Disability Hearing Scheduled..but Questions?????

[tattie197635]

I would like to ask an important question in regards disability.....First this was a blessing to get papers in the mail today from my disability lawyers saying that......my Hearing is scheduled for June 27th, the only problem I have is that I have several symptoms that have returned since my 1st surgery......but I have a specialist that I'm seeing because my (NS) no longer work at the Cleveland Clinic......my lawyers said that their going to start requesting my (Medical Record) but as of now I don't have any......I really need this disability because I know that I can't work anymore....I've already tried.......Does anyone have any advice on what I can do to help my claim with so much little time now?

[ChiariWolf]

My situation is a bit different as there are other issues involved. That said when I went to apply for disability, I didn't want to I wanted to work. But knew my wife was right so I applied. My Brother In Law had known others who applied in the past and he advised me. First I went without a lawyer. Then he told me to not be myself. At first I got upset as I'm not going to lie. But that is not what he meant, he explained that I have a 'get it done' personality and said that though he admired me for it that the SSA people would count it against me. So what he recommended was that I do two things. First get with my parents and develop a written record of my life history of medical issues even if I didn't think they applied. Where possible for more serious or persisting issues he said try and get the Dr's notes. That was the first thing in my file. Then he said when the appt comes go in and do not do what comes normal. Normally I refuse to let anyone around me see my own pain. He advised throw that out the door, let em see it, and don't try to justify what a good person you are by admiting that on good days you mow the lawn or change the oil. They want to know the bad not the good and he said they will hold the good against you. Well for the sake of my family that's what I did, goes against everything in me as I took many a beatings growing up for admiting pain. But you know what? BIL was right, he was dead on right. They looked at those medical records, they actually read a note from my mom, questioned me that one time and about 6 mos later my first payment arrived.

I know it doesn't always work that way but hopefully you can use some of that to help in your situation. Just be advised, SSDI is not all it's cut up to be.... I still strongly want to work. Have tried numerous times and every time thus far it sets my family back financially rather than helps. Do have an idea to make some dough online helping others make their iPads more useful but we'll see....

CW

[Sexybare]

I applied for disability thru a lawyer. Its been approx 5 months now. It goes nack til aug 2011 when i was first unable to work due to chiari and surgery. I have been off work for almost 8 mo. I have tried to go back twice now and lasted less than a week both times. My lawyer says tryin to go back to work and failing works in my benefit with soc sec admin. I am currently goin in april to coloado to see chiari specialist and we will go from there. Its my pcp who filled ou disability papers in my favor. He strongly believes work will only make me worse. Good luck. Stay strong. I have faith it will be in your favor!!!!

[tattie197635]

Thank You everyone for your comments...I do have anxiety and alot of stress due to not having income the way I once had.....The thing is I know my body well and know what I'm feeling, doctors that want to say that...you can still work, have No Idea what a person with Chiari deals with daily.

My (GP) doctor thinks that this is all made up in my head.....so he really does not know himself about this dibilitating condition.....But Thanks again for all the comments they really help.

[chuckswoman]

It might be helpful to consider another comment in your post.  You said, ‘’ I really need this disability because I know that I can't work anymore....I've already tried.’’

Your case is different than mine, of course.   And there is no proof that what I have to say matters although I suspect it matters a great deal because it happened to be the very first question that doctor asked me when my first hearing began.   The question was, ‘’So why do you think you can’t work anymore’’  In my case, I had not even considered the possibility that I could not work anymore    As a matter of fact, between what I perceived to be my husband’s rude remark telling me to just ‘’be myself’’ and this doctor’s rude question at the beginning of my examination I wanted to walk out of there and keep walking.  

