I'm applying for Disability. Can you help improve my odds?

[Switch]

I have an appointment in about a month to apply. I have a long history of jobs that have been cut short due to my illness and I haven't been working for the last 3 years. I've been in and out of the doctor's office like a revolving door. I have a specialist that I see. I have an ear illness and I see an Otolarynologist for it. I have to take medication everyday to keep the passages in my ear open...otherwise they close shut and it gets infected and I'm in pain, etc. I'm not sure my illness has a name because my illness is so rare. I've never met anyone else that has the same problem as me. When I grew in my adolescence, my eustachian tube and ear didn't grow like it should so I my ear passages soon began to cave in and I had ear pressure problems and had to have surgery to correct it and now I take medicine to keep it open.

Sorry for the long description but I thought it was necessary. Anyway, these days if I get sick, it takes on average about 2 months for me to get better because it's so hard to get the ear drops down into my ear canal and also I've had so many infections that they become resistant to the medicine.

So how do I go about getting disability? I was thinking that maybe I could type something out for them since sometimes it's hard for me to describe it. My mind goes in 15 different directions when I try to describe it.

Any help is appreciated or any stories on how you got disability. Thanks.

 

[seniorjudge]

I have an appointment in about a month to apply. I have a long history of jobs that have been cut short due to my illness and I haven't been working for the last 3 years. I've been in and out of the doctor's office like a revolving door. I have a specialist that I see. I have an ear illness and I see an Otolarynologist for it. I have to take medication everyday to keep the passages in my ear open...otherwise they close shut and it gets infected and I'm in pain, etc. I'm not sure my illness has a name because my illness is so rare. I've never met anyone else that has the same problem as me. When I grew in my adolescence, my eustachian tube and ear didn't grow like it should so I my ear passages soon began to cave in and I had ear pressure problems and had to have surgery to correct it and now I take medicine to keep it open.

Sorry for the long description but I thought it was necessary. Anyway, these days if I get sick, it takes on average about 2 months for me to get better because it's so hard to get the ear drops down into my ear canal and also I've had so many infections that they become resistant to the medicine.

So how do I go about getting disability? I was thinking that maybe I could type something out for them since sometimes it's hard for me to describe it. My mind goes in 15 different directions when I try to describe it.

Any help is appreciated or any stories on how you got disability. Thanks.

You won't give your state of residence.

We don't answer questions without a state.

In your other thread, you wouldn't give your state either.

Methinks thou hidest something....

 

[Shay-Pari'e]

Your kidding, right?

 

[Switch]

I don't like giving my state.

Ohio

Kidding about what?

 

[Shay-Pari'e]

You get ear infections. You claim you don't know the name of a rare desease you have. You have been out of work for three years,and now think a hand written letter is going to get you disability?

 

[Shay-Pari'e]

I don't like giving my state. Why? Is the FBI looking for a screen name *Swith* in *Ohio*?

Ohio

Kidding about what?

 

[Switch]

You don't believe me? My eustachian tube collapses and swells. I don't understand where the problem lies.

 

[Switch]

I don't know if there is a name for my illness but I will call my doctor to find out.

 

[BL]

Just for the record , if a person is applying for benifits , SSA will set up a date to come in for an interveiw . The letter they send will explain the process . Have names, addresses , and phone numbers of all your medical providers . SSA will contact them for their opinions .

By the way does the specialist state in his opinion you can not preform any kind of work due to your illness(es) ?

SSA will decide your case on ALL the evidence the aquire , your medical condition , mental condition , work history , age , education , Etc .

Why haven't you consulted an SSI Attorney for a FREE consultation , in your area ?

 

[Switch]

I was told that I didn't need an attorney. But maybe I should have one because my case is kind of complex. I truly feel that my doctor will tell them that my illness prevents me from working. Actually, I'm not sure what she will say but over the years, I've told her how I feel.

Facts are that I just can't hold a job. It's completely due to my ear illness. No question about it and I've even told my doctor that I've had to quit numerous jobs because of it. I've been seeing my doctor for about 14 years regularly. I've never kept a job for more than 3 months and it usually ends by me getting sick. Employers don't want to give you a month off when you get sick. This last time I got sick, my ear has been so swollen that I couldn't hear out of it properly for about the first 6 months. Not to mention the pain and discomfort that is involved. It's hard to work and concentrate with that much pain and discomfort. It's hard to get out of bed.

So do you think I should get an attorney? I know this forum is about attorneys and stuff but I never got along well with attorneys. I've never met one that I actually liked to be honest.

 

[BL]

It really doesn't matter what YOU tell your DR. or SSA YOUR opinion is . Talk to the specialist about your application a get the DR's opinions as your ability to do any type of gainful employment . If he will back it up with his answers to SSA , then try without an Attorney .

If you are denied , then consult one for free .

 

[weenor]

Yes you should have a lawyer on this one...no money up front and they get a percentage of your award...an attorney can elicit the appropriate responses from the doctors based on social security's legal standards defining disability. Often doctors do not understand the wording and can accidently screw things up.

 

[Switch]

Thanks guys for your help. I have an appointment in one month. Is it too late to get a lawyer for it? How does it work? Would the lawyer show up to the interview with me?

 

[mwether19]

Disability

If you haven't worked for over 3 years you may not have enough of credits for SSD. Look into that. You will need to provide your work history for the past 15 years. But you can still apply for SSI if you are considered disabled and have a low income if you don't have enough of credits.

An attorney by law can only take 25% or I believe 5300.00 which ever is the less if you are considered disabled. They will charge you for incidentals such as photocopies, getting doctors' reports, etc. The more you can get yourself would help. Call your doctor(s) and ask for all your medical reports.

My husband & I just went through this and you need excellent doctor reports documenting your illness.

You also have to be consistant about your illness. By that I mean that you can't claim that you can't work, but yet you can go out dancing, golfing, etc. Your illness must also interfere with your daily activities as well.

Good luck!

 

[Switch]

I'm going to call a lawyer on Monday. This whole thing is crazy. yes, I do go to the grocery. No, I don't go dancing. I don't do anything for entertainment. I just sit at home everyday and do nothing.

I'm in pain and discomfort everyday. I've told the doctor about it. She says that I need to see another doctor about it. So I've been to another doctors and told them and they give me stress pills. They probably weren't even stress pills. It was more like sugar inside capsules. Placebos I think they are called.

I'm calling a lawyer. I have to try. The thing is. Lets say I do get a job. Guess what. I know the future. Yep. I'd place all the money I own on the fact that I won't last a year at that job. Whatever job it may be. Want to know why? I'll get an ear infection. Once I get the ear infection, guess how long it takes to get rid of it? A week ? No. Two weeks? No. A month? Ummm maybe. 3 months? Yeah. I'd definitely be gone after 3 months of constant medication. Do you think the boss at the job would let me take 3 months off work while I get better? Hell no. That's the primary reason I can't work. So how many of you would go to work for 3 months with an ear infection? None of you would. I know it.

I've never kept a job for more than 6 months. Ever. I'm 29. I'm getting a lawyer and I'm going to dedicate the next 10 years of my life to getting disability. I won't stop until I get it because I deserve it. I deserve it. The employers deserve. My parents deserve it. It's just not right for me to walk into a company and tell them that I'm perfectly healthy and then 3 months later I get sick and have to take 3 months off work. How is that fair to the company ? And how is this whole thing fair to me?