Disability


Posted by Brenda Cardwell ® , Jun 10,2001,22:00   Archive
Hi everyone, I have not posted in a while. Have been reading all the post and am glad to see everyone is doing OK. Shirley, it was great to hear your surgery went well. My question to everyone is, I am going to apply for SS disability and long term disability from my work. I am currently on a 6 month leave of absence. I have not quit my job so that I will quality for my work disability. My DR is behind me all the way and is willing to help all she can. I have a phone interview with SS on June 15. I have also asked my DR to write a letter to send in with my application on both disabilities. Is there any advice that any of you can give me to help make this a smooth process? I have all my medical records since this began back in August of 2000. Besides the medical records from all the DR and specialist that I have seen and a letter from my primary care physcian, what else will I need? Thanks in advance for your help!! Has anyone from Texas filed for SS disability?

Brenda in Texas where it is HOT!!




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Re: Disability

Re : Disability --- Brenda Cardwell
Posted by June in Toronto ® (June Floyd,June in Toronto), Jun 11,2001,11:55 Top of Thread Archive
Hi Brenda, I'm not from the US, do can't deal specifically with your disability application. I would suggest though that you attach any and all written information you can get on beb and dystonia. You can get this from BEBRF. I think so many doctors don't know about this disease and it might make it a little easier for the SS to understand it. Good luck.

June in Toronto




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Re: Disability

Re : Disability --- Brenda Cardwell
Posted by Kelly Saffell ® , Jun 11,2001,12:37 Top of Thread Archive
Hi Brenda. I'm from Texas and am in the middle of my claim right now. I had insurance from work as well. I applied for that first and was approved rather quickly in June of 2000. They require you to file for social security so I began my application process in July of 2000. I have since been denied (which took about 4 months)and applied for reconsideration and denied (which took another 4 months). In the meantime Hartford (LTD carrier) required an independent medical exam the first of May. I must have "passed" because they contacted me today to assist me with the remainder of the SS application and put me in touch with a patient advocate to help. I spoke with her earlier and she remembers a patient from 10 years ago with BEB that she helped get benenfits for at a hearing. That will be my next step. She is going to file my appeal for a hearing, which should take about a year in Texas, I was told, to go before a judge. The foundation has an information packet on filing for SS benefits if you haven't already requested that. I wasn't sure that I was going to continue to fight for the SS benefits but Hartford told me that if I don't, my income will show $0 for every year I don't work without SS disability status and since I am only 32 I won't have any retirement. However, if approved, they freeze your last W2 in calculating future benefits. I have worked 9 years as a CPA. She also said that if at some point you want to attempt to work again they will continue your benefits for 9 months so that you can "try it out" and see if you are able to without loosing your status. I know there are alot of people on the bb who were approved right away by SS but it has not been that easy for me.

Kelly in Dallas - HOT!!




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Re: Disability

Re : Re: Disability --- Kelly Saffell
Posted by Brenda Cardwell ® , Jun 13,2001,07:09 Top of Thread Archive
Thank you so much for this information Kelly!! May I email you for further information? If not that is OK. I have some questions about long term disability. Thanks again for your help.
Brenda
You can contact me at my email address, wardmt@wf.net



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Re: Disability

Re : Re: Disability --- Brenda Cardwell
Posted by Kelly Saffell ® , Jun 13,2001,10:11 Top of Thread Archive
It is always ok to contact me. I have sent you an e-mail but just in case you don't receive it my email address is ksaffell@aol.com Hope I can help you!
Kelly



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Re: Disability

Re : Disability --- Brenda Cardwell
Posted by Moderator-JB ® , Jun 11,2001,15:13 Top of Thread Archive
Brenda:

One of the most important items needed to successfully run the gamut to Social Security Disibility is Perserverance.

In the attached link you will also find the personal tracks by Grace Anne Henry and myself.

http://www.blepharospasm.org/disability.html

Most important I believe is to have your evaluation done by a 'Competant' physician who has treated many cases of BEB. You do not need to use their doctors but can pick a qualified doctor of your choice. (see my information)

Hang in there,

Judy




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