emotionally since I had to leave my job. But my happiness was at a 10 also

so I was blubbering both with happiness and pain. It was a strange feeling to

be sure! Now I knew what it meant to not know whether to laugh or cry.

My biggest fear was becoming homeless, on the streets, sick and without a means

of support or medical assistance. I mean, I can't even wear shoes or barely

walk at times so work was out of the question. This was a very realistic fear.

My Mother supported me as much as she could, but she is at an age she needs to

retire and her current and final position before retirement is being a caretaker

and living on the property of the owner, so living with her was not an option.

Ergo, my very emotional response and sense of relief.

To be honest, at first, I was not sure I should post this news. I personally

know people who have applied and fought for years to be accepted. I have read in

all the groups I belong to of the struggle the majority of people have with

being deemed eligible. But then one of those people I know mentioned how he was

beginning to give up hope till he heard my news. So instead of seeming to

gloat, I am hoping this will give others hope and encouragement.

My illness did not meet the criterion that immediately establishes you as

disabled per Social Security guidelines so I figured I had a long battle on my

hands. I think my saving grace was that I had done weeks of research on filing

and what made filing with the assistance of an attorney so successful and why so

many people failed to win their case.

I learned so much about how people who more than qualified failed because of the

lack of proper information given when applying. My interpretation is that it

seems that its not really how qualified you are, its what info you give them

that they can compare and check off their list of qualifications that determines

your success. So many people who not only need, but deserve to be on disability

are denied for lack of information. Even little things like expressing the

honest hope that one day you might get better and be able to return to work and

retrieve your quality of life was a deterrent, even if it was only a hope and a

dream, and not realistic at all.

When I applied I wrote books on my illness and the affects on my ability to work

and how it affected my quality of life. No detail was too small. It literally

took me two weeks to fill out my application and I am glad I took the time

instead of rushing, because even when my Doctors ask me about these things, I

always remember significant details after I have left their office. That would

have been the case with my application also if I had rushed with it and it is

often those little details that make the difference it seems.

I admit the various doctors I went too that supported my claim for disability

helped also. But I had the exception of my PCP who felt and even wrote that he

felt I was not ill enough to justify permanent disability and should be able to

return to work in a few months, despite my other Doctors who were specialist and

who claimed that I most likely will never recover, plus the fact that I was

getting worse each month. Your PCP is a primary resource for determination, so I

figured this would add to my battle.

Without the research I had done on-line, I would have made so many innocent

mistakes by not giving enough information. There are some very good and

informative sites out there that can give you a real heads up on how to apply.

One in particular was a very harsh but practical view written mostly by an

attorney that lives in my area of the States. I am posting this same letter to

several other groups I belong to and some have restrictions that you may not

post such sites so if anyone is interested they may email me privately and I

will be happy to give them the address to look up for themselves.

I know, I feel like I am gloating and bragging, and in a way I am because I am

so relieved, but I really want to spread some hope and perhaps give some sources

for some much needed information that can help others who are struggling to gain

our right to receive Social Security disability.

Forgive the long post, but I do hope that I in some small way am helping someone

out there that needs to know that it can happen. I want so much to give back

some of the wonderful help I have been blessed with from the people who are

caring enough to organize these groups and the members that make these groups a

caring and understanding refuge for me.

Bless you all,

(Belstraga@...)

In my pain, let me share a gift shared with me, The Spoon Theory

http://www.butyoudontlooksick.com/spoons.htm

Forgive your enemies. It messes with their heads.