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Posted 8/17/2012 4:54 PM (GMT 0)
Part 1 of this thread is here: www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=24&m=2477578
Part 2 of this thread is here: www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=24&m=2481626

If you have been approved for disability and fibro was part of your diagnosis, we could really use your help with these questions! (Feel free to add more questions/advice!)

Snowbunny21 said...
Ok...now I am confused...LOL...

Just spoke with my Dr. and that (www.disabilitysecrets.com/page1-1.html) was not the RFC forms he was doing the other day. So now I don't know whether I am supposed to get these to him or SS will do this...

Anyone who has already been approved...can you explain if this is always sent to the DR. to fill out? I am reading that these are so important to one's case....

karona said...
I am having the worst time with this section (on the Function Report). It's the one section that I feel could really hurt my case if I mess it up. I don't know the best way to answer without getting the wrong idea across. Please help!!!

14. HOUSE AND YARD WORK

a. List household chores, both indoors and outdoors, that you are able to do. (For example, cleaning, laundry, household repairs, ironing, mowing, etc.)

ladym said...
I filed for SSDI and SSI last May and was denied. That was before I was diagnosed with fibro. What steps would I take to get my new diagnoses submitted. All of the other Drs. that I have seen were clueless. I am not even sure if the new Dr. is on board with not working when having fibro...............Any suggestions.

Posted 8/18/2012 12:01 AM (GMT 0)
I had no problem filling out what I can do. I put down my worse days. I was very sick at the time. It was kind of frustrating because the Dr's don't want to seem to put the time into it. Too busy. I payed for the office visit to fill out paper work only. I didn't leave the paper work because they seem to forget who you really are and they fill it out inaccurate. Example I cant lift more then five pounds, but some Dr's put I could. My neck is solid metal and screws. Then you get so many discrepancy and it blows your case. Maybe a lawyer helps in this case. I didn't need one. Do you suffer from depression? I just finally lost it at the end I couldn't cope with the pain and I was in a mess. I just couldn't funtion at the time.
Posted 8/18/2012 11:47 AM (GMT 0)
Karona, I wanted to let you know I locked your other two threads so others won't keep posting on them, too.  It could get quite confusing.  I did refer people to the other threads though and that will lead them to this thread.

 

As far as filling out the forms, be honest as to what you can do.  It sounds like you are afraid to be honest for fear you won't get disability but, trust me, they can tell if you aren't being honest and it definitely will fail. 

 

I was able to get disability the first time I tried and I didn't need an attorney either.  I was very honest on all the paperwork, too.  I, too, thought that this might keep me from getting disability but it didn't.  But I did have several health issues wrong with me...including my hearing loss.  They look at what your job is.  I was a teacher and now I can't hear children's voices.

 

Sherrine 

Posted 8/18/2012 4:00 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for starting a part 3. I am really interested in this thread, and it is helping me a lot.

I hope you all have a great day.

Hugs, Karen...
Posted 8/20/2012 6:37 PM (GMT 0)
I got my disability packets in the mail on Friday! Guess what, now you only get 10 DAYS to fill out and return them. Also, the date on the top sheets have 8/15, so I lost 5 days already! I intend to fax them back so I can get the fullest time possible.

I have to fill out the Work History Report and the Function Report, as I thought. There was no Pain Questionnaire with mine, so maybe that comes later. Thankfully these are both already mostly done (yay for starting early!)

My friend who I put down as a contact got a Function Report - Third Party asking her pretty much the same questions, only she can't ask me for information when filling it out! I'm going to make her do it on her own and then just read over it before she sends it so there is nothing glaringly wrong.

