Re: Disability Application-to Rob

[Guest guest]

Rob, I read your post and can only offer my personal experience from

applying and being approved for Social Security Disability benefits. Before

I applied, I researched and discussed the application process on numerous

government and private websites as well as talking with my doctors.

What became very evident in trying to determine if a claim would be

approved, is not that, in our cases we have CMT, but the severity/effect of

the disabling condition and in the words (Regulations) of Social Security,

if a person is not able to hold substantial gainful employment. From what I

read and even see on may post in this , most applicants think that the

mere diagnosis of CMT, confirmed by EMG/NCV's, blood tests, and clinical

evaluations is proof enough that they will qualify.

But this in my opinion is far from accurate. The diagnosis is only a

portion, albeit a substantial one, of the qualifying factors. You must

show, that due to the diagnosis of the qualifying disability, it interferes

and/or limits your ability to function. I know I am not using the exact

legal term that are listed in the regs, but let me give you an example.

A person can have cancer or heart problems, both listed in the " blue book " .

But how many people do you know or may have read about that have these

illnesses and are still working full time, quite a few. A mere diagnosis is

not going to qualify anyone. You must present the facts that due to the

diagnosis, how and to what degree this limits/effects your ability to

perform everyday work and personal functions. Examples being the inability

or limited ability to walk, stand, sit, write, go up and down stairs,

fatigued, numbness. This is what I think is the most critical part of the

application.

I have read numerous legal websites in which former disability examiners who

are now in private practice state that when they were evaluating disability

applications the easiest part was determining if the illness qualifies by

looking it up in the " blue book. But the emphasis of the evaluation was

concentrated on how severely the illness has " effected " the claimant in

performing work and personal activities.

This is just my opinion but I hope it helps and makes sense. I applied

about five years ago in January, and was notified two months later in March

of my approval. As a matter of fact, since I had applied almost five months

after my disability began, I had satisfied the five moth waiting period. My

payment showed up in my bank account before I received my approval letter.

I had a lot of advice and many said I would be turned down initially and

would have to engage an attorney. Obviously I did not have to.

Monte