HELP! IT'S HAPPENING AGAIN AND I'M HAVING PANIC ATTACKS NOW

[Guest guest]

Hi, I just got another letter a couple of weeks ago saying that my

benefits are stopping and I have to pay back $60,000. I got a lawyer

who said to start to reapply and he'll go to my hearing or push it

out. I'm having panic attacks. One person at the local office says

I'm getting a check this month the next person says I'm not. I need

those checks to survive and pay my mortgage. Below is my original

post to give you more of an idea of what I've going through.

(ORIGINAL MESSAGE)

Hi, I'm a 35 year old female from CT. I've had scoliosis since I was

about 8 or 9. I was suppose to wear my brace, but fought my parents,

so sooner or later my curve got so bad I needed surgery. Had surgery

when I was 14 in 1986. Have a double curve, can't remember the

exacts, but I know one of them was 98 degrees. My doctor at the time,

Dr. Banta, said that if I didn't have the surgery I would be in a

wheelchair by 21 and most likely be dead, from my lungs being

crushed. In any case had the A/P surgery. Spent a month in the

Newington Children's Hospital and came out with a 48 degree curve. I

was fused from about T-1 to L4. Life seem to have gotten better for

a while. But I always had pain in my right lower back even after the

surgery. Dr Banta said it was from the bone graph.

After many years I started to have major muscle spasms in my neck and

upper back. Most likely around 1992. Went to a chiropractor that

seemed to help for a bit. Then in 1994 had my son. Which was most

painful by the 8th month. Almost couldn't get an epidural because of

the scar tissue in my back. In any case pain was increasing through

the years.

Went to various doctors but no one seemed to find anything. So I

basically ignored it as much as I could and ate a lot of Advil.

Finally I decided to go back to Hartford Hospital to the Orthopedic

group. Since I don't qualify to go the Children's Hospital now. I

found a great Doctor that I love. Dr. Kime and his PA, Art Welch.

Went to them in 2003 due to increasing pain and numbness that was

starting. At that time he sent me for CAT Scans. I had degentative

discs and arthritis in my lower back. But he said nothing of the

numbness and said to come back if it got worse. Well a year later I

was back. This time my legs would completely give out on me. Had to

lean on the grocery cart for support and well shopping became a major

hassle. The diagnosis was severe spinal stenosis, degentive discs,

flatback and more, I can't quite remember the exacts. So I had to go

in for another major surgery in 2004. Had part of my lower rods

removed and added onto. I am now fused to S1. They did an Anterior

and Posterior this time also. During all of this I was not working.

I had been up to this time until I got laid off from another job.

I applied for disability and got it first try.

After about 4 to 5 months I went back in to have the battery they put

in taken out and then another 6 months I had part of the screws taken

out because they were petruding and rubbing on one of my ligaments or

muscles and that same right side was still killing me.

I started working again in 2005 because I didn't want to live off the

system, but it wasn't full time. In 2006 I had a review for my

disability at which this time I started working at a company that new

of my situation, still can't stand for long or sit for long. Can't

do any manual labor and let me lay down when needed. I still take

pain killers and muscle relaxers and shopping is still a major pain.

I ache all the time and life pretty much sucks. In any case I told

the case manager everything that was going on and they approved me

again.

From 2006 to now, I was working as much as I could until I got laid

off from that job, May of 2007, while I was on a medical leave,

because they made me do something at work that made me have a major

muscle spasm in my neck and shoulders and had a doctor's note saying

I was to be home resting. This was a small company and the owner

could be an asshole when he wanted. He didn't believe I was

disabled. But he did let me get away with a lot, like barely making

all my hours needed.

Now since my 2nd surgery I've been having more major muscle spasms

and then my left foot started to really hurt. I lean to the left so

I put more pressure on that foot. I finally decided to go to a foot

doctor because my Orthopedic didn't really help me. (I also have a

lift in my left shoe because of my leg differance) So the foot

doctor said I had sesamotitis. Which is a little bone in the bottom

of the foot between the end of the toe and the ball of the foot.

