Re: Work?

[Guest guest]

Thanks!!

Yes I do have a lawyer.

Is the lawyer supposed to help you thru two-three yrs of waiting and advise you

on how to get good medical records from the right docs, or just represent you

well at the hearing?

So what is the hearing like???? I have no idea and am dying to know. Can my

lawyer answer all the questions, or do I have to do all the talking? I'm better

in writing than in person

What if they think I can work with accommodation, but no one on this earth

could/would accommodate me enough? I know the realities of all the jobs I've

been fired or ousted from, that sounded great from the objective outside....

Ps. I guess I need a fish or something

> Do you have a social security attorney? I was approved at 40.

>

> Any questions ask, I'm not shy. Take care of you, you're important to me.

>

> Big gentle huggles,

> Di (Dimntd) in Feasterville-Trevose, PA, USA )

>

> Be the person your pets think you are.

[Guest guest]

Thanks!!

Yes I do have a lawyer.

Is the lawyer supposed to help you thru two-three yrs of waiting and advise you

on how to get good medical records from the right docs, or just represent you

well at the hearing?

So what is the hearing like???? I have no idea and am dying to know. Can my

lawyer answer all the questions, or do I have to do all the talking? I'm better

in writing than in person

What if they think I can work with accommodation, but no one on this earth

could/would accommodate me enough? I know the realities of all the jobs I've

been fired or ousted from, that sounded great from the objective outside....

Ps. I guess I need a fish or something

> Do you have a social security attorney? I was approved at 40.

>

> Any questions ask, I'm not shy. Take care of you, you're important to me.

>

> Big gentle huggles,

> Di (Dimntd) in Feasterville-Trevose, PA, USA )

>

> Be the person your pets think you are.

[Guest guest]

Thanks!!!

What " report " is this?

My main doc said " Pt has x disorder and is unable to work and should be granted

disability. "

Ugh. I know that is not good.

I never saw a report; I just collected dr records (office visit notes, treatment

summaries, and test results) and sent them to my lawyer. I have lots of drs.

Must they all fill out a report? What if they don't receive it? Or don't

bother to fill it out? How do I follow up? How do I know if my lawyer is doing

her job? What if she picks the wrong doc(s) to fill out the report?

> more doctors that agree the better, but one that understands what's going on

and will write the report is all you really need.

> The medical report is everything.

[Guest guest]

Thanks!!!

What " report " is this?

My main doc said " Pt has x disorder and is unable to work and should be granted

disability. "

Ugh. I know that is not good.

I never saw a report; I just collected dr records (office visit notes, treatment

summaries, and test results) and sent them to my lawyer. I have lots of drs.

Must they all fill out a report? What if they don't receive it? Or don't

bother to fill it out? How do I follow up? How do I know if my lawyer is doing

her job? What if she picks the wrong doc(s) to fill out the report?

> more doctors that agree the better, but one that understands what's going on

and will write the report is all you really need.

> The medical report is everything.

[Guest guest]

Thanks!!!

What " report " is this?

My main doc said " Pt has x disorder and is unable to work and should be granted

disability. "

Ugh. I know that is not good.

I never saw a report; I just collected dr records (office visit notes, treatment

summaries, and test results) and sent them to my lawyer. I have lots of drs.

Must they all fill out a report? What if they don't receive it? Or don't

bother to fill it out? How do I follow up? How do I know if my lawyer is doing

her job? What if she picks the wrong doc(s) to fill out the report?

> more doctors that agree the better, but one that understands what's going on

and will write the report is all you really need.

> The medical report is everything.

[Guest guest]

I was approved at age 19.

The trick to approval is to appeal, make sure they have all of your

relevant records, and never exaggerate.

According to SSA guidelines, you are unfit for competitive employment if

you would miss more than two days per month. That rule allowed me to be

approved based on my twice weekly migraines*.*

Fibromyalgia was recently added to Social Security's list of recognized

conditions. You still have to prove that your fibromyalgia stops you from

working, but now it can be approved before getting to an ALJ

(Administrative Law Judge).

Steve M in PA

I'm new to this. I have other conditions that are preventing me from

working. The fibro and cfs symptoms I have are only icing on the cake.

What do you do about your life?

It's so hard to get disability. And such a long process. I'm in the middle

of it, but I'm told I won't get it; I'm educated and only 40.

I don't know what to do about, well, survival.

My family is not very understanding, and although they are helping me pay

rent now, they are cutting me off in a month or so. Even so, it's not

enough. Everything is falling apart--overdue bills and stuff. I'm single,

and with health problems, it seems twice as hard to meet someone, so i

expect to be single, well, indefinitely.

[Guest guest]

I was approved at age 19.

The trick to approval is to appeal, make sure they have all of your

relevant records, and never exaggerate.

According to SSA guidelines, you are unfit for competitive employment if

you would miss more than two days per month. That rule allowed me to be

approved based on my twice weekly migraines*.*

Fibromyalgia was recently added to Social Security's list of recognized

conditions. You still have to prove that your fibromyalgia stops you from

working, but now it can be approved before getting to an ALJ

(Administrative Law Judge).

Steve M in PA

I'm new to this. I have other conditions that are preventing me from

working. The fibro and cfs symptoms I have are only icing on the cake.

What do you do about your life?

It's so hard to get disability. And such a long process. I'm in the middle

of it, but I'm told I won't get it; I'm educated and only 40.

I don't know what to do about, well, survival.

My family is not very understanding, and although they are helping me pay

rent now, they are cutting me off in a month or so. Even so, it's not

enough. Everything is falling apart--overdue bills and stuff. I'm single,

and with health problems, it seems twice as hard to meet someone, so i

expect to be single, well, indefinitely.

[Guest guest]

I was approved at age 19.

The trick to approval is to appeal, make sure they have all of your

relevant records, and never exaggerate.

According to SSA guidelines, you are unfit for competitive employment if

you would miss more than two days per month. That rule allowed me to be

approved based on my twice weekly migraines*.*

Fibromyalgia was recently added to Social Security's list of recognized

conditions. You still have to prove that your fibromyalgia stops you from

working, but now it can be approved before getting to an ALJ

(Administrative Law Judge).