Anyone else get that sent to their contact person? Any problems to look out for?

xoxo
karona (Btw, I am also a Karen! Karens, Unite!)

p.s. - Sherrine thank you so much for locking down the other threads and referring them here. I wasn't sure how to do that myself or I would have. And thank you for the tip about honesty. I really want to be true to my situation and I know I am unable to work, but you are so right about the fear, so it helps to hear someone else say honesty is still the best policy.

p.p.s. - I'm going to attempt to get my docs to fill out a Functional Residual Capacity form /secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms/images/SSA4/G-SSA-4734-U8-1.pdf and Mental Functional Residual Capacity form ssaconnect.com/tfiles/SSA-4734-F4-SUP.pdf form to help my case. Waiting to hear back from my rheumy who I think will be okay, and also my psychologist has been very supportive of my case.
Posted 8/21/2012 3:59 AM (GMT 0)
Just remember to be there when your Dr. Fills out the paper work. As I said before they forget and get in a hurry and fill it out wrong. One time I left it with the Dr. and found out the nurse was filling it out and Dr. was going to sign it. It was all wrong. Things like I can lift so much weight, it said I drive and I don't do to seizures. It was huge mistakes like this. So from then I make appointment and we sit down together filling them out.
Posted 8/21/2012 5:34 PM (GMT 0)
I just made the appointment with my rheumy to fill out the Functional Residual Capacity Assessment together. He actually requested we do it that way, so I just love him more for that. Working on hearing back from my psychologist for an appointment to fill out the Mental Functional Residual Capacity Assessment together. Fingers crossed, but she has been with me 10 years plus, and very supportive of my situation. Still anxious, of course.

The rheumy appointment isn't until Tuesday but I figured that's close enough to get it in in time. I'm figuring my "due date" is Friday if I go by the date on the letters, btw.

Did anyone bring in an already filled out form to help the doc with his? Or is it best to go from scratch? I am wondering if I should wait to fill out my Function Report to see what he thinks we should put down.

Here's a tip: if you call your caseworker and let her know you've got a form that may be a few days late, she is okay with that! Yay! Some of you may have known that already, but I wasn't sure how it worked. The due date is somewhat flexible if you call in. My brain is so mush today. rolleyes
Posted 8/22/2012 12:43 AM (GMT 0)
Karona- I didn't write or fill things out myself, my Dr. Filled them out as he asked me the questions. At least you don't have long term disability. I have that and thankful, but have to do frequent paper work as if you were trying to get disability. It can be a pain sometimes. I have to see so many Dr 's frequently to keep my long term. I know I have been blessed to receive both.
Posted 8/24/2012 7:18 PM (GMT 0)
My Contact Person received a form to fill out called the Function Report - Third Party. I put my close friend down as my contact, and she is working on it now.

I spoke to the SSA office and they said she does not have answer any questions she is not sure about, and that it's okay if she says "not sure" or "I don't know". They said her input will help my case but she can also not do it if she doesn't want to.

For anyone who wants to see the form their contact person will get when they apply for disability, it is here: www.ssa.gov/online/ssa-3380.pdf
Posted 8/25/2012 7:36 PM (GMT 0)
They said you have to be out of work to apply for ssdi, how can i? Iam alone and have bills, dont know what to do, hurt all the time, foggy, fatique, cant take it anymore and i sure cant be out of work!! My dr thinks i need to stop working but how? Any suggestion??
Posted 8/25/2012 8:00 PM (GMT 0)
That's the hardest part of getting proof of a disability when you can't afford to prove it.
I'm fortunated that I had four months of paychecks after I left. I've gone to the bare bones on expenses to survive on the savings.

Did you know you can go to DFACS and ask for some assistance?
Posted 8/25/2012 8:31 PM (GMT 0)
billy girl, I feel for you very much. I have been in your shoes. When I finally hit rock bottom in my health and could no longer will my body to go through the motions, I had no money, I lived alone, and had a house that had no equity. I was flat broke. That was six months ago.

I soon learned to apply for all of the benefits offered by my state and the federal gov't. I'm on Medical Assistance, I'm on food stamps (now called SNAP), I even found that the big hospital here had a program for reduced or even free health care, for which I qualified. In November, programs for reduced or free heating and energy become available. Once you are on assistance, you also qualify for a free cell phone and minutes. Mortgages can be remodified to be lowered, roommates can be had (if you can do it), hardship letters can help with a lot of situations where the company has leeway to work with you. Some car loans allow one skipped payment. Almost everyone allows payment plans, or will put a stay on a payment plan if you need.

