SUGGESTIONS FOR FILING
FOR SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY
Last update 4 August 2011
- GET
A DISABILITY LAWYER TO FILL OUT THE INITIAL PAPERWORK THE FIRST TIME
YOU APPLY FOR SSD.
- You need a lawyer because you
don' t know all the factors they need to take into consideration.
- Make certain the lawyer you
use is specialized in disability filings.
- Many disability lawyers
will take a case on contingency (no money due untill awarded disability
status.
- Consider using a law firm
that specializes in disability law such as ALLSUP or similar.
- The amount of retroactive
award money that can be
paid to the lawyer is limited by
law, and the amount is capped.
- The cost of an experienced
lawyer is worth it in the long run.
- Some lawyers will even do disability
filings for free.
- Don't sugar-coat your
illness.
- High doses of prednisone
(and similar) probably make you feel much better than you truly
are.
- As you have been diagnosed
with an autoimmune vasculitis, you have a chronic and permanent
illness.
- In most cases, you can't tell what the
future holds.
- The meds used to treat
vasculitis have side effects that can be permanent and serious and can
go
on to create problems later on in life.
- Chemotherapeutic
agents (immunosuppressives) can make you fatigues, weak, nauseous,
etc.
- Don't predict a future
ability to work or let anyone present to the court there's a high
degree of probability you'll be able to work.
- HAVE
YOUR PHYSICIANS WRITE STONG LETTERS TO GO WITH THE INITIAL APPLICATION.
- Make sure those letters
address not only your vasculitis, but all the damage vasculitis has already caused.
- Have the side effects of your medications
explained, both current and future risks.
- If possible, have your
physician state no significant improvement is expected due to permanent
damage already incurred.
- Be sure the letters includes
your complete medical records.
- BY
PHONE OR LETTER, THE SSA WILL INSTRUCT YOU TO MAIL THE APPLICATION.
- Call that agency's office and speak
to that caseworker and make certain that the caseworker is your SSA
"medical record" person. Get
the name, the phone number and the fax number. Make sure all
contacts go through that person.
- Send by Certified Mail, return receipt requested.
- Keep all receipts for
confimation in the future.
- NEVER
REFILE AN APPLICATION AS THAT
RESTARTS THE DISABILITY CLOCK.
- If your application is denied
at any step in the process, have your lawyer appeal, not file a new
application.
- IF YOU HAVE A COURT HEARING, BE SURE TO
HAVE A DISABILITY LAWYER REPRESENTS YOU.
- The government isn't
in the business to hand out money even though you are disabled as
defined in the disability laws.
- They will seek ways
to delay or deny disability status.
- Someone from your local
Social Security office can appeal the court's decision.
- KEEP A DAILY DIARY OF
CHANGES IN SYMPTOMS AND MEDICATIONS.
- If you can't do it
then make
sure a family member or friend is keeping notes/diary on how you're
feeling, medication changes, appointments etc.
- MAKE
SURE ALL YOUR PHYSICIANS KEEP ACCURATE AND COMPLETE RECORDS..
- DON'T
WORK PART TIME OR GO TO SCHOOL WHILE YOUR STAUS IS PENDING.
- Even
after disability status is awarded, be leery of working or going to
school. It may get your status revoked.
- FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION ON DISABILITY FILING
- See the web page addresses
listed at
<>
- <>SAVE
MONEY HOWEVER YOU CAN.
- A disability action is a
lengthy process.
- if you are disabled but not
on death's door, the government will do all they can to delay or deny
awarding disability status.
- When disability is awarded,
you will receive an amount back dated to the original filing date.
- It takes about 2-3 months
after award of disability status
before you learn the retroactive payment amount..