Re: Re: SSD and PA

[Guest guest]

Hi Great Northwest!!

You don't have to be a single Mom in this case, just broke with no visible

means of income. They check your finances as well as your medical files and

have big warnings about truth and fraud. Calling SSD a supplement is a good

definition because you can not live on it. This is why I live with my

daughter. I am not sure what their minimums are, but you can find out on line.

I

just printed all the rules for my son and sent them to him, but I didn't read

them and of course my foggy brain doesn't remember squat from when I applied.

Good luck with it though, God knows health insurance, if you have it, is

going to cheat you every chance they get.

Janet in Ca

[Guest guest]

betz . From what I understand it is routine for them to you down the first

time. It is expected that they will turn you down the first time . I f you

get a lawyer you will probably get it next time . i have so many health issues

and am clearly disabled . can ,only type with one hand . I have had 3 hip

replacements and need 2 disks operated on and have heart problem and need a

hysterectomy . I was turned down but am married and my husband supports me so i

guess I could reapply. You need to reapply and get a lawyer . You will surely

get

disability . my daughter has heart problems , a kidney disorder and has been

hospitalized for manic depressive disorder several times . She cannot take

lithium because of her heart and kidney disorders and as such her mental

problems are unsolvable . she was turned down the first time but reapllied and

got it . She is only 30 years old and has no children and is not married. Try

again . , cathy from ma.

[Guest guest]

Well they turned me down and I was an unemployed single mom with a

disabled child so I'm not sure what they encourage you to be.

Actually....they told me if I were an alcoholic or a drug addict I'd

qualify. This is weird....my mouse is moving on it's own...like a dang

Ouiji Board!!!. Never mind....Nosey Rosey the cat just found the wire.

Whew. -Betz

Keep trying, they will hopefully...

Love and Peace Always

Shaun and Barb

[Guest guest]

Not to be provacative, and I don't really know you (or

anyone on this list) very well, but if being married

were standing between me and benefits I needed and

deserved, I'd simply get divorced. My husband and I

(we don't have kids) lived together without getting

married for years because of the tax hit we'd have

taken, got married last year because we were taking an

extended trip out of the country where we weren't sure

our powers of attorney, health care directives, etc.,

would be recognized, and will get divorced in a hot

secomd if we take a tax hit this year (last year we

had almost no income). How " married " we are is

between us, not a concern of the government.

--- nurseontherunn <nurseontherunn@...> wrote:

> I'm not sure but, they check your income before

> allowing you to have

> SSD? Really stinks my hubby makes close to

> 190,000/yr which doesn't

> go far here in the Great Northwest. With my medical

> bills

> accumulating 2 grand a month SSD would be a nice

> supplement. Seems

> like the government encourages you to be a single

> Mom to get any

> kind of help.

>

>

>

> >

> > Sandi,

> > Yes, you can get SSD for Psoriatic Arthritis. It

> takes at least

> 5 months,

> > sometimes longer. I think it all depends on how

> your Doctors

> fill out their

> > questionaires. I got mine the first time I

> applied. Sometimes

> they just

> > automatically deny the first applications. If

> they do, be

> peristent. Reapply

> > and write a letter to all your congress men to

> help you.

> > I have had physical therapy on my neck that did

> help. And then

> just lately

> > for my lower back that put me down for over a week

> in pain. Some

> say yes,

> > but I plan to leave it alone from now on. I can't

> afford to pay

> for pain.

> > I have not found anything that works for the

> fatigue. If I do

> today, I rest

> > tomorrow. This is the way I keep myself moving.

> I have to

> accomplish at

> > least one task per day. My only goal. Some days

> that is just

> getting up and

> > getting the coffee made.LOL

> > Welcome to our group. There are many great people

> here who, I am

> sure you

> > will hear from.

> > You will soon see we all react differently to

> everything we try.