Steve M in PA

I'm new to this. I have other conditions that are preventing me from

working. The fibro and cfs symptoms I have are only icing on the cake.

What do you do about your life?

It's so hard to get disability. And such a long process. I'm in the middle

of it, but I'm told I won't get it; I'm educated and only 40.

I don't know what to do about, well, survival.

My family is not very understanding, and although they are helping me pay

rent now, they are cutting me off in a month or so. Even so, it's not

enough. Everything is falling apart--overdue bills and stuff. I'm single,

and with health problems, it seems twice as hard to meet someone, so i

expect to be single, well, indefinitely.

[Guest guest]

If I had known more at my hearing, I believe I would have asked that

my lawyer do the talking for me as I have brain damage and cognitive

impairment. That judge was mean and fired questions at me that were

confusing and fast and I really got scared.

That was my first hearing. It took me 5 more years and a really good

lawyer before I finally received SSDI! Luckily my wife has a good job

and we scraped by.

Peace and Love,

Byron

At 06:47 PM 8/5/2012 -0400, Olnisa wrote:

>................... Can my lawyer answer all the questions, or do I

>have to do all the talking? I'm better in writing than in person

[Guest guest]

If I had known more at my hearing, I believe I would have asked that

my lawyer do the talking for me as I have brain damage and cognitive

impairment. That judge was mean and fired questions at me that were

confusing and fast and I really got scared.

That was my first hearing. It took me 5 more years and a really good

lawyer before I finally received SSDI! Luckily my wife has a good job

and we scraped by.

Peace and Love,

Byron

At 06:47 PM 8/5/2012 -0400, Olnisa wrote:

>................... Can my lawyer answer all the questions, or do I

>have to do all the talking? I'm better in writing than in person

[Guest guest]

If I had known more at my hearing, I believe I would have asked that

my lawyer do the talking for me as I have brain damage and cognitive

impairment. That judge was mean and fired questions at me that were

confusing and fast and I really got scared.

That was my first hearing. It took me 5 more years and a really good

lawyer before I finally received SSDI! Luckily my wife has a good job

and we scraped by.

Peace and Love,

Byron

At 06:47 PM 8/5/2012 -0400, Olnisa wrote:

>................... Can my lawyer answer all the questions, or do I

>have to do all the talking? I'm better in writing than in person

[Guest guest]

It should not take 2-3 years of waiting...

My SSDI was approved in 3 months.  If you are at the hearing stage--it might

take a few more months....

My attorney actually sent me to a couple of doctors who issued reports that he

included in the initial application.  Then, SSA also called my rheumy to get

further information.  The KEY WAS-----I had given a copy of my application for

SSDI to my rheumy---so, that all she needed to do was look at my claims of what

I could NOT do for myself...and why I could not work at ANY job.  It is

important that your regular physician supports you and is kept in the loop.

Lynn

________________________________

Subject: Re: Re: Work?

Thanks!!

Yes I do have a lawyer.

Is the lawyer supposed to help you thru two-three yrs of waiting and advise you

on how to get good medical records from the right docs, or just represent you

well at the hearing?

So what is the hearing like???? I have no idea and am dying to know. Can my

lawyer answer all the questions, or do I have to do all the talking? I'm better

in writing than in person

[Guest guest]

It should not take 2-3 years of waiting...

My SSDI was approved in 3 months.  If you are at the hearing stage--it might

take a few more months....

My attorney actually sent me to a couple of doctors who issued reports that he

included in the initial application.  Then, SSA also called my rheumy to get

further information.  The KEY WAS-----I had given a copy of my application for

SSDI to my rheumy---so, that all she needed to do was look at my claims of what

I could NOT do for myself...and why I could not work at ANY job.  It is

important that your regular physician supports you and is kept in the loop.

Lynn

________________________________

Subject: Re: Re: Work?

Thanks!!

Yes I do have a lawyer.

Is the lawyer supposed to help you thru two-three yrs of waiting and advise you

on how to get good medical records from the right docs, or just represent you

well at the hearing?

So what is the hearing like???? I have no idea and am dying to know. Can my

lawyer answer all the questions, or do I have to do all the talking? I'm better

in writing than in person

[Guest guest]

That's it?? . Miss two days a MONTH?

I have a part-time job, kind of waiting for me, and I can't even get IN two

times a month!! (not MISS two times a month).

Is this rule still current?

My main problem is with sleep and scheduling. I can't work a regular schedule

because my sleep timing changes, and I also don't know when I will sleep 7 hrs

versus 12 hrs (and if I don't sleep as much as my body needs; I feel

ill--until I sleep again. If I do this regularly, I get all the fibro / cfs

symptoms. Totally subjective ad impossible to prove . )

I basically do not plan anything in my life; I miss 99% of family gatherings and

I only go out and do something if I happen to be awake at the right time, AND I

have laundry done, clothes to wear... You know, the sun the moon and the stars

align . Which is rare.

One argument they could use against me, is that I could work from home, at

whatever time I happen to be awake. Ideally, that sounds great. But in reality,

there are a whole lot of problems with that!

First, I have to purchase all the computer stuff: printer, scanners, ink,

paper, etc. PLUS, I have to maintain it. So if there is a computer problem,

either I can't work, or I try to fix it, INSTEAD of doing paid work. Often

there is not enough time and energy for both.

Also, even of you work at home, you can't work in a vacuum. If someone is

paying you to do something...anything... you have to interface with them to find

out what they need. If I am sleeping during business hours, that's a problem. A

huge problem. Everyone says " just email " , but that is another thing where the

devil is in the details. Sometimes it's not enough. lin Covey says, " When

you want a response, do not use email. " For instance, my current boss is really

bad at email (yet she is the ONLY one who is flexible and nice enough to allow

me to work 5 or so hours per week for her.). But nothing moves forward until I

see her in person, and that may only be lucky enough to happen once a month. And

since I don't know when I can get into the office, when I pop in when I am able,

I doesn't guarantee she will be available--or even there in the office at that

moment!

Plus she can give me some work, but since I'm 100% unreliable (at least

unpredictable) I can't be assigned any time-critical work. She is really being

nice to me to take my scraps of work, but explaining all this is difficult and

subjective. I'm afraid the judge or vocational counselor will just say " if you

can work 5 hrs a week, you can work more " when I can *barely* work 5--sometimes

it is zero for the week. (and i need the money! but hatbifthe jusge says,

" And if you have a boss that lets you work anytime from home, you can find some

time to do it. "

And working from home has another issue. I'm ADHD, but diagnosed in 2004.

