Attorneys fees and disability/personal injury case etc.

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 26/04/2004 14:30:16 Central Standard Time,

k.j.choate@... writes:

> How many other professions do you know of who are willing to wait years

> to be paid on a case- maybe.

Doctors. Cary

[Guest guest]

Hi

Thanks for posting about attorneys. I really know little to nothing about

attorneys and fees, different types of lawsuits, etc. It was an interesting

read! Cary

[Guest guest]

Hi , I enjoyed reading your post,it was very enlightening. I think, for the

most part, Canadian laws differ. Lawyers here are required to do some pro bono

work but for the majority, you couldn't get a lawyer without money up

front.However, it is very different in Canada where it would be unthinkable to

have to hire an attorney to fight for disability. Once a doctor has filled out

the paperwork and it is approved, payments start within 2 or 3 months. In my

case I was working, so my employer paid me full pay for the first year, then I

submitted my claim before the year was up, I then received Canada Pension

disability until I was 65 at which time my income was greatly reduced. Also,

people over 65 are entitled to all prescriptions paid for by our Gov plan.

Fortunately, my working for 30+ years entitled me to health benefits for life

which include my husband and this pays for anything the government plan does not

cover. My heart aches for all you people that have to pay an attorney to fight

for something you should be entitled to in a much easier way.

I didn't intend this to be political but is there any one or more of your

politicians fighting for better and easier access to medical care?

I hope I am not offending anyone with my questions but it is something I have

often wondered about.

Hugs

June

[Guest guest]

June- There shouldn't be a need to hire attorneys for disability. The Canadian

system of health care in general is much more humane and sane. Haven't heard

much about real Health Care Reform since the Clintons. It is a quagmire of

special interests - including I am sorry to say the American Bar Association.

Some states do require pro bono - Michigan encourages thirty hours or $300. Some

voluntarily pay- but not enough to solve the legal problems of those who can't

afford it.

Hugs,

> Hi , I enjoyed reading your post,it was very enlightening. I think, for

the

> most part, Canadian laws differ. Lawyers here are required to do some pro bono

> work but for the majority, you couldn't get a lawyer without money up

> front.However, it is very different in Canada where it would be unthinkable to

> have to hire an attorney to fight for disability. Once a doctor has filled out

> the paperwork and it is approved, payments start within 2 or 3 months. In my

> case I was working, so my employer paid me full pay for the first year, then I

> submitted my claim before the year was up, I then received Canada Pension

> disability until I was 65 at which time my income was greatly reduced. Also,

> people over 65 are entitled to all prescriptions paid for by our Gov plan.

> Fortunately, my working for 30+ years entitled me to health benefits for life

> which include my husband and this pays for anything the government plan does

not

> cover. My heart aches for all you people that have to pay an attorney to fight

> for something you should be entitled to in a much easier way.

> I didn't intend this to be political but is there any one or more of your

> politicians fighting for better and easier access to medical care?

>

> I hope I am not offending anyone with my questions but it is something I have

> often wondered about.

>

> Hugs

> June

>

>

[Guest guest]

I have been on the bandwagon fighting for disability for my son. It took him

two years, an attorney and lots of money to get it. He applied when he was 18

and got it when he was 20. He was struck by lightning when he was 13 so it

should have been a no brainer as far as I'm concerned. I had a US Senator and

Congressman fighting along the way with us. Amazing how twisted this system is

here. We applied when he was 18 because our income did not allow him to receive

it until he was official an adult at the age of 18. He gets SSI, sort of a

welfare form of disability since it did not pay into the system, even though we

have. He only gets $564 a month and $58 a month in food stamps. He gets a

state medical card which does not pay for everything. Sometimes they will only

pay for half of a prescription unless the doctor changes the prescription to

something they approve. He cannot live on $564 a month and cannot eat on $58 a

month. If he works, which is can work a few hours a day on a good day, after

$80 a month in wages he looses SSI dollar for dollar. There is no incentive for

him to work but he tries as his ultimate goal is to work full time and no longer

receive disability. However, as his mother, I know that will never be possible

but I don't tell him that.