> So you

> > also have to research, (there are many websites

> with great

> information, I use

> > MayoClinic.com myself) experiement, and stay in

> contact with your

> rheumy. God

> > Bless you,

> >

> > Janet in Ca

> >

> >

> > [Non-text portions of this message have been

> removed]

> >

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

you should reapply . At least you'll know [if u get it ] that you will be

getting that mount every month and apply for a section 8[housing ] for rent

subsidy . I dont know what state you live in but there are usually rent

assistance if you are on soc sec and there are also free legal services in many

sytates . you can always call around . some lawyers dont charge a fee unless you

are approved for diaability . In the words of john prine.... " If heartaches

were commercials -We would all be on tv ! " good luck . cathy from ma .

[Guest guest]

I have Pa also and have struggled but am doing well

now. Yet we live here in Central Ca where the housing

costs are at least the same and maybe higher and

manage to buy a home etc on about 50% of that income.

190000 puts yoyu in the top 1% of all single family

incomes in the US. $2000 a month is just a little less

than my takehome as a teacher- it is no wonder that

SSD is looking at your case closely. I am not saying

you don't deserve it, I am sure you do, but disability

was really designed to aide those who have fewer

assets than more.

--- Jaye Eldridge <jayesails@...> wrote:

>

> Not to be provacative, and I don't really know you

> (or

> anyone on this list) very well, but if being married

> were standing between me and benefits I needed and

> deserved, I'd simply get divorced. My husband and I

> (we don't have kids) lived together without getting

> married for years because of the tax hit we'd have

> taken, got married last year because we were taking

> an

> extended trip out of the country where we weren't

> sure

> our powers of attorney, health care directives,

> etc.,

> would be recognized, and will get divorced in a hot

> secomd if we take a tax hit this year (last year we

> had almost no income). How " married " we are is

> between us, not a concern of the government.

>

>

> --- nurseontherunn <nurseontherunn@...> wrote:

>

> > I'm not sure but, they check your income before

> > allowing you to have

> > SSD? Really stinks my hubby makes close to

> > 190,000/yr which doesn't

> > go far here in the Great Northwest. With my

> medical

> > bills

> > accumulating 2 grand a month SSD would be a nice

> > supplement. Seems

> > like the government encourages you to be a single

> > Mom to get any

> > kind of help.

> >

> >

> >

> > >

> > > Sandi,

> > > Yes, you can get SSD for Psoriatic Arthritis.

> It

> > takes at least

> > 5 months,

> > > sometimes longer. I think it all depends on how

> > your Doctors

> > fill out their

> > > questionaires. I got mine the first time I

> > applied. Sometimes

> > they just

> > > automatically deny the first applications. If

> > they do, be

> > peristent. Reapply

> > > and write a letter to all your congress men to

> > help you.

> > > I have had physical therapy on my neck that did

> > help. And then

> > just lately

> > > for my lower back that put me down for over a

> week

> > in pain. Some

> > say yes,

> > > but I plan to leave it alone from now on. I

> can't

> > afford to pay

> > for pain.

> > > I have not found anything that works for the

> > fatigue. If I do

> > today, I rest

> > > tomorrow. This is the way I keep myself moving.

>

> > I have to

> > accomplish at

> > > least one task per day. My only goal. Some

> days

> > that is just

> > getting up and

> > > getting the coffee made.LOL

> > > Welcome to our group. There are many great

> people

> > here who, I am

> > sure you

> > > will hear from.

> > > You will soon see we all react differently to

> > everything we try.

> > So you

> > > also have to research, (there are many websites

> > with great

> > information, I use

> > > MayoClinic.com myself) experiement, and stay in

> > contact with your

> > rheumy. God

> > > Bless you,

> > >

> > > Janet in Ca

> > >

> > >

> > > [Non-text portions of this message have been

> > removed]

> > >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

>

>

> __________________________________________________

>

[Guest guest]

Betz,

Have you applied for SSI for your daughter? When I first applied I was told

to apply for both SSD and SSI, but you cannot have more than $2000.00 in the

bank. I still had just a little over that in a 401k so I couldn't apply for

the SSI. But, it sounded to me as if , if you are turned down for one, you

may get the other. It's worth a try, it only costs you time. I would check

it out.

