josej
Full Member
Posts: 140
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Post by josej on Jul 8, 2007 14:08:40 GMT -5
I'm filing a disability claim for KJ due to her parasitic infestation and Morgellons disease. Kinda expecting to get denied (again). Has anyone had any success with disability benefits mentioning Morgellons and its disabling symptoms? If so, can you share any info that might help our case? Thanks mucho.
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Post by godog on Jul 8, 2007 14:20:02 GMT -5
My understanding is if you've been denied, get a lawyer. I have trying to gear up to applying myself. Also, go online and you can find a website that explains everything. We have one here in Missouri, I don't know if it varies from state to state, but it's very informative.
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Post by godog on Jul 8, 2007 14:26:04 GMT -5
Go to disabilitysecrets.com
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Post by liz on Jul 8, 2007 19:28:40 GMT -5
GOOD LUCK IT TOOK ME YEARS OF FGIGHTING WITH A MULTIPLE SCHLEROSIS DIAGNOSIS BEFORE I EVEN LEARNED ABOUt MORGS..THEY PRETTY MUCH HOPE YOU DIE BEFORE THEY GIVE YOU BACK THE MONEY THEY HAVE ALREADY TAKEN IN FICA TO BE THERE IN CASE YOU GET SICK! be ready for a long, nasty battle!...wish I had better news..I finaly won!...and when you do! you get a boatload of back money plus a monthly income and medicare a& b with scrip coverage...its worth fighting for..you should call me for more details!I HAVE P'M YOU WITH MY NUMBER BEFORE...I HAVE SOME OTHER TIPS I CAN'T LIST ONLINE!
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Post by browncircles on Jul 8, 2007 21:49:04 GMT -5
You must get an attorney. One that does a lot of disability claims.
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Post by cheetah on Jul 9, 2007 10:42:22 GMT -5
For disability paperwork and claims PLEASE find your local "legal aid" office !!! (every State has them even if you have to travel to the next town over) They will not charge you and they will help you with all of your paperwork. This is a process that many get soooo discouraged with because there is quite a bit of paperwork and red tape. They will deny you the first two times and you HAVE to send in paperwork after the denial to appeal the denial. YOU CANNOT BE LATE on the appeal process or you have to start all over again which is why it really is a good idea to contact your local legal aid office. They really are helpful. Good luck and if you have any other questions let me know and I will try and help you. Please do not spend money on a paid attorney if you can avoid it. It's such a rip off. Besides...that's what legal aid is for...
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Post by flutterby on Jul 9, 2007 13:03:33 GMT -5
Hi, I have finally received my SSD. I hired a lawyer from the get go. Was turned down several times. After a 3 year wait, my husband and I were financially whipped out. Just filed for bankruptcy. Write to your senator to intervene for you for a hearing. My Senator was of tremendous help in expiditing my SSD. Made a phone call in the morning, he had my file and was approved by the end of the day. I have many, many disabling conditions, but in my correspondance to my Senator I included a letter I wrote to the CDC regarding Morgellons and also presented the response from the CDC. In my final decision, even though, my husband was awarded his SSD and his disabilities included Morgellons, which he presented 4 years after my onset, no mention of Morgellons was included in my criterea for SSD. Hold on, it is not an easy task to be approved for your SSD. I waited 3 years. Write your Senator and ask him/her to intervene for you. Good Luck God Bless, Flutterby
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Post by Patti on Jul 9, 2007 14:26:53 GMT -5
That is wonderful news Flutterby, we're all really happy for you. But I have never heard of this process taking three years and I'm so sorry about all that you lost while waiting......that should never have happened. This is one area where you really do need expert help and if they are taking that long, something is really wrong.
When I applied for SSD back in the "dark ages" they were still turning everyone down the first time....only those on death's door were automatically approved and even then I think some of those poor people had to fight. But after my first turn-down I did get a lawyer because I was already too sick to be going around doing this stuff myself. I believe it was six or eight months in all to get me approved and that's mainly because their own doctors actually diagnosed me. I had tons of medical records but nobody seemed to know what was wrong.