Never did much treatment, because stimulants mess with my sleep, and

non-stimulants gave me baaaad side effects. Most of these were prescribed by

sleep drs, not pdocs, for sleep. I did a lot of personal research and learning

on my own with ADHD to handle things behaviorally, not pharmaceutically. And

nothing is documented except my Dx in 2004. But working home, alone, in the

middle of the night is killer for my ADHD--I can't focus! But again, it's all

undocumented and subjective. And some drs/therapists dont even think I *have*

ADHD! Why run out to a new doctor when they can't teach me anything I don't

already know, and can't prescribe anything for all the reasons above? I have

too many dr appts as it is.

There is another rock and a hard place. Part of the treatment for my sleep is

getting bright light ad exercise and being in low light or candle light at

night. So I spend hours per day on treatment, which can help--not always--but

takes productive time. If I stop it to regain those hours, everything falls

apart. But I can't fit everything in time and energy wise and at the right time

Or there may be a day I sleep 12 hrs. I'm afraid they will say you just need to

set an alarm and get up. But who can sleep 12 hrs? If you can, you probably

need it, right? And my whole mantra lately is the avoidance of feeling ill, and

going back to a sicker place. So I do what I believe I need to do to avoid

getting worse again. But again, these are my choices, and hard to explain and

subjective.

I am really caught by wondering how to explain these quirks and limitations,

without exaggerating, but still make myself believable.

When I do nothing, I can stay healthy and relaxed and look fine and normal--like

I could do anything if I wanted to. When I try to work, or go to school, i have

to drop classes, or crash and burn.

Like primary fibro, my condition isolates me, and people only see me when I feel

good, doctors are confused by me and treat the parts, not the whole, and all my

Dx involve self-reports, and it's a typical opinion that I just need to try

harder, do more. My last crash lasted 7 mos. I will do anything to avoid going

back there. But I also look healthier now than last year. Will the judge think

I'm better, when I know and fear that relapse is around the corner if i put

strain on myself by trying to work?

Thanks!

Olnisa

> According to SSA guidelines, you are unfit for competitive employment if

> you would miss more than two days per month. That rule allowed me to be

> approved based on my twice weekly migraines*

[Guest guest]

That's it?? . Miss two days a MONTH?

I have a part-time job, kind of waiting for me, and I can't even get IN two

times a month!! (not MISS two times a month).

Is this rule still current?

My main problem is with sleep and scheduling. I can't work a regular schedule

because my sleep timing changes, and I also don't know when I will sleep 7 hrs

versus 12 hrs (and if I don't sleep as much as my body needs; I feel

ill--until I sleep again. If I do this regularly, I get all the fibro / cfs

symptoms. Totally subjective ad impossible to prove . )

I basically do not plan anything in my life; I miss 99% of family gatherings and

I only go out and do something if I happen to be awake at the right time, AND I

have laundry done, clothes to wear... You know, the sun the moon and the stars

align . Which is rare.

One argument they could use against me, is that I could work from home, at

whatever time I happen to be awake. Ideally, that sounds great. But in reality,

there are a whole lot of problems with that!

First, I have to purchase all the computer stuff: printer, scanners, ink,

paper, etc. PLUS, I have to maintain it. So if there is a computer problem,

either I can't work, or I try to fix it, INSTEAD of doing paid work. Often

there is not enough time and energy for both.

Also, even of you work at home, you can't work in a vacuum. If someone is

paying you to do something...anything... you have to interface with them to find

out what they need. If I am sleeping during business hours, that's a problem. A

huge problem. Everyone says " just email " , but that is another thing where the

devil is in the details. Sometimes it's not enough. lin Covey says, " When

you want a response, do not use email. " For instance, my current boss is really

bad at email (yet she is the ONLY one who is flexible and nice enough to allow

me to work 5 or so hours per week for her.). But nothing moves forward until I

see her in person, and that may only be lucky enough to happen once a month. And

since I don't know when I can get into the office, when I pop in when I am able,

I doesn't guarantee she will be available--or even there in the office at that

moment!

Plus she can give me some work, but since I'm 100% unreliable (at least

unpredictable) I can't be assigned any time-critical work. She is really being

nice to me to take my scraps of work, but explaining all this is difficult and

subjective. I'm afraid the judge or vocational counselor will just say " if you

can work 5 hrs a week, you can work more " when I can *barely* work 5--sometimes

it is zero for the week. (and i need the money! but hatbifthe jusge says,

" And if you have a boss that lets you work anytime from home, you can find some

time to do it. "

And working from home has another issue. I'm ADHD, but diagnosed in 2004.

Never did much treatment, because stimulants mess with my sleep, and

non-stimulants gave me baaaad side effects. Most of these were prescribed by

sleep drs, not pdocs, for sleep. I did a lot of personal research and learning

on my own with ADHD to handle things behaviorally, not pharmaceutically. And

nothing is documented except my Dx in 2004. But working home, alone, in the

middle of the night is killer for my ADHD--I can't focus! But again, it's all

undocumented and subjective. And some drs/therapists dont even think I *have*

ADHD! Why run out to a new doctor when they can't teach me anything I don't

already know, and can't prescribe anything for all the reasons above? I have

too many dr appts as it is.

There is another rock and a hard place. Part of the treatment for my sleep is

getting bright light ad exercise and being in low light or candle light at

night. So I spend hours per day on treatment, which can help--not always--but

takes productive time. If I stop it to regain those hours, everything falls

apart. But I can't fit everything in time and energy wise and at the right time

Or there may be a day I sleep 12 hrs. I'm afraid they will say you just need to

set an alarm and get up. But who can sleep 12 hrs? If you can, you probably

need it, right? And my whole mantra lately is the avoidance of feeling ill, and

going back to a sicker place. So I do what I believe I need to do to avoid

getting worse again. But again, these are my choices, and hard to explain and

subjective.

I am really caught by wondering how to explain these quirks and limitations,

without exaggerating, but still make myself believable.

