SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY

May 17, 2000

LOL....well I took on IRS and took me 2 years and a

lot of work but I won. My former employer is

Government also the County level fought them too and

won. Took on a Pharmacist at Wal-Mart that treated me

badly because of script for Rebretron, I am happy to

say he no longer works for Wal-Mart. Thats just in

the 2 last years. When they get my dander up and piss

me off thats when I fight.....smile, Connie

--- isqazi <isqazi@...> wrote:

> Connie,

>

> Way to go girl!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Bite them

> good!!!!!!!!!

>

> Virginia

>

__________________________________________________

May 17, 2000

Connie,

Appeal that denial. My cerebral palsy and medically fragile daughter who

depends on 24 hr round the clock was denied when we applied the first time.

She has so many disabilities that she would never be able to function on an

adult level. That little one was denied. I had to appeal.

These people get the information all tangled up. You have to correct their

mistake and clarify your information that was sent to them. Everyone seems

to get denied the first time. My daughter was one year old when she was

denied. I appealed and won. Fight will all that you have in you. Don't let

them get you down. Keep on appealing until they give in.

Take care and God Bless,

Virginia

May 18, 2000

Connie,

Way to go girl!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Bite them good!!!!!!!!!

Virginia

May 18, 2000

Connie,

Way to go girl!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Bite them good!!!!!!!!!

Virginia

May 18, 2000

Connie Hi, My name is Bob and S.S. gave me a run around and said mywife makes

too much money??? It was Doctors who said apply I was too sick to think to

apply. It has been 4 years since I have worked due to sickness and unbearable

pain . Please what do I do? God Bless and Thank You. Bob

June 28, 2000

Jennie, There is a perfect list for your questions. It

isDisinsissues@... list is strictly about Disability and

these illnesses. Itincludes patients in the same process and some legal eagles.

Try it!Katrina> Hi all - > > I realize this is not a support group, but

I am> stressed and don't know who else to ask about this. > My doctor finally

convinced me in May to apply for> SSDI. I have not been able to work since

March of> this year, after three failed tries to go back to full> time work over

June 1999-March 2000. > > My SSDI application has been reviewed, and now the>

Social Security Admin has scheduled an exam for me> with a doctor of their

choosing before they will> decide whether to grant me disability. This is

after> four doctors recommended full disability for me! > > My question is,

have any of you been through this too?> Are any of you on SSDI benefits? If

so, did you have> to do an exam with their doctor? It seems to me that> it will

be very difficult for a doc to diagnose me as> disabled based on one exam, since

like many PWCs I> look basically normal. Any advice for me? > > Sorry to whine

- Jennie in SF, CA> > __________________________________________________> Do You

?> Get - Free email you can access from anywhere!>

http://mail./

June 29, 2000

Hi Adam,

Just wanted to tell you I thought having someone with you, " smartly dressed "

is ingenious. I would have never thought of something so simple, that could

go such a long way toward helping your case's outcome.

You said you'd secretly recorded the meetings. Did you ever just take out a

tape recorder and lay in on the table and say, that due to your brain fog,

you want to make a record of the proceedings so that you could remember what

was said?

Ruth

June 29, 2000

Hi Jennie,

I have been through a similar process in Britain. Over hear it is called

Disability Living Allowance. Where a Benefits Agency pays a doctor to make a

visit on a patient to give their oppinion regarding disability ect. Having

gone through this process a number of times I would suggest that you ensure

that someone is with you when the doctor calls. Given the baised nature in

which things run I have found it helpful to have a male friend to sit in as

an observer and smartly dressed. The doctor that calls does not know for

100% wether or not the person with you is not from any rights group or not.

If you have some energy before the doctor makes his visit I suggest you use

up your energy for the day so he/she can see how fatigued ect. you can be.

Due experiences I have had with the benefits angency I have been paranoid

enough to even tape the doctors interview without the doctor knowing it. At

least if the doctor makes faulse statements you can be at least clear in

your own mind what was actually said.

As for me the benefits agency ran out of their own doctors to send to me so

that had to pay an independant doctor to see me (one that is acctually

employed to treat patients and not one simply employed to get people off

their benefit)

My experiences have made me very distrustful of the benefits agancy and

their use of doctors. You may find that the agency that is used in the

states is fairer than the one used in England. So don't be overely nervous

just be prepared.

Take care

Adam

Social Security Disability

> Hi all -

>

> I realize this is not a support group, but I am

> stressed and don't know who else to ask about this.

