Hello. I was not diagnosed with any of these conditions after I left work 2 years ago for retirement. I had worked from the age of 16. My last employment was for 17 years. I do not collect retirement benefits. My husband retired about 2 years ago as well and he collected his entire retirement benefit and it is now in an IRA which we live off of. The plan was for me to go back to work when the funds were low enough.
I just don't see how it will be possible now for me to go back to work. Maybe an On-line job, something I don't have to drive to? My previous job was a make-up artist and I don't think jabbing someone in the eye with a mascara wand while having an attack is a great idea.
Does SS provide benefits to people who have been voluntarily out of work?
Well, except have you been voluntarily out of work is the question. The next one is whether your health issues make it so that you cannot work a job. What you need to do is work with your doctors and see what they say about whether you have a disability. I have seen SSDI benefits given to people with bipolar and on here, I have read where people received it for TN. So it is possible. You just have to meet the criteria as well as have medical backup.
Thank you. I will check into this. My husband I were really counting on my going back to work eventually and now with all these health conditions I just don't know. I would hate to have a bipolar flare up at work and the possibility of a TN attack at the same time. They would probably send me off to the "farm' which I have alread had my first and LAST stay.
Phoebe, I am fairly confident that your having left your last place of employment voluntarily does not have a bearing upon your eligibility for SSDI. However, your having drawn Social Security payments up to now might have a bearing on whether you are still considered to be a member of the workforce. There's an easy way to find out fast: call the nearest office of the Social Security Administration and ask.
I spoke to the Social Security people yesterday and I am pleased to report that my having been retired for the past year or two has no bearing on my being able to draw support. (Red, I haven't been drawing anything from SS, I am only going to be 51 in March.) I believe she said I had up to 5 years to apply...or something about 5 years not sure...all I know is having not worked past couple of years is ok.)
Amazing how easy they make it for you to do the initial application. You can even do it over the phone by appointment which I will be doing on Monday morning.
I do know it isn't always easy going through the whole process but I am prepared for that and fortunately I am in a financial position that will give me a cushion. I feel sorry for people that do not have the cushion. I ran in to my sister in-law and she told me an ex-coworker had to run the hoops for a year. I hope that doesn't happen to me.
Don't be discouraged at the length of time it takes... it takes a long while to receive benefits. A year is a good timeline. You will apply, then either of two things will happen, they will send you to an Independent Medical Examiner where they will run you through a mirage of tests. OR they will tell you that you are denied. 2 in 3 applications are denied initally. You have a right to appeal in so many days. Appeal. You then repeat step 1 -- either you get an examination or another denial. Then you appeal again. At this point, I suggest getting an attorney as it will go to a hearing. The attorney is on a statute award basis. Meaning if you are granted disability, he gets paid by a % of your award set by statute. It costs you nothing to have the attorney. When I worked for my old firm, we routinely would not take a case until the second denial because we felt that it was just stealing money from someone any earlier. Every once in awhile we would take it at the first appeal -- if it was just so obvious the person should be on disability.
Really, I hate to say it, it is a game of luck and odds for getting acceptance. My dad is on it.. accepted the first time, had benefits in 9 months. However, I know a man in a wheelchair who is fighting on his last appeal even though it is apparent that he cannot be trained for ANY work. There is no question in my mind that the federal administrative judge that hears the final appeal will grant the disability, but this has been going on for 29 months now. Nothing with the federal government moves fast.
You are lucky you have a cushion. Mine is quickly disappearing. With no hope of being able to work anytime soon. Not with the frequency of "flares" I am having. Due to my age, I really think I will be in for a HUGE fight if I try to apply for disability.
I have made the initial application. I did it over the phone. Yesterday I received hard copies of the application along with a form that I need to sign that allows the government to collect my medical records. The period of time to allow for the first phase is 120 says. I feel terrible for the individuals who must count on this income to survive.
As for the fact finding process itself I would think that the possibility of having an attack in public would be enough to seal the deal.
Did you have to obtain medical records from everyone? (Phoebe) I would think it would be better getting them yourself before you apply rather than depending on an overworked ss office/dept. Am I right Lisa? kg
Absolutely get your medical records to review. All of them. Access them and see if there is anything conflicting. The SSA is going to ask for them anyway, as a matter of course and to make sure that the record is complete....
Here is why you want to look at them. I had a client once who was SEVERELY manic/bi-polar to the point he was homeless. He could not hold down a job, could not stay on his meds. He needed some serious assistance and sadly, he was only about 40. The problem was that he was also an alcoholic. One doctor had in his notes that he felt that the underlying issue was not bi-polar but several alcoholism. When he drank, he became violent. The SSA denied his application twice.... we were able to find an expert who stated that he was an alcoholic, but he did so to self medicate and the underlying issue was his bipolar condition. Yes, alcoholism amplified his bi-polar condition, but it was not the disabling issue.