When I do nothing, I can stay healthy and relaxed and look fine and normal--like

I could do anything if I wanted to. When I try to work, or go to school, i have

to drop classes, or crash and burn.

Like primary fibro, my condition isolates me, and people only see me when I feel

good, doctors are confused by me and treat the parts, not the whole, and all my

Dx involve self-reports, and it's a typical opinion that I just need to try

harder, do more. My last crash lasted 7 mos. I will do anything to avoid going

back there. But I also look healthier now than last year. Will the judge think

I'm better, when I know and fear that relapse is around the corner if i put

strain on myself by trying to work?

Thanks!

Olnisa

> According to SSA guidelines, you are unfit for competitive employment if

> you would miss more than two days per month. That rule allowed me to be

> approved based on my twice weekly migraines*

[Guest guest]

That's it?? . Miss two days a MONTH?

I have a part-time job, kind of waiting for me, and I can't even get IN two

times a month!! (not MISS two times a month).

Is this rule still current?

My main problem is with sleep and scheduling. I can't work a regular schedule

because my sleep timing changes, and I also don't know when I will sleep 7 hrs

versus 12 hrs (and if I don't sleep as much as my body needs; I feel

ill--until I sleep again. If I do this regularly, I get all the fibro / cfs

symptoms. Totally subjective ad impossible to prove . )

I basically do not plan anything in my life; I miss 99% of family gatherings and

I only go out and do something if I happen to be awake at the right time, AND I

have laundry done, clothes to wear... You know, the sun the moon and the stars

align . Which is rare.

One argument they could use against me, is that I could work from home, at

whatever time I happen to be awake. Ideally, that sounds great. But in reality,

there are a whole lot of problems with that!

First, I have to purchase all the computer stuff: printer, scanners, ink,

paper, etc. PLUS, I have to maintain it. So if there is a computer problem,

either I can't work, or I try to fix it, INSTEAD of doing paid work. Often

there is not enough time and energy for both.

Also, even of you work at home, you can't work in a vacuum. If someone is

paying you to do something...anything... you have to interface with them to find

out what they need. If I am sleeping during business hours, that's a problem. A

huge problem. Everyone says " just email " , but that is another thing where the

devil is in the details. Sometimes it's not enough. lin Covey says, " When

you want a response, do not use email. " For instance, my current boss is really

bad at email (yet she is the ONLY one who is flexible and nice enough to allow

me to work 5 or so hours per week for her.). But nothing moves forward until I

see her in person, and that may only be lucky enough to happen once a month. And

since I don't know when I can get into the office, when I pop in when I am able,

I doesn't guarantee she will be available--or even there in the office at that

moment!

Plus she can give me some work, but since I'm 100% unreliable (at least

unpredictable) I can't be assigned any time-critical work. She is really being

nice to me to take my scraps of work, but explaining all this is difficult and

subjective. I'm afraid the judge or vocational counselor will just say " if you

can work 5 hrs a week, you can work more " when I can *barely* work 5--sometimes

it is zero for the week. (and i need the money! but hatbifthe jusge says,

" And if you have a boss that lets you work anytime from home, you can find some

time to do it. "

And working from home has another issue. I'm ADHD, but diagnosed in 2004.

Never did much treatment, because stimulants mess with my sleep, and

non-stimulants gave me baaaad side effects. Most of these were prescribed by

sleep drs, not pdocs, for sleep. I did a lot of personal research and learning

on my own with ADHD to handle things behaviorally, not pharmaceutically. And

nothing is documented except my Dx in 2004. But working home, alone, in the

middle of the night is killer for my ADHD--I can't focus! But again, it's all

undocumented and subjective. And some drs/therapists dont even think I *have*

ADHD! Why run out to a new doctor when they can't teach me anything I don't

already know, and can't prescribe anything for all the reasons above? I have

too many dr appts as it is.

There is another rock and a hard place. Part of the treatment for my sleep is

getting bright light ad exercise and being in low light or candle light at

night. So I spend hours per day on treatment, which can help--not always--but

takes productive time. If I stop it to regain those hours, everything falls

apart. But I can't fit everything in time and energy wise and at the right time

Or there may be a day I sleep 12 hrs. I'm afraid they will say you just need to

set an alarm and get up. But who can sleep 12 hrs? If you can, you probably

need it, right? And my whole mantra lately is the avoidance of feeling ill, and

going back to a sicker place. So I do what I believe I need to do to avoid

getting worse again. But again, these are my choices, and hard to explain and

subjective.

I am really caught by wondering how to explain these quirks and limitations,

without exaggerating, but still make myself believable.

When I do nothing, I can stay healthy and relaxed and look fine and normal--like

I could do anything if I wanted to. When I try to work, or go to school, i have

to drop classes, or crash and burn.

Like primary fibro, my condition isolates me, and people only see me when I feel

good, doctors are confused by me and treat the parts, not the whole, and all my

Dx involve self-reports, and it's a typical opinion that I just need to try

harder, do more. My last crash lasted 7 mos. I will do anything to avoid going

back there. But I also look healthier now than last year. Will the judge think

I'm better, when I know and fear that relapse is around the corner if i put

strain on myself by trying to work?

Thanks!

Olnisa

> According to SSA guidelines, you are unfit for competitive employment if

> you would miss more than two days per month. That rule allowed me to be

> approved based on my twice weekly migraines*

[Guest guest]

You were blessed to be approved in 3 months, Joe. I have been on a number of

groups for a long time and this is the first time I have ever heard of someone

being approved that quickly.

How long it takes varies greatly from one area of the country to another and is

affected by a number of factors, not the least of which is whether or not there

are enough judges to hear cases in a timely manner. It took me 2 years to be

approved (2005-7) which was considered typical at that time. On the upside, a

number of changes were made since then to speed up the process but on the other

hand, due to the recession, applications for disability are at an all time high

right now. It is hard to guess how long it takes on average at this point.

One thing that my attorney did for me was prepare a checklist/questionnaire type

of document for three of my doctors, each one customized to that particular

doctor. The docs were able to fill it out in 5 minutes or so but it gave a lot

of information about what I was and was not capable of doing.

Margie

>

> It should not take 2-3 years of waiting...

