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Posted 9/12/2016 3:31 PM (GMT 0)
Good day, all.

Short background--dx over a decade. Professional work. 48, F.

I have been let go from two jobs in the past year. One, I knew I wasn't very good at it--and the other I had no idea the termination was coming.

I am wondering if fibro fog may have an effect on me that I am not aware of, that my management skills are not as excellent as they once were.

So, when do you know when to stop? What are the first steps for disability? I feel as if I can no longer be the most effective worker.

My thanks for your time.
Posted 9/12/2016 5:08 PM (GMT 0)
Myself, did they give you a reason for the unexpected termination? Maybe they are downsizing and you were the low woman on the totem pole. I'd go and ask them directly and let them know you will not be offended at what they say. You do need to know! It's just too easy to blame fibro and this could have happened for an entirely different reason.

I'm not an authority on social security. I did get disability early. When my husband passed on I couldn't find health insurance who would cover me. I needed Medicare but I didn't think I was considered disabled but my doctor insisted I was. So, I went to the local social security office and they told me to have all of my doctors send them copies of my health information I needed this from my Internist, audiologist, and gastroenterologist in my case. You probably have a GP and a Rheumy and perhaps other doctors for health issues you haven't shared. I also needed to set up appointments. They let me know what to do and when. The first appointment was a long interview with them, then they sent me to their own doctors...which in my case weren't nearly as good as my regular doctors. I had to see their Internist in my area and also their hearing "specialist" (laughable) for them to determine that what my other doctors were saying was true. Then I waited to hear from them. It took several months but they didn't call. One day I went to balance my checkbook and their were thousands of dollars deposited in it from social security! I had been considered disabled from the day my husband passed on so they paid me two years worth of benefits.

I was 52 years old and I think the earliest you can draw on your social security is at age 50. I was 50 1/2 years old when my husband passed on so they paid me starting the day he died. Because I had to take it early, I only get 71% of what I would have gotten if I could have waited but the Medicare made it well worth it. I'm drawing on my husband's social security. I didn't have any social security because back when I taught school, teachers paid into their own retirement and not social security.

I hope this helps you. Also, go to Medicare.com and you can get most of your answers there too. Good luck to you and let us know how it goes for you because we do care about you.

Sherrine
Posted 9/12/2016 6:48 PM (GMT 0)
I hired a disability lawyer who gathered my info and I personally filled out the paperwork I got off the Internet site for social security.
Posted 9/12/2016 7:08 PM (GMT 0)
It's hard to explain. I was doing soft-skills training for a particular industry--the manager decided that they really needed someone with industry skills as well as training ability, whereas when they hired me, they did not think the industry knowledge was essential. I know I have a rougher time with words and memory, and that my overall energy is in a decline. Pain is no better or worse than it has been. In the previous job, I just could not keep up with the pace required--and memory was also a big issue.

I am going to make an appointment with my doctor, I think. It is worth a visit.
Posted 9/12/2016 8:03 PM (GMT 0)
I know you are a very smart woman and have held some amazing and challenging jobs since developing fibro. This last job just wasn't a good fit and the best job for you. If I were you I would try again. This will buy you time to get old enough to draw on your social security. You might find another job will be great and you might really love it! You have nothing to lose by doing this. I wouldn't give in to fibro just yet. Just my humble opinion.

Still, check out ssa.com to see what you will have to do when you need to do it.

Sherrine
Posted 9/12/2016 9:20 PM (GMT 0)
If you are disabled age doesn't matter - not sure where the "50" mentioned above came from. SS approved me disabled before I turned 50! (Lost cognitive skills & energy with Lupus in my mid-40's.)
Posted 9/12/2016 10:04 PM (GMT 0)
Myself, I normally do not post here but I do read in a lot of the forums here at Healing Well. If you are talking about applying for Social Security Disability there are several requirements that has to be met. You have to have worked something like 10 years. You definitely need your own medical drs on board & support the fact you are disabled. It needs to be in your medical records from your drs that you are totally disabled from performing any substantially gainful employment effective on whatever date. This is why your own drs need to be in support of this.