Becky

[ ] Attorneys fees and disability/personal injury case etc.

Hi , I enjoyed reading your post,it was very enlightening. I think, for

the most part, Canadian laws differ. Lawyers here are required to do some pro

bono work but for the majority, you couldn't get a lawyer without money up

front.However, it is very different in Canada where it would be unthinkable to

have to hire an attorney to fight for disability. Once a doctor has filled out

the paperwork and it is approved, payments start within 2 or 3 months. In my

case I was working, so my employer paid me full pay for the first year, then I

submitted my claim before the year was up, I then received Canada Pension

disability until I was 65 at which time my income was greatly reduced. Also,

people over 65 are entitled to all prescriptions paid for by our Gov plan.

Fortunately, my working for 30+ years entitled me to health benefits for life

which include my husband and this pays for anything the government plan does not

cover. My heart aches for all you people that have to pay an attorney to fight

for something you should be entitled to in a much easier way.

I didn't intend this to be political but is there any one or more of your

politicians fighting for better and easier access to medical care?

I hope I am not offending anyone with my questions but it is something I have

often wondered about.

Hugs

June

[Guest guest]

The change took place several years ago. You indicated that you were unable to

qualify him for SSI as a minor because the family's income. If that is true, the

change would not apply to you. We see families who are low income - whose family

income might qualify them economically for SSI. At one time, the listings were

different for kids and adults- now kids have t also be able to meet adult

listings- which without going into the listings in detail- makes it more

difficult for kids to qualify. I admire you and your advocacy for your son- you

are the kind of client most attorneys and doctors only dream of dealing with.

Thanks just for modeling that for other people.

> Unfortunately, he has tried to go back to school and could not even handle one

> class. He has severe short term memory problems and a sleep disorder, along

> with comprehension difficulty. His injury is compared to a traumatic brain

> injury and his hands, arms, and chest are numb. He has many injuries that

> combined that is going to take some real creativity to assist him. He works

a

> few hours a day, lately 3 days a week. Fortunately, he works for my friend

and

> she knows how to help him along. What do you mean about the change in SSI for

> kids and adults? I'm still learning and it seems like there is always

something

> new. Once I figure out one thing, something else comes along.

>

> Becky

> Re: [ ] Attorneys fees and disability/personal injury case

> etc.

>

>

> Becky- Many of these cases should be no brainers. I work for a legal

> aid/poverty law firm and we see many people like your son.As mentioned in my

> previous posts, we handle the state benefits claims and medicaid claims

-rarely

> the direct RSDI or SSI case. For what it is worth - I would not discourage him

> from seeking training - if he is able to go back to school. SSI and RSDI have

a

> program where a trial work ( window) period can be attempted without giving up

a

> right to benefits.Some states have active rehabilitation programs that make

> career changes and training possible. Amazingly one of the changes in SSI -

was

> requiring kids to meet the same standards as adults.

>

> Hugs,

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

The sad part is it took me many years to learn how to advocate for my son. I

feel so sorry for those that do not have the resources I have had available to

me, including political ties that have directed me. I think I intimidated the

attorney as I knew more than he did about the system. He was a very arrogant

person and did nothing except send the file that I provided for him and show up

at one hearing. He spent about 2 hours total in it all and got way too much

money for it. The good part of all of this is that through word of mouth people

call me for advice and I help cut through the red tape for them.

Becky

Re: [ ] Attorneys fees and disability/personal injury

case

> etc.

>

>

> Becky- Many of these cases should be no brainers. I work for a legal

> aid/poverty law firm and we see many people like your son.As mentioned in my

> previous posts, we handle the state benefits claims and medicaid claims

-rarely

> the direct RSDI or SSI case. For what it is worth - I would not discourage

him

> from seeking training - if he is able to go back to school. SSI and RSDI

have a

> program where a trial work ( window) period can be attempted without giving

up a

> right to benefits.Some states have active rehabilitation programs that make

> career changes and training possible. Amazingly one of the changes in SSI -

was

> requiring kids to meet the same standards as adults.