Mostly dancers or catchers have this because their foot is always

bent. So after many differant boots and cortisone shots, I just had

surgery on it. They took the bone out in hopes that this would help

my pain. I'm now in a surgical boot. Just had the surgery on

December 19th.

I did decide to try to work again and have been there for about 3

months. I still get up a lot and I'm not sure if I'll be able to

stay there. I just don't want to live off the system. But I don't

want to lose my disability either. It's more of a I'm going to lose

everything thing either way.

So I the whole point of this post is that I got a letter in the mail

the other day saying that Social Security wants to take away my

benefits and wants me to pay them back since 2005! Of course I'm

freaking out. But in the letter they say I'm still working for the

prior company that I got laid off of and I didn't try working again

for another 6 months. They also don't know that I had foot surgery

now because of the scoliosis and stenosis. My issue is that I'm only

35 and that's pretty young to be in such pain and be disabled. I do

as much as I can, but I get weared down quick. I don't want to go to

jail, nor can I pay them back. I used it to pay my mortgage. I just

think that I'm going to be back on it again if they take it away.

Plus they knew of all that was going on when I had my review in

2006. So I have to call them tomorrow and a lawyer. According to my

husband and father I should call a lawyer first.

I need advise, please help!

Sorry for such a long post. But I wanted to give you guys the whole

story.

[Guest guest]

,

When you went back to work, did you go through the Ticket to Work

Program? That way your benefits and Medicare are protected for a

while, in case you cannot tolerate working. Also, if you made more

than the SGA (Substantial Gainful Amount, currently $900/mo or so,

but it changes every year), then they most likely WILL require you to

pay back benefits for each month that you went over. Did you tell

social security that you were working again when you got your jobs?

If so, I'm surprised they didn't warn you of these things or ask that

you try the Ticket program.

Oh, but if you had to pay for any expenses out of pocket to

accomodate your disability in order to work, they may decide that

they are " qualified expenses " that can help offset the total you can

earn towards the SGA. For instance, if a person, in order to get to

work, had to pay for a special taxi to accomodate their wheelchair

because the public transportation system couldn't accomodate them,

then the extra expense of the taxi might be deductible. I'm not well-

versed on these things, but that's my best understanding of it.

Good luck with it all!

>

> Hi, I just got another letter a couple of weeks ago saying that my

> benefits are stopping and I have to pay back $60,000. I got a

lawyer

> who said to start to reapply and he'll go to my hearing or push it

> out. I'm having panic attacks. One person at the local office

says

> I'm getting a check this month the next person says I'm not. I

need

> those checks to survive and pay my mortgage. Below is my original

> post to give you more of an idea of what I've going through.

>

>

[Guest guest]

,

I am sorry this is happening, and honestly I haven't any experience

with SSDI and the like. I think your best bet is to hire the

attorney in your area that has the most experience in these types of

matters. I will guess that in some ways whatever happens going

forward will be a bit of a negotiation...so finding someone who has

done well in this regard should help. I would say that it won't hurt

to " qualify " your attorney just like you would a surgeon...check

him/her out as thoroughly as you can.

I am guessing that you don't have access to a union or even a human

resources department?....those are the only other work related

places where I believe you might find additonal help working through

all the nuances of the SS system.

had some good ideas...hopefully others who have been through

some of this will have other ideas. I know we have a couple members

who have either worked in the SS claims area, or HR...so perhaps

more info will be forthcoming.

If you are having panic attacks, perhaps it would be a good idea to

talk this over with your PCP or find mental health support. In my

home town the services are free to a sliding scale and I imagine you

might benefit from having ready emotional support as you go through

this stressful time.

It really stinks....here you are stretched to the limit, in pain and

you have to deal with this.

For whatever it's worth...we are at least here to listen.