If disability is what you are going for, you can call your local SS office & tell them what you are applying for. They will set up a date & time to do a phone interview. Most of this is now done over the phone. Once the initial paperwork is completed & sent back to SS they will make a determination one way or the other. Do not be surprised if you are denied the first time around. This happens to an extremely high number of people, its disgusting. They are counting on you to drop the claim if you are denied initially. Alot of people think whats the use I do not have the money to hire an atty. You never hire an atty & pay him/her up front to handle the claim. Most handle the cases on a contingency basis. Again, attys do not usually want to get involved unless the initial claim was denied.

Its a process with no short cuts. Lots of time limits involved when returning their forms. Retraining someone is real big with SS too. They do look at your age & education too. A few people have disputed it when I have made this statement but its true. I have sat through too many of those hearing before. At the hearing stage most of the time they will have a "vocational expert" sitting there & that person can say oh so & so can be retrained to do whatever. This is not always true.

As far as paperwork goes always keep a copy of anything you send to SSA. May as well make yourself a folder & keep everything together in it.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do. Take care.
Posted 9/12/2016 10:08 PM (GMT 0)
This link is helpful. Lynwood, if you read the third paragraph you will see where I got the fifty year old number.

www.ssdrc.com/5-64.html

Sherrine
Posted 9/12/2016 10:15 PM (GMT 0)
Sherrine,

That 50 yr old number is ONLY if you want your husbands benefits.

Has nothing to due with disability on your own work record. Trust me, I went thru the whole process the long way, and what straydog is describing is about what happened to me. It is a LONG process, and you MUST have your Drs 100% behind you, or don't even bother.

Sorry I don't have the patience today to type more, Myself - email me if you want, I have lots more to say if you want me to. I was a long-time business owner in software engineering with a PhD - I feared they would say I could be employed as a McDonalds clerk but that isn't the way it works.

Some states it takes longer than others to get thru the 1st application, 2nd application, and finally the actual Judge's review - in Georgia it's about 3 years.
Posted 9/13/2016 1:27 AM (GMT 0)
Lynwood, if you had read my original post to Myself, I said that I hadn't paid into social security because I was a teacher and back then teachers did not pay into social security. We paid into our own retirement fund instead. I also said I was not an authority on social security but was sharing what happened with me and I mentioned I couldn't have drawn disability until I was at least 50 years old.

I know this is all confusing. That's why I posted the link above. I hope that helps everyone understand the various ins and outs of social security disability. By the way, it was called disability for me at the start and then when I turned 65 they changed the name to regular widow benefits for social security but I still only get 71% of what I would have gotten if I could have waited before drawing on it. Everyone's case is different. I know some have to jump through hoops to get it and I'm sorry you were one of those people.

Sherrine
Posted 9/13/2016 2:07 AM (GMT 0)
ok. dunno' why you think i was trying to argue with you. don't need this. have a nice day and goodbye.
Posted 9/13/2016 12:22 PM (GMT 0)
I'm not arguing with you Lynwood! I'm just explaining where the "50" number came from that you questioned. I think it's important because we do have widows who might need to draw on their husband's social security in order to get disability and Medicare. They may have been stay at home Mom's all of their lives. I was a teacher and then a stay at home Mom so this was the route I had to take.

You said that if you are disabled that age doesn't matter. It did matter in my situation. I was disabled for quite a few years before my husband died but, if I was 48 years old when he died, I could not get disability. I would have had to wait until I was 50 to draw on my husband's disability.

Sherrine
Posted 9/13/2016 1:40 PM (GMT 0)
I am married and divorced--so SSI won't come into effect for some time. I have been working since I was 18. I am currently *single* though might have common-law status,as we have been together under the same roof for some time.

There are all kinds of situations and complexities in this--which is why it is so complicated. Not only is the level of illness/incapacity being gauged, so is the ability to perform work under a variety of circumstances, as well as the person's current training/work history.

I see what you mean about 50, Sherrine--it was a magic number for you to open the gates, so to speak.

Straydog--the age/current education/job history is exactly my concern. I am overly-educated,and have been seriously struggling to find a job that will even consider me,due to education and previous experience. I have heard over-qualified more times than I care to mention. When I do get into the realm of 'can be interpreted as qualified,' well, some managers don't want to take the chance,while others might give it a go. But it is a struggle to even get the manager to take a chance.

Lynn--my situation is similar to yours, although your degree is more marketable. PhD in the humanities--higher ed all the way. I have held part-time jobs--adjuncting, subbing, working for ETS. None of these things makes a living wage--or is permanent or even controllable. I am not a fan of the adjunct thing anymore--no money and lots of traveling. The one year I did it exclusively I was broke and in bed all the time. Now, my car is falling apart. The two full-time work situations I have had over the past 3 years have not worked out.

