Question for those who have disability

[jackiemich]

Hello all, 
I have applied for social security disability about a couple of weeks ago.  I was a cashier and am unable to work due to the dialysis schedule and the steal syndrome in my left hand and arm.  Any grabbing or heavy lifting hurts my arm and causes a burning sensation in my hand.  Makes it rather difficult to be a cashier or anything that requires repetitive movements.  Even typing causes my hand to start cramping.
The social security department sent me papers that want to know why I can't work.  They also sent another paper asking about the job I did 13 years ago.  I was a library clerk then. 
I'm not sure what to put down as far as the library job goes.  The only thing I can think of is the heavy lifting and repetitive motion of putting books back on the shelf.  It seems like they are going to deny me because they think I can do a clerk job again.  The problem with that is that there are no jobs in my area and even if there was one, they wouldn't work around my dialysis schedule. 
My question is how did you all word your information to social security?  Thanks for your help!

[Rerun]

Are you exhausted after dialysis?  Are you out of breath walking a flight of stairs?  Most of the time dialysis is an automatic disability.  Dialysis is improving especially with nocturnal and extended nocturnal so people can work, but if you can't just put why.

Sometimes dialysis schedules are such that the only spot is 9-12 and that ruins the whole day. 

Put all your doctor's names down.  Document how you feel.

[jbeany]

I applied years before I started dialysis.  I was so anemic, I couldn't stay awake long enough to drive to work, and my blood pressure was so screwy, I had days I couldn't even stand up.

Anyhow - my point being - don't forget to list all the lovely symptoms that go along with dialysis - anemia, chronic fatigue, nausea, dizziness, etc.

Get as many letters as possible from as many doctors as you can stating that you are unable to work.

I thought ESRD was automatic, too.  You shouldn't have to fight for this, should you? 

[Chris]

I was told to file for disability at the time from my social worker at my dialysis clinic back in 1999, maybe things are different now. At the time, they asked for previous paycheck stubs, job description, documentation from doctors I have seen, a copy or print out of doctors contact information, and maybe something else (maybe birth certificate or Social Security card). The more the doctor explains your situation the better with medical facts to back it up. Since I had diabetic complications on top of renal failure, I did not have a hard time of getting on SSDI. Only had to meet with caseworker twice is all.

So preperation, preperation, preperation is best before meeting.

[jackiemich]

Thanks for all the great information guys!  It is greatly appreciated.  We'll see how this works out.  Hopefully I will only have the wainting period to get thru after I fax in the forms.  The caseworker siad it would be between 3 to six months before I hear anything.  Now I just need to come up with a bill fairy to help out between now and then since I am on an unpaid leave of absense from work.  LOL 

[Rerun]

Thanks for all the great information guys!  It is greatly appreciated.  We'll see how this works out.  Hopefully I will only have the wainting period to get thru after I fax in the forms.  The caseworker siad it would be between 3 to six months before I hear anything.  Now I just need to come up with a bill fairy to help out between now and then since I am on an unpaid leave of absense from work.  LOL

You should know that there is a waiting period of six months.  I'm not sure, or I don't remember, if that is once you apply or once you are approved. 

[Chris]

I'm not sure either Rerun, but remember getting back pay. So it maybe the time you apply. That check was like winning a little lotto.

[Joe Paul]

Thanks for all the great information guys!  It is greatly appreciated.  We'll see how this works out.  Hopefully I will only have the wainting period to get thru after I fax in the forms.  The caseworker siad it would be between 3 to six months before I hear anything.  Now I just need to come up with a bill fairy to help out between now and then since I am on an unpaid leave of absense from work.  LOL

You should know that there is a waiting period of six months.  I'm not sure, or I don't remember, if that is once you apply or once you are approved.

Im pretty sure they go back a maximum of 1 year, once you are approved for Social Security disability. Thats from the date you are approved.

[paris]

It took mine three months from applying to getting my first check.  It all went without a hitch. They determined that my disability started two years before I applied  (with all the medical documentation).  They paid for a year of back pay. I got that check before my first disability check.  You can imagine what I felt like when I opened that envelope!!  I had lost my job and was scared to death.  I hope yours goes fast and smooth.  Sending you lots of good thoughts 

Joe Paul is right -- they pay a maximum of one year back pay. 

[cariad]

I just got approved for disability and I'm not even on dialysis yet.

