Re: qualifying for disability due to CMT

[Guest guest]

,

I am not but I also receive disability. I qualified because I am

disabled. CMT is so different for each of us. Not everyone is disabled from CMT

but many people are. Some people have CMT so mild that they are never even

diagnosed.

[Guest guest]

How did you go about getting your disablility and how long did it take to get it

may I ask ?

Tanx, Butch

[Guest guest]

Hi :

All Disability pensions in Canada are covered under the Canadian Pension

Plan, or CPP for short. I had been paying into this plan each year since its

inception in the mid '60s. Every person who works in Canada has to

contribute to CPP. It is taken directly from your earnings at the source.

To apply for disability benefits you need to complete the

documents within a " CPP Disability Kit " . This includes a " Medical Report "

from your family doctor, who also has all the information from any

specialists you may have.

Both my family doctor and neurologist wanted me to stop working because of

my CMT. CMT and the medication I was taking to reduce my pain was causing me

to be fatigued, depressed, unable to concentrate and extremely forgetful. I

could no longer perform in my work. Your body has to work overtime when you

have CMT.

This was a very difficult decision for me to make. Do you listen to your

doctors? My whole body was telling me to listen, but my mind was not.

Finally I decided to listen to my doctors and thank God I did.

Upon completing all the required documentation for CPP, and their

investigation it was determined that I should no longer work.

I also have Coronary Artery Disease, which causes me to have a shortness of

breath with any type of physical activity. It began to manifest itself

again. From April to November of 2004, I had 3 angiograms and 2

angioplasties to repair my arteries. Let me tell you, if the CMT didn't get

me, my CAD would. I am so grateful that I had the time to listen to my body

and take better care of myself. I don't like to think of where I may have

been if I did not retire and go on a disability pension.

Does this help? If you want more information you can email me directly at

dgbeckingham@....

Regards,

[Guest guest]

My disability was approved in less than a month. I had already waited until

the 6 month elimination period had lapsed before I applied. I think a lot

of times it depends on how thorough a job your neurologist does in filling

out the intial claim. Yhe fewer questions left unanswered speeds up the

process. K.

[Guest guest]

It took me 4 years to get SSD and I was on workers compensation from a back

injury that aggravated my CMT I had the same Lawyers that handled my WC case I

was denied at first and then I had my first hearing the Judge was discriminative

against me because I was 32. He had no idea what CMT was and my Lawyer wanted to

give him some literature on it so he could understand

it but he said no so I was denied again. WE appealed and the second Judge was

nicer and asked allot of questions about CMT and mt Lawyer gave her the

literature and she took it and she ruled in my favor and I finely received it

after 4 years. So it depends nobody can tell you how long it will take to

receive SSD every case is different and it depends on who evues your case. Good

Luck

Tommy