> My SSDI was approved in 3 months.  If you are at the hearing stage--it might

take a few more months....

> My attorney actually sent me to a couple of doctors who issued reports that he

included in the initial application.  Then, SSA also called my rheumy to get

further information.  The KEY WAS-----I had given a copy of my application for

SSDI to my rheumy---so, that all she needed to do was look at my claims of what

I could NOT do for myself...and why I could not work at ANY job.  It is

important that your regular physician supports you and is kept in the loop.

> Lynn

>

>

> ________________________________

>

> Subject: Re: Re: Work?

>

> Thanks!!

>

> Yes I do have a lawyer.

>

> Is the lawyer supposed to help you thru two-three yrs of waiting and advise

you on how to get good medical records from the right docs, or just represent

you well at the hearing?

>

> So what is the hearing like???? I have no idea and am dying to know. Can my

lawyer answer all the questions, or do I have to do all the talking? I'm better

in writing than in person

>

[Guest guest]

You were blessed to be approved in 3 months, Joe. I have been on a number of

groups for a long time and this is the first time I have ever heard of someone

being approved that quickly.

How long it takes varies greatly from one area of the country to another and is

affected by a number of factors, not the least of which is whether or not there

are enough judges to hear cases in a timely manner. It took me 2 years to be

approved (2005-7) which was considered typical at that time. On the upside, a

number of changes were made since then to speed up the process but on the other

hand, due to the recession, applications for disability are at an all time high

right now. It is hard to guess how long it takes on average at this point.

One thing that my attorney did for me was prepare a checklist/questionnaire type

of document for three of my doctors, each one customized to that particular

doctor. The docs were able to fill it out in 5 minutes or so but it gave a lot

of information about what I was and was not capable of doing.

Margie

>

> It should not take 2-3 years of waiting...

> My SSDI was approved in 3 months.  If you are at the hearing stage--it might

take a few more months....

> My attorney actually sent me to a couple of doctors who issued reports that he

included in the initial application.  Then, SSA also called my rheumy to get

further information.  The KEY WAS-----I had given a copy of my application for

SSDI to my rheumy---so, that all she needed to do was look at my claims of what

I could NOT do for myself...and why I could not work at ANY job.  It is

important that your regular physician supports you and is kept in the loop.

> Lynn

>

>

> ________________________________

>

> Subject: Re: Re: Work?

>

> Thanks!!

>

> Yes I do have a lawyer.

>

> Is the lawyer supposed to help you thru two-three yrs of waiting and advise

you on how to get good medical records from the right docs, or just represent

you well at the hearing?

>

> So what is the hearing like???? I have no idea and am dying to know. Can my

lawyer answer all the questions, or do I have to do all the talking? I'm better

in writing than in person

>

[Guest guest]

Olnisa,

You have my deepest sympathy. I know how tough it is to go through this. Your

situation sounds like mine in some ways and I think I can relieve a few of your

worries.

As my health problems got worse, my employer allowed me to work from home

according to my own schedule. Like you, I wasn't reliable, so he was limited in

the assignments that he could give me. They couldn't be time-critical and they

couldn't be something that would hold someone else up if I didn't complete it in

a timely manner. I worked like that for nearly 10 years with my hours slowly

dropping off over that time. When I filed for disability, my boss wrote a

letter that explained all of this and it was an important part of my

application, showing how hard I had tried to keep working.

There are many conditions where a person can work for 5 hours but not for 8, or

can work one day but not most days. They see that all of the time at SSA. It

was certainly true for me.

I also have a similar problem with sleep. If I try to wake to an alarm clock, I

will feel very sick when I wake up more times than not. I never make morning

appointments because of this.

It is beyond stressful to go through applying for disability but having a good

attorney helps.

I wish you all of the best and hope this has helped to relieve your fears just a

little bit. Hang in there.

Margie

>

> That's it?? . Miss two days a MONTH?

>

> I have a part-time job, kind of waiting for me, and I can't even get IN two

times a month!! (not MISS two times a month).

>

> Is this rule still current?

>

> My main problem is with sleep and scheduling. I can't work a regular schedule

because my sleep timing changes, and I also don't know when I will sleep 7 hrs

versus 12 hrs (and if I don't sleep as much as my body needs; I feel

ill--until I sleep again. If I do this regularly, I get all the fibro / cfs

symptoms. Totally

[Guest guest]

Olnisa,

You have my deepest sympathy. I know how tough it is to go through this. Your

situation sounds like mine in some ways and I think I can relieve a few of your

worries.

As my health problems got worse, my employer allowed me to work from home

according to my own schedule. Like you, I wasn't reliable, so he was limited in

the assignments that he could give me. They couldn't be time-critical and they

couldn't be something that would hold someone else up if I didn't complete it in

a timely manner. I worked like that for nearly 10 years with my hours slowly

dropping off over that time. When I filed for disability, my boss wrote a

letter that explained all of this and it was an important part of my

application, showing how hard I had tried to keep working.

There are many conditions where a person can work for 5 hours but not for 8, or

can work one day but not most days. They see that all of the time at SSA. It

was certainly true for me.

I also have a similar problem with sleep. If I try to wake to an alarm clock, I

will feel very sick when I wake up more times than not. I never make morning

appointments because of this.

It is beyond stressful to go through applying for disability but having a good

attorney helps.

I wish you all of the best and hope this has helped to relieve your fears just a

little bit. Hang in there.

Margie

>

> That's it?? . Miss two days a MONTH?

>

> I have a part-time job, kind of waiting for me, and I can't even get IN two

times a month!! (not MISS two times a month).

>

> Is this rule still current?

>

> My main problem is with sleep and scheduling. I can't work a regular schedule

because my sleep timing changes, and I also don't know when I will sleep 7 hrs

versus 12 hrs (and if I don't sleep as much as my body needs; I feel

ill--until I sleep again. If I do this regularly, I get all the fibro / cfs

symptoms. Totally

[Guest guest]

Olnisa,

You have my deepest sympathy. I know how tough it is to go through this. Your

situation sounds like mine in some ways and I think I can relieve a few of your

worries.