Janet in Ca

[Guest guest]

Betz,

Thanks for the story about your dad. I think there

are a lot of older people in your dad's situation.

Remarriage can kick off all kinds of unexpected

consequences -- financial and otherwise.

What's important to us is that we know we're committed

to one another -- we'd better be, we own a fair amount

of property jointly. The license (and how odd is that

-- that you need a license to be married?) really is

just a piece of paper.

I can imagine that someone who was married in his or

her church might feel quite differently about it, but

we went the city hall route. I feel fairly strongly

that the civil and religious aspects of marriage

should be bifurcated, and that people should choose

which, if any, parts they wish to participate in.

--- Betsy Jack <itsbetsy@...> wrote:

> This ought to be an interesting string....I

> understand your

> position...my Daddy and his girlfriend, the love of

> his life, the woman

> who made my Dad an even better man than he already

> was, could not get

> married or she stood to loose 50k a year and she had

> silicone disease

> from breast implants that she recieved after a

> radical mastectomy from

> breast cancer. She needed the money for her medical

> issues which were

> great. She barely had enough to live on after

> medical expenses each

> year. She only recieved 10k from Dow in the

> settlement after 15 yrs of

> court battles. Many of the women died or commited

> suicide before they

> recieved their settlements. Her name is on Daddy's

> tombstone and they

> will be married to each other. They lived in condos

> next door to each

> other so they found a way around it. He died 4 yrs

> ago when he was 80.

> So I understand your view. I imagine that some folks

> on here

> won't....die hard romantics and many with spiritual

> commitments and

> children who need what little benefits they can get

> from their fathers

> or mothers who can work and get health coverage that

> way. There is much

> to consider. I am a single Mom who's daughter is

> covered by her father

> per our divorce decree so this does not effect me as

> much. It's too bad

> that any of us have to worry about something like

> this. We all know the

> system is flawed and needs reformed but alas...it

> does not directly

> effect the powers that be...WE pay for their health

> coverage with our

> tax dollars so reform will be slow if at all. I hope

> we are all kind

> about this string. Remember...we all have different

> lives and different

> issues. Live and let live my friends. -Betz

>

> > > >

> > > > Sandi,

> > > > Yes, you can get SSD for Psoriatic Arthritis.

> It

> > > takes at least

> > > 5 months,

> > > > sometimes longer. I think it all depends on

> how

> > > your Doctors

> > > fill out their

> > > > questionaires. I got mine the first time I

> > > applied. Sometimes

> > > they just

> > > > automatically deny the first applications. If

> > > they do, be

> > > peristent. Reapply

> > > > and write a letter to all your congress men to

> > > help you.

> > > > I have had physical therapy on my neck that

> did

> > > help. And then

> > > just lately

> > > > for my lower back that put me down for over a

> week

> > > in pain. Some

> > > say yes,

> > > > but I plan to leave it alone from now on. I

> can't

> > > afford to pay

> > > for pain.

> > > > I have not found anything that works for the

> > > fatigue. If I do

> > > today, I rest

> > > > tomorrow. This is the way I keep myself

> moving.

> > > I have to

> > > accomplish at

> > > > least one task per day. My only goal. Some

> days

> > > that is just

> > > getting up and

> > > > getting the coffee made.LOL

> > > > Welcome to our group. There are many great

> people

> > > here who, I am

> > > sure you

> > > > will hear from.

> > > > You will soon see we all react differently to

> > > everything we try.