Take Care, Cam

[Guest guest]

Dear ,

Boy!!! do I hate bullies! And this is a bully tactic. This my sweet

girl, is only my opinion. First of all, take a deep breathe. It is a

tactic to get you to cower verses fighting back. Don't take it.

Second, my course of action would be this, call the doctor who did

the foot surgery and have them write a letter and get a report of the

foot, xrays and office notes. Second, make an appt with the surgeon

who did your surgery in 2004?? Express yet again your symptoms, then

have them write a letter and get copies of the office visit and their

notes. 3rd, I can tell you love your surgeons but is it time to seek

out another opinion from a flatback revision specialist?? No offense

meant but sometimes a fresh set of eyes is what is needed to identify

the issue. As you know, it is a highly specialized field dealing

with flatback revision and seeing another one of the very known

specialist in the country can't hurt right? My tactic here would be

ammunition, xrays, CAT scans, MRI's, notes, surgery notes from 2004,

a list of limitations you have now maybe expressed from a primary

care in yet another report. Once armed, make an appt with the

department, bring a lawyer, if not, then a friend and a tape

recorder. That always gets them, " I would like to record this

conversation please for my notes. "

If after this visit and reapplying, they still do not agree then by

golly, let them take you to court. At that point you will have all

the ammunition you need. This is probably the longest post I have

written in a long time, mainly because we have similar stories for

the early part. Anyway, like I said, I hate bullies so, have a glass

of wine (well maybe later it is 9am here)and write a game plan and

tackle it one step at a time and get all the supporting documentation

you need. Nobody, has the right to tell us we are fit to work

society. Some of us are lucky enough to feel well enough to get out

there and some are not so lucky. Either way, it is up to you to

decide not anybody else. That is why we pay taxes to start with.

Stinking bullies. Good luck . VC ( C)

, " buffyyourass1169 "

<angela.goudy@...> wrote:

>

> Hi, I just got another letter a couple of weeks ago saying that my

> benefits are stopping and I have to pay back $60,000. I got a

lawyer

> who said to start to reapply and he'll go to my hearing or push it

> out. I'm having panic attacks. One person at the local office

says

> I'm getting a check this month the next person says I'm not. I

need

> those checks to survive and pay my mortgage. Below is my original

> post to give you more of an idea of what I've going through.

>

>

>

>

> (ORIGINAL MESSAGE)

> Hi, I'm a 35 year old female from CT. I've had scoliosis since I was

> about 8 or 9. I was suppose to wear my brace, but fought my parents,

> so sooner or later my curve got so bad I needed surgery. Had surgery

> when I was 14 in 1986. Have a double curve, can't remember the

> exacts, but I know one of them was 98 degrees. My doctor at the

time,

> Dr. Banta, said that if I didn't have the surgery I would be in a

> wheelchair by 21 and most likely be dead, from my lungs being

> crushed. In any case had the A/P surgery. Spent a month in the

> Newington Children's Hospital and came out with a 48 degree curve. I

> was fused from about T-1 to L4. Life seem to have gotten better for

> a while. But I always had pain in my right lower back even after the

> surgery. Dr Banta said it was from the bone graph.

>

> After many years I started to have major muscle spasms in my neck

and

> upper back. Most likely around 1992. Went to a chiropractor that

> seemed to help for a bit. Then in 1994 had my son. Which was most

> painful by the 8th month. Almost couldn't get an epidural because of

> the scar tissue in my back. In any case pain was increasing through

> the years.

>

> Went to various doctors but no one seemed to find anything. So I

> basically ignored it as much as I could and ate a lot of Advil.

> Finally I decided to go back to Hartford Hospital to the Orthopedic

> group. Since I don't qualify to go the Children's Hospital now. I

> found a great Doctor that I love. Dr. Kime and his PA, Art Welch.