As my health problems got worse, my employer allowed me to work from home

according to my own schedule. Like you, I wasn't reliable, so he was limited in

the assignments that he could give me. They couldn't be time-critical and they

couldn't be something that would hold someone else up if I didn't complete it in

a timely manner. I worked like that for nearly 10 years with my hours slowly

dropping off over that time. When I filed for disability, my boss wrote a

letter that explained all of this and it was an important part of my

application, showing how hard I had tried to keep working.

There are many conditions where a person can work for 5 hours but not for 8, or

can work one day but not most days. They see that all of the time at SSA. It

was certainly true for me.

I also have a similar problem with sleep. If I try to wake to an alarm clock, I

will feel very sick when I wake up more times than not. I never make morning

appointments because of this.

It is beyond stressful to go through applying for disability but having a good

attorney helps.

I wish you all of the best and hope this has helped to relieve your fears just a

little bit. Hang in there.

Margie

>

> That's it?? . Miss two days a MONTH?

>

> I have a part-time job, kind of waiting for me, and I can't even get IN two

times a month!! (not MISS two times a month).

>

> Is this rule still current?

>

> My main problem is with sleep and scheduling. I can't work a regular schedule

because my sleep timing changes, and I also don't know when I will sleep 7 hrs

versus 12 hrs (and if I don't sleep as much as my body needs; I feel

ill--until I sleep again. If I do this regularly, I get all the fibro / cfs

symptoms. Totally

[Guest guest]

Olnisa...

It is MORE than just not missing more than two days a month.  It's

everything.......

Do you have an attorney who ONLY works with disability claims?  That is what you

need.....they know all of the ins and outs---and how to advocate for you.  In

Ohio--they only took 30% of the BACK BENEFITS--nothing of future benefits....so,

it was a DEAL to have the BEST attorney--especially since mine was approved in 3

months time.  They will KNOW about fibromyalgia---they will KNOW the buzz

words...they will KNOW the standard to be declared DISABLED.  

What city are you near?  Do you have a specialist attorney?  I used to be an

attorney, in my previous life,--but, I would never have represented myself--OR,

have any of my attorney friends represent me.  It is MOST IMPORTANT that you get

an attorney that ONLY practices SSDI law....as that is all they do--and they

know the laws/standards like the " back of their hands " ...

You sound like you are in the same space I was in when I applied---my rheumy had

to finally tell me---Lynn, you HAVE to leave your job and apply for

disability......and she supported me 100% along the way.....

Lynn

[Guest guest]

My lawyer still gives presentations at our support group once a year. He repeats

every year, if you're sick, be sick. He continues, Social Security Disability

agency doesn't reward you for trying to work after you are too sick to work. It

is just the opposite.

Also, working 5 hours a week may prevent you from being awarded SSDI benefits.

You might ask your current, understanding boss to write a letter for you

acknowledging the many accommodations she has made for you.

Your symptoms are subjective only in as much as you have yet to be tested for

Orthostatic Intolerance. Your doctor can give you a standing test according to

OI protocols which include a quiet room to lie down (have someone with you but

no talking) for 20 minutes, taking BP and HR upon lying down. After 20 minutes,

doctor and nurse return to take your BP and HR upon standing, one person for

each measurement.

Being unable to work cignitively and reliably is not subjective. It is proof you

cannot work.

In my last job, my last evaluation stated, she learns and understands quickly

but by afternoon, she has forgotten everything learned from that morning.

Check your work evaluations. They are likely to help.

I am quite impressed with how dysfunctional you find yourself just from your own

words. Judges and SSA personnel are people with feelings and experience with

disability. Trust them.

You can do it. Olnisa

Trust yourself. Trust those of us who have been through the SSDI process. Trust

your lawyer. I know it is hard to trust things will worknout for you. I had

major trust issues when applying for SSDI, but, I am doing far better than I

ever dreamed 14 years after awarded SSDI on my first completed application.

Other than talking about continuing to work 5 hours a week, here is some of the

material you might use for added SSA documentation:

> I have a part-time job, kind of waiting for me, and I can't even get IN two

times a month!! (not MISS two times a month).

>

> My main problem is with sleep and scheduling. I can't work a regular schedule

because my sleep timing changes, and I also don't know when I will sleep 7 hrs

versus 12 hrs (and if I don't sleep as much as my body needs; I feel

ill--until I sleep again. If I do this regularly, I get all the fibro / cfs

symptoms. Totally subjective ad impossible to prove . )

>

> I basically do not plan anything in my life; I miss 99% of family gatherings

and I only go out and do something if I happen to be awake at the right time,

(ask your most lovable family member for a letter documenting this)

> AND I have laundry done, clothes to wear... You know, the sun the moon and

the stars align . Which is rare.

>

> One argument they could use against me, is that I could work from home, at

whatever time I happen to be awake. Ideally, that sounds great. But in reality,

there are a whole lot of problems with that!

>

> First, I have to purchase all the computer stuff: printer, scanners, ink,

paper, etc.

> PLUS, I have to maintain it. So if there is a computer problem, either I

can't work, or I try to fix it, INSTEAD of doing paid work. Often there is not

enough time and energy for both.

(yes, maintaining computers and stuff is alotta money and work but this

complaint won't help you win SSDI benefits because you work 5 hours a week now)

> Also, even of you work at home, you can't work in a vacuum. If someone is

paying you to do something...anything... you have to interface with them to find

out what they need. If I am sleeping during business hours, that's a problem. A

huge problem.

> Everyone says " just email " , but that is another thing where the devil is in

the details. Sometimes it's not enough. lin Covey says, " When you want a

response, do not use email. "

> For instance, my current boss is really bad at email (yet she is the ONLY one

who is flexible and nice enough to allow me to work 5 or so hours per week for

her.). But nothing moves forward until I see her in person, and that may only be

lucky enough to happen once a month. And since I don't know when I can get into

the office, when I pop in when I am able, I doesn't guarantee she will be

available--or even there in the office at that moment!

>

> Plus she can give me some work, but since I'm 100% unreliable (at least

unpredictable) I can't be assigned any time-critical work. She is really being

nice to me to take my scraps of work,

> but explaining all this is difficult and subjective. I'm afraid the judge or

vocational counselor will just say " if you can work 5 hrs a week, you can work

more " when I can *barely* work 5--sometimes it is zero for the week. (and i

need the money! but what if the jusge says, " And if you have a boss that lets

you work anytime from home, you can find some time to do it. "

>

> And working from home has another issue. I'm ADHD, but diagnosed in 2004.

