Re: SSDI

October 11, 2011

I'm sure people will be chiming in with more information, but from what I have

seenÂ writtenÂ - most people get a lawyer to help them, that way they have a

higher chance of qualifying the first time.

That sounds frustrating..Â If you did go on disability through work why would

you not be able to come back and work if things didn't work out?

Maybe consult an attorney, the consultation should be free, and you can get some

answers pertaining to your specific situation.

All the best

Subject: SSDI

To: tetheredspinalcord

Date: Tuesday, October 11, 2011, 7:09 AM

Â

I have read a few posts about going on disability. Has anyone with TCS

here ever been accepted for assistance? I have severe pain continuously, but

because I am my sole support, I just push through the pain to keep working. I

don't think I can do it much longer. But since no one can feel your pain, and

can't really understand what we go through, I am scared to try. Because, of

course, you can't work while you wait for approval. That would just prove, in

their eyes, that you are not too disabled to work. I would have to go on short

term disability at work and apply and hope and pray. But, if I wasn't able to

get SSI or SSDI, I would be out of luck with no job and no money. Sorry for the

whinny tone, but I'm nearing the breaking point. Any suggestions about applying

for assistance would be appreciated. Thanks, Patsy

October 11, 2011

Hi Patsy -- do you have long term disability through work or just short term? I

am on LTD and CPP disability (in Canada) for my back and other health issues. I

first went on LTD but at the two year mark was cut off for no apparent reason

(this is what the insurance companies often do) and had to get a lawyer to help

me. I won my case with a simple discovery -- did not have to go to court -- but

I was without disability insurance for almost a year which was tough. I didn't

have any problem initially getting on " short term " disability. Through the

process I learned the hard way how important wording is in your application and

ongoing reporting -- in both your written form and reports from doctors, as well

as phone conversations with insurance workers. I cannot stress this enough.

One little sentence that does not jive (even if a typo) with all your other

reports, etc, can result in your application being denied -- or if the wording

is not quite right. So, I recommend getting some help and doing it right the

first time. I also got denied from CPP disablity twice and it was right before

my hearing after I sent in additional information it was accepted. That seems

to be what they do -- find any reason they can in your applications to deny you.

I don't want to scare you -- just letting you know that how your application,

etc is filled out can make the difference of being accepted or not at the

beginning of this process. Just because you are entitled to the benefits is not

enough -- you have to prove it to them. Here in Canada we have advocates who

help people out with things like this -- you should be able to find one through

a legal aid centre. The other option is consulting a lawyer about having

someone review your application before you send it in. In hindsight I should

have done this for my CPP application, just had someone read it over and catch

any red flags that might result in a denied claim. When I hired a lawyer to

help me with my denied LTD claim, I only had to pay him if I won, and in the end

the settlement covered his legal fees as part of the deal. Please feel free to

email me off list if you have any questions since I've been through the ringer,

but I am in Canada so things are likely a little different here. Dee

To: tetheredspinalcord

From: sterlingrosebud@...

Date: Tue, 11 Oct 2011 12:09:06 +0000