Re: Disability Insurance

[Guest guest]

this is what they have told me so far i have depression, chronic fatigue and

fibro. and ddd. and two herniated disk in my neck, but still waiting to make

sure it isn't lupus too.

I had so much blood work done feel like a pin cushion. see my mom and some aunts

have lupus so we shall see.

your friend Christi

>Vance wrote:

> I received disability the first time I applied by keeping track of

everything. I could not complete my job duties anymore because I have

degenerative disc disease, spinal fusion three levels, sacral iliac

syndrome from an auto accident.

[Guest guest]

Vance wrote:

> Basically I'm saying the same things Bennie said but I am saying to

> have your doctor document these also. The doctor will probably not

> document restrictions or other things a disability adjudicator will

> make his/her determination on unless you ask them to do it.

That is why I am so adamant about pain diaries and documentation. Be

sure to tell your doctor you cannot lift things and he will write it

down. You can download many of these forms by typing in pain diary and

the National Pain Foundation has a pain notebook that you can print

forms that has a place for all comments for things like this.

Put them in a three ring binder and you will have them for yourself

when you need it. Always follow up with a e-mail when you talk to

someone about your condition so that the facts of the conversation are in

writing and you have it to document.

Do not be afraid to say I hurt so bad sometimes that I felt like if I

went to sleep I wish I would not wake up. These are true statements

and it helps a reviewer see how you really feel.

You will find that the more you get control of these things the better

you will feel about some kind of control over your circumstances. If

I can help anyone, let me know.

I know that these resources are all combined in a website called

http://pain-topics.org/ and they have downloadable guides for patients and

family.

There is one, Survival Guide for patients with intractable pain by Dr. Forest

Tenent that is very good.

I hope that helps and Good Luck Bennie

[Guest guest]

Bennie has a lot of great ideas as far as documenting

your situation

But the one thing I found is the easiest to do is use

your computer.

When I applied for SSDI ( and got it 1st try) the

woman taking my case ,

said I had the best laid out documentation that she

had ever seen in the 7 years she worked there.

I didn't really do much more than keep a spreadsheet

file of every doctor appointment , test or treatment.

In that file I had the date , doctors name (or

facility) , the reason for the visit , mileage( mine

is WC related) and comments I had for the date.

I also had an ongoing list of all my meds starting

from the very beginning and with every change I put in

the reason for me stopping or altering the drug.

I also had copies of all major doctors reports and

copies of every X-ray,CATT scan and MRI reports.

Our computers we use for communication can be an

extremely useful tool for this.

I usually update my files twice a month , adding in

the info on comments , adding upcoming appointments

and changes to my drug lists if any.

At this point it takes me about 5 minutes a month to

keep my records updated.

Any time I need a copy of something I can print it out

in just a couple minutes ,this way too

If anyone is interested in seeing any of the file

formats I use just drop me an email and I'll send you

sample copies I made up.

Its super easy to change them into your own version ,

if you like them.

I have given them to 3 other people who made up their

own in the last couple years and each of them won SSDI

on their first application.

The doctors file is on a spreadsheet - I use excel but

any spreadsheet program will read it.

My other files are just word documents — the

spreadsheet file could easily be adapted for a word

doc too.

No matter how good your record keeping is though ,

Your doctors have to support you 100% if you are going

to get disability.

The best thing to do is ask the doctors if they will

support you in your claim and have them write a letter

saying that your 100% disabled ( or whatever

percentage they will state) — they can also comment on

whether or not it is long term temporary or permanent

disability.

They also should be able to comment on what

restrictions they feel your disability would have on

your working and daily life.

Most doctors will do this for you as long as they

think you have a legitimate disability.

If they wouldn't do this for you , I would certainly

think about finding a doctor who would.

The doctors offices can also supply you with a history

of all your visit dates incase you don't have one

already.

When I started my list up , I had to call multiple

doctors offices to get the info , most were pretty

nice about supplying it for me but a couple weren't

very co-operative in making me a list.

I actually went into one doctors office and copied the

appointment dates from my doctors file .

With computers most of the doctors offices can print

out a list very easily.

If you file for a claim also ask the doctors to give

you a copy of anything the send into the disability

office.

If you have a good relationship with your docs , this

is seldom a problem ; but it is a good thing to do

because I have found in the past many doctors will say

one thing to you while you are standing there in their

office but write something totally different in a

report to an insurance company or SS.

If you catch this happening , you can sometimes ask

the doctor to address the discrepancy between what he

told you and what he wrote.

I wish you luck in applying for disability.

If you put in the work to get all your info together

and have your doctors solid support-

I wouldn't bother with a lawyer because they will take

a good chunk of your back payments -up to $5,300 .

IF you are turned down on your first application then

I would look into a lawyer.

It can be won without a lawyer with some work on your

end , proper documentation and doctors support.

I'm not saying you'll get it first try but if you have

at least two doctors saying you are totally disabled ,

you will win it eventually,

Even if you have to go to court to get it.

good luck

Jim

" It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare ;

it is because we do not dare that they are difficult. "

.. .. . . . . Seneca . . . .. .

check the latest out at : http://www.gargoylesdomain.com

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[Guest guest]

J L Misener wrote:

~At this point it takes me about 5 minutes a month to keep my records

updated.~

~If anyone is interested in seeing any of the file formats I use just

drop me an email and I'll send you sample copies I made up.~

Hi Jim,

It sounds like you have a really neat way of saving files. I am

already receiving SSI and hated all the stuff I was put through, but

this is 17 yrs later and I'm still hanging in.(grin)

The one thing I did do at the time of my injury was to start a

pain journal book. I'm not sure why I ever started it, but kept track

of all the doctor apts, medical procedures, pain, etc. It has been

a God send many times over the years. I would really appreciate some

of your help with spread sheets, as you'd mentioned.

Thanks so much & Prayers for days of less pain, Janice

[Guest guest]

Janice,

I emailed the sample files to you ,

if for some reason they don't open for you send me an

email and I'll try sending them again

Glad to help out

Jim

" It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare ;

it is because we do not dare that they are difficult. "

.. .. . . . . Seneca . . . .. .

check the latest out at : http://www.gargoylesdomain.com

________________________________________________________________________________\

____

Be a better friend, newshound, and

know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now.

http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ

[Guest guest]

Can you email a copy of the guides you used or plan you used to help

us out.

> J L Misener wrote:

> If anyone is interested in seeing any of the file formats I use

just

> drop me an email and I'll send you sample copies I made up.~

>

[Guest guest]

I definitely would be interested in seeing the samples. I'm just about to

file and have a stack of medical records a mile long, but I know there will

be other documents I will need as well.

I'd really appreciate it.

Teri (central Wisconsin)

> J L Misener wrote:

> If anyone is interested in seeing any of the file formats I use

just

> drop me an email and I'll send you sample copies I made up.~

>

[Guest guest]

Bill wrote:

> I just started getting my car and truck paid for by the disability

> insurance that I did not remember signing up for.

Hi Bill,

It's great to get some good news once in a while!  Good for you for signing up

for the insurance.

I'm sorry your pain is so severe.  I hope it can get better.

Janie