> My doctor finally convinced me in May to apply for

> SSDI. I have not been able to work since March of

> this year, after three failed tries to go back to full

> time work over June 1999-March 2000.

>

> My SSDI application has been reviewed, and now the

> Social Security Admin has scheduled an exam for me

> with a doctor of their choosing before they will

> decide whether to grant me disability. This is after

> four doctors recommended full disability for me!

>

> My question is, have any of you been through this too?

> Are any of you on SSDI benefits? If so, did you have

> to do an exam with their doctor? It seems to me that

> it will be very difficult for a doc to diagnose me as

> disabled based on one exam, since like many PWCs I

> look basically normal. Any advice for me?

>

> Sorry to whine - Jennie in SF, CA

>

> __________________________________________________

>

June 29, 2000

You may wish to look at http://www.folkarts.com/idef/insurance_issues.htm, and

specifically at

http://www.folkarts.com/idef/disabilities.htm Remember they are interested in

disability FOR EMPLOYMENT -- not the misery of having CFIDS...

Ken Lassesen

2 @ 2 ft PWC, 2 @ 4ft PWC

2 ft PWC: http://www.folkarts.com/idef/

4 ft PWC: http://corgi.folkarts.com/

Fax: (520) 832-6836 ICQ #: 2122097 (also Netmeeting with Video)

June 29, 2000

Hi Ruth,

My knowledge of the British system came from having to appeal against having

my benefits turned down over a 4year period. No sooner would I win on

tribunal case I would have to appeal against loosing another benefit.

Withr regards to letting the doctor know about the recorder I figured that

they would just refuse to go ahead with the interview and be somewhat

defensive. In the British disability benefits form much of what is written

by the doctor is done after the interview in which case if they were there

purely as an employee of the agency they could purposely misconstrue in

writing your reasons for a tape recorder. If the doctor was to be made aware

of a recording this could be used as evidence if the case ever got to the

tribunal stage. No doctor with a bias towards the agency would want this.

The only reason for recording the interview would be to catch the bad

doctors out.

With regards to having a straight faced friend dressed smartly and sitting

quietly this effect worked much better than when I had a sympothetic

neighbour oohing and arrhing over my difficulties.

It all sounds a bit cloak and dagger but the British system has possibly

made me over coutious and cynical. I hope your system is better.

Adam

> Hi Adam,

> Just wanted to tell you I thought having someone with you, " smartly

dressed "

> is ingenious. I would have never thought of something so simple, that

could

> go such a long way toward helping your case's outcome.

> You said you'd secretly recorded the meetings. Did you ever just take out

a

> tape recorder and lay in on the table and say, that due to your brain fog,

> you want to make a record of the proceedings so that you could remember

what

> was said?

> Ruth

>

> ------------------------------------------------------------------------

> @Backup- Protect and Access your data any time, any where on the net.

> Try @Backup FREE and receive 300 points from mypoints.com Install now:

> 1/5666/5/_/531724/_/962309006/

> ------------------------------------------------------------------------

>

> This list is intended for patients to share personal experiences with each

other, not to give medical advice. If you are interested in any treatment

discussed here, please consult your doctor.

>

July 24, 2000

.....this whole system is so fuc*ed up , it can make a person go

> postal...

Just a friendly reminder, there are 800,00 Postal Workers who are

somewhat offended by that phrase. I happen to be one of them. There

have been more school shootings than Post Office shootings but does

anybody use the phrase Going Grade School? How about simply Going

Crazy?

in Illinois

October 25, 2000

Beth..... many here are on SSI and many are on SSDI...... Try going to

your local Social Security Administration office to find out your

options..... ~im sure many others in this group will be glad to answer

all questions.... I myslf am on SSI and receive medicaid benefits.

jerry

AIH

Akron, Ohio

October 26, 2000

Yes I do, I had to go through the administrative law judge to win approval. There is no listing for AIH, so it usually takes an ALJ to make the approval.

Don

Terradon Unlimited

http://www.TerradonUnlimited.com

"People who ask me how we can still have such a positive attitude after all we’ve been through, have it all wrong…We’ve been able to get through all that we have BECAUSE we have a positive attitude". Don Hanson 8/2000

-----Original Message-----From: Beth Walters [mailto:bccj@...]Sent: Wednesday, October 25, 2000 7:37 PM egroupsSubject: [ ] Social Security DisabilityHi,My name is Beth and I was just today diagnosed with Autoammune Hepatitis. I was on a site that supposedly had a link about Social Security Disability, but it didn't take me anywhere. Do many of you with this disease receive ss disability? Just wondered. Any help would be appreciated.thanks, Beth

October 26, 2000

Hi Beth, I was just awarded SSDI based on my own work record and earned

quarters. I can still work part time, as long as I stay under 700.00 a month

gross income. My husband can make as much as he wants, I can collect as much

child support for my dependent child as my hands will allow me to ring out

of the dead beat and still earn a monthy entitlement from SSI. I get no

Medicaid though. Mediare kicks in, in two years.