>

> Hugs,

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Becky or anyone else, I have my hearing in 24 days. Any helpful

suggestions? I have RA, inflammatory arthritis, Osteoarthritis,

Osteoporosis, Osteopenia (bone density loss), Steroid dependent Asthma

related to RA (possibly Vasculitis), numb feet, Major Depression

reoccurrence, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, High blood pressure and

accelerated heart rate (from the steroid dependence) and severe

sleepapnia. My Rheumy is an arrogant idiot, I absolutely hate him, I've

been trying to change to another but couldn't get an appointment for

months out. He doesn't listen and when he asks how I am or my pain

levels, I tell him and he contradicts me telling me " Well, my other

patients...blah blah "

Any suggestions on what I should highlight, bring to attention, etc.

would be GREATLY appreciated. Oh..and I have an average of 20+ Dr.

appointments a month with 14 prescriptions

Rick

www.whosyomama.com

Re: [ ] Attorneys fees and disability/personal injury

case etc.

The sad part is it took me many years to learn how to advocate for my

son. I feel so sorry for those that do not have the resources I have

had available to me, including political ties that have directed me. I

think I intimidated the attorney as I knew more than he did about the

system. He was a very arrogant person and did nothing except send the

file that I provided for him and show up at one hearing. He spent about

2 hours total in it all and got way too much money for it. The good

part of all of this is that through word of mouth people call me for

advice and I help cut through the red tape for them.

Becky

Re: [ ] Attorneys fees and disability/personal

injury case

> etc.

>

>

> Becky- Many of these cases should be no brainers. I work for a

legal

> aid/poverty law firm and we see many people like your son.As

mentioned in my

> previous posts, we handle the state benefits claims and medicaid

claims -rarely

> the direct RSDI or SSI case. For what it is worth - I would not

discourage him

> from seeking training - if he is able to go back to school. SSI and

RSDI have a

> program where a trial work ( window) period can be attempted without

giving up a

> right to benefits.Some states have active rehabilitation programs

that make

> career changes and training possible. Amazingly one of the changes

in SSI - was

> requiring kids to meet the same standards as adults.

>

> Hugs,

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Rick,

It sounds like you have a good case to me, the waiting is what is so

rough. If your not happy with your rheumy I would try to find one

you like, that is important. Sometimes, if you have a jerk for a

doctor they don't help your case out sometimes.

I have been on social security since last year. It took one year,

but I didn't once get denied, I am so glad for that. Some people go

through hell, and back just to prove their illness. That is really

sad, and it makes me mad when I hear about it.

Good luck, I will be keeping my fingers crossed. Keep me posted,

Tawny

> Becky or anyone else, I have my hearing in 24 days. Any helpful

> suggestions? I have RA, inflammatory arthritis, Osteoarthritis,

> Osteoporosis, Osteopenia (bone density loss), Steroid dependent

Asthma

> related to RA (possibly Vasculitis), numb feet, Major Depression

> reoccurrence, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, High blood pressure and

> accelerated heart rate (from the steroid dependence) and severe

> sleepapnia. My Rheumy is an arrogant idiot, I absolutely hate him,

I've

> been trying to change to another but couldn't get an appointment for

> months out. He doesn't listen and when he asks how I am or my pain

> levels, I tell him and he contradicts me telling me " Well, my other

> patients...blah blah "

> Any suggestions on what I should highlight, bring to attention, etc.

> would be GREATLY appreciated. Oh..and I have an average of 20+ Dr.

> appointments a month with 14 prescriptions

>

> Rick

> www.whosyomama.com

> Re: [ ] Attorneys fees and disability/personal

injury

> case etc.

