Re: Social Security form SSA 3373-BK

[Guest guest]

Hi Debbie,

I think you are very wise about being very careful about what you

put into that form. I've been applying for SSI for the last 15 years

and each time I haven't gotten it even though I have several doctors

supporting my case. I would like to know how it goes. Please email

me.~Kulia

>

> Hi Everyone,

>

> Has anyone in the group applid for and received a favorable Social

> Security determinatation? If so, please could you help me.

>

> A couple of weeks ago I received, from Social Security, Form SSA-

454-

> BK.

>

[Guest guest]

(I am assuming that you are trying for SS disability, not SS income, as they are

different and the first is disability based and the second income based). If

it's SSD, then here is my advise;

I couldn't get the forms to come up fo me online, so I'm not really sure which

you are talking about specifically.

But even if you need an extension, make sure you check and recheck your answers

and that you are consistent throughout. Most of us sugar coat our days and what

we g through, this is not the time to do that. This is the time to tell them

that if there are days you can't lift a gallon of milk and walk 3 steps from the

fridge to the counter, you have them and what they are like (pain, level of

fatigue, weakness). It doesn't matter how benign it seems, if it is a problem

for you, they need to know about it, otherwise how do they know what you are

going through? It doesn't matter if you have already answered the question (or

one similar) answer it again, they may not have looked at the first one closely,

maybe they will choose to look at the second one and if you didn't answer it

fully, how will they know?

When it asks can you lift five pounds, can you? Don't just say yes or no,

explain your answers. I think this is one of the biggest problems with

applicants, they don't give enough explanation of their situation and all the

reviewer knows is what we tell them. How would you make a determination based on

minimal answers? I didn't have enough room to write my answers on the forms and

had to attach extra pages - if that's what you have to do, then do that.

I agree, brainstorm with the people that know you and your habits best. They can

give you insight that you won't think of yourself on things you don't even

realize you don't do anymore. I hope that helps! I have to get off line

now....this screen is giving me a major HA! But I hope you can find something

useful in what I wrote. Good luck.

Re: Social Security form SSA 3373-BK

Hi Debbie,

I think you are very wise about being very careful about what you

put into that form. I've been applying for SSI for the last 15 years

and each time I haven't gotten it even though I have several doctors

supporting my case. I would like to know how it goes. Please email

me

[Guest guest]

Another important factor is to make sure that what your doctor puts down....

matches what you say. We often don't give our doctors the full story. My

doctor had me come into the office while she was filling out my paperwork. I

brought my paperwork along, and our answers matched. (well not exactly, but you

know what I mean) If you say you can't lift five pounds, and your doctor says

you have a five pound limitation... that is totally different.

Hugs!

Vickie

Gretchen wrote:

(I am assuming that you are trying for SS disability, not SS income,

as they are different and the first is disability based and the second income

based). If it's SSD, then here is my advise;

[Guest guest]

My sister is a social security lawyer. Recently she had to apply for SS

disability for herself. She was approved within 2 ½ weeks. I asked her

how she managed that and she said she knows what SS is looking for and

she wrote her doctor’s letter herself and gave it to the doc to sign.

She said she routinely does this with her client’s doctor’s and has no

trouble getting disability approvals first go around and within record

time. I was absolutely floored. In addition, knowing the laws, she

applied for back pay from the time she stopped working as opposed to the

date she first applied, and was awarded the back pay. I thought you

could only get the back pay to the date you first applied, but she said

that is false. You can get back pay from when you first became

disabled, but most folks don’t know that.

Sandrea

[Guest guest]

Does she still practice and if so, what state does she practice in? With SS

disability does it differ per state? I myself have CFS and get long term

disability through my former employer. However, recently I had to apply for SS

disability per the long term benefits carrier and of course was turned down.

Now I'm waiting for notification of a hearing. I'm not so worried about myself

as I do have the benefits, but my sister was just diagnosed with congestive

heart failure and her heart is only pumping at 10%. She is now unable to work,

has no insurance and is at a total loss on what she is going to do for money to

pay for her Rx to help keep her alive, let alone living expenses. She has been

told that it could take upwards of 2 years to get SS disability. In case it

matters, we live in Missouri.

If anyone reading this has any suggestions we would be very grateful. Prayers

are also welcome. Thanks for listening.

Kim

Sandrea Kornblum wrote:

My sister is a social security lawyer. Recently she had to apply for

SS

disability for herself. She was approved within 2 ½ weeks. I asked her

how she managed that and she said she knows what SS is looking for and

she wrote her doctor’s letter herself and gave it to the doc to sign.