The point I am trying to make has to do with attitude.  We don’t have the benefit of a crystal ball that shows us how what is relevant today will play out in our future..   It might be helpful to remember, it  is not up to the one being examined but rather to the examining physicians to determine whether or not our disability is permanent, ie, whether or not we can work again.  Ratber than saying, ‘’ I really need this disability because I know that I can't work anymore....I've already tried.’’  it might be in your best interest to say,  ‘’ I don’t know what is in my future  but  I can’t work  right now because ….. ‘’

I understand this is an incredibly stressful time for you.  The fear of not meeting our financial obligations adds stress exacerbating an already debilitating condition.  And I know from experience it’s easier said than done but try not to worry so much about the outcome of your hearing – you mentioned you have lawyers working on this for you.  If you don’t trust your lawyers, get new ones.  If you do trust them, let them do the work while you concentrate your energies on your health and well being.

In the years since I was first awarded SSDI, I have had my case reviewed twice to determine whether or not my status had changed.   I decided at a certain point that if the doctors were to determine that  I was not longer disabled, then I would have to deal with that but not until.  

Please know I wish you well and hope you will post again and let us know the outcome.

[implodingspace]

have you filed for every thing under the sun, the depression (if so) that may have been caused by this, any anxiety, etc

I have syringomyelia, which is accepted, i had documented more than 2 limbs involved, and still according to the bored sounding lady on the other end of the phone, it came down to my mental health because even though my doctor said i was not supposed to be, sitting upright/walking or standing more than 30 minutes in 2 hours, or 2 hours an 8 hour day, somehow that meant i could still work (beats me I really do have to lay flat on on my back and still take pain med) anyhow i had a therapist for 4-5 years, so she filled out a mental functional capacity form for me, stating the anxiety and depression PTSD, now yes alone those things do not impair me. But I was told to use them to further limit the field, so if my physical disability limits me to 10% of jobs available use my mental to limit that 10% down to nothing. Just a thought, I'm sure if you have lawyers they know better than me. I was really really surprised to get it in 6 months without getting denied. I'm 31 with college education and syringomyelia, 5 herniated disks. etc. I had already had aspergers generalized anxiety and PTSD documented, and my counselor noted the increased depression since diagnosis.

But i did try and in the space I had available on the back of my application I wrote them asking if they could please also consider the danger aspects of working to myself , my walking and my children who only have me to raise them. That given the nature of the disease that any pressure to spinal fluid could cause expansion that could paralize me. That I know it is a different dynamic that is not the case with many other kinds of disabilities and EVEN I was having trouble adjusting to that dimension, that typically my mindset was to work through pain until you couldn't anymore and that was the line, but in this new world of the syrinx, I actually now how to be careful too, not use pain as my judge of what i can or can not do, or I might not be able to walk one day. (obviously a loose paraphrase)

I'm sure lawyers know their stuff, but that's all i could think of that might help. good luck, i understand the need for sure

[selmaS]

  Do u have a Chiari dx as well?.....the best thing I can advise is to have an attny like Tattie  and look at the  link I attached above.

[chuckswoman]

''Does anyone have any advice on what I can do to help my claim with so much little time now? ''

Years ago,  I asked my older, wiser husband a similar question and was not at all pleased with his response.  He said, ''Just be yourself.  And tell the truth.  You'll be okay.''

[selmaS]

  Hi I was denied my LTD with medical reports, and I am trying to get more dx's confirmed b4 I go for SSID.....

May I ask what type of job u did prior? That was my problem with the LTD, since I was doing HR they felt I could do HR sitting down, but the job was for a retailer that expected me as a manager to also walk the floor 4 hrs at a time and clean dressing rooms , deal with customer complaints, plus I did payroll, hiring ,firing, and schedules, training and orientation.....and it was 70 plus hrs a week....the other issue is they felt I could work newhere as a HR, but I did not have schooling for the position, and would not be able to get a job  that so many went to college for HR management....

If u get past round one here is more info ur  attny should already know-

Applying for social security disability and SSI benefits, with or without an advocate can be difficult due to how long a claim may take and the high chance of being denied. But those who are denied disability can win benefits by utilizing the appeals process. To increase the chances of winning, applicants should learn about the system and file an appeal when a claim is denied.

http://www.disabilitysecrets.com/