> > > So you

> > > > also have to research, (there are many

> websites

> > > with great

> > > information, I use

> > > > MayoClinic.com myself) experiement, and stay

> in

> > > contact with your

> > > rheumy. God

> > > > Bless you,

> > > >

> > > > Janet in Ca

> > > >

> > > >

> > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been

> > > removed]

> > > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> >

> >

> > __________________________________________________

> >

[Guest guest]

As far as I know, SSDI (Social Security Disability

Income)is based on your earnings and how long you

worked -- your spouse's income, your savings, etc.,

don't factor in at all.

If you're trying to get SSI (Supplemental Security

Income), which is a very low " floor " type of benefit,

then I believe your assets and other means of support

may come into play.

You can qualify for SSI even if you never worked a day

in your life. To qualify for SSDI, you have to have

40 quarters of work, or ~ 10 years.

--- greg lehman <gergnamhel@...> wrote:

> I have Pa also and have struggled but am doing well

> now. Yet we live here in Central Ca where the

> housing

> costs are at least the same and maybe higher and

> manage to buy a home etc on about 50% of that

> income.

> 190000 puts yoyu in the top 1% of all single family

> incomes in the US. $2000 a month is just a little

> less

> than my takehome as a teacher- it is no wonder that

> SSD is looking at your case closely. I am not saying

> you don't deserve it, I am sure you do, but

> disability

> was really designed to aide those who have fewer

> assets than more.

>

>

>

>

>

>

> --- Jaye Eldridge <jayesails@...> wrote:

>

> >

> > Not to be provacative, and I don't really know you

> > (or

> > anyone on this list) very well, but if being

> married

> > were standing between me and benefits I needed and

> > deserved, I'd simply get divorced. My husband and

> I

> > (we don't have kids) lived together without

> getting

> > married for years because of the tax hit we'd have

> > taken, got married last year because we were

> taking

> > an

> > extended trip out of the country where we weren't

> > sure

> > our powers of attorney, health care directives,

> > etc.,

> > would be recognized, and will get divorced in a

> hot

> > secomd if we take a tax hit this year (last year

> we

> > had almost no income). How " married " we are is

> > between us, not a concern of the government.

> >

> >

> > --- nurseontherunn <nurseontherunn@...>

> wrote:

> >

> > > I'm not sure but, they check your income before

> > > allowing you to have

> > > SSD? Really stinks my hubby makes close to

> > > 190,000/yr which doesn't

> > > go far here in the Great Northwest. With my

> > medical

> > > bills

> > > accumulating 2 grand a month SSD would be a nice

> > > supplement. Seems

> > > like the government encourages you to be a

> single

> > > Mom to get any

> > > kind of help.

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > >

> > > > Sandi,

> > > > Yes, you can get SSD for Psoriatic Arthritis.

>

> > It

> > > takes at least

> > > 5 months,

> > > > sometimes longer. I think it all depends on

> how

> > > your Doctors

> > > fill out their

> > > > questionaires. I got mine the first time I

> > > applied. Sometimes

> > > they just

> > > > automatically deny the first applications. If

> > > they do, be

> > > peristent. Reapply

> > > > and write a letter to all your congress men to

> > > help you.

> > > > I have had physical therapy on my neck that

> did

> > > help. And then

> > > just lately

> > > > for my lower back that put me down for over a

> > week

> > > in pain. Some

> > > say yes,

> > > > but I plan to leave it alone from now on. I

> > can't

> > > afford to pay

> > > for pain.

> > > > I have not found anything that works for the

> > > fatigue. If I do

> > > today, I rest

> > > > tomorrow. This is the way I keep myself

> moving.

> >

> > > I have to

> > > accomplish at

> > > > least one task per day. My only goal. Some

> > days

> > > that is just

> > > getting up and

> > > > getting the coffee made.LOL

> > > > Welcome to our group. There are many great

> > people

> > > here who, I am

> > > sure you

> > > > will hear from.

> > > > You will soon see we all react differently to

> > > everything we try.

