Disability

Have any of you successfully received disability? I've heard this is very difficult for anyone to receive disability benefits right now but especially with chiari...I'd love any input on this. I am the 'bread winner' in my family and I am growing a bit nervous as to whether I can keep going at this pace. I do not have disability benefits through work as I am self employed. My benefits would have to come from social security.

Any thoughts???

Thanks

[selmaS]

  Hi...we do have several threads on this topic, if u use the search this community feature u can read the older threads.

  Here is a link to how to get help with SSID appeals-
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Chiari-Malformation/Link-for-SSID-Secrets-to-win-appeals-/show/1205049?controller=posts&action=show&id=#

We have had a few members that have won SSID  it can take some time to get if I recall it can take up to 2 yrs.....a good NS that will document  in a letter for u may help expedite things.

  "selma"

[linnielou232]

I am going through the process right now.  It's something I didn't want to do, but I finally came to term's in my heart.  Knowing and admitting that I can no longer work.  It is a long process to go though so if you try for it.  I would suggest you start now.  I went and applied.  Had to go have a pshy. evaluation, the I received my denial letter.  We went to the lawyer and he applealed it.  I just received my letter from soc sec stating it can take up to 24 months to receive a hearing.  So it does take a while.  It took me a while just to apply, but I had no other choice.  Even my doctor told me to.  Just as my lawyer stated.  I worked 33 years of my life.  I'm just asking for a little of my own money back.  So I wish you well in this journey.

[itsy1]

I had a difficult time coming to terms with needing to apply for SSID too.  More than anything I didn't want to accept I couldn't work.

I'd look on the links selma posted.  I know with my SSID application they automaticly turned it down at first.  Their thinking:  my surgery had just occurred that year, I was too young for this to be permanent (I was 38 at the time), and I had too much education (2 BAs) to not be able to find work.

I appealed as soon as I got the ruling.  I took all my medical notes/ charts/ disks to my SSID lawyer (if you get one they shouldn't charge anything untill you are awarded SSID).  I also sent a list of all my docs info, contitions and why they were dxed.  Then when I saw the judge at my hearing I looked him in the eye and said, "True, with any one of these conditions I might be able to hold a part time job.  But  I have all of them.  If you can find me a job where I can get a full time sallary and work if I can when I might be able to, please sign me up".  The judge didn't even have the court suggest employment I could qualify for, a first for the lawyer representing me (and she'd been doing this for 13 years).  From start to finish it was about a 2yr process to get SSID.

I hope this helps.

[seamatty]

Itsy1

One question...you said 'all of the conditions you have'...do you have more than chari?

[itsy1]

Well, a lot of conditions can be CM related.  Here are some I have that are CM related, however when explaining to a lay person they also consider them their own conditions:

tinnitus (ear ringing), hearing loss, chronic severe headaches, brain fog (I even had my mom waiting outside the court room incase I couldn't "find my words" so she could come in and advocate for me if necessary), issues with numbness on the right side my body (I'm right handed), balance issues (I fall/ trip/ run into things on bad days), vertigo, Menier's-like hearing/ balance/ vertigo issues, sciatica, neurogenic bladder issues, visual vertigo, periphrial vision isses, degenerative disc issues; and accomidative esotropia (my eye's turn - though I don't know that that's a CM issue)

When you list your conditions like I did mine and really think about all you have to over come with each one, and the docs reports support you, then a judge can hopefully see the whole picture.  It's not "just a headache" or "just a backache" we Chiarians deal with.

I hope that was helpful.

[seamatty]

Thanks all for your advice!