getting disability payments

Hi guys...Never wanted to be doing this....always wanted to stay as independant as possible...but, I guess it's time for me to look at disability.

So wondering how you guys got onto disability?

I had lyme as a teen, long before I thought about jobs...made it through my bachelors, while being diagnosed with nuero lyme in middle...Meaning I never got to work my worth...So I was always working less intense jobs for 1/4 of what I could have been making. (At one point I tried my dream job, was making my worth, but only there for 2 months, not long term, but it was too intense and was inhibiting me from getting better). Its very difficult for me to even work these odd p/t jobs...and I recently had to quit (not because of lyme, but because of lies, manipulation, and verbal/pyschological abuse that was going on with colleagues and administration, although working was actually impossible with lyme - i barely made it through some days).


Anyway, if I start looking for other jobs (where I don't make my worth because of lyme)...will disability be denied? ...and should I hold off looking?
How much do you get (%)...and anyone know since I never got to work my worth, or if I did for 2 months, how that will play out?
How long did it take from application date till u started to recieve money?
How long can one recieve disability money? months or years?
...and ideas or tips of the best way to go about this?

thanks.

Thank u astroman....cant find any sticky thread, where is it on the site?

The top one that says new to lyme. It has "keeper" threads in it from the forum.

I just read the whole thing recently- there is a thread in there on disability, maybee just on appling for it, I dont remember. there were some other posts in the last 6 months here, put it in the google bar on this forum-it only searches this site!

I applied pre-dx L/co, and applied under ptsd issues, now we know due to l/co.

I believe each application is an individual process, and what works for one, well....it's all so singular.

Do what you can, pray and don't give up. It isn't easy, since we can't work and have no income.
Catch 22 senario.

And, from what I gather, the disability amount is from your 'work income' from months/yrs prior to your 'date of disability'.

I would suggest you put your disability start date at when you started to get disabled, as far back as you can. I made the mistake of not putting the right date on mine, since I was working p/t at a job here and there, and if I had put the date when all of this started, I would have gotten retro pay from the 'start date.'

Good luck, and I pray you don't give up, have needed support, and get what you need asap.

Apply. Apply. Apply.

Don't wait.

Regardless if you are working, just apply.

Try not to listen/feed into the neg situations other experienced.
Think/feel what YOU WANT TO HAPPEN, and think on that.
Always remember your situation is yours, and not like any other.

Oh, I was seeing a psychologist at the time through a disability job non-profit help group, and the dr wrote a letter sent on my behalf to the gov. supporting my situation to get disability. I personally believe this helped my case a great deal.

I pray you get what you need!
You deserve help.

And, not to be rude, but rather than listen to the tales of woe...

"they almost always deny you the first time unless it's some pressingly obvious disability."

Please don't get caught up in this way of thinking.
Miracles happen.
Believe for one.

Check to see if your state is one of the ones that offer temporary disability - they are generally easier to get started from what I've read.

No matter which one you apply for (I suggest both) reapply every time you get denied.

Be sure to send in all the paperwork they ask for, every time they ask - and call about a week after sending something to see if it got there.

Be nice to them, and they will be more cooperative and helpful.

there are antibiotics marketed for vet /animal use. People have done this, and lived.

In some states jobless people now get free healthcare maybe RX too? -that was part of the obamma plan.

Just wanted to pass this on with regard to discounted prescriptions. When I first was diagnosed several years ago doxy was $4. Then it went up to $65 then it was $130. Two weeks ago I needed to go back on it and it had jumped to $280 for 60 pills. I did a search online and came across www.goodrx.com . You put in info on the meds you need and it will search your area for the best price. A Walgreens near me was participating with this FREE program (it provides you with a coupon to print out and take to participating location) and I go the meds for $83. Quite a difference from $280! Definitely worth it.

I hope I didn't scare you or anything. I didn't mean to sound negative or discouraging. I am not applying for regular disability (I have never worked) and like I mentioned I am going really slow at it. The process will be different for you and should go faster. If you have lots of doctor documentation of your symptoms and conditions then things will probably be easier for you. I don't have that so I will probably get denied. I am preparing for that and made copies of everything I filled out so that I don't have to do it all again.

I hope everything works out for you! :)

Just an update on how getting disability is going for me:

I went to a doctor appointment that the disability office told me to go to and he just asked me a few questions about my back, took an x-ray, and had me bend over and walk a couple steps. It was really nonsense and he didn't even talk about anything that was causing me the most pain or the things that actually cause my disability. I wished I had said more things instead of just answering his few questions that had nothing to do with why I needed disability. I was visibly in pain though (my heart rate and blood pressure were even high, signs of pain) and was holding my head up with my hand but the doctor didn't care about any of that, I guess. So there's a tip: don't just answer questions to the disability doctor, just randomly explain why you are disabled and go into lots of detail even if the doctor doesn't ask. And try to give proof that you have severe limitations. I don't know how but maybe bring pictures or videos of you in your every day life or trying to do certain tasks or videos of you in a lot of pain? And maybe get people you know to write things up about you and your limitations and have them sign it and bring it to the doctor. I'm going to do all that the next time I go in and I'm going to try to think of even more things to prove I am disabled.

I did get denied like I knew I would. They give you a type up of why they denied you. They did not mention my neck pain in my list of symptoms which is my number one complaint which is weird. They just totally ignored the reason causing my disability. So here's another tip: pick your top symptom and stress it and talk about it A LOT like crazy and really ingrain it in them. The reason I was denied is because they said there was no proof my illness and limitations are severe. So that is why I am going to bring videos and testimonies and pictures to try to prove to the doctor that I really am disabled. They only looked at my lab reports which obviously is not going to show anything. (well except that I have Lyme disease but doctors don't believe Lyme disease is serious so of course that isn't proof to them). Explaining how you are disabled and what your limitations are are not really proof, they are not going to believe you. But of course still go into as much detail as you can about your limitations.

I'm getting a lawyer and doing the whole process over again. So annoying...

Oh and another heads up: the disability office chooses what day and time you go see the doctor and you can only reschedule it I think once or twice then after that they cancel out everything and you can't get disability. So another tip: before you get the call saying when you appointment is, make a list of dates and times you can go see the doctor and call them before they call you and try to request a time and date that works for you before they just make the appointment for you.

I don't know how far you are into trying to get disability but maybe my information can help other people who see this if you have already done everything.

I'll tell you this,

I applied on 4-2013. Denied twice. Now, I am going for a court hearing hopefully by this summer. The entire process can take about 2 years. Depending on the state you live in.

They have asked me specifically whether I can return to work, even part time. My answer: Absolutely NOT. I do not know how they would feel about a part time worker applying for disability though.

Next, start going to a psychologist. It will strengthen your case. Seriously, shouldn't we all be talking to one anyways? I have anxiety, depression, and some others.

Lastly, do not get down about my info. As a previous poster said, you could get a miracle. BUT... What I wrote is the norm. Denied twice, then court hearing many months later. It's reality.

Just start. Good Luck.