Letter for disability

September 23, 2005

Hi all,

I hope everyone is having a pain free day. I am finishing up all the

paperwork for SSD for today. I would like to submit a letter

from my husband and myself trying to explain his life changes. Have

any of you done this, or had a parent or friend write a letter for

you? What do you think are the important facts that I should

include? Is there any area I should avoid?? How do you explain that

one day last year my son left and this new sick son appeared. I

don't want to detail every part of his life that has changed because

it is everything, but I want them to feel the difference. The

letters his doctors wrote seem so cold and technical and I want them

to feel the pain the whole family goes through because of this

disease. Any opinions are appreciated. Thanks for all your help as

usual. from Michigan

September 23, 2005

Try to include everything I know it is alot to include but it will

help. I am on personal long term disability and recently my insurance

company wanted to know what has changed. I included simple things like

when doing the laundry it take me walking part of the load the coming

back for more. Whereas before I could take it all at once, and I am

single. Things like that really help. My life has totally changed in

the past two years since I started my disability. Hope this helps.

Walt

September 24, 2005

>>>>In pancreatitis , " " <lin5123@c...> wrote:

paperwork for SSD for today. I would like to submit a letter

from my husband and myself trying to explain his life changes.

from Michigan<<<<

Hi ,

Writing letters are great...make sure you have any letters to Social

Security NOTARIZED. You should write a letter or " Declaration " , as

should any close friends, or an employer, or anyone that has seen

what his illness has done to him. Here is a great message board with

many links on filing for SSDI:

http://groups.msn.com/SocialSecurityDisabilityCoalition/general.

In addition, there are very helpful articles written by a Disability

Attorney at this site:

http://www.scottdavispc.com/articles.html

Hope this info helps!!

Debbie/CA

September 26, 2005

Hi . I would definitely add letters from your husband & yourself giving

details of all the changes in Chris' daily life. Don't be too proud to complain;

don't hold back. The people considering Chris' case may or may not read your

letters, but what do you have to lose? I would explain how your healthy active

son has disappeared & been replaced by a constantly ill stranger who is unable

to participate in the activities that used to enjoy.

You write, " I don't want to detail every part of his life that has changed

because

it is everything, but I want them to feel the difference. " I must argue with

you about this. They need to know how much Chris' life has changed, in little

ways as well as major ways. If you don't tell them, how will they know?

Soc. security people focus on activities of daily life. Document a typical day

for now & in the past when he was healthy. Be detailed & specific. Discuss

everything from how he feels when he wakes in the morning, to what he can/cannot

do during the day, how often he needs pain meds & can't drive or do other things

because of taking the pain meds, how much of the day is spent in bed. Discuss

changes in work, social activities, family life.

When I applied for disability, I did all this, as well as providing a deluge of

medical records & letters from doctors. I buried them under a mountain of

papers! I'm not sure what did the trick, but I was accepted on the first try,

2-3 weeks after applying & also received back pay.

Hope this is helpful. Good luck.

Jan g

Date: Fri, 23 Sep 2005 17:19:23 -0000

From: " "

Subject: Letter for disability