Never did much treatment, because stimulants mess with my sleep, and

non-stimulants gave me baaaad side effects. Most of these were prescribed by

sleep drs, not pdocs, for sleep. I did a lot of personal research and learning

on my own with ADHD to handle things behaviorally, not pharmaceutically. And

nothing is documented except my Dx in 2004.

(any diagnosis is helpful to your SSDI case - 8 years ago is not too long ago to

submit those records. I was also diagnosed with ADHD but realize now it is a

symptom of OI which affects every organ in the body)

> But working home, alone, in the middle of the night is killer for my ADHD--I

can't focus!

> But again, it's all undocumented and subjective.

(Your own words describing your experiences us documentation. Keep such notes of

symptoms separate from more personal diaries you'd rather not have the courts

have access to.)

> And some drs/therapists dont even think I *have* ADHD! Why run out to a new

doctor when they can't teach me anything I don't already know, and can't

prescribe anything for all the reasons above? I have too many dr appts as it

is.

>

> There is another rock and a hard place. Part of the treatment for my sleep is

getting bright light ad exercise and being in low light or candle light at

night. So I spend hours per day on treatment, which can help--not always--but

takes productive time.

(So you've tried it and it isn't working for you. Great. You get credit for

trying to relieve yourself of symptoms so you can work.)

> If I stop it to regain those hours, everything falls apart. But I can't fit

everything in time and energy wise and at the right time

>

> Or there may be a day I sleep 12 hrs. I'm afraid they will say you just need

to set an alarm and get up.

(If that worked for you, wouldn't you be working?!? Trust SSA personnel to

understand this.)

> But who can sleep 12 hrs? If you can, you probably need it, right?

(Agreed! By someone with lots and lots of 16 and 12 hour sleeping bouts under my

belt.)

> And my whole mantra lately is the avoidance of feeling ill, and going back to

a sicker place. So I do what I believe I need to do to avoid getting worse

again. But again, these are my choices, and hard to explain and subjective.

>

> I am really caught by wondering how to explain these quirks and limitations,

without exaggerating, but still make myself believable.

(Explaining them to SSA personnel is a step in the right direction since these

are not typical limitations for most people.)

>

> When I do nothing, I can stay healthy and relaxed and look fine and

normal--like I could do anything if I wanted to. When I try to work, or go to

school, i have to drop classes, or crash and burn.

(You probably suffer Orthostaic Intolerance like 40% of FM patients. I do next

to nothing to avoid feeling miserable, just like you and I am grateful to know

OI symptoms to know why. Well, not why exactly, but what to avoid to feel better

most of the time.)

>

> Like primary fibro, my condition isolates me, and people only see me when I

feel good, doctors are confused by me and treat the parts, not the whole, and

all my Dx involve self-reports, and it's a typical opinion that I just need to

try harder, do more. My last crash lasted 7 mos. I will do anything to avoid

going back there. But I also look healthier now than last year. Will the judge

think I'm better, when I know and fear that relapse is around the corner if i

put strain on myself by trying to work?

(Judges are human. Document how your symptoms prevent you from working such as

you have done here. Trust in the humanity of most SSDI personnel. And your

lawyer. And those of us who have presented our case to judges who were appalled

st how awful our lives had become.)

Toni

from iPod touch

[Guest guest]

My lawyer still gives presentations at our support group once a year. He repeats

every year, if you're sick, be sick. He continues, Social Security Disability

agency doesn't reward you for trying to work after you are too sick to work. It

is just the opposite.

Also, working 5 hours a week may prevent you from being awarded SSDI benefits.

You might ask your current, understanding boss to write a letter for you

acknowledging the many accommodations she has made for you.

Your symptoms are subjective only in as much as you have yet to be tested for

Orthostatic Intolerance. Your doctor can give you a standing test according to

OI protocols which include a quiet room to lie down (have someone with you but

no talking) for 20 minutes, taking BP and HR upon lying down. After 20 minutes,

doctor and nurse return to take your BP and HR upon standing, one person for

each measurement.

Being unable to work cignitively and reliably is not subjective. It is proof you

cannot work.

In my last job, my last evaluation stated, she learns and understands quickly

but by afternoon, she has forgotten everything learned from that morning.

Check your work evaluations. They are likely to help.

I am quite impressed with how dysfunctional you find yourself just from your own

words. Judges and SSA personnel are people with feelings and experience with

disability. Trust them.

You can do it. Olnisa

Trust yourself. Trust those of us who have been through the SSDI process. Trust

your lawyer. I know it is hard to trust things will worknout for you. I had

major trust issues when applying for SSDI, but, I am doing far better than I

ever dreamed 14 years after awarded SSDI on my first completed application.

Other than talking about continuing to work 5 hours a week, here is some of the

material you might use for added SSA documentation:

> I have a part-time job, kind of waiting for me, and I can't even get IN two

times a month!! (not MISS two times a month).

>

> My main problem is with sleep and scheduling. I can't work a regular schedule

because my sleep timing changes, and I also don't know when I will sleep 7 hrs

versus 12 hrs (and if I don't sleep as much as my body needs; I feel

ill--until I sleep again. If I do this regularly, I get all the fibro / cfs

symptoms. Totally subjective ad impossible to prove . )

>

> I basically do not plan anything in my life; I miss 99% of family gatherings

and I only go out and do something if I happen to be awake at the right time,

(ask your most lovable family member for a letter documenting this)

> AND I have laundry done, clothes to wear... You know, the sun the moon and

the stars align . Which is rare.

>

> One argument they could use against me, is that I could work from home, at

whatever time I happen to be awake. Ideally, that sounds great. But in reality,

there are a whole lot of problems with that!

>

> First, I have to purchase all the computer stuff: printer, scanners, ink,

paper, etc.

> PLUS, I have to maintain it. So if there is a computer problem, either I

can't work, or I try to fix it, INSTEAD of doing paid work. Often there is not

enough time and energy for both.