I am just getting more anxious,now. Taking a break. Thank you, all souls who responded.
Posted 9/13/2016 2:04 PM (GMT 0)
I think there were three keys that helped me decide to quit working & seek disability.

1) Fatigue to the point I couldn't think or concentrate, ie failures at work.

2) Neuropsych testing - Proved the loss of cognitive function. If your Dr will refer you to someone you should be able to have insurance cover it. They test multiple heuristics, not really relevant to IQ, but summarize it in IQ form for the naive. Mine showed a 18 point IQ drop. (Since bounced back as disease more controlled.) SS really liked having this documentation!

3) My Drs suggested it and were 100% behind me. SS depends on this!

Good luck, and start the process sooner rather than later, it does take time.
Posted 9/13/2016 10:53 PM (GMT 0)
Myself 09: You have such a strong working/educational background. Any chance you could do some work from home? Tutoring or such? I know very little about it, but just an idea.

I had a cousin who was a tutor and she really enjoyed it.

Wishing you the very best! Keep us posted.
Posted 9/14/2016 1:47 PM (GMT 0)
Luv--I do essay grading from home for ETS. It is not steady work, but does keep the wolf from banging on the door for handouts. It is kinda off a handoff tho--can't tutor for the SATS if you are working on assessing them. The couple of tutoring gigs I applied to never called back. However, I am going to do some more poking today.

The issue is that all the education brought along a hefty debt. There isn't really a choice in the matter-I need full time work to pay my own bills--as well as living expenses. We do not own our living space. My car is on the final decline.My partner had his contract turned down--he worked for 13 years for a federal gov contractor in HHS--and the contract was reassigned and the new company brought in their own people.

Now I am just whining. Lynn--I am making an appointment with my PCP and asking about the neuropsych testing.
Posted 9/15/2016 5:36 PM (GMT 0)
I don't know why SS has to make things so complicated. It's very stressful and causes more pain and fatigue.

I screwed up at work royally, didn't know what was happening. My doctor was supportive which I'm thankful for.

Try to stay in the working world as long as you can. It's good to keep your mind active and your body. But when the time comes to stop working you'll know you gave it your best shot.

Good luck Myself09

Thank you Sherrine for sharing your knowledge of the system. You've helped me many times!

Barb
Posted 9/18/2016 8:56 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Myself, I am 30 years old and was accepted into SSDI a little over two years ago. It was really hard to be not even 28 and having to say that I am disabled and unable to work, but with 30+ hospitalizations in 4 years, I couldn't deny it any more. I was accepted almost immediately. As you apply, make sure your doctors are on board. Their recommendations will most likely matter the most. You usually can't get an attorney until you are denied the first time and then they will help with your appeal.
Posted 9/20/2016 4:14 PM (GMT 0)
I am seeing my doctor on Thursday with some new concerns, including cognition. As it stands, I am picking up as much online work as I can.

Thanks,all, for your kind help.
Posted 11/1/2016 9:50 AM (GMT 0)
Myself 09, I quit working when I felt that my cognitive skills were affecting my work. I was having a lot of problems remembering things related to work activity, and I couldn't keep up with the production requirements set by the company I worked for as an independent contractor. I filed for disability and was turned down. I got a disability lawyer who told me that it was hard to get disability for fibromyalgia until one was 55 years old. At that time, I had a few other diagnoses, but fibro was my biggest one.

Without going into a lot of details, I filed again after I turned 55. I had picked up a few more debilitating diagnoses during that time. I was denied again. I appealed and went to the same lawyer. At that time, he looked at the paperwork and wondered why I was turned down! I was awarded disability after going before a judge. The deciding factor, though, wasn't fibro. It was the fact that the veins in my legs have become so bad that I now have to put my feet up for an hour for every two hours I am up. No one would hire me for a job under those conditions. I wouldn't be able to last the two hours, even if someone hired me. The lawyer warned me that it could take 18-24 months before we went before the judge. However, I got the notice within six months. My first check came one month after that. They didn't approve me back to the date that I filed the second time. They only went back to the first time I saw the vein doctor.

Sherrine, thanks for the information regarding filing for disability when a widow/widower. I had never heard of that.
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