Question about job interview

I quit working in 2008 and filed for disability.  Got turned down, applied for an appeal.  Then I found out the PCP I've been seeing for nearly 10 years doesn't "believe" in fibro and wrote a letter to the SSA stating I was a malingerer (his words)and depressed adn overweight and blah blah blah.  So I got a lawyer and he told me that letter would be what the judge focused on and it didn't look good, although the psychologist said he believed that I was really in pain.  In the meantime, the PCP's NP started teaching him about fibro and he did finally sign a form stating all my physical limitations last fall.  THEN the lawyer says it's worse now because we have the first letter and now two years later the same doctor is signing the form.  So, that's a BIG contradiction by the doctor and the lawyer thought we would have less than a 50/50 chance if we went forward.  So I dropped my case.  I can re-file but first have to get adequate documentation from doctor to provide accurate electronic medical records.  Seems when I go in and I'm crying and in pain, they will state my condition in the "subjective" part of the form, but they never go in to the examination part of the form and change anything, so it always says, "The patient is alert and oriented and in no acute distress."  The lawyer said the judge would also pick up on that.  Now I don't know what to do.  We are barely making it because I haven't worked in such a long time.  Hubby is facing mandaory retirement in two years and his retirement pay will go WAY down.

So, I thought that I would apply for a job and see if I could work again.  However, I don't know what I would say in an interview if they asked me about physical limitations.  And, is it even legal in the US for them to ask that up front?  I thought if I tried working again and then just couldn't do it, that would give me more ....trying to think of the word...creedence?....with the SSA.  I don't know what to do.  I think I'm doing better than I was two years ago, exactly because I HAVEN'T worked for two years.  But I don't know how long I could hold down a job.  It would require a lot of computer work and attention to detail. 

Do you think I should apply for the job? 

wow, I just don't know what to say. the only thing I can say is " I wish you luck with your re-filing" and am sorry you are going thru all this.

I know that it doesn't help you now, but your experience will help others know what to look for in their doctors and doc. notes, and give ideas on what to "not do".

hope your day ends much better than it started, Denita

I have an answer to your question about the interview! Luckily, the profession for my senior seminar before I graduated gave us a list she found of questions interviewers can and can't ask you legally. Here are a few related ones for you...

Can’t: Do you have any disabilities?
Can: Are you able to perform the specific duties of this position?

Can’t: Have you had any recent or past illnesses or operations?
Can: Are you able to perform the essential functions of this job with or without
reasonable accommodations?

Can’t: How many sick days did you take last year?
Can: How many days of work did you miss last year?

Can’t: How much longer do you plan to work before you retire?
Can: What are your long-term career goals?

I've been working almost non-stop since I was 15 and am now 27, so I've had tons of experience applying and interviewing for jobs. If you have any more questions, feel free to PM me for my e-mail. I can give you a few tips based on your post, though.

If you can sit at a desk long enough to do the job or whatever the essential functions are, you are not required to disclose any illness or disability. You also don't have to tell them about sick days or how long before you retire. If they ask you about the time gap between jobs, I would either tell them you had to leave work because of personal family matters, or that were ill for a while but are healthy enough to work now. Just try not to worry about it too much; they might sense if you're nervous about certain topics. Speak matter-of-factly about the subject if they bring it up.

I would try thinking of what limitations you have and find a job that you can physically do. I know it's hard to find a job like that, trust me, but I've found a bunch of jobs on Craigslist that meet my physical criteria. Just don't rule anything out! Get a little creative with looking for jobs. Craigslist has work as normal as clerical jobs and as varied as at home dog sitting. You're bound to find something you can do. Just don't expect to find something quickly and don't get discouraged; the job market is TERRIBLE right now and that has nothing to do with who you are or how qualified you are. I'm highly qualified and for several positions and have a degree, and have only had two interviews in two months.

I made a document of the full list of questions interviewers can/can't ask if anyone is interested. Knowing these things are important for ANYONE looking for a job. I was surprised by a lot of the questions they can't ask!

