Advice on Applying for Disability

[KenK]

Crohn's started Sept 2006. Never have had pain. No surgeries. One hospitalization when I got stopped up.
Dr. found a stricture in my colon, but it cleared out naturally. That was my second colonoscopy.

1st two GI doctors didn't do much for me. 1st one got me on mesalamine, which made me worse, then he panicked & refused
to treat me any more. 2nd doctor got me off mesalamine, but everything else he tried failed. I quit him about 2010 & just went without
treatment until 2015 when I got stopped up as mentioned above. That's when I met my current doctor. He put on 150mg Imuran per day.

I am a 53 year old white male. Started my career in auto repair in Sept 1982 working after school. March 1987 started my third job, where I worked until June of last year, when the boss decided it was time him to close up the family business after 72 years.

About December 2006 I had to start cutting back on my hours due to crohn's interfering with getting to work on time.
After a few years, I was starting work at 10:30-10:45 am which cut me to 32-33 hours/week. Boss basically let me work my
own schedule & do what I could do. Haven't worked since June 29 2017.

I also had an emergency operation for right side inguinal hernia 2010, and during follow-up, the surgeon found I had one
on the left as well. He wanted to fix it right away. Primary Care Dr. said, leave it alone unless it causes a problem. I took his advice
over the surgeon.

Was diagnosed with osteoporosis or osteopenia concurrently with crohn's in 2006. Had a diagnosis of tachycardia earlier in 2006.

Now I got an external Hemorrhoid.

Current crohn's symptoms: 2-6 BM's/day. Urgency at times, quality varies from watery to small chunks.
Don't see myself being able to leave the house before 9:30-9:45am due to sitting on the toilet in the mornings.
If I have to go in the afternoon, its gonna be at least 15 minutes at a time.

So... what do you think my chances are for getting disability?

All of my education & work experience is automotive repair.

Should I apply online, or ask for an appointment to go to the SS office?

Any other advice/questions?

 

[cmack]

I think it might be best to explain it to someone privately and confidentially, so the the SS office is where I would go. I would just make sure it's confidential first. Just my opinion. Good Luck.

 

[Bufford]

I would contact legal aid and inquire to see if you would qualify. Over here the process is lengthly and can take years. But with persistence and with a legal aid lawyer your chances of success increase.

 

[KenK]

Thanks for the responses, but I was hoping for replies from people with actual
experience with the American Social Security Disability system.

 

[exit4]

Here is my post from few years back, but I think it stills takes the same process.
I first went on STD (short term disability)after I had a fistula surgery, it would not heal for month’s. I couldn’t sit due to the pain, I leaked post BM and was very depressed. Mind you, I lived for years with belly pain, urgency, dria,fistula, arthritis, depression and all the other lovely Crohn’s gifts. It’s the fistula surgery (fistulatomy) that put me over the edge.
When my STD ended, HR at my last employer (I worked for the same company for over 10 years) send my file over to LTD Long Term Disability (Prudential). Prudential sent me and my doc’s daily regiment questioner/form. I told then the truth - Because of my situation at time – non healing fistula, leaking post BM, unable to sit for any prolong time, depression, fatigue, arthritis I can’t be in the office and do my job. I also worked in IT and was responsible for business critical applications. Not being 100% 24/7 pretty much made me useless in that capacity. In that form I had to document my typical daily: How long I typically sleep, how is my sleep, do I wake up during the night to go the restroom due to my pain, etc. Then what do I do after I wake up: how many and what types of pills I take, do I forget to take pills, how often I forget, Do I have depression, how does it affect my cognitive and mental ability, do I feel confused and unable to concentrate. Can I make my own breakfast, how many times per week can I make my own breakfast. Can I do any chores and what type I can do in the house, can I drive myself to the doctor, how long can I sit in the car, can I take a walk outside, how often and how long, etc. Basically I described my worst day as that were most of my days per week anyway – some days I feel better and I can make breakfast, take a walk with my dog for one hour, then I need to lay dawn due to pain, dizziness, etc
I went to all the hospitals I was admitted for the past year and had them make me a copy of my records (some I had to pay 10c per page) that showed my surgeries, infections, complications, etc. I also got copies of my record from my surgeon, my GI, my family doc, my therapist, my second and third opinion surgeons and GI’s. All that info was added to the package and sent to Prudential. After the review Prudential started my LTD benefits and after one year, send all my paper work to SSDI. I got approved in 2 month's. All my docs were on board with me and agreed to fill in their parts in the forms. Then my wife got a form to fill up because I listed her as a person I live with that helps me on daily basis. She described my worst day and my best day – I am able to do few things 2 times per week, the rest of the week she does house chores, walks the dog, etc.
Can’t stress enough how important documentation is: You have to prove that I AM UNABLE TO WORK at my current position AND any other compatible to my experience and education job.
All the best to you!

 

[Anna's Bandit]

Crohn's started Sept 2006. Never have had pain. No surgeries. One hospitalization when I got stopped up.
Dr. found a stricture in my colon, but it cleared out naturally. That was my second colonoscopy.

1st two GI doctors didn't do much for me. 1st one got me on mesalamine, which made me worse, then he panicked & refused
to treat me any more. 2nd doctor got me off mesalamine, but everything else he tried failed. I quit him about 2010 & just went without
treatment until 2015 when I got stopped up as mentioned above. That's when I met my current doctor. He put on 150mg Imuran per day.

