SSD

[Guest guest]

Maxine,

You wrote, " I have filed for SSD and I wondered has anyone gotten it for the

diagnosis of sod? "

I agree with Kimber about listing absolutely everything. I believe my SSD was

awarded due to a host of medical problems, how they collectively affected my

work performance, vs an isolated diagnosis. The psych exam is very important

because it states your ability to perform ADL's and function well enough to

keep a regular 'work' schedule and interact with others. (Or not as the case may

be). The key thing here is that pancreatitis cycles, which doesn't mean we

have good days and bad days ... we may just have bad days and worse days. My

psych exam said that both the disease and the drugs caused cognitive impairment,

poor memory, inability to concentrate, placing myself and others at risk for

injury. In addition, the issue of chronic pain caused an inability to think

clearly and poor problem solving skills. The depression was so severe it

literally

was paralyzing. Overall, I could not perform my current job duties nor did I

have an ability to learn new skills.

It is important to always remind yourself who is receiving this information

and why. It is not so much about how the pain and disease process has affected

you personally, per se. Your psycho-social & biophysical response to this

catastrophic insult results in 'adverse conditions' or 'symptoms'...you hurt,

you

can't eat, you cry, etc., etc., etc. The disability process isn't looking at

how this disease has affected YOU, the process is looking at how this disease

has affected your ability to perform your JOB description.

Good Luck!

Karyn E. , RN

Executive Director, PAI

http://www.pancassociation.org

Pancreatitis Association International

[Guest guest]

Heidi,

You provided some very good info for those beginning the battle of getting SSD.

Again, I was VERY lucky to have mine approved so quickly! Thank goodness for

the wonderful SS judge in Florence, Alabama who took one look at my claim and

decided it was ridiculous that it wasn't approved initially and would only waste

taxpayers money to make me go through a hearing! I applied in March 2003, the

very last day prior to my disability retirement beginning. I was turned down in

June 2003 - while I was in the hospital for a total of 11 or 12 days with major

panc attacks and was finally officially diagnosed with cp vs recurring acute

panc. I filed the appeal right before the 60 day deadline in August 2003. I

think I got a call from a woman that worked for the judge less than a week after

I mailed the appeal. I know it was early August. I didn't get the judge's

letter and paperwork until around the beginning of Sep 2003, but the woman had

told me it would take a few weeks for them to get the paperwork to me because

they were right in the middle of moving to new offices. I received my first SSD

payment near the end of October 2003 for the month of Sep 2003, which was the

first month I was eligible to get SSD since you have to be out of work for five

months.

So, I actually received SSD the absolute earliest that I could possibly receive

it! As most can attest, that is VERY unusual!

W

-------------------------------------------------

This message has been scanned for viruses and

dangerous content by PCLNET, and is

believed to be clean.

Visit www.pclnet.net and get a 3Mbps cable modem!

-------------------------------------------------