Re: Do whatever works for you.... and Joy

November 19, 2006

Joy, I can totally understand. We are the same age and I feel the

same way. My grandmother just turned 84 and can walk circles around

me. No swelling anywhere on her body. I stare at her hands, legs,

and feet and think how great they look compare to my crooked fingers,

swollen legs, ankles, and feet and I am half her age. LOL!

:

I hear you , I think it's all personal as well but some of us

are similar enough it's worth sharing our stories and what works for

us but even then the meds and disease affect us differently. And I

think it's attitude also. When I think I am starting to get down, I

busy myself or help others. Try not to focus on my situation unless

I can do something to change it. As soon as I can get back in the

driver's seat, will volunteer a couple of hours a week.

Thanks for offering help with ssd. I may just take you up on that

later down the road. I applied many times and was turned down. I

finally just gave up to my doc's advice. I was mid 30s then, now

early 40s. My general doc at the time, told me since I was married

go back to school to learn a new trade b/c they were never going to

give me disability at my age. I have been trying to do that ever

since. With marriage your finances can sometime look better on paper

than it is and going back to school isn't financially possible for

many of us, especially if you throw in a sick child and a few

stepchildren. So it is starting to look more and more like SSi for

me too. I am still trying to hold on to working from home or

starting a business of my own at the moment.

peace and healing,

Ebony

November 19, 2006

Ebony.. the problem with ssi is that you have to be nearly destitute to receive

benefits and they are considerably less than ssd.I was fortunate enough to find

a kind-hearted lady in the ssa admin who gave me some insights into ssd. first,

the determination process is handled by the individual states under the

guidlines of the federal govt and they can vary quite a bit.second, its all

about the doctors...they have to agree that you are dissabled...you have no

chance if they dont. If your doctor doesnt agree or, like a lot of them, dont

want to be bothered by the paperwork...find a new doctor.Dont be afraid to

broach the subject with him/her..if they are a caring physician they will be

honest with you.You will more than likely have to be examined by a doctor

assigned by ssa...they arent on ssa " s side...but you must be honest as they see

many appllicants and ubfortunately there is that segment that trys to cheat the

system.ssa doesnt really care about your pain...only what

you are capable of doing...any gainfull work...it gets complicated and this is

where it can come down to an opinion by the determining individual.She also told

me that the determining criteria lessens at age 50 and again at 55 as you are

approaching ss age...this is unwritten and you wont find it on any ssd site.my

advice is to keep trying...RA sufferers dont need the added stress of worrying

how they are going to survive financially on top of everything else....and dont

let anyone tell you that its an " ENTITLEMENT " ...BALONEY....you worked during

your life and forcibly paid into the system...its your right....you didnt ask to

be disabled.ssa says it is going to streamline the process next year(we shall

see). Anyway most states now conduct everything over the phone(except the dr

visit of course) and it really isnt that difficult....too many people dont apply

because they thingk the process is too long, hard and exhausting.Finnally, you

dont need a lawyer when you initially

apply...all you will do is give 40% to someone for basically nothing.If you or

any others decide to apply ,feel free to contact me...as i said im not an expert

on the subjuct, but will share my experiences with the process. frank

Ebony <stillbreathing29@...> wrote: Joy, I can totally

understand. We are the same age and I feel the