I started asking around my friends and family, who I had previously talked to about my situation and gotten no l luck in the past. I found that being panicked and desperate resulted in options opening up for me. People dug deep and found money. I borrowed from everybody. I still am. I am fortunate to have a person who is in a position to loan me money for a bit. I still don't know what will happen after, or how I will pay them back.

It's messy, it's scary, and it's not fair. But I am no longer "stuck". One way or the other, I am now moving in a direction again. My body is still a mess, I am still a complete and utter mess, but I am making changes to my lifestyle that will hopefully result in me being able to take better care of my body, and live on support that was created for folks in our situation. It's not fair that we have to be broke and risk losing our homes in order to "prove" disability. I agree completely. But it's possible. It just doesn't seem possible at first. You learn so much as you go. You change your mindset. You get unstuck.

I don't have the answers for you. You may end up with someone who can help you temporarily, or you may end up in foreclosure, or face eviction. If these things happen, you will survive them. You will find solutions. There are options every step of the way. You are not the first person facing this, and you are not alone. The biggest thing we fear is the unknown. Ask around, ask everybody. There are things the general public doesn't have to worry about until they do, but it's all there.

There are many steps down to the bottom, but those same steps lead back up to the top.

I wish you luck, and I hope you'll be around. We could use your support.

xoxo,
Karen
Posted 9/9/2012 5:19 AM (GMT 0)
Karona- when I was Trying to get disability I was in no shape to consider rebab. I guess we are all different in our function at the time we fill it out. It took a whole year to realize the workd was still spinning. Lol I wanted to cry the other day because my friend ask me if I could go get something in her room for her. He was just injured by a car hitting her legs. She listed what she needed. By the time I got to her room I could only remember one thing. I fell like a child. This is things my Dr's don't see at times. She recognized my disabiity real quick. So we did one thing at a time, she had lots of patience.
Posted 9/9/2012 2:41 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Karen,

Still in the waiting phase myself..

When you say your "counselor" is suggesting this..can you explain who this is? Is it just a regular therapist who helps with things. Like I attended Pastoral Counseling during my separation (with my ex), and then for a year after my divorce to help me through this but also to deal with my chronic pain.

I have to say that it would not be good for you to sign up with this as it is a way to get you back to work. That is the opposite of filing for disability saying that you are incapable of work for at least the next year or more.

Now....once people are actually on disability...I think many of the states offer this type of service to get people back on their feet again if they feel their disability has gotten better enough to work again.

If this counselor is not an actual MD (which many are not), then they should not fill out the RFC form as SS states that they will not accept any type of health information from those that are not MDs. This includes people like Chiropractors and some counselors..

So, it sounds like she may not understand what the Vocational Rehab is all about when she suggested this...

Keep us posted..
Posted 9/9/2012 3:35 PM (GMT 0)
I'm confused. If you think you could work, why are you applying for disability? You said that you could get help in finding work you could do but you are afraid it could mess up your chance of getting disability.

Disability is for people who can't work. I can't work. I'd love to be able to work but it's impossible for me. I can't even answer a telephone. If I could, I'd get a receptionist job. I was a teacher but can't hear little voices anymore. That, along with fibro and other problems I have got me disability quickly.

I applied for disability because I had no other choice. Disability was written to help people who can't help themselves due to illnesses.

Sherrine
Posted 9/9/2012 3:56 PM (GMT 0)
Girls, I'm not saying I can work. I was thinking of signing up solely for the covered counseling. The waiting list is 6 months and PA asks you to sign up as soon as you get disability anyway, whether or not you can work.

I deleted the post because it appears to be triggering for some folks and I didn't explain the question fully anyway. I'm very sorry about that. I am not having a very brainy time right now.

The counselor is a licensed psychologist. She is also the owner of a good-sized practice. I hope that has some weight, as far as the RFC goes.

Sherrine, please don't question my abilities/disabilities. We get enough of that on the "outside". It's not right of you to do it to someone here.
Posted 9/9/2012 4:08 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for sharing more about her qualifications...As mentioned, my counselor was not an actual MD.

Either way...I still think it would go against your disability case if you sign up now before you even get disability as this would show them that you are capable of work. Doesn't matter that there is a wait list because the approval process for disability as we know, can take a few years...So what happens in 6 months if you sign up now and you haven't been approved yet? Do you start vocational rehab and get a job?

