Is it harder to get disability now? (health issues, depression, doctor)

[WheredoIlive?]

I am on disablity so this isnt about me. I am so far gone, I do not have to worry about passing a review, and just did. Id rather be healthier, but Ive lived longer then anyone expected.

I have someone close to me, I thought they were going to get disability, they have bad veins, can barely walk, vascular problems, they got let go from jobs towards later years even tough they worked hard, for mental and physical problems--told you cant keep up and worked 12-14 hour days for YEARS, and got old and burned out. The mental problems include depression, forgetfulness and fatigue. [I think its related to the vasulcar stuff] One friend told me she thought for sure hed get disability based on the mental stuff alone. I do not know what kind of job this person could ever work again just due to severe fatigue. I thought they would see their case, in the eyes of look this guy worked for years and years, worked hours and hours a day...not some bum just trying to get out of work...his work record alone should have held up. I worked 60-70 hours a week before I was disabled.


Do you all think its gotten harder for anyone to get disability? Did anyone here ever go to one of the lawyers for an appeal? Does that work? My case I did not have to appeal was so sick, it was obvious, and past employer backed it up but then this was 12 years ago. I am scared for this person, my health is bad, and I may not be around long. I am afraid they could end up homeless being unable to support themselves. They are thinking about appealing.


Anyone have that work out for them? Anyone gone that way can give me any advice?

[teatime]

Like you, I was approved really fast because I have so many health issues and I worked as long as I possibly could, and changed jobs to accommodate, too.

But this isn't the forum for this discussion. Go to the Health forum and search for the disability threads. There are some that I've posted on so I know they exist. Lots of folks have shared their stories and can answer your questions there.

[Thursday007]

Originally Posted by WheredoIlive?

I am on disablity so this isnt about me. I am so far gone, I do not have to worry about passing a review, and just did. Id rather be healthier, but Ive lived longer then anyone expected.

I have someone close to me, I thought they were going to get disability, they have bad veins, can barely walk, vascular problems, they got let go from jobs towards later years even tough they worked hard, for mental and physical problems--told you cant keep up and worked 12-14 hour days for YEARS, and got old and burned out. The mental problems include depression, forgetfulness and fatigue. [I think its related to the vasulcar stuff] One friend told me she thought for sure hed get disability based on the mental stuff alone. I do not know what kind of job this person could ever work again just due to severe fatigue. I thought they would see their case, in the eyes of look this guy worked for years and years, worked hours and hours a day...not some bum just trying to get out of work...his work record alone should have held up. I worked 60-70 hours a week before I was disabled.


Do you all think its gotten harder for anyone to get disability? Did anyone here ever go to one of the lawyers for an appeal? Does that work? My case I did not have to appeal was so sick, it was obvious, and past employer backed it up but then this was 12 years ago. I am scared for this person, my health is bad, and I may not be around long. I am afraid they could end up homeless being unable to support themselves. They are thinking about appealing.


Anyone have that work out for them? Anyone gone that way can give me any advice?

The only thing I know about it pertaining to the highlighted section above it that disablity for mental or depression issues is the hardest to prove in the system.

For this person to get the best chances based on those reasons is to begin seeing a psychiatrist (not just psychologist) and be put on medication, who will then provide documentation based on their evalutation which will definitely help their case in that instance. They will be required to list specific ailments and then the doctors they are seeing for each such as their primary care physicians, specialists and emergency room visits. Next, go to the drugstore and tell them you want a print off of all your scripts for the year. They often do this at the end of the year for people's taxes so it's no big deal for them and they can do it over night.

They will still be required to go through a battery of verbal and written tests from an independant psychologist, which I believe is rather quick, but all of it is taken into account. Citing 'suicida'l is the biggest factor in obtaining disability for mental issues such as the ones you have cited.

http://www.disabilitysecrets.com/

[stepka]

My ex works for SSA, and the biggest reason it's getting harder to get disability is b/c they have a backlog of cases on the books. More people are retiring and this goes for SSA workers as well, b/c SSA didn't look ahead and hire enough more people in time to take all the cases. It can take over 2 years to get a worker fully trained so they're going to be having probs for awhile. It might be a good idea for your friend to scout around for the least busy SSA office in the area--you can go to any one of them, no matter where you live. Also, cases that are appealed have a greater chance of passing the next time, so keep trying.