> Went to them in 2003 due to increasing pain and numbness that was

> starting. At that time he sent me for CAT Scans. I had degentative

> discs and arthritis in my lower back. But he said nothing of the

> numbness and said to come back if it got worse. Well a year later I

> was back. This time my legs would completely give out on me. Had to

> lean on the grocery cart for support and well shopping became a

major

> hassle. The diagnosis was severe spinal stenosis, degentive discs,

> flatback and more, I can't quite remember the exacts. So I had to go

> in for another major surgery in 2004. Had part of my lower rods

> removed and added onto. I am now fused to S1. They did an Anterior

> and Posterior this time also. During all of this I was not working.

> I had been up to this time until I got laid off from another job.

>

> I applied for disability and got it first try.

>

> After about 4 to 5 months I went back in to have the battery they

put

> in taken out and then another 6 months I had part of the screws

taken

> out because they were petruding and rubbing on one of my ligaments

or

> muscles and that same right side was still killing me.

>

> I started working again in 2005 because I didn't want to live off

the

> system, but it wasn't full time. In 2006 I had a review for my

> disability at which this time I started working at a company that

new

> of my situation, still can't stand for long or sit for long. Can't

> do any manual labor and let me lay down when needed. I still take

> pain killers and muscle relaxers and shopping is still a major pain.

> I ache all the time and life pretty much sucks. In any case I told

> the case manager everything that was going on and they approved me

> again.

>

> From 2006 to now, I was working as much as I could until I got laid

> off from that job, May of 2007, while I was on a medical leave,

> because they made me do something at work that made me have a major

> muscle spasm in my neck and shoulders and had a doctor's note saying

> I was to be home resting. This was a small company and the owner

> could be an asshole when he wanted. He didn't believe I was

> disabled. But he did let me get away with a lot, like barely making

> all my hours needed.

>

> Now since my 2nd surgery I've been having more major muscle spasms

> and then my left foot started to really hurt. I lean to the left so

> I put more pressure on that foot. I finally decided to go to a foot

> doctor because my Orthopedic didn't really help me. (I also have a

> lift in my left shoe because of my leg differance) So the foot

> doctor said I had sesamotitis. Which is a little bone in the bottom

> of the foot between the end of the toe and the ball of the foot.

> Mostly dancers or catchers have this because their foot is always

> bent. So after many differant boots and cortisone shots, I just had

> surgery on it. They took the bone out in hopes that this would help

> my pain. I'm now in a surgical boot. Just had the surgery on

> December 19th.

>

> I did decide to try to work again and have been there for about 3

> months. I still get up a lot and I'm not sure if I'll be able to

> stay there. I just don't want to live off the system. But I don't

> want to lose my disability either. It's more of a I'm going to lose

> everything thing either way.

>

> So I the whole point of this post is that I got a letter in the mail

> the other day saying that Social Security wants to take away my

> benefits and wants me to pay them back since 2005! Of course I'm

> freaking out. But in the letter they say I'm still working for the

> prior company that I got laid off of and I didn't try working again

> for another 6 months. They also don't know that I had foot surgery

> now because of the scoliosis and stenosis. My issue is that I'm only

> 35 and that's pretty young to be in such pain and be disabled. I do

> as much as I can, but I get weared down quick. I don't want to go to

> jail, nor can I pay them back. I used it to pay my mortgage. I just

> think that I'm going to be back on it again if they take it away.

> Plus they knew of all that was going on when I had my review in

> 2006. So I have to call them tomorrow and a lawyer. According to my

> husband and father I should call a lawyer first.

>

> I need advise, please help!

>

> Sorry for such a long post. But I wanted to give you guys the whole

> story.

>

[Guest guest]

Dear ,

First I totally agree with , they will hound you to see if you give up, don't. I had to fight my insurance company for months about the physicians assistant on my surgery, a 9,000 bill there was no way I could pay. First, I say keep very good books. When speaking to anyone, write down names, dates and times you spoke to them. Keep a binder with all correspondance back and forth, keep everything in one place. Look at it as a job, it is. I actually wore the insurance company down and they paid, but if I hadn't been persistant, they would have gotten away with denying the bill. Also, be firm, but speak to them like you would want to be spoken too, always get more with honey than vinegar.