(yes, maintaining computers and stuff is alotta money and work but this

complaint won't help you win SSDI benefits because you work 5 hours a week now)

> Also, even of you work at home, you can't work in a vacuum. If someone is

paying you to do something...anything... you have to interface with them to find

out what they need. If I am sleeping during business hours, that's a problem. A

huge problem.

> Everyone says " just email " , but that is another thing where the devil is in

the details. Sometimes it's not enough. lin Covey says, " When you want a

response, do not use email. "

> For instance, my current boss is really bad at email (yet she is the ONLY one

who is flexible and nice enough to allow me to work 5 or so hours per week for

her.). But nothing moves forward until I see her in person, and that may only be

lucky enough to happen once a month. And since I don't know when I can get into

the office, when I pop in when I am able, I doesn't guarantee she will be

available--or even there in the office at that moment!

>

> Plus she can give me some work, but since I'm 100% unreliable (at least

unpredictable) I can't be assigned any time-critical work. She is really being

nice to me to take my scraps of work,

> but explaining all this is difficult and subjective. I'm afraid the judge or

vocational counselor will just say " if you can work 5 hrs a week, you can work

more " when I can *barely* work 5--sometimes it is zero for the week. (and i

need the money! but what if the jusge says, " And if you have a boss that lets

you work anytime from home, you can find some time to do it. "

>

> And working from home has another issue. I'm ADHD, but diagnosed in 2004.

Never did much treatment, because stimulants mess with my sleep, and

non-stimulants gave me baaaad side effects. Most of these were prescribed by

sleep drs, not pdocs, for sleep. I did a lot of personal research and learning

on my own with ADHD to handle things behaviorally, not pharmaceutically. And

nothing is documented except my Dx in 2004.

(any diagnosis is helpful to your SSDI case - 8 years ago is not too long ago to

submit those records. I was also diagnosed with ADHD but realize now it is a

symptom of OI which affects every organ in the body)

> But working home, alone, in the middle of the night is killer for my ADHD--I

can't focus!

> But again, it's all undocumented and subjective.

(Your own words describing your experiences us documentation. Keep such notes of

symptoms separate from more personal diaries you'd rather not have the courts

have access to.)

> And some drs/therapists dont even think I *have* ADHD! Why run out to a new

doctor when they can't teach me anything I don't already know, and can't

prescribe anything for all the reasons above? I have too many dr appts as it

is.

>

> There is another rock and a hard place. Part of the treatment for my sleep is

getting bright light ad exercise and being in low light or candle light at

night. So I spend hours per day on treatment, which can help--not always--but

takes productive time.

(So you've tried it and it isn't working for you. Great. You get credit for

trying to relieve yourself of symptoms so you can work.)

> If I stop it to regain those hours, everything falls apart. But I can't fit

everything in time and energy wise and at the right time

>

> Or there may be a day I sleep 12 hrs. I'm afraid they will say you just need

to set an alarm and get up.

(If that worked for you, wouldn't you be working?!? Trust SSA personnel to

understand this.)

> But who can sleep 12 hrs? If you can, you probably need it, right?

(Agreed! By someone with lots and lots of 16 and 12 hour sleeping bouts under my

belt.)

> And my whole mantra lately is the avoidance of feeling ill, and going back to

a sicker place. So I do what I believe I need to do to avoid getting worse

again. But again, these are my choices, and hard to explain and subjective.

>

> I am really caught by wondering how to explain these quirks and limitations,

without exaggerating, but still make myself believable.

(Explaining them to SSA personnel is a step in the right direction since these

are not typical limitations for most people.)

>

> When I do nothing, I can stay healthy and relaxed and look fine and

normal--like I could do anything if I wanted to. When I try to work, or go to

school, i have to drop classes, or crash and burn.

(You probably suffer Orthostaic Intolerance like 40% of FM patients. I do next

to nothing to avoid feeling miserable, just like you and I am grateful to know

OI symptoms to know why. Well, not why exactly, but what to avoid to feel better

most of the time.)

>

> Like primary fibro, my condition isolates me, and people only see me when I

feel good, doctors are confused by me and treat the parts, not the whole, and

all my Dx involve self-reports, and it's a typical opinion that I just need to

try harder, do more. My last crash lasted 7 mos. I will do anything to avoid

going back there. But I also look healthier now than last year. Will the judge

think I'm better, when I know and fear that relapse is around the corner if i

put strain on myself by trying to work?

(Judges are human. Document how your symptoms prevent you from working such as

you have done here. Trust in the humanity of most SSDI personnel. And your

lawyer. And those of us who have presented our case to judges who were appalled

st how awful our lives had become.)

Toni

from iPod touch

[Guest guest]

My case was approved when I first applied, Margaret---and it only took them 3

months to approve it.  No appeals.   BUT, I had researched extensively---what

SSA was looking for (buzz words)...and I employed the attorney before even

filing the initial paperwork.  In fact--because my application was approved in

three months--there were no BACK benefits--so, my attorney made nothing from my

case!  (I did give him a gift certificate for his time, though)

 I didn't want to mislead anyone.  I know that once an application has been

denied--that it DOES take longer to get a hearing.  But, at least in

OHIO,---2-3 years was NOT the norm.....it went much more quickly than that in

Ohio--my attorney said about 9 months.

You are right---there are a lot more applications for SSDI due to high

unemployment...Olnisa--you are saying everything that I was feeling when I

applied.  Do not worry that they won't understand....I think that they " get it "

now with fibromyalgia.  When I applied 10 years ago--the case worker told me

that they had just had their FIRST seminar on fibromyalgia....they didn't

understand it that well back then.  They sure do now!...so, just be patient.

 You need to keep on top of things--making sure that whatever documents SSA

requests--that they get filed.  I had to make sure that the doctors and the

attorney were in sync with each other----that ONE of them was filing what SS was

asking......

I, too could have worked five hours a week---and that is NOT the standard

(unless they have changed it) since I filed.  The standard is that you are able

to do ANY full time job--not just the one that you are coming from.  I am sure

that you are NOT able to work from home for 40 hours in any given week---and I

doubt that there are jobs out there that would LET YOU do all of the work from

home.  SO, you have to include things like--needing naps in the middle of the

day, frequent wakings in the night, cognitive impairment--that you can no longer

remember things or learn anything new.....etc.etc.  It will come...don't

worry...but, DO keep on top of things.

Lynn