>

> The sad part is it took me many years to learn how to advocate for

my

> son. I feel so sorry for those that do not have the resources I

have

> had available to me, including political ties that have directed

me. I

> think I intimidated the attorney as I knew more than he did about

the

> system. He was a very arrogant person and did nothing except send

the

> file that I provided for him and show up at one hearing. He spent

about

> 2 hours total in it all and got way too much money for it. The good

> part of all of this is that through word of mouth people call me for

> advice and I help cut through the red tape for them.

>

> Becky

> Re: [ ] Attorneys fees and

disability/personal

> injury case

> > etc.

> >

> >

> > Becky- Many of these cases should be no brainers. I work for a

> legal

> > aid/poverty law firm and we see many people like your son.As

> mentioned in my

> > previous posts, we handle the state benefits claims and medicaid

> claims -rarely

> > the direct RSDI or SSI case. For what it is worth - I would not

> discourage him

> > from seeking training - if he is able to go back to school. SSI

and

> RSDI have a

> > program where a trial work ( window) period can be attempted

without

> giving up a

> > right to benefits.Some states have active rehabilitation

programs

> that make

> > career changes and training possible. Amazingly one of the

changes

> in SSI - was

> > requiring kids to meet the same standards as adults.

> >

> > Hugs,

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Thanks Tawny. having been denied twice already, I'm hoping for the

best. It's been 17 months since i first applied. I'll let you know

how it turns out.

Glad to hear you got yours first time around. That's great :-)

> Hi Rick,

>

> It sounds like you have a good case to me, the waiting is what is

so

> rough. If your not happy with your rheumy I would try to find one

> you like, that is important. Sometimes, if you have a jerk for a

> doctor they don't help your case out sometimes.

> I have been on social security since last year. It took one year,

> but I didn't once get denied, I am so glad for that. Some people

go

> through hell, and back just to prove their illness. That is

really

> sad, and it makes me mad when I hear about it.

> Good luck, I will be keeping my fingers crossed. Keep me posted,

> Tawny

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> --- In , " Rick " <rhow176@c...>

wrote:

> > Becky or anyone else, I have my hearing in 24 days. Any helpful

> > suggestions? I have RA, inflammatory arthritis, Osteoarthritis,

> > Osteoporosis, Osteopenia (bone density loss), Steroid dependent

> Asthma

> > related to RA (possibly Vasculitis), numb feet, Major Depression

> > reoccurrence, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, High blood pressure

and

> > accelerated heart rate (from the steroid dependence) and severe

> > sleepapnia. My Rheumy is an arrogant idiot, I absolutely hate

him,

> I've

> > been trying to change to another but couldn't get an appointment

for

> > months out. He doesn't listen and when he asks how I am or my

pain

> > levels, I tell him and he contradicts me telling me " Well, my

other

> > patients...blah blah "

> > Any suggestions on what I should highlight, bring to attention,

etc.

> > would be GREATLY appreciated. Oh..and I have an average of 20+

Dr.

> > appointments a month with 14 prescriptions

> >

> > Rick

> > www.whosyomama.com

> > Re: [ ] Attorneys fees and disability/personal

> injury

> > case etc.

> >

> > The sad part is it took me many years to learn how to advocate

for

> my

> > son. I feel so sorry for those that do not have the resources I

> have

> > had available to me, including political ties that have

directed

> me. I

> > think I intimidated the attorney as I knew more than he did

about

> the

> > system. He was a very arrogant person and did nothing except

send

> the

> > file that I provided for him and show up at one hearing. He

spent

> about

> > 2 hours total in it all and got way too much money for it. The

good

> > part of all of this is that through word of mouth people call me

for

> > advice and I help cut through the red tape for them.

> >

> > Becky

> > Re: [ ] Attorneys fees and

> disability/personal

> > injury case

> > > etc.

