Tips when applying for SS?

I called yesterday to apply for SS benefits and had a horrible experience - now I have more anxiety than ever! This is part of an email I wrote to one of the members of my local Fibro support groups but I wanted to extend the questions to the rest of you to see what tips you might be able to offer:

"It was an extremely stressful phone call as she was very curt with me and said that I am “not disabled” and repeatedly asked, “and it was your doctor who said that you were unable to work?” She also asked me some strange questions, like what date I became disabled. I wasn’t sure how to answer and asked her if she meant when I began having symptoms that impacted my daily life or when the doctor diagnosed me with Fibromyalgia. Her reply was, “which ever date you want to give me.” Her response only confused me more so I argued with her that, “No, the date depends on what information you need to know. Are you asking how long I’ve been impacted by my disability or when the doctors finally took the time to diagnose me?” We also had a similar argument about how I am capable of paying my bills based on such a small income. I explained that my BF pays the rent and that my bills aren’t being paid right now because my only source of income to pay them is child support from my ex-husband and it hasn’t been reliable (and is actually in legal status w/ the Oregon DCS).  

In the very beginning of the call she determined that I would only qualify for SSI – I’m not sure what gave her reason to determine that because the only thing she asked at that point was whether or not I had been told by a doctor that I was unable to work (which again, she’d asked me over and over) and then rudely asked me, “is there any thing else you have wrong with you?” I then told her that I also suffered from depression.

I’m now even more anxious about this whole SS application thing. While I did have an Internal Med/Rheum doctor confirm that I have Fibromyalgia last week, and we did discuss how my symptoms severely impacted my life (a conversation I’d also had this Monday with my therapist who had expressed concern and urged me to look into getting disability assistance), I am now left feeling like perhaps I needed to get some kind of paperwork or documentation from my new PCP to prove it all – whom I don’t even see until next Thursday. Have I sabotaged myself? Did I miss an important step? Or was the woman just crappy at her job and taking her dismay out on me? Perhaps she was needling me so much to dissuade me from applying?"

Does anyone have any links that would help me when talking to the social security people? That intake woman was just horrible to talk to and increased my anxiety through the roof yesterday, causing my symptoms to worsen by the end of the day. :(

[VaBreeze]

The woman was just crappy at her job!!!  I'm sorry you had an experience like that.  

Getting disab. is much easier if you have a history of depression (where you've been treated for years with the symptoms).  The date she needed to have was the last day that you stopped working due to your illness.  In order to apply for Soc. Sec. you must have been out of work for 5 mos. and your disability is expected to last a year or more.  So, at the end of 5 mos. you would want to begin your paperwork (which you can do online).  You mentioned something about talking about paying your bills online...I hope that wasn't a question she posed to you, because that has nothing to do with Soc. Sec.  In my experience with them, they aren't the most helpful people in the world.  

Keep your appointment next week, and if you've been out of work for 5 mos., you may want to go ahead and begin working on the paperwork.  You can fill it out and save it online, that way you can continue working on it when you are able.  Everything you'd want to know about filing can be found at their website...so you don't even have to talk to them (which is prob. best, lol).  

I've been down this road too, so if I can help in any way please just message me and i'll do what I can to assist you.  I'm sorry she made you stressed out...that's not what you needed.  Unfortunately, people who work in public service positions often end up having an attitude of indifference and that's not polite at all.

hugs

[PlateletGal]

Hi Kenderyl,

Here are some helpful links. It really doesn't matter what your disability is... only what your limitations are.

Fibromyalgia, CFS and Disability Evaluation: http://www.co-cure.org/Podell-1a.htm



Fibromyalgia Disability Application Issues: How to be Your Own Expert Medical Witness: http://www.immunesupport.com/library/showarticle.cfm?id=8941&T=CFIDS_FM&B1=EM062508F



Frequently asked questions: http://www.immunesupport.com/disability/faq.cfm

[VaBreeze]

It really doesn't matter what your disability is... only what your limitations are.

BooYah PlateletGal.  Right on, lol.

[PlateletGal]

I meant to write, "diagnosis". Its the brain fog. LOL!