I cannot imagine that you will be denied, but I would hate to get your hopes up. I don't remember what I said on the form, just listed what others have mentioned. I was very surprised when I was approved so easily. The doctor that I saw to discuss my condition (they will asssign you a random doctor to examine you) was a bit callous. He told me "As far as the government is concerned, if Stephen Hawking can work, so can you."

Stephen Hawking has ALS and is British, so that comparison seemed pretty irrelevant to me on a few levels. I told the doctor essentially what I said on the forms - that I have good days and days where I can barely get out of bed. I thought my honesty - actually admitting that there were days that I could probably handle work, I just had no idea when they would be or how long it would last - was going to destroy my chances, but it didn't.

I will keep a good thought for you! Good luck!

EDIT: Sorry! I think I have confused myself (and probably everyone else!) I am wrong! It is only a year of backpay, but it is based on the date that your application is first received and the date that you say you are first disabled. So, if you file that first form as soon as possible, they will go back up to a year, assuming you were first disabled at least one year and five months (compulsory waiting period) prior. However, if you are approved, you will also get everything between your filing date and the date that you are approved. This is why I ended up with nearly two years backpay I guess. My case took almost a year to process due to a SS# issue.

Sorry, that probably clarifies nothing. I found this process incredeibly confusing, but once it's over, it will be worth it for you!

[paris]

I wasn't assigned any doctor or have an exam.  I did sign papers to allow them to see medical reports stating my condition.    And I wasn't on dialysis either.  Hope the process goes well for you Jackie. Let us know.

[Chris]

I didn't have to see a doctor of theirs either. Might depend on how much or how detailed the information you submit or your doctors submit?

[Wallyz]

Thanks for all the great information guys!  It is greatly appreciated.  We'll see how this works out.  Hopefully I will only have the wainting period to get thru after I fax in the forms.  The caseworker siad it would be between 3 to six months before I hear anything.  Now I just need to come up with a bill fairy to help out between now and then since I am on an unpaid leave of absense from work.  LOL

You should know that there is a waiting period of six months.  I'm not sure, or I don't remember, if that is once you apply or once you are approved.

The waiting period is from the date of disability.  If you apply more than a year after the six month waiting period after your date of disability you can collect up to a years worth of disability payments.

[jackiemich]

Well after about six months I have finally been awarded disability.  Somehow I don't get any back pay because I was told they don't pay anything during the waiting period.  But on the bright side, they didn't turn me down.  First check will be in November. 

[Wallyz]

I'm glad you got  it worked out.

[Chris]

Well after about six months I have finally been awarded disability.  Somehow I don't get any back pay because I was told they don't pay anything during the waiting period.  But on the bright side, they didn't turn me down.  First check will be in November.

Glad you got it worked out. Maybe it's the way the economy is on why your not getting back pay. I did and it was a good size check, then again it could be the caseworker not doing their job correctly or not knowing how to apply for that via computer screen, hard to say withfactors that can be involved.

[pamster42000]

My daughter was denied the first time we applied but we were told that is common and to appeal their decision and she'll probley get it. Well that's how it worked out...after appealing we were told that she qualified for disability.

[melobelle]

My social security/disability was accepted 2 weeks after I applied. I swear the trick was...do a phone interview when applying! That way they are getting ALL of the information they need. Especially about how sick you really are. Then the interviewer told me what additional paperwork I needed to bring into the social security office. There is NO reason anyones disability should be denied when they are on dialysis. I've been told senior citizens and dialysis patients are the only two for sure accepted to medicare. Keep trying and make sure you call social security for an appt. to apply. Good Luck to you friend!

[lunadatura]

I applied 1/20/10 and was approved on 4/16/10. I wasnt assigned a doctor and I did not have an interview. Basically ESRD is a sure thing for disability once they reviewer has your blood test. If you cant work getting disability should be easy. You wont get money for disability until 5months after you stop working. However you can get SSI supplemental if you are income needy. I have to say its a relief to not to have to work - I am really looking forward to it.

[eroomk]

Is the disability payments based on some type of formula.  Is there a standard across the board amount given monthly?  I can see why dialysis patients have a very tough time working.

[Chris]

Is the disability payments based on some type of formula.  Is there a standard across the board amount given monthly?  I can see why dialysis patients have a very tough time working.

When I did mine. they wanted past work history and last pay stubs/ There is a formula they use and I think I still have the papers from Social Security on how they go about it upstairs that I can]t get to yet for a few weeks till I can bend my knee. It might be on their website also.

[Wallyz]

1/3 of your highest earning year in the last 5. IIRC.

http://www.ssa.gov/retire2/AnypiaApplet.html