She said she routinely does this with her client’s doctor’s and has no

trouble getting disability approvals first go around and within record

time. I was absolutely floored.

[Guest guest]

That is not *entirely* correct, depending on when you became disabled and

applied. Your sister would know this, so she would not have waited too long to

apply. You can get backpay up to 12 months prior to your application month. BUT

if you wait to apply, then you can't get backpay beyond that. When I was

approved, it was with a note that they agreed I was disabled 2 years before I

applied, but because of disability laws, they could only give me back pay for 1

of them. So do be aware of that. If you are turned down, it is also best to keep

fighting that case than reapplying because if/when you are approved, they may

give you back pay all the way back to when you first applied and potentially the

12 months before, if they decide you were disabled then. If you reapply, you are

only eligible for back pay, again, up to 12 months before your reapplication. I

know people that have finally been approved and received 5-7+ years backpay

(because of when they

initially applied and had continued to fight that case). I also know people who

reapplied and only received the money from their second application date.

And also, for anyone *thinking* about applying, you must have a certain number

of points from working over the previous 10 years (depending on age). If you

wait too long to apply and do not have enough work time in the previous 10

years, it doesn't matter how disabled you are, you can't get SSD. It's a

difficult decision to come to, but one that needs to be made sooner than later

if you are not getting better. Again, I know several people who waited too long

and the offices have told them there is nothing they can do because they didn't

apply in time.

http://www.disabilitysecrets.com/does-everyone-get-backpay.html

[Guest guest]

Hi

Can you post example letters!! As I am having trouble because

my MDs do not say the same thing!!!!

We all know how frustrating getting approved is!!!

Thanks,

>

> My sister is a social security lawyer. Recently she had to apply

for SS

> disability for herself. She was approved within 2 ½ weeks. I

asked her

> how she managed that and she said she knows what SS is looking for

and

> she wrote her doctor's letter herself and gave it to the doc to

sign.

[Guest guest]

I live in Illinois... I don't know if it is different from state to state.

But... here, there is a five month waiting period. I received my check the

sixth month. Those five months were hard... I couldn't imagine having to wait

years.

Hugs!

Vickie

Kim Silvagnoli wrote:

Does she still practice and if so, what state does she practice in?

With SS disability does it differ per state? I myself have CFS and get long term

disability through my former employer. However, recently I had to apply for SS

disability per the long term benefits carrier and of course was turned down. Now

I'm waiting for notification of a hearing. I'm not so worried about myself as I

do have the benefits, but my sister was just diagnosed with congestive heart

failure and her heart is only pumping at 10%.

[Guest guest]

> If anyone reading this has any suggestions we would be very

grateful. Prayers are also welcome. Thanks for listening.

>

> Kim

>

Kim,

I used Allsup to handle my SSDI claim with success. They don't charge

you until you are approved. They did all the paperwork and I didn't

even have to attend a hearing. It took a long time but I got backpay.

Here is their website: http://www.allsup.com/

JGood luck,

Janet

[Guest guest]

I'm sorry, I don't have any sample letters to post. My sister and I

live half way across the country from one another and have a very

minimal relationship. I asked her if she would help Kulia and she said

no as she is not licensed in Hawaii and is not carrying malpractice

insurance while she is herself out on disability. I wish she were a

more helpful person but she won't help me either.

Sandrea

[Guest guest]

What do you mean they did ALL the paper work? That sounds great!!!

Did you not have any paper work to fill out? How does that work? How

many times did you apply? And how many years backpay did you get?

~Kulia

>

> > If anyone reading this has any suggestions we would be very

> grateful. Prayers are also welcome. Thanks for listening.

> >

[Guest guest]

I live in Missouri also, there is a waiting period (it is supposed to be

something like 6 months of not working BEFORE you can even APPLY) to prove that

you are disabled and cannot work. She needs to discuss disability with her

doctors and be sure they are all willing to support her in applying. If they

are, ask them to write letters explaining with as much subjective information as

possible (the 10% pumping and what that means for her maximum functionality,

etc.) why this is disabling and why it will not/cannot be 'fixed' in a short

amount of time (if at all). They need to see that not only is she disabled right

now, but that it is an ongoing disabling condition.