[zippazappa]

she was crappy at her job, hope you got her name and compalianed about the ***** shes not a doctor shes just a woman with a stupid title.and a stupid job hope you get things sorted x

[VaBreeze]

**It sounded good to me the first time, lol**  I so related to the F O GGGGGGG!  

[MyTau]

Before I applied I went online and read advice from others who have been through it and are going through it; I read the disability secrets webpage. Then I went online and filed for SSD. I've been unable to work since Jan 2005. Like most I got denied, then filed for reconsideration, got denied like most do, now I have a lawyer. After over 2 years waiting my hearing is coming up in Jan. I've been going to the Dr's every 2 months, and the lawyer has gotten her to fill out a function report and she is on my side and knows I can not do my work anymore. I've been a landscaping maintenance, housekeeper, both too hard. I've got SLE, the worse form of lupus, Osteoarthritis in my knee's back, neck, degenerative disc disease, HBP, Raynaud's Phenomenon, Fibromyalgia and CFS, and I am 45 years old. It's a long battle and so far has taken over 3 years, one person took 7 years, and he was almost ready for retirement! Prepare for a long battle, but don't give up, they want to weed out those that should not be applying.

[Kenderyl]

Is it at all possible that getting SSI or SSD denials is dependent upon the state you live in??

[VaBreeze]

It's governed by the federal government and i've not heard anything about it being connected to where you live.  The Soc. Sec. website has a chart that shows all of the processes involved and how it moves along.  

Please don't be too discouraged by others experiences.  I too was told "you'll be lucky to get it at all; you'll prob. have to appeal and it will take years."  I filed mine while sitting at the computer one day at home and was approved within 5 months.  Each case is weighed independently and there are many, many factors involved in the process.  In many cases they do deny and perhaps there is an expectation that some of those people will not reapply (i'm hoping they don't carry quotas on that type of thing).  Just don't give up.  If you are denied once, appeal it as quickly and as often as you can.  

[PlateletGal]

I would strongly recommend calling your local Senators and/or Congressmen... they may be able to assist you with your case.

Best,

PlateletGal

[TeriK1972]

SSA subcontracts with state agencies, usually the state Disability Determination Office.  They also retain the services of area professionals, usually a vocational rehab expert and a psychological expert and medical expert.  So, technically, they are state level decisions but regulated by the Federal "Listings" criteria.  This is a book that has certain diseases that are automatically allowed.  Supporting this are certain lab results that must fall within a certain range.  For instance, if you are on Oxygen 24/7 at a certain saturation level, you are automatically allowed.  If you do not fall in the "Listings" then disability can be determined by a weighted average factoring in age, education, level of impairment.  Basically, the older you are, the less educated you are, the less likely you are to find sustainable, gainful employment.  And, this employment is the most trivial, least demanding job that exists in the USA, not necessary what is in your community or state.  For instance, a Montana disability applicant that can still take tokens at a subway, even though there is NO subway in MT.  If they can do that job, even with accommodations, you are not considered disabled.

When you file your disability application, it is very important to note how your disability impairs your ability to complete ADLs, memory, movement (sitting/standing), etc.  But, the one thing that needs to be emphasized is that the level of disability impairs your ability to be consistent and reliable to an employer.  For instance, voc rehab experts usually agree that the most absences an employer will allow is 2 days / mos.  If you can demonstrate that you will miss more than this, then it is not likely that an employer is going to retain you...thus you are not really employable is a gainful capacity.

Finally, make sure you have all your medical records at SSA even if you have to hand deliver them.  They are notorious for failing to get ALL your records.  Also, at the ALJ level, YOU are responsible for making sure all records are there after a denial at the recon level.  They usually will not get records for an ALJ hearing.  The patient/applicant is.

There is a small loop hole in the listings and the whole process.  It is if a person has been diagnosed with a terminal illness or a "TERI CASE" and the MD feels that there is less than 6 months to live. There must be documentation in the chart pertaining to this or at the very least, a letter.  You can ask for this and they can make you a FAST claim appointment and make a presumptive determination and finalize it within the given time frame.  This allows money and Medicaid to kick in FAST.  Some states will allow Teri Cases if there isn't  a huge backlog.  If there is, they usually will not recognize them.

I hope this helps someone.

[SIMMY20]

hello , i do not know how the ss work benefits out at your end ,but over here they base you on a what you can do rather than what you can,t so iff the system is like ours then the answer is you can,t do anything , wich most of the time you can,t anyway, when filling in forms allways fill them in as if you where on one of the worst days that you have good luck with the ss , it is just as hard over here to get it but don,t be put off ,you will get there!!! tcand gl

[VaBreeze]

Age does play an important factor in the determination process.  The older you are the less likely it is that you can be retrained to do anything that may be considered as substantial gainful employment (which basically means the ability to support yourself).  That is why it is so difficult for someone say, who is in their 30's or early 40's, to be approved on the first try, unless there is a well documented case of a long illness or something life-threatening.

Simmy had a good point...always base the information requested on the worst day you have ever had (since fibro/cfs has periods of waxing and waning).  

[ellentn]

I am being sent to disabilty drs. is that a good or bad sign in the process?