Re: disability help

November 30, 2008

Kap, alot of people will tell you to get an attorney right off the bat, but many of us have had success the very first time through. Just make sure that you keep any deadlines to get the paperwork done and if you need to appeal a denial then it may be prudent to get the attorney.

Make sure you focus on what you CANNOT do-- and what has changed. They ask for letters that state what changes other people see in you-- so make sure that the people you ask can really state what has changed. IE. I had extreme short-term memory loss, so one of my friends that I'd worked with and kept a close friendship with even after I couldn't work anymore, stated that she had seen me go from handling a major medical clinic to being like "talking to someone with early Alzheimers."

Another stated that I had lost my ability to problem solve, multi-task, and that she was seeing me make trips to the other room, to get a pencil, then another trip to get a piece of paper, and then forget why I needed those things, only to be distracted and not get back to the task at hand.

I know I had to explain that the fatigue was like nothing I'd ever experienced, and that the only way to state it was that it made the worst case of pneumonia I'd ever had seem like a cakewalk. Breathing had become so difficult that I needed supplemental oxygen just to talk to people-- as conversation would make me short of breath. I was on supplemental o2 24/7, and still couldn't do any exercise or shopping or even remember where I'd parked my car when I did go out.

If you need to use a cane, or walker, or wheelchair, or have leg weakness-- state it. If you can no longer fix meals, follow instructions, fill out their paperwork without having someone else check it to see that it's done right-- state it.

I had a doctor that explained the systemic sarcoidosis as similar to MS, RA, dementia, pulmonary fibrosis --so that they had the criteria to figure out what this disease meant to those of us that have progressive sarc.

As you know, they have to rule out all those diseases, before they come up with systemic or progressive sarc. Add the exhaustion from the immunosuppressants, on top of the disease itself causing extreme fatigue and at best, you need a nap following your shower.

We have a tremendous number of posts on this-- so if you need to go to the MESSAGE ARCHIVES and search by SSDI, or Disability.

Also, don't fear asking questions, and we'll try to get back to you quickly.

Take care, and keep the paperwork going,

Tracie

NS Co-owner/moderator

PS. You can call them and see if the second set of paperwork is a duplicate of what you've already done-- and maybe it just crossed in the mail.

To: Neurosarcoidosis Sent: Sunday, November 30, 2008 5:44:33 PMSubject: disability help

Hello,I do not post very much I have been really sick and don't get to get on the computer as much as i should. I read a lot of the postings and it has been really helpful to me. I am on long term disability from my job i only get 60% of my pay and i lost my medical insureance but i am greatful fo rwhat i have. I am appling for socicial security disability and i was wondering how the process works. It was very difficult form me to do but i suddenly realized that i havent been able to work since Feb 12 2008. I kept thinking that i would get better but, it's just not working. I filled out the paperwork and then i got another set of paperwork in the mail that they want me to fill out and send in, but the questions are almost exactly the same as the first onest i filled out. Are they trying to see if i answer it the same??? Maybe i just don't understand. Should i send extra information regarding

my illness along with the paperwork. I feel like the more information i give them the better off i will be. Please anyone with experience your help will be greatly appreciated.Thanks

November 30, 2008

I left

work in April 2003 and filed for SS shortly thereafter, at the age of 60. My

disability is not from NS, it’s from Osteoarthritis, Degenerative Disc

Disease, and Peripheral Neuropathy. Since I heard so many tales of how

difficult it was to get SSD approved on the first try, I went straight to

Binder and Binder and let them do all the filing. All I had to do was

supply doctor’s names and go to a SS approved doctor for an exam.

It took 9 months, but it did go through the first time.

From what I understand, if you are filing

yourself, you can expect…in most cases….to be denied the first try

and then you will have to apply again. I suggest if you don’t get

approved the first time, call Binder and Binder and they will get you approved.

Just be sure to fill out whatever SS sends you and get it back to them

immediately. Don’t get discouraged.

Best wishes,

disability help

Hello,

I do not post very much I have been really sick and don't get to get

on the computer as much as i should. I read a lot of the postings

and it has been really helpful to me. I am on long term disability

from my job i only get 60% of my pay and i lost my medical insureance

but i am greatful fo rwhat i have. I am appling for socicial

security disability and i was wondering how the process works. It

was very difficult form me to do but i suddenly realized that i

havent been able to work since Feb 12 2008. I kept thinking that i

would get better but, it's just not working. I filled out the

paperwork and then i got another set of paperwork in the mail that

they want me to fill out and send in, but the questions are almost

exactly the same as the first onest i filled out. Are they trying to

see if i answer it the same??? Maybe i just don't understand. Should

i send extra information regarding my illness along with the

paperwork. I feel like the more information i give them the better

off i will be. Please anyone with experience your help will be

greatly appreciated.

Thanks

December 26, 2008

I wish I had been able to see this sooner, but I have very poor access

to a computer that works. I have been afraid to say anything, but

I changed jobs 8/8/08, and became a medical disability examiner for

social security; an adjudicator. In answer to your questions,

they are not trying to see if your answers match, it sounds like they

didn't get enough information, or are asking more specific questions

about part or all of your allegations. Be brutally truthful about

how the disease affects your functionally, this is crucial to your

case. The things you can no longer do, or are painful to

do, or someone else is having to do; tell them. The more

information and medical records you can provide to them the better

off it is. And by the way, lawyers are not helpful, and we

do not deny everyone the first time they apply. I believed these

myths too, until I became an adjudicator. I work for the state of

Fl; social security contracts with the state to do the medical

determination. ( Yes they are disabled, no they are not

disabled). There is also new special listings (criteria for what

allows disability) for rare illnesses coming into the picture - sarcoid

is in this group. Make sure you list all the allegations, or put

them on the paperwork, i.e. neuropathy, shortness of breath,

lymphadenopathy, fatigue, numbness, joint pain,(very important - do you

walk with a cane, do you use a walker or scooter, do other people have

to drive you and go places with you), degenerative disc diseasae, heart

problems, mrsa, eye problems, hearing problems, chronic pain,

fibromyalgia, chronic heart failure, arrythmias, chest pain, esophagus

problems, ...anything that sarc is doing to you. Even though it

may not have been on the original application, if you have a good

adjudicator what they find in the records and paperwork must be

researched and addressed. Sometimes a combination of

things is what makes us see the disability. Please don't throw me

out of the group because of my profession, trust me; if someone is

really sick, I'm the adjudicator they want to get. I will go to

the mat to help.

Also, if for some reason you get denied it is better to open a

completely new case than ask for a reconsideration. You stand a

better chance. Age is an important factor in determination, the

younger a person is the harder it is. If you are under 50,

the evidence really has to be there to make the case.

I hope this isn't way to late to be helpful. Please don't put my name on the dart board as the bullseye.

Take care everyone,

Connie

Connie A. Griffis, MDE & a Stage 4 Systemic Sarc

State of Florida, Department of HealthSubject: disability helpTo: Neurosarcoidosis Date: Sunday, November 30, 2008, 8:44 PM