I am a 53 year old white male. Started my career in auto repair in Sept 1982 working after school. March 1987 started my third job, where I worked until June of last year, when the boss decided it was time him to close up the family business after 72 years.

About December 2006 I had to start cutting back on my hours due to crohn's interfering with getting to work on time.
After a few years, I was starting work at 10:30-10:45 am which cut me to 32-33 hours/week. Boss basically let me work my
own schedule & do what I could do. Haven't worked since June 29 2017.

I also had an emergency operation for right side inguinal hernia 2010, and during follow-up, the surgeon found I had one
on the left as well. He wanted to fix it right away. Primary Care Dr. said, leave it alone unless it causes a problem. I took his advice
over the surgeon.

Was diagnosed with osteoporosis or osteopenia concurrently with crohn's in 2006. Had a diagnosis of tachycardia earlier in 2006.

Now I got an external Hemorrhoid.

Current crohn's symptoms: 2-6 BM's/day. Urgency at times, quality varies from watery to small chunks.
Don't see myself being able to leave the house before 9:30-9:45am due to sitting on the toilet in the mornings.
If I have to go in the afternoon, its gonna be at least 15 minutes at a time.

So... what do you think my chances are for getting disability?

All of my education & work experience is automotive repair.

Should I apply online, or ask for an appointment to go to the SS office?

Any other advice/questions?

Some can apply and get approved right away. I applied online in 2009 and got denied. I gave up until 2011 when I hired an attorney. I waited 21 months for my hearing with a SSD judge ( January 2013. ) I won my case with 2 years back-dated settlement pay. Of course I had to pay the attorney. Since I got 2 years back-dated settlement pay ( which means the SSD judge determined me disabled as of 2010 ) I automatically qualified for Medicare right away. Medical records Medical Records Medical records......the more medical records you give the SSD the better chance you have to win your case. After my favorable determination I cried all the way home during my cab ride......I was so blessed, certainly I had a million Angel's looking over me. PS : Dont forget that the SSD works for the government, an attorney works for you. Good Luck, you deserve a break. ❤

 

[Anna's Bandit]

Here is my post from few years back, but I think it stills takes the same process.
I first went on STD (short term disability)after I had a fistula surgery, it would not heal for month’s. I couldn’t sit due to the pain, I leaked post BM and was very depressed. Mind you, I lived for years with belly pain, urgency, dria,fistula, arthritis, depression and all the other lovely Crohn’s gifts. It’s the fistula surgery (fistulatomy) that put me over the edge.
When my STD ended, HR at my last employer (I worked for the same company for over 10 years) send my file over to LTD Long Term Disability (Prudential). Prudential sent me and my doc’s daily regiment questioner/form. I told then the truth - Because of my situation at time – non healing fistula, leaking post BM, unable to sit for any prolong time, depression, fatigue, arthritis I can’t be in the office and do my job. I also worked in IT and was responsible for business critical applications. Not being 100% 24/7 pretty much made me useless in that capacity. In that form I had to document my typical daily: How long I typically sleep, how is my sleep, do I wake up during the night to go the restroom due to my pain, etc. Then what do I do after I wake up: how many and what types of pills I take, do I forget to take pills, how often I forget, Do I have depression, how does it affect my cognitive and mental ability, do I feel confused and unable to concentrate. Can I make my own breakfast, how many times per week can I make my own breakfast. Can I do any chores and what type I can do in the house, can I drive myself to the doctor, how long can I sit in the car, can I take a walk outside, how often and how long, etc. Basically I described my worst day as that were most of my days per week anyway – some days I feel better and I can make breakfast, take a walk with my dog for one hour, then I need to lay dawn due to pain, dizziness, etc
I went to all the hospitals I was admitted for the past year and had them make me a copy of my records (some I had to pay 10c per page) that showed my surgeries, infections, complications, etc. I also got copies of my record from my surgeon, my GI, my family doc, my therapist, my second and third opinion surgeons and GI’s. All that info was added to the package and sent to Prudential. After the review Prudential started my LTD benefits and after one year, send all my paper work to SSDI. I got approved in 2 month's. All my docs were on board with me and agreed to fill in their parts in the forms. Then my wife got a form to fill up because I listed her as a person I live with that helps me on daily basis. She described my worst day and my best day – I am able to do few things 2 times per week, the rest of the week she does house chores, walks the dog, etc.
Can’t stress enough how important documentation is: You have to prove that I AM UNABLE TO WORK at my current position AND any other compatible to my experience and education job.
All the best to you!

I had to supply SSD with similar information.

My SSD determination, though, was based on my physical health AND mental health. After a mental breakdown, hospitalization and short term disability through my job I was a mess. I lost memory, focus and concentration. How I managed to work for 2 more years after that was amazing. My job performance was EXTREMELY poor. Got let go from my job due to "work force reduction" in 2009 because of the recession. I was never "fired" and did not quit my job. ( More Angel's on my shoulders again. ) I received a great severance package and Cobra Health Insurance Coverage. Found some retirement money I knew nothing about and cashed it in. God looked over me the entire time. I could have been homeless and very sick with no treatment for my illnesses. I'm rambling now. Sorry. It is 1:19am. Take Care. ❤