Social Security Disability Benefits

[MerrieJane]

Does anyone from the United States know about receivind Social Security Disabilty?  I just applied.  I have a liver biopsy that shows piecemeal necrosis. My knodell score is 15/18. I said I was fatigued and unable to sit at the computer (my line of work) for more than 1/2 hour because of chronic fatigue.  I also have depression and have been taking Zoloft for a few years.  Do you folks think that this will "cut" it?  Also, I did 15 weeks of Interferon/Riba and am a non-responder.

Merrie

[NYgirl]

I don't think you can get social security for hep C which we have (liver disease) but that is just what I've heard.

While we are ill we are not completely disabled and not able to do some form of work.

I wish we could...I'd stay home on FLMA and get paid. That would be so much better than struggling to come in to work every day.

I'm no expert and someone else might come on with opposite news...it is what I've always been told though.

PS My hemoglobin went down 7 points in one week - have chronic lethargy without the anemia am on Paxill for depression, Epogen for the anemia, Interferon and Ribavirin for the virus and never sleep. BRAIN FOG like crazy. Have the rash all over my body and at least half of my hair has fallen out. But.....even though it's HARD to make it to work...it doesn't make me disabled enough to collect.

When I had brain damage and a broken back from a car accident years ago it took a LOT to get it to go through - and there was no physical way I could work since I couldn't walk or think.

It's like they don't WANT you to get it you know?

BEST OF LUCK.

[NYgirl]

You have nothing to lose by trying except some time.  You know?

[can-do-man]

Hi there. You ask will this cut it? Yes but it might not be easy, First have you been off work at least 5 months? Also your age will come into play. Even though your not able to do your line of work, they will look is there any line of work at your age and education that you can do.

You didn't say how much info you provided them, like doctor statements, bx. reports, ect. Be ready to be turned down on your first request as most people are. But don't let that discourage you. Make sure any questions they ask you like what are you able to do at home. Cooking,cleaning, shopping, you give it the worst case possible.

Are you seeing a psychologist/psychiatrist? If yes have them write a letter detailing how your depression along with your hep-c is effecting your ablity to even leave your house and are not able to work.

Get copys of your bx. report and ask your GI/hepatologist to also write a letter stating your a non-responder and your bx, shows cirrhosis. And it makes it in possible for you to work. Also have your family doctor do the same. These people know how to word things in your favor. Also be ready to supply SS with a family member if asked to, And have that family member tell them how they have to help you out, Like shopping, errands, house keeping ect. Good luck to you.

[NYgirl]

It's in here.  You may have to fight hard and take a lot of time to do it but it's listed on the site.

Google Hep C and Social Security and you will find help there maybe~!

Possible Medical Disability Conditions *-

Disability due to: Cancer, diabetes, type 2 diabetes, diabetic neuropathy, Lupus, crohn's disease or crohns, Multiple Sclerosis or MS, rheumatoid arthritis, diverticulitis, back surgery, heart surgery, high blood pressure (hypertension), hip, neck, shoulder, ankle, wrist, back, or other joint problems, disc herniation, hydrocephalitis, interstitial cystitis, degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis, carpal tunnel syndrome, rsi or repetitive stress injury, inflammatory bowel disease, liver disease, Parkinson's disease, ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, kidney disease, arthritis, dysthymia, depression or other mood disorders. Congestive or Chronic Heart Failure, Type 1 Seizure Disorder, Stroke, COPD, Auto immune system disease, emphysema, hearing loss or poor hearing, statutory blindness, Peripheral Field Problems or Other Vision Loss, Clinical Obesity or Morbidly Obese, attention deficit hyper activity or ADHD, bipolar disorder or manic depression, panic disorder, schizophrenia, autism, head trauma or brain injury. Low IQ, mental retardation, learning disability, epilepsy, cancer, chronic fatigue, lupus, anxiety, inner ear problems, meniere's, vertigo or dizziness, kidney failure requiring dialysis or other renal problems, cirrhosis of the liver, hepatitis C or other liver disease, pancreatitis, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, asthma, bronchitis, cystic fibrosis, rsd or reflex sympathetic dystrophy, sarcoidosis, peripheral vascular disease, lyme disease, cerebral palsy, rheumatoid arthritis, down syndrome, hiv, aids, anemia, sickle cell, thyroid problems including hypothyroidism, esrd or end stage renal disease, reflux, GERD (gastro esophageal reflux disease), cfids, muscular dystrophy, coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathy, or tachycardia, bradycardia or other arrhythmia.

[wMich]

Hello Merrie,
If you just submitted the application, you can expect to be interviewed by a doctor in your area, probably one contracted by SSA. If you are seeking disability from depression in addition to your physical problems you may also be interviewed by a psychologist, psychiatric social worker or the like. Their input, combined with whatever documentation they obtain about your illness and treatments, will determine the SSA ruling. You may not get disability for simply having HCV but you could for how it has manifested in you and how that has interfered with your ability to make a living. Your age and work history may also be factors. Remember that you may appeal a denied claim, especially if your condition worsens/changes while you are waiting or you obtain new important documentation. I work with people who receive/apply/appeal disability and many of them did not get approval on the first application. I have seen some pretty ill people turned down and some of the "walking wounded" approved on the first try. I apologize for the vague answer here but it really can be a **** shoot. The main thing is to document thoroughly and to not give up. Getting an attorney can be an option too. Best of luck!
- Lee

[can-do-man]

You said....You are nearing the shot 10 mark! Chipping away at this dastardly virus. I take the last shot Sunday.
________________________________________________________________

Want to trade with me? What if i say pretty please.

