Plus if you should have any questions on how LymeNet members got approved for their Social Security Disability, post questions and I’m sure someone will respond. Good luck and thank you for being such a good friend.
Posts: 3032 | From Florida | Registered: Nov 2016
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Ann-Ohio
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 44364
posted
Wow! Beautiful research ,Bonnnie!
-------------------- Ann-OH Posts: 1674 | From Ohio | Registered: Aug 2014
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posted
Bonnie's links cover a lot of great information. A couple of quick suggestions - they're generalist, but their importance cannot be overstated
First, as soon as you feel you have become disabled and have medical evidence of your illness, apply. Apply for SSI, SSDI, and any other circumstances for which you may be qualified (big one - if your disability started before age 22, even if you're well past that age, you can apply for SSDI as a Disabled Adult Child on a parent's earning records even if you wouldn't qualify working enough before your illness for SSDI on your own earnings. There are other 'specialty' circumstances like this as well but they're not well publicized).
Next, documentation is everything! Details from your major medical team such as LLMDs and the diganostics they order (subjective elements are good, but anything objective will be even more helpful), to even reports from other doctors before your diagnosis may be useful if the symptom were related. The more evidence to support your claim the easier it will be to make your case.
Lastly, its important to remember that outside of very specific circumstances (Social Security Blue Book listings contain these. Unfortunately, Lyme i only more or less a footnote as what it takes to qualify THAT way is basically inflammatory arthritis alone in specific manner unless there have been changes. Most Lyme patients will not qualify on this method - there are advocates arguing the definition is narrow to the point of inaccuracy, but it hasn't been changed yet of which I'm aware.) , simply having an illness or condition is not enough to received a favorable judgement. The way SSA is looking at it is "What is stopping you from being employed?" So the issue is on your symptoms and how do they specifically limit your abilities to hold a job. Most attorneys explain this to their clients, but there are many patients who get stuck on "I'm sick, I have X, my doctor says I have X and can't work why isn't that enough?" and in a more just world it should be, but the system is structured now (some say intentionally) in a bureaucratic, tedious, manner with its own internal "logic" and it will save time in advance to be aware of its particulars.
If you need a hand on something more specific let me know, and I'll see what I can do. My case was probably more difficult and longer than many, but I learned a lot during the process and was lucky to have a good attorney team. Best of luck to you and your friend.
Posts: 690 | From East coast, USA | Registered: Jun 2006
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