Any disability experts out there?

Hello, I am not new here, however it has been months since I've been here. I feel as if my Lyme has improved quite a bit (Augmentin and LDN). However still struggling, possibly w/ babesial (on Mepron, but I have been bad about it) and the viruses, particularly CEBV, which I believe is the cause of my major depression (which could possibly actually be bi-polar).

ANYWAY, I am here today to ask about disability, and the main reason for that is my spine. I have severe rotoscoliosis is rapidly worsening. My entire spine is affected and my spine is collapsing -- the last Dr I saw said he would measure both of my curves as 90 degrees, so I'm not foolin around here!

He said the damage was so extensive, he could not even recommend surgery -- too many damaged, crushed, etc vertebrae and discs. Xrays also show marked lung incapacity because of my spine and that will worsen and probably affect more organs as it progresses. He gave me a referral to a scoliosis surgeon in the hopes that he may be able to figure out some type of brace or other alternative, something to prevent a collapse. . He also stated he believed there would be no issue in getting disability.

I'm not here for sympathy (but hey, I'll take all I can get!) NO -- just kidding -- I am very well aware of the he-l all of you are suffering, so please save it for those who are worse off!)

I'm here to ask about disability. I am self supporting and my job does not pay well, so I have nothing saved. Disability from my company paid policy would kick in after 90 days and would be 60% of my salary. I feel lucky to have that while many of you have absolutely nothing.

Questions:

One must be on disability for 2 yrs before receiving medicare -- what can you do about health insurance in the meantime?

Can you get food stamps while on disability? Are there other benefits a person on disability would qualify for?

I'm trying not to feel guilty about the thoughts of living off of the government, however, 1 reason I would do this would to be to care for my daughter's newborn baby while she works. (father is kicked out of this picture because he is a drunk and assaulted my daughter and unborn child) Neither of us can bear putting such a young baby in day care.

Also, I have worked my butt off for 44 yrs now, which is actually the reason my back has deteriorated so badly. My scoliosis was only moderate most of my life (but also, we never knew my spine was twisted because it had never been xrayed until last year)

Also, how's a person supposed to survive 90 days without income and then possibly wait some more til it kicks in?

Every person here and those not here are in my prayers. This Lyme is insidious (and could possibly have also caused more rapid deteriation of my spine) and has affected everyone in horrendous ways. I, myself, have been suicidal many times because of this illness. So please know that I am with you, I care about you, I pray for you, and I have great hope for you.

Thanks!

Lymester, I was born w/ scoliosis, inherited from my mother, tho hers is not as severe as mine. She is 80 now and her spine is going down quite a bit and causing her a lot of pain. We never knew mine was roto-s, tho. So Lyme definitely did not cause mine, but there is a huge question about Lyme having made it deteriorate so rapidly the past few years. And I'm certain that waiting tables for 18 yrs in spite of back pain did not help either.

Also, I've been treated by 2 different naturopath- chiropractors. Both of them believed they could help my pain, and they did. But both also admitted that they could not do anything about the curves and the damage that has already been done. I'm certain that some yoga would help, but have not had the time between work, small 2nd job, my dogs, and my grandchild. I'm no super person anymore.

BTW: All or any of you relate?? -- I now feel like a completely different person than I was before Lyme. My personality has completely changed. I find myself crying and grieving for the person I used to be and often feel suicidal because I so hate the person I have become.

Deacon, I'm sorry, but I don't get your last statement? What do you mean that the terrorists have won?

btw, everyone, my LLMD is a true, highly regarded IDD and Lyme is one of his specialties, along w/ MS, CFS, and AIDS. He does not believe that late stage Lyme is an inactive 'syndrome', he believes it is an active infection, and he believes that as long as abx are helping, then he will keep prescribing. He states that all the research he has done indicates to him that it is a live infection. Quite the opposite of IDSA, huh?

And, back to disability -- I still hope to hear from someone here who knows anything about my questions above. I believe there are some here on disability, aren't there?

OH, new disability question: If you draw disability from disability insurance that was provided by your employer, do you pay income taxes on it? How about w/ SSI disability?

Post Edited (+Lyme) : 7/3/2011 4:52:32 PM (GMT-6)

THANK YOU LYME 14! I appreciate this!

Thank you for all this, CycleV, I appreciate it. After a lot of research, I believe I am going to have to give up on this for now -- I cannot determine any way to support myself this way and I cannot depend on anyone else. This, of course, depends on what the next scoliosis specialist says regarding my spine.

Yeah, I knew to leave LYme out of it, but there's a good chance that my IDD would diagnose CFS -- I feel certain this has been coming on now for awhile and those viruses still test high.

Also, I would never mention caring for a baby for $$. Still, anyone should know the huge difference between caring for an infant in her home is a long stretch from standing at a counter for hours, carrying stacks of files, getting up and down from a desk, and a lot of pressure to quickly process a court docket.

I have no plans of trying to cheat any program --- many people who have seen my back and learned of the pain, and my last Dr, himself, brought up disability before I ever considered it. Yes, I am working and have been working. But no one knows at what cost to me psychologically (anxiety and depression) or physical pain.

I know that you all know all about this.

So, I think I will just keep trucking unless the next Dr has any specific warnings regarding this.

Thanks for your input, everyone.

Thank you so much Traveler! ARe you really saying that in saying that I must be fully disabled for 6 months before receiving benefits, I could be working?? I thought disability demanded that you must not have been able to work for 6 months?

Can you provide any other info about the above? I ask because I picture my employer (city government) attempting to provide an environment in which I can work ub order to prevent me from applying for DA.

It is all TOO confusing!!

It's possible that I have been misreading this thread, but I think there is some confusion about what exactly +Lyme is applying for. There is a big difference between Social Security Disability and LTD benefits from your employer. The applications may look and proceed somewhat the same, but the definitions (and time before you get paid) can be vastly different.

If I understand correctly, +Lyme is applying for LTD benefits from his/her employer. In that case, the specific policy is administered by a private insurance company (even if you worked for the government), and there is a contract that your employer (or perhaps your union) signed with them which outlines qualification period before you can get paid, definition of disability (such as can they force you to switch jobs), etc.

Traveler did bring up a great point, in that finding out what SS uses as its definition of "totally disabled" will be very helpful. Your doctor may or may not have lots of (successful) experience in writing these applications, so knowing what the insurance company is looking for helps. Just having a specific diagnosis does not automatically mean that you will qualify for LTD benefits (or SSD for that matter).

Hi +Lyme,

Just wanted to say hello to you since I haven't seen you post in a long, long time and you have always been on my mind!  I wondered what was going on with you and your life.

Anyway, I know people who are on disability and from what I know, the benefits vary from state to state.  Also, I do believe you paid for your own benefits from all the years you worked.   Remember, you did NOT ask to get sick and like someone else posted, disability benefits is like an insurance policy that you paid into all the years you have worked.

It's very rare for someone to get disability benefits for "lyme" alone, usually they get the benefits for some other disorder and I would tend to think your curved back would get you the benefits alone.

Find yourself an attorney that specializes in disability and let them get it for you.  Also, as someone else posted (I think Traveler), it's normal to get turned down the first time but the good news (unless the laws have changed) it's retroactive from when you first apply, so the sooner you apply the better.   Again, unless laws have changed, the attorney gets around 30% of your initial reward and after that the money is all yours.

I missed you and please hang in there and don't get discouraged, okay?  We care about you!

Hugs,

Denise