> > > So you

> > > > also have to research, (there are many

> websites

> > > with great

> > > information, I use

> > > > MayoClinic.com myself) experiement, and stay

> in

> > > contact with your

> > > rheumy. God

> > > > Bless you,

> > > >

> > > > Janet in Ca

> > > >

> > > >

> > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been

> > > removed]

> > > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> >

> >

> > __________________________________________________

> >

[Guest guest]

Hey everyone, even if you are discouraged by no SSD, there is also always the

medical tax deduction...you can deduct anything over 7% of your income. So if

you spend $10,000 annually on your medical expenses, and you make $100,000, you

can deduct $3000. The list of what the IRA lets you include in med expenses

extends to parking costs to visit doctors, otc meds/supplements, heating pads,

etc. It's worth keeping a tally of what you spend (and saving all the receipts)

because chances are ALL of us can take this deduction:-) The basic version of

TurboTax will help you walk through it.

I know it's not the same as SSD income, but it can make a huge difference in

your tax refund. Every little bit helps:-)

Re: [ ] Re: SSD and PA

betz . From what I understand it is routine for them to you down the first

time. It is expected that they will turn you down the first time . I f you

get a lawyer you will probably get it next time . i have so many health issues

and am clearly disabled . can ,only type with one hand . I have had 3 hip

replacements and need 2 disks operated on and have heart problem and need a

hysterectomy . I was turned down but am married and my husband supports me so i

guess I could reapply. You need to reapply and get a lawyer . You will surely

get

disability . my daughter has heart problems , a kidney disorder and has been

hospitalized for manic depressive disorder several times . She cannot take

lithium because of her heart and kidney disorders and as such her mental

problems are unsolvable . she was turned down the first time but reapllied and

got it . She is only 30 years old and has no children and is not married. Try

again . , cathy from ma.

[Guest guest]

If I could make anywhere near 100k I wouldn't care about SSD! The most I

have ever made in a year was 27k and that was years ago before the psoriasis

became a problem and and working 85 hours in the average week. I could now do

that same job for at most maybe 10 hours a week! Orin

In a message dated 8/10/2006 7:40:54 A.M. Central Standard Time,

rachelviognier@... writes:

Hey everyone, even if you are discouraged by no SSD, there is also always

the medical tax deduction...you can deduct anything over 7% of your income.

So if you spend $10,000 annually on your medical expenses, and you make

$100,000, you can deduct $3000. The list of what the IRA lets you include in

med

expenses extends to parking costs to visit doctors, otc meds/supplements,

heating pads, etc. It's worth keeping a tally of what you spend (and saving

all

the receipts) because chances are ALL of us can take this deduction:-) The

basic version of TurboTax will help you walk through it.

I know it's not the same as SSD income, but it can make a huge difference in

your tax refund. Every little bit helps:-)

[Guest guest]

Hey everyone, even if you are discouraged by no SSD, there is also always

the medical tax deduction...you can deduct anything over 7% of your income.

So if you spend $10,000 annually on your medical expenses, and you make

$100,000, you can deduct $3000. The list of what the IRA lets you include in med

Not a lot of people really make that kind of money... So I doubt a lot of us

could take advantage of this offer... If I were making that kind of money I

would not need the help I do with medications... Nice if you do thou...

Love and Peace Always

Shaun and Barb

[Guest guest]

I dont know what the number is now but a few years ago if your total

deductions didn't equal or exceed $6000 you couldn't deduct anything. Now

let's say

you make $14,000 and spend $7000 on psoriasis treatments, half of which is

OTC. You cant qualify to buy any kind of house so you have no mortgage

deduction. You dont have any kids cause, first off you couldn't afford to raise

them, and you dont want to pass on the genetic likelyhood for them to develop

psoriasis too. So you dont get any deductions for that nor earned income

credit.