And yes SSDI can be a real pain, your first denial is pretty common. Its the second try that you want to give it your all. Because if you have to go to round 3 before a judge your looking at maybe 2 years. You'll get all but the first 5 months in a lump some - the 25% your atty. gets. And its easy to win with the judge but mot many can hold out 2 years and SS knows that. So anybody needs to have doc's, reports, and anything else on at least your second try. Depending what state your from the wait before going before a judge on your 3rd time can be 1 to2 years... Glad your about done and soon will be SVR

[can-do-man]

Dang it, its shot 9 sunday woooh is me

[NYgirl]

HOnestly from a realistic standpoint I think it would hurt your chances of getting it.  More likely it would be better or they would expect someone perhaps to go back to work on a shortened day AFTER a while when they were getting better.

Everyone I've ever known on it has not worked - and just had small things under the table.

Sorry I can't help more than that. I did not work at all so I don't know.

Sounds like you need to talk to one of the special 1-800-CallUS for Social SEcurity lawyers and ask.

[NYgirl]

I had to go to several doctors and prove that for my depression and brain injury I was going to a neuropsychologist for about a year.  They gave me lots of tests - psych and physical.

I do remember that it was a many, many part thing and took quite some while but...you don't receive money for like the first four or five months after you apply BUT after that everything was retroactive and I got like a $15,000 check.  So I guess at only app. $1,000 a month - you can see it took me a year or two to get everything for it started.

Its not a quick process so except to have to work or something to survive in the meantime.

[can-do-man]

Im thinking that if the knodell score is 15/18 then that would mean cirrhosis. If so then having cirrhosis of the liver makes it a whole lot easier. I have a close friend at SS that helped me with a friend of mine who at the time didn't have ESLD but was able to get SSDI. But it comes down to who reviews your case the first time around.

[can-do-man]

Your first time you usually get a decision in about 60 days, From what i was told most atty. won't help much until you've been turned down twice. Their cut of the action comes when you have to go before judge. Though you might get some help from them.

[friole]

First I am so sorry about the biopsy results.  Piecemeal necrosis and the score of 15/18 sounds pretty bad.  You are on treatment, aren't you?  How are you handling it?

I don't think I can add much -- can do pretty much said it all.  DOCUMENT DOCUMENT DOCUMENT.  I haven't filled out the SSD application, only the SSI application for my daughter, years ago, but they are similar. There are several pages of questions to fill out on how you feel, but more importantly you must document all the doctors you have seen.  Since you have depression, you should be able to document with a psychological report.  Don't expect them to contact all these doctors - they will, but it will be faster to attach the reports yourself. When I did my daughters, I summarized by date each medication she was on and for how long.  I also summarized her job record with specifics on why she lost jobs. It is not an easy process, but if you are denied you can appeal.  The claim goes back to the application if you are then accepted.  Lawyers usually work for a percent of this back fee.

[Cbueno]

in todays USA no it won't cut it... they could put you on a stool somewhere for minimum wage and make you the greeter...

my brother had a severe stroke at 48... get's tired easy, talks very garbled, looks a bit strange. Dr. disabled him...

appealed to SSA 4 times via lawyers, DENIED... mr. bush woul rather spend his cash on an intl. crusade that benefits the wealthy...

[fresnoborn]

i worked for several years as a reference librarian when i started having aches and pains. i became very depressed and in alot of pain and could no longer work so i lost my job for missing so much and was unemployed. i did not know anyone is the ssa builing but thought i would give it a shot and apply. so i did and within 8 weeks i was appoved, over the phone. i think i got it because of the symptoms i was having. i did not find out about the hep c till afterwards. i would try for it if i was you and if you get denied then try again. good luck to you.

[can-do-man]

Sorry but Mr. Bush didn't set the criteria for SSDI. Also don't recall Mr. clinton doing anything to help there either.

[MerrieJane]

I have heard that you can earn up to a certain amount and still qualify for disablility.  Does anyone know if this amount counts dollarwise against what your monthly benefit would be?

I don't have cirrosis, but I do have early bridging fibrisis.

Thanks for the input guys.

I think the 15 weeks on meds allowed other infections to go wild in me and now, 2 months off meds, I am a wreck.  

Merrie

[can-do-man]

Much Much harder to get on SSDI if your working at all, I do know you can't be working for 5 months before trying. Once your on SSDI then your allowed to make so much before it effects your benifits. One other thing it takes 2 years being on SSDI before you can go on medicare. But that time starts after your first 5 months, meaning after your 5 months then you apply for SSDI and get it 6 months later You'll still have to wait 1 year 6 months for medicare. But your money will start after the 5 months.

