Please share your social security disability story

Hello i lust joined, i have had ra since i was 13 or 14 but was diagnosed with ra in 1985 (23yrs old when it went full blown because of a viraul inffection) about 10 years i sufferred with joint pains here and there and was told it was growing pains by 1987 i have had sever joint damage in both hands and had too have several joint replacements. I have compression fractors in my back and I have to have both knees replaced soon. i lost my right big toe due to osteomyelitis. I have chronic kidney stones because of the prednisone I take (since 1985). You have to be carefull with certain meds that lower your immune system i contracted MRSA and almost died from it because it entered my blood stream it was by the grace of GOD that im still here (it was methotrexate that lowered my immune system so i had to stop taking it). My ra has never been undercontrol but managed ive learned to live with the pain. i signed up for SSDI in 1987 and it took 18 months before i was awarded ssdi, Social Security has to pay you from when you first applied for disability up to three years. I called the ss office for info about dsiability and i was sent an application (remember ss is a game playing process). i was turned down initally and had to re-apply for a reconsideration and see a Social Security Doctor and was turned down again remember their job is to down play your condition so you don't collect disability. Then i had to appeai and request a hearing in front of a Social Security Law judge i kept in touch with Social Security the whole way threw each process. The day before the hearing I obtained a lawyer and we went infront of the judge and was only there for 5 min. while the judge review my medical records and awarded me SSDI he said i should have been awarded ssdi from the start. Back then the only test for ra was the Westerngerm sedimentation Rate (the only test recognized by SS at the time) which is a great test but only detects ra when its full blown. Getting SSDI for ra is like everything else with SS, SS bases it on the damage ra caused and how active your ra is (ra factor test, my last ra factor test was 750 which is high) and how it effects your daily life and how it effects your current job. the worse the better for you winning your case. Social Security is a burocraucy (spelling?) and you must be willing to play by their rules. and by all means get a Social Security lawyer they know all the steps and appeals to go threw. You can work while on ssdi called a trial period i tried and had to quit its a 5 year period of gainfull employment, you can also work if you make under a certain dollar amount each month $1060 for married and $860 for single (considered non-gainfull employment) you may want to check dollar amounts due to change. I hope this helps and if you have anymore questions please ask.

Once I was diagnosed my dr advised me to apply for disability. Application was online and about a week after submitting them I was contacted for more info and paperwork. Both Dr were contacted and medical records were forwarded to the SS Dr who was to see me. I went to a Prompt care facility close by and most of the people there were for SS review. I spent about twenty minutes with the Dr. He asked several questions about my work experience and job titles. As I was leaving he told me that I would be contacted as to my eligibility. I did not hear anything from them and was expecting to get denied. I had applied early Sept. Late December I needed to get a few dollars out of my account for gas and was shocked to find that money had been deposited into my account from SS. Two weeks later I got the confirmation letter telling me that I was eligible and how much I would receive per month. The letter also explained that I was not eligible for Medicare due to my age but if I remained disabled for 24 months I would qualify. Since I was not denied I had no need for a lawyers service. Needles to say it has been a long 24 mo. and several thousands in medical bills due to no insurance, I am now getting started with the process of getting medicare started. My Rheumatologist has been waiting for this, now he can start me on biologics. Without insurance this line of treatment was cost prohibitive.

Glad you were approved for ssdi. IM currently waiting for their decision. I am currently using a wheelchair to get around. Both my arms i cannot straighten out. My knees are so bad that can only take few steps.unable to stand up without help.Had xrays done 2 weeks ago,and nurse said,i had bad knees and needed new ones lol. I worked in all kinds of call centers.Will be 50 next month. I pray they approve me,for i dont have any medical insurance,so i have been paying out of pocket for meds and dr visits.I was approved for Humira from applying for assistance. So please keep me in your prayers.

I hope that the Humira helps you. I was approved for Enbrel but then when I went to see my Dr. he decided to wait. He wants to see if the prednisone was keeping everything suppressed. I think that I was having a short time with few symptoms because now everything is starting to swell up and hurt.Never had jaw pain before. I just hope that he decides to start me on the Enbrel before my funding is cancelled. I just really hope that the Humira helps you, a little hope for remission is good for all sufferers. When were you diagnosed? I have been where you are now, can't go lower than that, so just believe that things are going to look up soon.

I was just awarded SSD last week.I went to a doctor that they provided,and had to take a xray of the joint that bears the most weight. I selected my left knee,being I am unable to walk,and have to use a wheelchair. I have started on Humira and Methotrexate,so I hope I will begin to see the pain and swelling go down. I am having a 50th birthday party on May 18th,and would like to be a little less pain free. The pain is mostly in my knees,elbows,and ankles. I cant straighten my legs yet,but hopefully with this meds, I will in a few months.

Good to hear that they started you on SSD. My symptoms also started in my left knee and I was on crutches. I can now get my leg almost completely straight but at least I can walk without aid. What meds were you on before Humira? Hopefully these drugs will help without too many side effects.

Glad to hear you are getting ssd. I always heard that they usually turn people down the first or second time.. I recenly went to their ssd doctor and now I am waiting to hear something from them. I am happy for you that all is going good for you.

I was expecting a denial, I always heard that the first time they do deny benefits. I was told by the ssd doctor that they have a point system for approval. Age, work experience and severity of disease. If they think that you can be easily retrained and are young enough to do this then they might deny first time. My work experience is mostly factory( machinist, welder, wireman and assembly), maybe they figure that I am to old to waste a lot of money to retrain thus the approval.