All totalled your qualified deductions amount to $0. Orin

In a message dated 8/11/2006 8:11:12 P.M. Central Standard Time,

szorzi_1999@... writes:

If you have $5000 of oop expenses,

you could deduct more than half of it - $2900. If you make $20,000

you can deduct anything over $1400. People who normally take

standard deduction should figure their taxes both ways if they have

large oop medical expenses and see which way does better for them.

[Guest guest]

Regarding SSD, I am applying for SSD and have an appointment on Monday. I have

done alot of research about filing a successful claim. Have you been diagnosed

with any other disability? Like ADD, depression? Having two disabilities that

relate to each other is a plus? I was diagnosed with ADHD six years ago

(depression years ago) - but the ADHD was diagnosed by a neuropsychologist that

my rheumatologist referred me to after I explained my concerns of memory loss,

loss of focus (walked out of my kitchen with the water running, left my house

for an hour or so, result being flooding my basement and ruining my electrical

appliances). I could be at work and answer the phone and within two seconds,

not remembering the name of who I was talking to. Anyway, go to psoriasis.net.

They will furnish a letter regarding psoriatic arthritis, as well as templates

of letters that your doctors can also provide to social security. Documented

job losses - for days missed, not being

able to get there on time, poor performance - these are so helpful. Document

as much as you can. I saw a lawyer before making this appointment and after

speaking with a paralegal about my disabilities, I feel very helpful. I know

that the rejection rate for the first time is high - but I also know that the

knowledge of how disabling psoriatic arthritis is -Social Security is becoming

more educated.

Hope this helps.

[Guest guest]

Dear Kamerillat,

You just described two symptoms of fibromyalgia. This is a disease that a

few of us have with the PA. It seems to go hand and hand with a lot of the

same symptoms of PA, so we end up with double whammies on the Fatigue, memory

problems, mental cognitive problems, confusion, soft tissue pain and in some

even joint pain. Have your rheumy check your pressure points or whatever other

tests they run for fibro. It's not like they have a cure for it, but it is

recognised by SSD when it is with PA.

Janet in Ca

[Guest guest]

Thanks so much. My mother who had RA also had fibromyalgia so you're probably

right that I have that as well. She passed away two years ago from heart

failure - and my sister and I are joining the Vioxx suit. This is just such a

terrible disease - especially when despite what you do or how good you do it,

employers want to run for the hills. I just can't take being let go of another

job. I'm only 55 years old but 20 years of this disease has finally taken its

toll and I know it's not going to get any better. Also, when I went to see an

attorney for advice before I applied for SSD, they had something in their office

to help pay for medications (or to have companies sponsor them). Do you know

about that?

cameronparkmom@... wrote: Dear Kamerillat,

You just described two symptoms of fibromyalgia. This is a disease that a

few of us have with the PA. It seems to go hand and hand with a lot of the

same symptoms of PA, so we end up with double whammies on the Fatigue, memory

problems, mental cognitive problems, confusion, soft tissue pain and in some

even joint pain. Have your rheumy check your pressure points or whatever other

tests they run for fibro. It's not like they have a cure for it, but it is

recognised by SSD when it is with PA.

Janet in Ca

[Guest guest]

Orin, my math skills are just so poor, I can't do the calc unless its a nice

even number:-) But it works the same...anything over 7% of your income can be

deducted. So the less you make the more of an impact it will have on your tax

refund! So if you make 27K the number is somewhere around $2000 - anything over

that would be deductible.

Glad to hear a post from you, I've been wondering if you were OK.

If I could make anywhere near 100k I wouldn't care about SSD! The most I

have ever made in a year was 27k and that was years ago before the psoriasis

became a problem and and working 85 hours in the average week. I could now do

that same job for at most maybe 10 hours a week! Orin

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[Guest guest]

Barb - that number was only an example they were giving. If you make $30,000 a

year, you could deduct any medical expense over

I guess a lot of people make more than we do and it just seems wild...

Love and Peace Always

Shaun and Barb