> > >

> > >

> > > Becky- Many of these cases should be no brainers. I work

for a

> > legal

> > > aid/poverty law firm and we see many people like your son.As

> > mentioned in my

> > > previous posts, we handle the state benefits claims and

medicaid

> > claims -rarely

> > > the direct RSDI or SSI case. For what it is worth - I would

not

> > discourage him

> > > from seeking training - if he is able to go back to school.

SSI

> and

> > RSDI have a

> > > program where a trial work ( window) period can be attempted

> without

> > giving up a

> > > right to benefits.Some states have active rehabilitation

> programs

> > that make

> > > career changes and training possible. Amazingly one of the

> changes

> > in SSI - was

> > > requiring kids to meet the same standards as adults.

> > >

> > > Hugs,

> > >

> > >

> > >

[Guest guest]

Don't feel to bad or worry to much, I was denied three times before I got

ssd. Sometimes it is a very long hard process. Hang in there you will be

approved. My file was even lost for 18 months and no one knew it, not even

ss. All you can do is wait and see. You can call and ask were your file is

at in the process.

Lynn MeMom

rhow176 wrote:

> Thanks Tawny. having been denied twice already, I'm hoping for the

> best. It's been 17 months since i first applied. I'll let you know

> how it turns out.

> Glad to hear you got yours first time around. That's great :-)

>

>

> > > Becky or anyone else, I have my hearing in 24 days. Any helpful

> > > suggestions? I have RA, inflammatory arthritis, Osteoarthritis,

> > > Osteoporosis, Osteopenia (bone density loss), Steroid dependent

> > Asthma

> > > related to RA (possibly Vasculitis), numb feet, Major Depression

> > > reoccurrence, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, High blood pressure

> and

> > > accelerated heart rate (from the steroid dependence) and severe

> > > sleepapnia. My Rheumy is an arrogant idiot, I absolutely hate

> him,

> > I've

> > > been trying to change to another but couldn't get an appointment

> for

> > > months out. He doesn't listen and when he asks how I am or my

> pain

> > > levels, I tell him and he contradicts me telling me " Well, my

> other

> > > patients...blah blah "

> > > Any suggestions on what I should highlight, bring to attention,

> etc.

> > > would be GREATLY appreciated. Oh..and I have an average of 20+

> Dr.

> > > appointments a month with 14 prescriptions

> > >

> > > Rick

> > > www.whosyomama.com

> > > Re: [ ] Attorneys fees and disability/personal

> > injury

> > > case etc.

> > >

> > > The sad part is it took me many years to learn how to advocate

> for

> > my

> > > son. I feel so sorry for those that do not have the resources I

> > have

> > > had available to me, including political ties that have

> directed

> > me. I

> > > think I intimidated the attorney as I knew more than he did

> about

> > the

> > > system. He was a very arrogant person and did nothing except

> send

> > the

> > > file that I provided for him and show up at one hearing. He

> spent

> > about

> > > 2 hours total in it all and got way too much money for it. The

> good

> > > part of all of this is that through word of mouth people call me

> for

> > > advice and I help cut through the red tape for them.

> > >

> > > Becky

> > > Re: [ ] Attorneys fees and

> > disability/personal

> > > injury case

> > > > etc.

> > > >

> > > >

> > > > Becky- Many of these cases should be no brainers. I work

> for a

> > > legal

> > > > aid/poverty law firm and we see many people like your son.As

> > > mentioned in my

> > > > previous posts, we handle the state benefits claims and

> medicaid

> > > claims -rarely

> > > > the direct RSDI or SSI case. For what it is worth - I would

> not

> > > discourage him

> > > > from seeking training - if he is able to go back to school.

> SSI

> > and

> > > RSDI have a

> > > > program where a trial work ( window) period can be attempted

> > without

> > > giving up a

> > > > right to benefits.Some states have active rehabilitation

> > programs

> > > that make

> > > > career changes and training possible. Amazingly one of the

> > changes

> > > in SSI - was

> > > > requiring kids to meet the same standards as adults.

> > > >

> > > > Hugs,

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >