Has anyone here been acccepted for disability?

[tintala]

Just wondering , as I am about to apply for ssi. anyone have experience?
thanks

[eltone]

Yes, I am on disability. It took 4 years for me to get approved. Not because of my condition but because the courts are so backed up in Iowa that an Arizona judge decided my case. I had worked from age 14 to 45 when I went on disability due to constant neck and low back pain. Later on I developed Gastroparesis (paralyzed stomach) a diabetic neuropathic disease. You will be seen by doctors who work for SS and, in my state, the lawyer's are only allowed to take a small percentage of your settlement if you win. Having waited 4 years to be approved just meant that when I was approved my financial settlement was 4 years retroactive so I got $60,000 from Uncle Sam. Three thousand went to lawyers, $20,000 the government got back and the rest I had to have out of my bank account with no new valuable property, like a new car, within 6-12 months. A new home is acceptable, but you will need someone close to you to hold your $$ if you get a settlement because the Gov't may give it to you but they won't let you keep it for more than 12 months. Good luck...

[Soniq420]

Hey Judia,

Your sig makes me think of Popeye the Sailor as an Existentialist

"prisoner of DNA"

"I am what I am and that's all that I am"

[tintala]

Hey thanks Judia and eltone: I probably wont be getting it then, I duno. I have all of the medical records and the chronic problems, so you guys think I will have to go to yet another doctor to get a approval? They wont go on my own doctors approval maybe?
Well i have to try it either way, I cant really work, and actually have no work. Thanks for everyone chiming in!

[eltone]

If you are blind or have a terminal disease you won't have to see SS doctors. But I had to see SS doctors (2) I think it was, to confirm my doctor's diagnosis concerning my back and neck pain. If you have multiple disorders you may not have to see another Dr at all. Just get yourself a lawyer who specializes in disability cases. I tried to get approved for disability with someone who was not a lawyer but use to work for SS. In 2 years she could not get me approved and recommended I go to a lawyer. I did, they said, "Let us look over your case and we will let you know if we will take it." They took my case and I won in less than a year. You see they won't take your case unless they feel they will win. That is one way to find out early how good your chances are. Get your medical records together and go for it, the worst that could happen is being turned down. But from what you say I don't think you will be refused. Good luck...

[tintala]

Originally Posted by eltone

If you are blind or have a terminal disease you won't have to see SS doctors. But I had to see SS doctors (2) I think it was, to confirm my doctor's diagnosis concerning my back and neck pain. If you have multiple disorders you may not have to see another Dr at all. Just get yourself a lawyer who specializes in disability cases. I tried to get approved for disability with someone who was not a lawyer but use to work for SS. In 2 years she could not get me approved and recommended I go to a lawyer. I did, they said, "Let us look over your case and we will let you know if we will take it." They took my case and I won in less than a year. You see they won't take your case unless they feel they will win. That is one way to find out early how good your chances are. Get your medical records together and go for it, the worst that could happen is being turned down. But from what you say I don't think you will be refused. Good luck...

HEY thanks ELTONE: so what do you think about listing med cannabis as a treatment or medication, my intuition tells me not to list it as it would scrutinize me even more than I already am , HAS ANYONE HERE listed their cannabis as a treatment or med for disability?
Thanks guys!

[eltone]

I would not mention anything marijuana when going for disability. Simple because Marijuana is illegal under Federal Law and your disability is Federal money. Even though it is based on your income and the money you've paid into SS from your whole working life, it is still federal money. It could raise a red flag, so to speak. Good luck...

[tintala]

So 2 people out this whole forum have been accepted? damn...

[Racefan]

I guess I was lucky. I got ssi and didn't even know I had applied for it. The va doctors were jumping over hurdles for me and had me signing all sorts of papers (I was suing them for malpractice at the time too) and after I went home from my last surgery there was a notice telling me I had been accepted and aproved for ssi and that my checks would start in like 3 months I think it was. lol Been getting it ever since without a question. Just a yearly benefits report. Been that way for 11 years now.

[tintala]

Originally Posted by JudiA

I actually have several friends that get it, they aren't on this forum though. I think having a mental component helps. bi polar, etc. or chronic depression. I do not mention drugs, although one of my docs recently stated in an insurance that I was n*rcotic dependent (pain meds) which I promptly gave up for the most part - and increased my pot eating!
My hubby was injured on a job, and when he told the pain management doc he used mmj he was treated badly and I feel there is still a great deal of discrimination about this drug. Personally I use Indian Health Service, which is federally funded.(sometimes) I was kicked out of the clinic and now can no longer get pain meds because of my mmj use. It really sucks!