[PKCO]

HCV is covered by SSDI under liver disease. Piecemeal necrosis may not go very far depending on who the medical examiner is. To get SSDI you basically have to be too sick to work in any job. The things they focus on the most is repeated ascites, encephalopathy,out of whack lab levels from creatinine, albumin, P.T.,etc.

Most SSDI applicants are turned down the first time in most states. I suggest getting a SSDI lawyer now to advise you on the matter. Or at least an HCV advocate if such people exist in your area. It IS possible to get SSDI in 3 months. But you better have all the info they need and all of the 't's are crossed. In Colorado the avg time to receive SSDI is 2 years. Every state will vary some.

Get copies every time you visit a doc. Chart your blood labs for abnormailities. I hope some of this advice and suggestions helps.
Best regards,
PK

[bobbyullc]

SORRY ABOUT YOUR DIOGNOSIS AND KNOW HOW HARD IT IS TO EVEN WALK OUT FOR THE MAIL IN THAT STATE.
FYI A FRIEND OF MINE HAS BEEN ON SS FOR YEARS DUE TO HEP C AND HE CLEARED. THE SIDES FROM THE DISEASE HAVE HIM DOWN. I WOULD THINK YOU WILL BE A PERFECT CANDIDATE.
ANYWAY I HOPE YOUR HEALTH HOLDS UP AND YOUR SPIRITS SOAR.
BOBBY

[MerrieJane]

What a nice note Bobbyullc.  Thanks.  I want my slumped spirits to soar.

Merrie

[ladybrooks42]

I have been on SSDI since 2000.  I fought for 3 yrs before I was finally granted it.  I was denied the first time, and didn't bother with appealing it, (always appeal!!)  But, fortunatly, I refiled before my time limit had run out.  You BETTER have lots and lotsss of documentation is all I can say.  I had 3 doctors who all kept their reports on the same level.  When I finally got my hearing (took 1 yr from the time they set the appointment)...the Judge ordered a full battery psycological exam because he was not satisfied with the current evidence.  Noting, that I was listed as suicidal.  If anyone gets SSDI on the grounds of HCV alone, it would be a miracle to say the least.  Believe me, just because the book list Hep C as a disability, they have their own little loop holes to knock it out of the water.....I would not have gotten it on Hep C alone.  But, the combination of HCV, chronic pain, severe recurrent depression, post traumatic distress disorder and a low global assessment....won the case.  I now get SSDI and SSI, medicaid and medicare.  I don't know why you would not get the medicare for 1-2 yrs, because I got mine immediatly.  Thou, I do know of people that have had to wait on theirs.  I dont understand that part.  Since then, I have had my HCV RNA by PCR come back totally undectable.  Over the past 6 yrs, it has slowly come down to nothing.  When I stopped treatments in 1999, I had not cleared the virus, I just gave up and stopped the treatments.  I had been taking the treatments off and on for 2 yrs, various reasons and side effects had always caused them to stop my treatments and restart them, untill May of 99 when I had decided I had had enough!  I still had the virus, and it was still active.  When I tested again in Feb. 2000, my PCR came back less than 200.....I tested again a year later, and it was less than 10 (yes, there IS a test)....since, I have tested every year, and my last test 6 mo. ago, it could not be found at all.  Don't ask me.....but that's what the test said!!  My doc had another test done last week, but it takes a couple of weeks to come back, so dont know what that one will say.  "Supplements"....you bet ya.....I took Milk Thistle faithfully, I also took a chance on a product called "Liver One" created and designed by a young female chinese doctor specifically for Hep C and liver disease.  Dont care what anyone says.....I will die believing that the Liver One, is what cleared me of the virus.  But, everyone has their own beliefs, their own regime.....I just know what worked for me.  I wish you all the best of luck, and God bless you each  and every one, because I know the torture and agony this disease and it's treatments can cause.  Just wanted to share this with everyone.

[ladybrooks42]

Ohh...about "working" while your waiting on SSDI... I worked several months at a time, did not make much money, but enough to survive on.  I never worked over 5 mo. at a time, or made enough money that they would consider "gainful employment".....I tried, and that's what the record showed.  But the really good part about that....last year, they AUDITED me, and every job and little red cent I made from the time I first filed for disability!!
Just keep in mind, some of the major factors that they look at are "age, education, job history" and assets.  I filed in 97, when I was 39.....not a good age to try to get disability.  Im 47 now, and I am confident that I will continue to receive it hereout.  And yes, I did end up having to get a lawyer, mainly because I was sick and tired of fighting with social security, so I placed it in the hands of a lawyer, and it was worth every penny.  The Social Security Administration alone is enough to drive a poor soul insane......

[MAO561]

apply, don't lost time

[gretchenglo]

Hey dont give up if it is affecting your work give it a try and try again. If you get the run around try this contact:

Patient Advocate Foundation
753 Thimble Shoals Blvd., Suite B
Newport News, Virginia 23606
tel: [phone]  fax [phone]
1 800-532-5274
e-mail  ***@****
www.patientadvocate.org

hopefully this will help and pass on the info to others
good luck and take care