I did not qualify for SSI because of the income requirements the state sets

(my husband made to much and disqualaified us as a whole).

Its my understanding that I was awarded the disability based on having

esophogeal bleeding which is life threatening. The typical criteria for

diability is " resulting in death " ...... With each bleed I get, I have a

chance of not surving. Social Security determined me disabled due to this.

Awarded me and my dependent son for the next three years starting in January

2001. I will be re-evaluated sometime close to the three year mark. I was

disagnosed with AIH about a year ago, went misdiagnosed for years. Have

stage one cirrhosis. Will need a transplant if the bleeds continue,

otherwise my liver is ok for at least another 5-10 years.

Disability under the AIH diagnosis alone in and of itself is usually not

enough to get disability right off the bat. You might need an attorney (they

don't usually require money upfront and take a percentage of your back

award) but its worth looking into.

Good luck! Jen AIH, 37, NM

On Thu, 26 Oct 2000 00:37:19 -0000, egroups wrote:

> Hi,

>

> My name is Beth and I was just today diagnosed with Autoammune

> Hepatitis. I was on a site that supposedly had a link about Social

> Security Disability, but it didn't take me anywhere. Do many of you

> with this disease receive ss disability? Just wondered. Any help

> would be appreciated.

>

> thanks, Beth

>

_______________________________________________________

Say Bye to Slow Internet!

http://www.home.com/xinbox/signup.html

October 26, 2000

Don,

Thanks for the info on SSD. May I ask what stage of the disease you are in. I am newly diagnosed and don't know how the process works...

thanks again, Beth

RE: [ ] Social Security Disability

Yes I do, I had to go through the administrative law judge to win approval. There is no listing for AIH, so it usually takes an ALJ to make the approval.

Don

Terradon Unlimited

http://www.TerradonUnlimited.com

"People who ask me how we can still have such a positive attitude after all we’ve been through, have it all wrong…We’ve been able to get through all that we have BECAUSE we have a positive attitude". Don Hanson 8/2000

-----Original Message-----From: Beth Walters [mailto:bccj@...]Sent: Wednesday, October 25, 2000 7:37 PM egroupsSubject: [ ] Social Security DisabilityHi,My name is Beth and I was just today diagnosed with Autoammune Hepatitis. I was on a site that supposedly had a link about Social Security Disability, but it didn't take me anywhere. Do many of you with this disease receive ss disability? Just wondered. Any help would be appreciated.thanks, Beth

October 26, 2000

Jerry,

How does SSI differ from SSD in the case of AIH?

thanks, Beth

ps My whole family lives in Medina! My mom own's a computer business

called PC Help and does work for alot of people in Akron

Re: [ ] Social Security Disability

> Beth..... many here are on SSI and many are on SSDI...... Try going to

> your local Social Security Administration office to find out your

> options..... ~im sure many others in this group will be glad to answer

> all questions.... I myslf am on SSI and receive medicaid benefits.

> jerry

> AIH

> Akron, Ohio

>

October 26, 2000

Jen,

Thanks for your note. My dad rec'd SSDI for about 15 years while he had MS

and it wasn't considered life threatening to him. It just debilitated to

where he couldn't physically do the work.

I'll have to look into it further to see if I could qualify for either. I

work part-time out of my home, but recently have found with the fatigue it's

hard to get alot done.

thanks, Beth

Re: [ ] Social Security Disability

> Hi Beth, I was just awarded SSDI based on my own work record and earned

> quarters. I can still work part time, as long as I stay under 700.00 a

month

> gross income. My husband can make as much as he wants, I can collect as

much

> child support for my dependent child as my hands will allow me to ring out

> of the dead beat and still earn a monthy entitlement from SSI. I get no

> Medicaid though. Mediare kicks in, in two years.

>

> I did not qualify for SSI because of the income requirements the state

sets

> (my husband made to much and disqualaified us as a whole).

>

> Its my understanding that I was awarded the disability based on having

> esophogeal bleeding which is life threatening. The typical criteria for

> diability is " resulting in death " ...... With each bleed I get, I have a

> chance of not surving. Social Security determined me disabled due to this.

