Someone warned me today, that I might want to be careful about blogging while applying for SSDI.
Does anyone have any experience with this?
Her LAWYER mentioned my blog to her before she even knew the blog was mine.
Not sure the context, or his opinion, but I'm curious if anyone else has had issues with this.
Posted by JR (Member # 16898) on :
Depends on what you're saying in the blog. But anything posted on a website demonstrates your skill with typing. So start messing up your words and misspell a lot.
Posted by dmc (Member # 5102) on :
JR is right. A lawyer spoke at a lyme support group & told us NOT to apply online.
If you can understand & fill out the form you can do some type of data processing.
Posted by ConnieMc (Member # 191) on :
IMO, as a result of my 5 years experience as a disability rep (a non-attorney, accredited disability representative):
It is my recommendation that a person with Lyme arrange a phone interview when filing that initial application. If you go in person, the interviewer is required to make notes about the interview. You all know about that "but you don't look sick!" thing so it is best that they do not see you.
If you do it online, make sure you note in the comments section what help you got filling it out ... for example, if you only worked on it for short periods (you can stop work on these anytime and log back in later to continue as long as you print out the code at the beginning - you can takes weeks to do it if needed), or if someone else asked the questions and typed it in for you.
When they get to asking questions about function, then say as much as you need to about how things don't get done or others help you do certain things, or others now do it because you can not do it, etc.
It is all about function, and if you have the mental and physical ability to plug in all those facts into a questionnaire online, then you can work.
The initial applications are intense and take a seasoned rep hours to fill one out on a complicated claim. And most of my Lyme claims have been very complicated, with impairments in many body systems, many doctors, medications, etc.
In advance of the call, assemble all contact info for all docs, make a list of meds, or have your bottles ready, and be prepared to report your work history for the 15 years prior to becoming disabled (position held, approx dates you worked there, what you did).
Brainstorm and write down how you are impaired - "my L knee pain is so bad that I cannot walk more than 25 feet before the knee feels like it will collapse"
"I cannot concentrate well enough to follow directions in a simple recipe and must constantly look back at the recipe"
"I left boiling water on the stove last week because I forgot what I was doing and nearly burned the house down"
"I need help keeping up with my meds as I cannot remember if I have taken them or not ... my husband helps me put my daily meds together before he leaves for work and then calls me to remind me when I need to take them"
And I sometimes help my clients fill these out and submit as evidence.
Also, credibility is a key factor in a disability claim. Be consistent in what you report, to both SSA and your doctors. Follow treatment recs to the best of your ability. Never embellish the facts! Speak the truth - don't try to make your situation sound worse than it is - this can blow a case faster than anything else.
Hope this helps someone!
ConnieMc
Posted by peacemama (Member # 17666) on :
Great info ConnieMc. Thank you. I did the app online for my kids, but not me. I was on the phone for hours with them. For the kids I did both in about 8 hours. It was AWFUL.
But I did have phone interviews for everything.
I have a medical exam for me in Sept, and The older boy in late Sept. Nothing yet on the little guy. Not sure why the delay. Maybe it will come tomorrow.