I think the key is having those medical records, the more the better. I kept searching because I knew something just wasn't right with me. I was angry because I couldn't work, angry because nobody could figure out what was wrong, and I was bound & determined to not give up. I hear that it's different today and some have told me that it doesn't take as long as when I applied 18 years ago. That sure doesn't coincide with what you all are saying here and I tend to think that not much has changed, nor will it ever probably. (Look at all the diseases, syndromes, and such that are cropping up everywhere.....pretty soon the workforce will greatly be diminished if something isn't done soon.)
I've never heard of SSD being approved with a Morgellons diagnosis, Jose.....it's not even an established disease so I don't see that happening soon and wouldn't recommend anyone trying to use it. We just now are to a point where Lyme is being recognized but it's not moving as fast as it should. This all takes time, unfortunately, but stay on it and have every piece of paperwork you can to verify substantial illness. I think Legal Aid is a great way to go but they also are a little slower because of their work load. I guess it would depend on if you have enough money to live on while waiting.....if you don't, it might be worth paying a lawyer (contingency basis) who specializes in this as they have a huge staff to help them move it along faster.
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Post by specuelatin on Jul 9, 2007 20:45:46 GMT -5
Dear friends, Someone I know has advised me about dealing with federal bureaucracies and what steps to take. Flutterby did the right thing when she contacted her senator. Senators' offices are extremely busy and she is lucky they saw fit to make the phonecall. As soon as you get the denial, you get your paperwork together and make an appointment with your Representative. However, you will not see the Representative him/herself, you will meet with a Representative's Aid. Their job is to straighten out problems their constituents are having with FEDERAL BUREAUCRACIES and that is what they do, all day long. You must meet with the one that is from your district. You show them all that you have done and you ask if there is anything else you should do. They will see you are organized and not a looney toon. You are giving them the heads up that you may be back basically incase things don't go in your favor. They may put a file in a drawer about your visit. Later, if your reconsideration (first step in the appeal process) does not go through, you go back in to see the Representative's Aid again. They will look at the file, remember how you came in and never wasted their time, but had all your facts straight. What they may do next is call Jo Shmo for you at the SS office. Jo Shmo will listen up to the Reps Aid. Here's why. Next thing they might get is a letter from the Rep himself. That letter will go in his/her personnel file. The employee does not want this! The letter may stop them from a promotion and may get them fired on their next review. I had no idea how this works, but I will take this route. Further, I was told to contact the United Way, who have ombudsman who can help you write your reconsideration. I have to go now, but please consider these steps and these resources. DO NOT BE LATE ASKING FOR THE APPEAL> I know you won't. Good luck Josej Yours truly, spec
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Post by flutterby on Jul 10, 2007 10:34:12 GMT -5
Hi Spec, I was advised to contact the United Way through the Health Department. Since I had no medical insurance, incurred mucho medical bills over 3 years, as well as, no income, we were in trouble. The United Way will provide various organizations and phone numbers to help assist you with RX costs, etc. If you do not qualify for Medicaid, they will offer you partial assistance for health costs, however, there is a very large deductable you must pay first, then Medicaid will pick up the rest. The deductable set for me was $1,400.00, per 30 day period. So if I had to use it, God forbide you were hit with something catastrophic and were hospitalized, you would be responsible for the deductable of whatever every 30 days.