, Cam, and all had good points, a well versed labor attorney or one who deals with disability would be your best bet.

I'm concerned on how all this is affecting you, you sound very depressed( and who wouldn't be), so please seek out some help for the panic attacks and your feeling of being overwhelmed. Pain and then the stress of all this would get to anyone, getting help when you feel this way is a sign of strength. Know I get it, and am sending you a hug from out here in Colorado!

Colorado Springs

[ ] Re: HELP! IT'S HAPPENING AGAIN AND I'M HAVING PANIC ATTACKS NOW

Dear ,Boy!!! do I hate bullies! And this is a bully tactic. This my sweetgirl, is only my opinion. First of all, take a deep breathe. It is a tactic to get you to cower verses fighting back. Don't take it. Second, my course of action would be this, call the doctor who did the foot surgery and have them write a letter and get a report of the foot, xrays and office notes. Second, make an appt with the surgeon who did your surgery in 2004?? Express yet again your symptoms, then have them write a letter and get copies of the office visit and their notes. 3rd, I can tell you love your surgeons but is it time to seek out another opinion from a flatback revision specialist?? No offense meant but sometimes a fresh set of eyes is what is needed to identify the issue. As you know, it is a highly specialized field dealing with flatback revision and seeing another one of the very known specialist in the country can't hurt right? My tactic here would be ammunition, xrays, CAT scans, MRI's, notes, surgery notes from 2004, a list of limitations you have now maybe expressed from a primary care in yet another report. Once armed, make an appt with the department, bring a lawyer, if not, then a friend and a tape recorder. That always gets them, "I would like to record this conversation please for my notes."If after this visit and reapplying, they still do not agree then by golly, let them take you to court. At that point you will have all the ammunition you need. This is probably the longest post I have written in a long time, mainly because we have similar stories for the early part. Anyway, like I said, I hate bullies so, have a glass of wine (well maybe later it is 9am here)and write a game plan and tackle it one step at a time and get all the supporting documentation you need. Nobody, has the right to tell us we are fit to work society. Some of us are lucky enough to feel well enough to get out there and some are not so lucky. Either way, it is up to you to decide not anybody else. That is why we pay taxes to start with. Stinking bullies. Good luck . VC ( C) , "buffyyourass1169" <angela.goudy@...> wrote:>> Hi, I just got another letter a couple of weeks ago saying that my > benefits are stopping and I have to pay back $60,000. I got a lawyer > who said to start to reapply and he'll go to my hearing or push it > out. I'm having panic attacks. One person at the local office says > I'm getting a check this month the next person says I'm not. I need > those checks to survive and pay my mortgage. Below is my original > post to give you more of an idea of what I've going through.> > > > > (ORIGINAL MESSAGE)> Hi, I'm a 35 year old female from CT. I've had scoliosis since I was> about 8 or 9. I was suppose to wear my brace, but fought my parents,> so sooner or later my curve got so bad I needed surgery. Had surgery> when I was 14 in 1986. Have a double curve, can't remember the> exacts, but I know one of them was 98 degrees. My doctor at the time,> Dr. Banta, said that if I didn't have the surgery I would be in a> wheelchair by 21 and most likely be dead, from my lungs being> crushed. In any case had the A/P surgery. Spent a month in the> Newington Children's Hospital and came out with a 48 degree curve. I> was fused from about T-1 to L4. Life seem to have gotten better for> a while. But I always had pain in my right lower back even after the> surgery. Dr Banta said it was from the bone graph.> > After many years I started to have major muscle spasms in my neck and> upper back. Most likely around 1992. Went to a chiropractor that> seemed to help for a bit. Then in 1994 had my son. Which was most> painful by the 8th month. Almost couldn't get an epidural because of> the scar tissue in my back. In any case pain was increasing through> the years.> > Went to various doctors but no one seemed to find anything. So I> basically ignored it as much as I could and ate a lot of Advil.