Has anyone on here won a disabiltiy claim?

Just curious, my husband has said many times that I should apply. Has anyone done this and won? I am pretty much disfunctional about 20-27 days per month.

I am only scheduled to work 2 days a week, last week I was only able to work 1/2 day! How totally embarassing! I just can't do it anymore.

Help,,, what do you all think?

Any input is appreciated,

Sherri B!

I think Richard has.

I won here in Ohio. It took over 2 years because you are automatically turned down and Ohio has the worst approval rate in the country. We also have the worst appeal hearing rate. We are actually having judges from out of state do video appeals to fix the back log. We are backed up for yaers. My appeal hearing took hours.

I filed in 2005 after a botched laparoscopy in Feb 2005. An artery was severed. I finally got an appeal hearing Dec 2008. I also got an apology from the judge, "that the legal system in Ohio had failed me so miserably." I had an artery severed in a laparoscopy, 15 hospitalizations and a 6th surgery this July 13 to try and fix the damage. I had a lawyer that completely screwed me over. The judge said there had to have been a malpractice suit with a settlement, tell me about it. It was the first time the judge asked my lawyer after the hearing when he wanted this to be backed to. He went from Sept 2006 on because I had another surgery to try and fix things and had chronic small bowel obstructions from then til last month.

I got back pay from Sept 2006 to March 2009 to start. Make sure you have some withheld for taxes. We almost had to pay in from the back pay. I have 10% with held.

Go for it. Just the stress of trying to work and feeling ill and money worry is horrible. I haven't been well enough to see but I think you can work some and still keep benefits. I thank God for Medicare because we were going broke on my hospitalizations. The sooner you get the ball rolling the better. It may take a while but stick with it. And know there is a good chance for back pay. I think Richard got SSD the first try.
It does seem men get it faster because of the breadwinner thinking.

From what you have said you should GO FOR IT!!!
kathy

Did you mean for federal disability benefits or state? I was approved for state benefits, but it's almost a free handout here in California. All you need is a doctor to sign a form listing reason, diagnosis, and expected date of return which can be extended up to a maximum of 52 weeks I believe. After that, federal would take over anyway since it's over a year of being disabled, which otherwise disqualifies you automatically for federal disability benefits if it was under a year. I have no idea about how to win a federal claim under that time period.

I read somewhere there are only 4 or 5 states that offer state disability programs, so I'm guessing you mean federal/social security? I don't remember which states besides California had the state programs, but that definitely helps a great deal for short term disability when we don't really have any idea when we'll get back on our feet. I'm hesitating to move to any other state for that reason alone.

Just confirmed, the states that offer state disability insurance are California, Hawaii, New Jersey, New York, and Rhode Island. They deduct a part of each paycheck though to pay for it, so I don't think it would help to relocate as I was originally thinking

Yea, I meant Federal Social Security Disability. I think I will contact and attorney who offers a free consult.

I don't want to do it, but oh, my! I just can't work. And I really love my job! This is a terrible disease!

Sherri - I hear you. This disease is so out of control in my life and if I ever lost my job, I would have no choice. I didn't make it into work at all last week but I work from home and it works okay right now but if it would ever change, I'd be in trouble. I really need a second job but with the way things are I'm sure I'd be fired in a week. Things are so unpredictable that I wouldn't make it in or would be there and almost nonfunctional.

I've even noticed that I am having more and more difficulties doing the things I love. I had an event this last weekend and was drugged and pretty miserable during it.

So posing another question: When do you consider filing for disability? At what point do you throw in the towel? I have noticed that if I push myself through something, I pay for it for days afterward.

Awe, Heelerlady,, I feel so bad for you. I don't know what to say except thank God for this forum. It truely keeps me from going insane!!! I at least feel somewhat normal when I hear from people on here.

I am glad you can work from home too! That is a blessing.

sherri b

My answer to that question [when to file] was when I started using up so many sick days at work that I used up my sick time and vacation time because of migraines within the first few months of the year. It wasn't a question anymore. I needed the disability money to survive. Before that, I would at least make it to the next period where my vacation and sick time would reset and I could keep trying.

I filed for disability in Jan 2008. Denied the first time and I requested a hearing in front of a judge.

Feb 2010 I hired a disability lawyer. After looking over all of my medical records from the last 10 years, he was sure all was going to go well.
Migraines atleast 3 or 4 days a week, Bells Palsey, Pinched Nerve in Neck and Panic Attacks.....

The hearing lasted about 20 minutes in front on a judge, medical doctor and work specialist. They agreed that I was unable to continue a regular 40hr a week job on an on going basis. I was unable to function in a work environment an a regular basis.

I am still looking for "the answer" for Migraines but atleast I have a good support group around me.

Good Luck to anyone trying to get on disability. My lawyer was GREAT....he knew how to present items and get answers from doctors.

In March 2003, I filed for Social Security and private insurance disability.

I received my first monthly benefit check and my back benefit check in July 2003 - 120 days later.

One of these days, I intend to write What I learned About Applying For Disability in a separate post. Not today though.

Good luck to you,

Hire a local lawyer. It's better than having one from out of state. I ahd to go to his office many times and he knew the system in Ohio very well.

Don't fall into the trap of the lawyers from out of state that run TV adds. get a local one. You can even check out their success rate first.
kathy