Needing advise on getting approved for SSI(disability)HELP!!!!

[Possum]

<span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif; font-size: medium;">Hey Everyone,<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Haven't been posting here for awhile as I have been feeling pretty hopeless over my health and work/job issues(I know,THAT'S LIFE!) But I am reaching out to the "tribe" for any experience/advise that would help me. SO here's my problem: I have had a pretty physically rough working history and it has taken it's toll on me and has finally become a serious problem. I am 48 years old and have had horrible back/spine related problems that has been getting worse over the last 8 years. I have been to numerous"doctors",mostly under worker's comp and emergency room&nbsp; conditions and none of them could find the problem(s) with the limited processes that they used to diagnose me. I don't have health insurance so have been forced to go go down thier paths for help! Finally last week, I broke down and spent the cash on a MRI to get to the "bottom" of my Pain. My primary doctor told me yesterday that I multiple slipped discs, and advanced&nbsp; arthritis in my hips/spine!&nbsp; I&nbsp; am still working but is extemely difficult and painful to perform my routine job..I'M A BROKEN TOY as it were!!<br />&nbsp;I cant "quit my job because i need the income to live on, but unable physically to do it!! I cant claim worker's comp because i really cant prove any specific event during work that would have caused this....So..I feel that i'm pretty much SCREWED!!!&nbsp;&nbsp; I am going to try to file for permanent disability but have read that it is hard to achieve. "they say: have to be unemployed due to illness for atleast a year to even be considered for acceptance...Who can afford to be without an income for a year....Any help and/or suggestions/ personal experience on this matter would be greatly appreciated!<br />&nbsp;<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; As always!!!! BEST REGARDS TO ALL!!<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Randy</span>

 

[josephusminimus]

Randy:&nbsp; I used to have an attorney friend worked for Legal Aid Society and did a lot of&nbsp;SS type arguing and counselling&nbsp;on matters such as you've described.<br /><br />You&nbsp;might need more of the kind of help related to your specific problem than general discussions about what others experienced.&nbsp; Here are a couple of links you might find helpful:<br /><br />&nbsp;<a href="http://www.legal-aid.org/en/ineedhe...alsecurityretirementordisabilitybenefits.aspx">http://www.legal-aid.org/en/ineedhe...alsecurityretirementordisabilitybenefits.aspx</a><br /><br /><a href="http://law.freeadvice.com/government_law/social_security_law/">http://law.freeadvice.com/government_law/social_security_law/</a><br /><br /><br />A dogpile.com search might turn up links nearer home for you if you need them.<br /><br />Here's wishing you the best for yourself.

 

[offroad]

My brother-in-law had to help his brother do this for exactly the same situation and health conditions.&nbsp; You have to file for disability retirement with social security (and state social services).&nbsp; The lawyer he used took the work on contingency, and the state paid the lawyer, when he won the medical retirement.&nbsp; You will not starve or freeze, so put that out of your mind.&nbsp; Just start running though all the agencies in your area that help the disabled, including NGO (non-goverment-organizations).&nbsp; <br /><br />This will take months to settle and agree on, but your MRI scan shows you qualify.&nbsp; Expect to be rejected a few times, before the government accepts your needs, and give you SS medical retirement with medicaid.&nbsp; You are ahead of the game, because you read here about how to take care of yourself on a minimal income.

 

[SirJoey]

<br /><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;"><strong>I don't wanna be discouraging, LivinFree, but your age counts heavily against U as well. It's very hard <br />to win a disability case under the age of 50, unless your disability is obvious, &amp; absolutely irrefutable.</strong></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;"><strong>It's tough, but that's the way it is. At any rate, hang in there, &amp; good luck!&nbsp;<img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" /><br /><br /></strong></span>

 

[yesican]