> Awarded me and my dependent son for the next three years starting in

January

> 2001. I will be re-evaluated sometime close to the three year mark. I was

> disagnosed with AIH about a year ago, went misdiagnosed for years. Have

> stage one cirrhosis. Will need a transplant if the bleeds continue,

> otherwise my liver is ok for at least another 5-10 years.

>

> Disability under the AIH diagnosis alone in and of itself is usually not

> enough to get disability right off the bat. You might need an attorney

(they

> don't usually require money upfront and take a percentage of your back

> award) but its worth looking into.

>

> Good luck! Jen AIH, 37, NM

>

> On Thu, 26 Oct 2000 00:37:19 -0000, egroups wrote:

>

> > Hi,

> >

> > My name is Beth and I was just today diagnosed with Autoammune

> > Hepatitis. I was on a site that supposedly had a link about Social

> > Security Disability, but it didn't take me anywhere. Do many of you

> > with this disease receive ss disability? Just wondered. Any help

> > would be appreciated.

> >

> > thanks, Beth

> >

>

> _______________________________________________________

> Say Bye to Slow Internet!

> http://www.home.com/xinbox/signup.html

>

October 26, 2000

Hi Beth,

What SSDI is looking for is impairment. Two people

with the same disease, at the same stage, may be impaired differently. Fatigue

is the most common debilitating factor in most liver disease. Unfortunately, it

is also the most difficult to document. There are no definitive fatigue tests!

<grin> Debilitating fatigue was the primary grounds for my being granted

SSDI. There are other liver diseases listed and other autoimmune diseases

listed, but AIH is not, so my lawyer had to draw the comparisons to what is

listed. Once in the meeting with the ALJ, Medical Advisor, and Occupational

Therapist, everyone quickly agreed that I was disabled.

Don

-----Original

Message-----

From: Beth & Carl Walters

[mailto:bccj@...]

Sent: Thursday, October 26, 2000

3:29 PM

egroups

Subject: Re: [ ]

Social Security Disability

Don,

Thanks

for the info on SSD. May I ask what stage of the disease you are

in. I am newly diagnosed and don't know how the process works...

thanks

again, Beth

-----

Original Message -----

From: Don Hanson

egroups

Sent: Thursday, October 26,

2000 10:30 AM

Subject: RE: [ ]

Social Security Disability

Yes I do, I had to go through the administrative law judge to win

approval. There is no listing for AIH, so it usually takes an ALJ to make the

approval.

Don

Terradon Unlimited

http://www.TerradonUnlimited.com

" People who ask me how we can still have such a positive

attitude after all we’ve been through, have it all wrong…We’ve been able to get

through all that we have BECAUSE we have a positive attitude " . Don Hanson 8/2000

-----Original

Message-----

From: Beth Walters

[mailto:bccj@...]

Sent: Wednesday, October 25, 2000

7:37 PM

egroups

Subject: [ ] Social

Security Disability

Hi,

My name is Beth and I was just today diagnosed with Autoammune

Hepatitis. I was on a site that supposedly had a link about Social

Security Disability, but it didn't take me anywhere. Do many of you

with this disease receive ss disability? Just wondered. Any

help

would be appreciated.

thanks, Beth

October 26, 2000

Dear Jen, I hope I am not being too nosey,but i wanted to ask you a question

about working while on disability. I have been receiving SSDI for about 23

years. I got it at first for pulmonary problems and have added a few

autoimmune diseases since then. I was re-evaluated this summer for the very

first time and they decided to continue my benefits. I have called and asked

several times over the years about working part time and I have never really

understood how it works.. The lady I spoke to this week said it is a " gray

area " . Anyway, does this time you work count toward your trial period and do

you have to report it every time you work? I kind of got the impression that

it would be ok to just work a couple of days a week. Does your employer turn

in your taxes and everything just like for anybody else? I was lucky and

subbed in a dental office for a few years and he would just take it off my

bill.. Sort of a barter thing. But he has hired more people and they don't

need me very much anymore. I would love to get out and do something while I

am feeling good. Any information is greatly appreciated. Thanks, Jane

Totten

October 26, 2000

Beth..... Don knows more about this than I do. I`m on SSI from my

days before my transplant when I had end stage cirrhosis. It will

probably come up for review soon, but now I have multiple myeloma which

is terminal, and AIH also potentially terminal, which carries a lot of

weight in determining ability to work. I may have to do as Don said to

prove fatigue but thats what similar liver diseass cause, I am thinking

of looking into SSDI also and seeing what my options are. The great

thing about SSI is the medicaid which pays all my bills , prescriptions

included.