How strange. My pain management doc made sure and unoffically recommended I use pot, since i was already on a pain contract, when I signed it he told me to look at clause # 10 and told me to ignore it, it said" you will be randomly tested for drug use " , he told me nevermind that, and to use pot if it helped even told me to use indica, lol. then i went to Denver and got an "OFFICIAL" recommendation. Anyway, I have had at least docs recommend cannabis and all the nurses there agree as well. They ALL know and beleive in cannabis.

[eltone]

That's the difference between living in a Medical Marijuana state and a Nazi-Regime type state. For me to be denied the only proven safe, efficient and effective control of Chronic nausea and vomiting, Cannabis, is Criminal in and of itself. My best hope is that Mussouri will legalize it. They have up to 15 Politicians behind the Medical Marijuana Law in Missouri. According to what I've read it would be the best program ever. Where a patient who uses Medical Marijuana has the same rights as any other person who gets any pharmacutical medication in the eyes of the law. They even allow dispensaries. Lets hope it passes.

[HappyKitty]

I was told many times to get a lawyer. I would recommend it. I did not follow that path and was turned down three times. I suppose that epilepsy is not a basis for ssd. I was told my seizures were not frequent enough. Oh really? Tell it to my brain.

After all the paperwork and evaluations, I was told I was denied because I could work two hours a week at a occupation I worked 15 years prior. Which included standing all day under flourescent lights (big no no), holding a knife all day and carrying heavy glass long distances.

So I did just that...and started having seizures again. Now what? I wish I would have gotten a lawyer from the very beginning, this has been three wasted years trying to move forward.

Get your lawyer, let him do the footwork, and best wishes. Keep us posted.

[tintala]

Originally Posted by HappyKitty

I was told many times to get a lawyer. I would recommend it. I did not follow that path and was turned down three times. I suppose that epilepsy is not a basis for ssd. I was told my seizures were not frequent enough. Oh really? Tell it to my brain.

After all the paperwork and evaluations, I was told I was denied because I could work two hours a week at a occupation I worked 15 years prior. Which included standing all day under flourescent lights (big no no), holding a knife all day and carrying heavy glass long distances.

So I did just that...and started having seizures again. Now what? I wish I would have gotten a lawyer from the very beginning, this has been three wasted years trying to move forward.

Get your lawyer, let him do the footwork, and best wishes. Keep us posted.

Happykitty: that's insane! If you got declined even with seizures, then what the hell am i gona do, holy crap. I best get a lawyer from the get go. i have severe chronic sciatica with herniation up and down my back. I had to list the meds (except mj.) hope thats ok? I sent off my app fri. will take my med recs in today. I hope since I live in a pretty liberal place they will show more compassion.

[User]

i've been on disability for 10 years. i have multiple conditions and a couple are life threatening. i was one of the people they used to set up protocols for people with hep c. it took me two tries and 3 years. i finally got an ex-disability worker to handle my case. he knew his stuff.

a couple of things he told me:
when dealing with disability people never appear to be having a good day. don't seem cheerful or upbeat. your sick, look and act like it. remember that they are not your friend.

answer questions slowly. think about your answer. besides having the time to think over your response it also makes it appear that you might be confused and thats a good thing.

when filling out paperwork don't appear to have your shit together. make some mistakes. show your frustration/anger. don't go over the top though.

i went to one disability doctor and when we were finished he showed me his paperwork and said "i want to show you where i'm approving your disability. when they deny you i want you to know its not my fault".

Don't mention marijuana, medical or not to disability.

[tintala]

Originally Posted by User

i've been on disability for 10 years. i have multiple conditions and a couple are life threatening. i was one of the people they used to set up protocols for people with hep c. it took me two tries and 3 years. i finally got an ex-disability worker to handle my case. he knew his stuff.

a couple of things he told me:
when dealing with disability people never appear to be having a good day. don't seem cheerful or upbeat. your sick, look and act like it. remember that they are not your friend.

answer questions slowly. think about your answer. besides having the time to think over your response it also makes it appear that you might be confused and thats a good thing.

when filling out paperwork don't appear to have your shit together. make some mistakes. show your frustration/anger. don't go over the top though.

i went to one disability doctor and when we were finished he showed me his paperwork and said "i want to show you where i'm approving your disability. when they deny you i want you to know its not my fault".

Don't mention marijuana, medical or not to disability.

Yeah i wasnt gona mention medical cannabis, but had to list my meds. so even tho i have a disability, i will have to exagerate the fascade more, I sorta was thinking this earlier as they took my paperwork, the guy looked at me weird, maybe he was attracted to me , lol. anyway, I have learned that you cannot hire an attorney UNTIL you have been turned down. so im almost sure to get turned down, as my ailments are minore compared to most people who are on disability,however, it's still a disability, being on n*rcotics is a godamn disability in itself. well thank everyone for posting your experience, I really do appreciate it, its good to know others are suffering right there with you, not that its good to suffer, but you get it.