This was the advise I received and I took it so I cannot stress this

enough...one of the first couple of packets she will get (the one that is about

your daily activities and limits) is EXTREMELY important. Many cases are make or

break just from this packet. Explain every answer in as much detail as you can

and check and recheck to be sure all of your answers match each other. If

you/she doesn't tell them how bad it is on a day to day basis, they have no

reason to think it is. I know it is extremely tedious and time consuming, but

take it from someone who was approved quickly, the first time - it is so worth

it. By the time most people come looking for SSD help, they are already past

that, so if I can tell anyone this before they apply, it is worth saying.

Also, for the initial interview, they do most of it orally now and you don't

bring in as much info as you used to (which is bad) because you have to think of

everything on the spot. It is best if someone can go with her to the interview

that can help her remember the progression. Also, do not let them send you off

without a copy of EVERYTHING you signed. You need to know what you said too (and

more importantly, what THEY wrote - as it is not always the same). Before you

sign anything go over every question to make sure the answers are correct. You

cannot sign the document and then go back in front of a judge and say " But

that's not what I said/that's not what happened. " It just doesn't fly. Again,

who cares if it takes you 30 minutes, plus - this is YOUR future, they can wait

to make sure it's correct. That's what comes to mind right now. Before she goes

in for the initial interview, she needs to peruse her medical records so she has

a good idea of

dates, diagnoses, doctors, etc. If she had any problems with the place she

worked because of her condition (increasingly frequent abcenses, not getting

work done on time, or coworkers/boss noticing a difference in work performance,

physical abilities/appearance) this is the time to exploit that and have them

writing letters as well. Ask where the letters should be sent and do not take

them in/send them herself.

I hope some of that helps. Good luck to her.

~G

Re: Social Security form SSA 3373-BK

Does she still practice and if so, what state does she practice in? With SS

disability does it differ per state? I myself have CFS and get long term

disability through my former employer. However, recently I had to apply for SS

disability per the long term benefits carrier and of course was turned down. Now

I'm waiting for notification of a hearing. I'm not so worried about myself as I

do have the benefits, but my sister was just diagnosed with congestive heart

failure and her heart is only pumping at 10%.

[Guest guest]

In the first paragraph, I meant to say OBJECTIVE not subjective info. Sorry.

~G

Re: Re: Social Security form SSA 3373-BK

I live in Missouri also, there is a waiting period (it is supposed to be

something like 6 months of not working BEFORE you can even APPLY) to prove that

you are disabled and cannot work. She needs to discuss disability with her

doctors and be sure they are all willing to support her in applying. If they

are, ask them to write letters explaining with as much subjective information as

possible (the 10% pumping and what that means for her maximum functionality,

etc.) why this is disabling and why it will not/cannot be 'fixed' in a short

amount of time (if at all).

[Guest guest]

Debbie,

They need a detailed description of how you are limited in your

daily activities because of your medical condition. This form is

optional depending on the preference of your disability caseworker,

though this form is very important to support your disability claim.

Your disability caseworker never actually gets to meet you or see

how your activities are limited because of your condition, so it is

very important for you to " show " them how you are limited and can't

work by accurately completing this form in detail. And, I mean

detail.

Ask your family what they see...if you are having trouble.

I'm certain easy tasks like getting up, bathing, dressing, cooking,

cleaning are all difficult for you. Write and write and write

more! If you have to have a proxy write and sign it for you all the

better.

Just don't give up! You paid for this and deserve to get it. It

seems like it is getting harder all the time.

I finally got mine in 2001, but a long haul. Finally in 2003,

Medicare! That is even more a blessing than the check. So keep

pushing girl.

Good luck!

CJ

[Guest guest]

Thanks Gretchen for the really good advice. This is all so new to us and it

just seems overwhelming. She has a doctors appt this afternoon so your email

came right on time. I will be sure to discuss all of this with her

cardiologist. Take care and hope your doing well.

Kim

Gretchen wrote:

I live in Missouri also, there is a waiting period (it is supposed to

be something like 6 months of not working BEFORE you can even APPLY) to prove

that you are disabled and cannot work. She needs to discuss disability with her

doctors and be sure they are all willing to support her in applying.

[Guest guest]

Yep Medicare cause good luck with insurance with all

the pre-existing conditions. Many times I thought

about takeing a walk into the woods with a bottle of

scotch and one bullet in the chamber......but then

them bastards would have won......

[Guest guest]

I won mine, I pretty much did it myself, if you need

to email me feel free,

Debbie 31 y/o

--- msmambo_2000 wrote:

>

> HI

>

> Any helpful information you can give someone to help

> win. A CFS/Fibro

> case!!!

> Who is under 50 yrs!!!