Jerry

Jerry,

How does SSI differ from SSD in the case of AIH?

thanks, Beth

ps My whole family lives in Medina! My mom own's a computer business

called PC Help and does work for alot of people in Akron

Re: [ ] Social Security Disability

> Beth..... many here are on SSI and many are on SSDI...... Try going to

> your local Social Security Administration office to find out your

> options..... ~im sure many others in this group will be glad to answer

> all questions.... I myslf am on SSI and receive medicaid benefits.

> jerry

> AIH

> Akron, Ohio

>

October 27, 2000

It is a grey area. The new ruling is "up to" $700/month. Where it gets grey is the number of hours worked. If, in earning up to $700/month you come close the the number of hours you used to work, you could lose your benefits. It is also grey when it comes to self employment. They figure that self employed can easily hide income, so they look at time worked.

No, this does not count toward a trial period.

Don

Terradon Unlimited

http://www.TerradonUnlimited.com

"People who ask me how we can still have such a positive attitude after all we’ve been through, have it all wrong…We’ve been able to get through all that we have BECAUSE we have a positive attitude". Don Hanson 8/2000

-----Original Message-----From: JANNTOT@... [mailto:JANNTOT@...]Sent: Thursday, October 26, 2000 11:58 PM egroupsSubject: Re: [ ] Social Security DisabilityDear Jen, I hope I am not being too nosey,but i wanted to ask you a question about working while on disability. I have been receiving SSDI for about 23 years. I got it at first for pulmonary problems and have added a few autoimmune diseases since then. I was re-evaluated this summer for the very first time and they decided to continue my benefits. I have called and asked several times over the years about working part time and I have never really understood how it works.. The lady I spoke to this week said it is a "gray area". Anyway, does this time you work count toward your trial period and do you have to report it every time you work? I kind of got the impression that it would be ok to just work a couple of days a week. Does your employer turn in your taxes and everything just like for anybody else? I was lucky and subbed in a dental office for a few years and he would just take it off my bill.. Sort of a barter thing. But he has hired more people and they don't need me very much anymore. I would love to get out and do something while I am feeling good. Any information is greatly appreciated. Thanks, Jane Totten

October 27, 2000

Jerry,

I guess I don't exactly understand the difference between SSI and SSDI and

when you qualify for Medicare? Does anyone want to explain to me the

difference? Do you get one or the other instead of both? Guess I don't

understand them.

I am so sorry to hear about the multiple myeloma... you received a liver

transplant in '95 didn't I read? Is this related? I've never heard of it.

take good care of yourself! may I ask how old you are? do you have

children?

Beth

Re: [ ] Social Security Disability

> Beth..... Don knows more about this than I do. I`m on SSI from my

> days before my transplant when I had end stage cirrhosis. It will

> probably come up for review soon, but now I have multiple myeloma which

> is terminal, and AIH also potentially terminal, which carries a lot of

> weight in determining ability to work. I may have to do as Don said to

> prove fatigue but thats what similar liver diseass cause, I am thinking

> of looking into SSDI also and seeing what my options are. The great

> thing about SSI is the medicaid which pays all my bills , prescriptions

> included.

> Jerry

>

October 27, 2000

Beth..... With SSI you automatically are eligible to apply for and

receive medicaid and food stamps since this program is based on income

and need plus inability to work. Medicaid and food stamps are

administered by each states` welfare program. SSDI is disability

benefits toward which each with a work history has paid into. I think

the amount is determined by how many " quarters " you have earned in your

work history, with SSDI you are eligible to receive medicare much like

those who receive retirement benefits. Medicare provides a limited

coverage. It`s worth discussing with the SSA office as you might be

eligible for one or the other or a combination. Go to - www.ssa.gov-

for info. Also.. Joanne posted a couple of lists yesterday with some

very good links concerning disability.

Actually.... yes..... the multiple myeloma is related to the

transplant..... I`m on daily doses of tacrolimus ( or FK506 ) ... trade

name Prograf... an anti-rejection immunosupressant that is known to

allow the proliferation of certain cancers as the immune system is

unable to stop their growth. Due to my transplant I have blood drawn

every month and the Sept. draw showed high LFTs. Rejection was suspected

but a biopsy revealed instead AIH. The Hep. thought I may have

contracted it from the many transfusions I had received from `93 thru

`95due to variceal bleeds or he hinted it may have been present in the

donor`s liver itself. I guess it really makes no difference.

love and serenity jerry