disability

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Here are some of Connie's posts (in italics). More to come.

I'm sorry I forgot something (does that sound familiar) The mental challeges we face, put all of them down; if you have short term memory problems, long term memory problems, trouble remembering to take your medicine, concentration problems, trouble finding words, trouble understanding or following directions sometimes, etc

To: Neurosarcoidosis From: conaugusta@...Date: Sat, 4 Sep 2010 09:12:44 -0700

OK this is about as odd as it gets. I've have been so sick for such a while now that I literally deleted over 6,000 emails because I had felt to bad to check my email. This was just a few days ago. I am home and decide I feel good enough to check my email, and I go to this email. I am still working for social security.

Rose your daughter got approved quickly because she "meets a listing". Marla if you get the information in my last message, and like I say be brutally honest about your limitations, have your doctor write a statement (these carry an extreme amount of weight), and be very meticulous about every little thing you do in your jobs, the outcome should be good. One other thing you want to make a point of pointing out, expecially if you are under 55 is that you can not maintain a 40 hr work week. Also, if you think you may be going to have problems, after you apply contact your local congressman or representative. DDS sits up and takes extreme notice when this is done. And I wasn't kidding about the lawyer thing, I just assisted a nephew of my pastor's who is 35 and has cancer. He thought because his disability ins told him they had contacted this lawyer for him that he had to keep him. This lawyer did absolutely NOTHING, and collected 4,000.00 dollars of the back pay due this young man, who by the way is married and a father of 4. You have my email address if you have any questions, and don't be afraid to fight. (conaugusta@...) If any of you need to call me just email me and I will send you my cell #. I am trying to check my emails now like I should. Been having some weird problems lately, but we'll figure it out. Even though I go missing sometimes, I think of you all often. Connie (Oh if you ever want to see what the listings are go to ssa.gov and look for "SSA Blue Book")

Well, it wouldn't hurt to start the process, as it may take quite awhile. Now my daughter Ginny got approved on the first try, in about 3 months. I was astonished. She was on long-term TPN (formula feedings through IV's for the non-medical folks out there), after about a year of j-tube feeding (tube directly into small bowel through her belly), so maybe that impressed them. Or maybe she just got lucky.

Marla, here is one of Connie's posts about disability. I'll be sending some more through today.

As to the bottom question, it is all offices on the initial or recon level. You just have to remember on the recon level, something has to change in the allegations or the decision will usually remain the same. I do all initial cases now. I don't understand why it is commonly thought that lawyers change our opinion. They do not write up paperwork and send it to us. They may help the client fill out their paperwork, or forward medical records; but that's about it. Occasionally, the client will want us to talk through them, but that doesn't change anything either.

Jackie, age, type of work, description of past work, and adult funtioning paperwork are all things that can cause a case to have problems. Even though I am older (53); the fact that I do what is considered a sedentary job (computer work-office work) this can hinder approval for someone like me. If you are 49 or younger, or if your job is less physical; such as mine it is a little more difficult. If he can get his doctor to write a "Medical Source Statement" regarding his limitations this is extremely helpful for him, and have family and friends write letters describing how limited he is, plus answer the adult functioning paperwork himself "brutally" honestly, it will help When someone is fighting fibromyalgia they need to tell us just how awfully limiting it is. How limited he is as far as standing, sitting, how much it affects his sleep, how much it limits the amount of weight he can pick up, how far he can walk, how much household activity is limited, how severely it has changed his life; and then when he writes up his job sit down and think of all the things he does. Does he carry equipment, does he drive alot, does he walk alot, does he go long distances from building to building, is it painful for him to sit, is it painful to stand, walk, etc. Is he exposed to the weather (high heat, cold, etc.), and how does this affect him. Medical records only tell us so much, and function is the key word as far as disability is concerned. If it proceeds, and gets to the court appeal level he needs an atty then. It is also better if for some reason you are initially denied, that you refile a new case; recon cases seem to have more trouble. I have found cases that should have been approved the first time and reopened them back to the first case, it happens. Hope this helps, you can always ask a question, I will do my best to answer it. I just can't work on cases of people I personally know. connie