> Finally I decided to go back to Hartford Hospital to the Orthopedic> group. Since I don't qualify to go the Children's Hospital now. I> found a great Doctor that I love. Dr. Kime and his PA, Art Welch.> Went to them in 2003 due to increasing pain and numbness that was> starting. At that time he sent me for CAT Scans. I had degentative> discs and arthritis in my lower back. But he said nothing of the> numbness and said to come back if it got worse. Well a year later I> was back. This time my legs would completely give out on me. Had to> lean on the grocery cart for support and well shopping became a major> hassle. The diagnosis was severe spinal stenosis, degentive discs,> flatback and more, I can't quite remember the exacts. So I had to go> in for another major surgery in 2004. Had part of my lower rods> removed and added onto. I am now fused to S1. They did an Anterior> and Posterior this time also. During all of this I was not working.> I had been up to this time until I got laid off from another job.> > I applied for disability and got it first try.> > After about 4 to 5 months I went back in to have the battery they put> in taken out and then another 6 months I had part of the screws taken> out because they were petruding and rubbing on one of my ligaments or> muscles and that same right side was still killing me.> > I started working again in 2005 because I didn't want to live off the> system, but it wasn't full time. In 2006 I had a review for my> disability at which this time I started working at a company that new> of my situation, still can't stand for long or sit for long. Can't> do any manual labor and let me lay down when needed. I still take> pain killers and muscle relaxers and shopping is still a major pain.> I ache all the time and life pretty much sucks. In any case I told> the case manager everything that was going on and they approved me> again.> > From 2006 to now, I was working as much as I could until I got laid> off from that job, May of 2007, while I was on a medical leave,> because they made me do something at work that made me have a major> muscle spasm in my neck and shoulders and had a doctor's note saying> I was to be home resting. This was a small company and the owner> could be an asshole when he wanted. He didn't believe I was> disabled. But he did let me get away with a lot, like barely making> all my hours needed.> > Now since my 2nd surgery I've been having more major muscle spasms> and then my left foot started to really hurt. I lean to the left so> I put more pressure on that foot. I finally decided to go to a foot> doctor because my Orthopedic didn't really help me. (I also have a> lift in my left shoe because of my leg differance) So the foot> doctor said I had sesamotitis. Which is a little bone in the bottom> of the foot between the end of the toe and the ball of the foot.> Mostly dancers or catchers have this because their foot is always> bent. So after many differant boots and cortisone shots, I just had> surgery on it. They took the bone out in hopes that this would help> my pain. I'm now in a surgical boot. Just had the surgery on> December 19th.> > I did decide to try to work again and have been there for about 3> months. I still get up a lot and I'm not sure if I'll be able to> stay there. I just don't want to live off the system. But I don't> want to lose my disability either. It's more of a I'm going to lose> everything thing either way.> > So I the whole point of this post is that I got a letter in the mail> the other day saying that Social Security wants to take away my> benefits and wants me to pay them back since 2005! Of course I'm> freaking out. But in the letter they say I'm still working for the> prior company that I got laid off of and I didn't try working again> for another 6 months. They also don't know that I had foot surgery> now because of the scoliosis and stenosis. My issue is that I'm only> 35 and that's pretty young to be in such pain and be disabled. I do> as much as I can, but I get weared down quick. I don't want to go to> jail, nor can I pay them back. I used it to pay my mortgage. I just> think that I'm going to be back on it again if they take it away.> Plus they knew of all that was going on when I had my review in> 2006. So I have to call them tomorrow and a lawyer. According to my> husband and father I should call a lawyer first.> > I need advise, please help!> > Sorry for such a long post. But I wanted to give you guys the whole> story.>