Patti, I thought it odd, as well, that my husband's SSD documents list morgellons as one of his disabling criterea. I am in year 5 with my morgies, he was obviously infected through me. His symptoms are in their 2 year. But I know what you mean, it blows me away.He was waiting for a hearing date for his SSD benefits, there was a hearing scheduled, but it never got that far. Again, our good senator intervened in my hubbys behalf and the papers were signed and approved by the Judge, no hearing. So kids, if you are having problems, contact your senator. I signed a copy of release of records from a form printed from the Senators site. Do it. Send your records and copies of your SSD papers. Good luck, God Bless, Love, Flutterby
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test
New Member
Posts: 10
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Post by test on Jul 11, 2007 19:02:04 GMT -5
My advice.. Take a different dx, like Lyme or anything else you can get a dx for. You will apply, have to see their own Drs, wait.. get denied. Then get a disability lawyer and appeal it.. again.. wait.. Took me about... 2 years to finally get it? I know it was rough, even with all my positive Lyme tests and all the other stuff that I was disabled with. The thing is, most of us dont end up getting jack each month, surely not enough to survive.. but its sure better than nothing when you are too sick to work. Spec is right too.. contact your State Senator or rep.. mine helped me. They are busy and if you drive them nuts.. they will help you..lol. Good Luck on this.. it was hard for me too. The whole process was very stressful. Shouldnt ever have to be this way.. I know it. Kerry
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Post by Carrie♥ on Jul 11, 2007 19:26:23 GMT -5
Do any of you guys know about cancer stuff? I'm finally biting the bullet and am going to have this checked out. Can you get disability if you've got cancer? I'm very scared...not about the cancer really, just about what's going to happen to the family during the process. Ant is stepping up to the plate but I don't think he can do it on his own. Liz...suck on this huh!?! I went to a SCF branch over here in SE to apply for the OHP. They tried to tell me that I wouldn't qualify until I had to show her my mole. There's no question it's of concern. So I have an appointment for the 24th to see if they will accept me. I was going to whip out the Michael Moore playing card...but luckily I didn't have to. I cried like a baby...I hate this position. I hate to go to the Doctor...I damn near want to continue to say f@ck it but how would my babies feel if I left them? It'd kill me to know there was something I could have done to stay with them and even more if they knew I could have done something more to stay with them ya know?
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Post by bugsy on Jul 11, 2007 19:40:03 GMT -5
Hey Carrie. I hear ya. Never thought I would EVER step back into a doc's office....that is until...well..don't wanna go there. But I know what you mean...the KID or KIDS in your case need a mom and that survival mode sure gets dam n strong when put to the test when ya have someone that depends on you.......hope it's NOT.....what your thinkin!!!!!! Even if it is, maybe it can be removed now before it spreads....down into lower levels...if you stop it early you should have a fighting chance. Good to go sooner than later.
~Bugsy
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Post by liz on Jul 11, 2007 22:29:20 GMT -5
Carrie..I am sorry....call me if you get in a pickle..the house is going up for sale...Get that mole checked out even if you have to write a bad check...sorry it has come to those suggestions but you can't put a price on someones life...I have been through the system here and may have some suggestions for you...call me when you are feeling ok and I will talk them over with you//i have alot of moles like that to...I used to have olive like compleion and no moles,frecles,,skim tags.scratchs,bruises,marks, ect at all..now I am covered and don't know if it all from MOrgs or I have skin cancer...stupids derm docs makes me want to scream!
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Post by ruth on Jul 15, 2007 10:54:51 GMT -5
i got my ssd. took about 2 years with an attorney that takes
1/4 of the backpay money. worth it to me, as i wouldn't have
gotten anything on my own. i got it for LYME AND CFS.
i, too, contacted my senator..........she got me
results within 2 days.
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Post by Carrie♥ on Jul 15, 2007 11:49:02 GMT -5
That's great news Ruth!!! So there are attorneys they will work on commission like that for SS cases? Thats good news too! I may end up down that path. Do you mind...how much or about to you get?
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Post by Carrie♥ on Jul 15, 2007 11:50:33 GMT -5
Didn't some one post a link where you can go for info? If yes and anyone of ya'll can pull it back up I'll kiss your face off! Never mind...thanks Godog...I found it... www.disabilitysecrets.com/
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Post by browncircles on Jul 18, 2007 14:18:49 GMT -5
My husband got his Social Security disability approved today. Morgellons was listed as one of his conditions but probably his 2 back surgeries pulled for weight. Anyway we told them.
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Post by browncircles on Jul 18, 2007 14:20:04 GMT -5
I meant to say "pulled more weight"
It took over 3 years for this to go through.
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Post by Carrie♥ on Jul 18, 2007 18:17:52 GMT -5
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