Hi Everyone,
Hope you had a great holiday!!

I know this has been discussed before, but need to ask again.  Adam is getting to the point that he is missing a lot of work due to ch.  Fortunately, the people he works for understand.  However, when he doesn't work he doesn't get paid.  He is getting further and further behind, and so am I, trying to help him.
If anyone has been successful in getting SS disability, please let me know what you had to do and how long it took.  We are starting the process, it would just be nice to know what we are looking at.

Thanks,
Louise

I applied and it took me six months to get ssdi approved.  It was about 8 months before I saw the check including with back pay for the first 8 months since I applied plus my monthly allotment.  After being on it a year I was then awarded medicare type A and type B and type D.  I only took the type A which is hospital coverage.  I turned down the medical and drug coverage because I have excellent benefits through my husbands employer.  On any Jan 1 or if my husband were to lose his job I can pick up the part B and D.  I just didn't want to pay for it if I wasn't going to use it.  I would highly recomend you get a lawyer to help you fill out the paperwork.  Your chances of approval will be much higher.   

Thanks Karla.  I was going to get an attorney involved.  I did legal work for a long time and know the best of the best here.  Where do you live?  South Carolina is one of the hardest states for disability approval.  Can you tell me what information you submitted?   That might help out with SC Judges.

Thanks,
Louise

I sent you a pm wtih details please read it.

Took me two years but I got mine for epilepsy rather than CH. People don't believe it most of the time when you say seizures aren't controlled. It never was. >:(

You've done great though, Karla.

Charlie

why get a lawyer involved...is it necessary or can i do it w/o an attorney cause i dont think i can afford one
  Thanks,,Tess

I think I got it after around 6 months or so and I did it myself without a lawyer.  Just did the interviews over the phone and filled in the paperwork plus sent in some from this here website and OUCH.  And a long history of jobs and job losses due to medical issues.  ANd hospital stays.  Not sure what got me the SSD but I got it on the first try.  I had a fellow clusterhead help me out a bit too with what to expect and sent me a few documents too.  If I had a fax I'd fax them over to you.  But I think mainly it's the doctors and work part that they look at.

Tess,
There are attorneys who specialize in assisinting people who are trying to get Social Security.  The majority of them will take the case on a contingency basis (ans most times, the initial consultation is free).

Carolyn

I couldn't get any of those lawyers that advertise their services for this kind of thing. Not enough potential for them. They like disability only when grouped with personal injury here. I used a county legal aid service geek and while it took time, it worked.

Good luck.

Charlie

As far as attorneys are concerned, it depends on where you are.  In SC you will, almost, always be denied on the initial filing.  Then you get an attorney.  Most of them want you to be denied first.  I used to work for personal injury law firms and know the disability attorneys also.

I need to check and see if a friend of mine, who is a SSD Judge has retired.  If not, and I can get a Greenville, SC or Asheville, NC address for Adam to use then it would be no problem.  We used to be dance partners at conventions.  So, I am going to look into that.  Right now we are in the process of getting all of his medical records together.  The ones from Florida will probably be a pain to get, but that will establish how long he has had ch.

Thanks to everyone for the input.  It really means a lot to have this "home" to go to.

Love to all,
Louise

   I'm not familiar with where you are, but usually there are a few local organizations that are involved with seasoned citizens and the disabled. That have Social Security Advocates on their staffs, or know people in the community who do that type of work either Pro Bono or for a small fee. Your local County Social Services should have a list of these organizations.
   I intend to use them when I become a disabled seasoned citizen.... oh wait
[smiley=smokin.gif]

When my husband had his stroke, I filled out the first forms, sent them in and sent a copy to our Congressman with a request to help get it thru. The second bunch of paperwork - the same. It went thru the first time and he got his first check 6 months to the day he became disabled (the day he was eligible to receive the first check) without any hassel or argument or lawyer or even a doc's examination.

Amazing what a Congressman can cut thru...

Might want to try that...