I think it is correct to assume you have to be unemployable and unemployed for a certain amount of time.&nbsp; You will need a disability lawyer.&nbsp; You will get automatic rejection first time you apply for disability. You do get reimbursed from the time you apply so keep all records (although I think they only go back a year now).&nbsp; My brother in law got a huge lump sum (it took over 3 years from when he first applied to get his SSDI). It will involve months and months of waiting to get the least amount of info.&nbsp;<br /><br />There&nbsp;are other jobs besides physical labor that you can do and they will expect you to try&nbsp;those first.&nbsp;Do not expect the gov't&nbsp;to save you-they won't; and, they're running out of money.&nbsp; You are young enough to change fields of work and many in their 40's do.&nbsp;When you're in pain and afraid it's hard to see the big picture.&nbsp; Step back, take a deep breath, and think of skills you have or that can be acquired easily that can put you in a&nbsp;position that doesn't require physical work.&nbsp; It may be a position where you make much less money, but it&nbsp;may keep food on the table and&nbsp;gas in the tank.&nbsp; I think many of us&nbsp;are at an age where we can't physically do what&nbsp;we always did.&nbsp;We have to learn to adapt or we'll become extinct!&nbsp; (this pep talk was as much for me as it was for you!!!).&nbsp;<br />Rae

 

[VanLifeCrisis]

I went through this with my mom and several people close to me.&nbsp; It can be tough, you pretty much need a lawyer or advocate to push ssi through.&nbsp; They will always reject you at least 2 of the 3 times no matter how obvious your disability is.&nbsp; You definitely need that MRI and cooperative doctors.&nbsp; But the lawyer is the main one, many will work with you for a cut of the initial payment (you used to get paid a lump sum from the time you first applied...not sure if they still do that...so applying early on initially even if you will be rejected is good).&nbsp; Its going to be tricky for you, because they will immediately say that you have been working up till now so you are okey dokey <img src="/images/boards/smilies/frown.gif" /><br /><br />I agree with offroad, find an agency/advocacy that helps people with this sort of thing.&nbsp; It probably wont apply to you, but for instance my mom had united way help and they pushed hers through within a month or two and took care of everything, arranged the right doctors and stuff that helped her get it (this was a different sort of case with her, i dont think united way helps in your case).<br /><br />I also want to mention that if you are in pain and hurting yourself more by working, there are some interim assistance programs in most states that will help you out with cash (and usually other things like food stamps) while your application is pending.&nbsp; Some require you to pay the cash back out of your settlement.

 

[offroad]

My brother in law was way below 40 and was able to get it after thelawyer worked the case for six months. He had hip and pelvis damage and could sit, but never found a job. Lots of pain though. &nbsp;Companies will find a way to discriminate against you for any job, as you are a risk to their profits while disabled, as you will likely call in sick more often. &nbsp;But have courage that you can do this. &nbsp;<br /><br />Government money availability has absolutely nothing to do with your eligibility. Everyone who needs the funds gets it. &nbsp;Until we stop paying SS benefits to millionaires, all disabled persons will get a living amount of money. You may be able to get a place to live in your county also, so check on that too.&nbsp;

 

[cedric]

I agree it can take time. lots of time. You could try it without a lawyer but you will most likely lose for 3+yrs straight. Get a law office that only works SSDI claims. Get references and ask for their success rate based on your type of disability. It doesn't matter if their overall success rate is 90% if most of their clients are terminal (those are very easy to get approved).<br /><br />You will need help or big cash reserves. My brother stayed with us until his was approved. He found very little help with state agencies. They stated if he was on his own in the street they could help but as long as he had family helping they couldn't.<br /><br />If you have no means to medically address your back maybe you could get help moving to a state that offers free health care for the unemployed. My son was disabled from a work accident that damaged 2 disks in his lower back. He went through the surgery and is now back doing construction.<br /><br />Definitely look into finding an easier job. Perhaps the local unemployment office could offer re-training??

 

[Possum]

<span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif; font-size: medium;">THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO RANG IN ON MY POSTS!!!!!<br />It's great to be a part of such a insightful, caring group of fellow vandwellers!<img src="/images/boards/smilies/thumb.gif" /><img src="/images/boards/smilies/thumb.gif" /><img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Randy</span>