This is where I guess I don't understand the reasoning here on why you would even contemplate this (or they are suggesting it) when you can't work at all for the foreseeable future.

Are you saying that you can only get the covered counseling if you sign up for this? I would think that would be going against the rules if this counselor is telling you to do this just for the free counseling but then is saying to SS that you aren't capable of any work.

I'm perplexed...LOL

 

Posted 9/9/2012 4:15 PM (GMT 0)
You have a good point. I think she really just wants to help me and she knows the system very well. I explained all this to her but I don't think she really gets it.

I know I cannot work. I did not mean to stir up so much confusion! I am trying to grab for anything I can that will help my situation, and coverage for counseling would help. It's not worth it, though.

It seems I should not have had her fill out an RFC. I hope this is not a problem down the road!
Posted 9/9/2012 4:26 PM (GMT 0)
The only problem I see is if SS has requested your medical records from her and she has been writing that in her view, you are capable of work and is recommeding the Vocational Rehab over you getting disability...

I just went to read the description again but saw that you deleted your entire post:(

Have you asked her specifically if she thinks you are 100% disabled?
Posted 9/9/2012 4:31 PM (GMT 0)
No, I know she is backing me for disability. She was the first one to recommend it years ago.

I took the question down because I am having a bad time with this whole situation right now. I didn't expect such a response and now I'm wishing I'd never asked. I wasn't saying I could work, and that seems to be what everyone is focusing on. I hadn't thought it through when I asked. I am having a bad day. :(
Posted 9/9/2012 4:39 PM (GMT 0)
I truly was just trying to ask questions to understand what her thought process/reasoning was to suggest the Vocational Rehab.....I wanted to make sure that she isn't thinking you are capable of work when you are trying to get approved...that's all.

Sorry you are having a bad day:(
Posted 9/9/2012 4:45 PM (GMT 0)
Snowbunny, it was nothing you said, sweetie. :) You are always very kind and well-reasoned. I am just having a bad reaction. It is part of my anxiety.

In other news, my official application date was Aug 15. I believe I am nearing the end of the 28 days the doctor's offices are given to supply medical records. Hopefully they are complying. After this I enter the mysterious 3-4 week waiting period while everything is looked over. I am hoping to sneak in one more RFC, this one from my psychiatrist, before they start this part.

I still fully expect to get rejected my first time out, but I am also a tiny bit hopeful. We shall see.

What is everyone's timeline right now? Waiting? Appealing? Approved? Long time receiver?
Posted 9/9/2012 4:52 PM (GMT 0)
My official date I think was back in June so we are at 3 months now.

I did get a one page, form letter stating, "Your application and information has been forwarded to my office and I am working very hard to review your case. Please know we take each case very seriously and I will work with a Dr. for any medical questions I may have"...

Something to that effect...LOL...My heart started racing as it's the first thing that was sent by the Disability Determination Services...and I thought it may be the denial letter since it was so thin...

Like you, I am pretty sure I will get denied the first time around as it happens so often...but you keep that tiny glimmer of hope open. But I am 98% mentally prepared for the long fight!

I know it's going to be extremely hard financially and nearing on the impossible if this takes years but I have to take things one day at a time as the anxiety about that would get to me.
Posted 9/9/2012 7:56 PM (GMT 0)
I'm waiting for my private long term disability to get approved.
Posted 9/9/2012 8:34 PM (GMT 0)
Ok. i missed the post about voc rehab. I do know somethings about it as i went through it. I have an associate degree in finance and a supervisory certif. I could not work in the field due to anxiety and then the pain started and i got on ssi. I went to voc rehab. With pell grants and voc rehab, i received a general tech associate and a medical coding and insurance reimbursement certif. I went to work at a medical call center and loved it. I did not become a coder as there is a lot of pressure for perfection. You know about mistakes on medical bills. Most caused by coding.
It is a wonderful program. It is meant to help you find a job or profession that you can work. They will evaluate you and if they find you can not work, you will not qualify. They may offer college or training. I loved going to college and learning, but would not be able to do that now.

I am still having heart palpations every time i check the mail, waiting for response from ss.
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