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1zc69IQsboJLNaB81NLE4yaApdLypJVfYXvKs34x7EtA/edit?hl=en&authkey=CK7zmsUI

I hope some of that helps you out! Good luck finding a job. :)

Thanks for your help, livingdeadinside.  I wasn't sure what they could ask and what they couldn't.  I once applied for a job as a medical transcriptionist, and the interviewer asked, "Where would you like to be in five years?"  I answered, "Working at home."  She really was taken aback, but I got the job.

You said:

Can: Are you able to perform the essential functions of this job with or without
reasonable accommodations?

I would have to be honest and say I need to be able to get up at regular intervals and stretch, because I know sitting for 8 hours a day doing a bookkeeping job on the computer would be about the same as sitting there and transcribing for 8 hours.  I can't wear anything except comfortable shoes because of heel spurs, so dress shoes are out for me.  I can't be around perfume or any strong odor or I will have an asthma attack.  (I'm such a PITB...really)...

As for the career goals, I'm 55; it's not like I have 20 years to give them.  I don't have any career goals at this time.  If I go to work, it's just for the pay and to help my hubby.

_________________________________________________

Simplistic, thanks for your reply, too.  I'm in Colorado.  I do have a work history and have all the quarters required.  I passed the means test and can apply all the way up to 2013.  I wonder if I was told to go before the judge after I applied for an appeal because of the doctor's letter.

Changing doctors is not easy in this little town.  That is why I see his nurse practitioner instead of him.  But if he has now come around to believing HER that fibro is REAL, I think I can work with that.  He has also recently hired a nurse who has fibro and has been out of work for 6 years and now is coming back into the office three days a week, so I imagine he will learn from her.  The weird thing is that he has always treated my pain, but I just wasn't aware of how he truly felt about chronic pain or fibro.  I think if I re-file, the NP can fill out the SS physical ability form (or whatever it is called) and he will sign it this time.  I will be seeing the NP on Thursday and will ask her if my previous reports can be amended. I will see if she can see me monthly to establish that I'm being seen for pain control. 

I will also have to write a letter to the neuropsychologist, because he wrote in my file that I had diabetes, colon cancer, and something else...those are in my family history, not personal history, but the doctor's notes are so convoluted that it is hard to read them.

As for the rheumatologist:  I was diagnosed by a rheumie in the mid 1990s, but he really has no interest in following me long-term for the fibro. In fact, his entire practice sees very few people with fibromyalgia; basically just to diagnose them and then send them to someone else to be managed. And he would rather a pain specialist handle pain meds if my PCP won't do it.  He has been following me since 1996 about twice a year to do arthritis panels because I had some positive ANAs a few times.  He knows something is going on there but thinks it is just UCTD (undifferentiated connective tissue disease) because it hasn't evolved into full-blown lupus.  I just had a new round of lupus panels run by him, and they were all negative.  It is also hard to find a new rheumie.  I live 2 hours from his office, which is in a city of over 500,000, and I think they have something like 9 rheumatologists to handle the whole city and all the outlying areas.  However, he said he would be amenable to answering any of SS's questions and give them records. 

I'm also supposed to go see a dermatologist.  I get a weird rash that looks a lot like the lupus rash, but it comes and goes.  When I have it, it lasts several days and I have no energy whatsoever.  I can barely get out of bed.  That is why the rheumie did the last round of lupus panels.

I haven't seen a psychologist yet because of money problems.  However, I didn't have the depression and anxiety diagnoses when I initially filed, so those would probably be in my favor if/when I re-file. 

I looked up the judge I would have had on the appeal and her approval rate is 57%.  Another judge in the same town has an approval rate of 80%.

My hubby is wonderful and would be okay with anything I decide to do. 

Thank you both for answering. 

Livingdead...

(gosh, I feel uncomfortable writing your name but I do understand why you would feel that way)

We have a 'sticky' at the top of page one, it's the first item on the Topics list, and it's called Fibro 101. Your list would be very useful to many people with fibromyalgia. May we put the link to your list in our 101 post?

I will respect whatever your answer is.

Thanks for your consideration...
Chutz

Chutz, not only is this doctor limited in his knowledge, he is a proud member of Mensa!  That's an oxymoron, isn't it?  Either that, or just plain arrogant.