LymeNet Flash: Happy Dance - Sharing a small Yay!

This is topic Happy Dance - Sharing a small Yay! in forum General Support at LymeNet Flash.

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Posted by Bluetick (Member # 8467) on :

I don't often post on lymenet but I have read this board (and medical) almost every day since diagnosis in December 2003.

Today I was approved for disability (SSDI). I applied in May 2006, was denied, appealed and was approved 2 months after the appeal. I can't say that I have any magic tricks - just fabulous doctors (including LLMD) who all wrote super letters on my behalf.

Just when the universe seems so unfair - it throws me a bone. Now on to tomorrow....

Wishing you all better health in 2007.

Posted by TNJanet (Member # 10031) on :

So very happy for you BT. You should be immediately eligible for Medicare now if you need it since the two year wait begins from the first time you filed for disability. [Big Grin]

Posted by trueblue (Member # 7348) on :

Congrats Bluetick! [Smile]

I wish none of us needed it but it's good to know that sometimes things do work as they should.

A happy and healthier New Year to you, too.

Posted by Tincup (Member # 5829) on :

Zippity do dah! WAY TO GO!

May this lighten your load and give you peace and some security.

Feel better soon! And post more! You should be an expert by now on MANY Lyme topics!

[Big Grin]

Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :

quote:
Originally posted by TNJanet:

So very happy for you BT. You should be immediately eligible for Medicare now if you need it since the two year wait begins from the first time you filed for disability.

bluetick, FANTASTIC! i remember the feelings but it took me 5 years and 2 claims to do it winning it alone without lawyer at 2nd ALJ hearing!

Janet, the way i read bt's note she applied this year. DDS DETERMINES WHEN THE DATES START based upon medical evidence no matter what we write down.

it's 2 yrs. from time they make it RETROACTIVE too. in my case they went back 3 years on 2nd app.

HAPPY DAYS FOR YOU BLUETICK!

may i ask what they stated you are disabled for?
mine is not what i expected.

if you do not want to say; that is fine ok!! [group hug]

Posted by TNJanet (Member # 10031) on :

You're right, Betty. I knew it was two years, even retroactively. Guess I misread the post. Anyway, so HAPPY that the disability was approved!

I nearly fainted when I got my approval letter in the mail. I think they ought to send two strong people in person to deliver the news. So many of

us jumped through too many hoops, had appts. with SSDI docs who made us cry, couldn't remember WHAT doc we'd seen WHEN and for WHAT...and on and on.

It's not a lot of money but sure better than absolutely nothing. And for goodness sakes, it's money contributed by the disabled person as INSURANCE.

I'll do my happy dance for you sometime this coming Spring when I thaw out. [Big Grin]

Janet

Posted by Bluetick (Member # 8467) on :

I am not sure what they actually approved me for because the letter does not specify.

I know that my doctors put a lot of emphasis on Neurocardiogenic Syncope, Vision Loss (optic neuritis), Fatigue and Depression (secondary to loss of quality of life). After doing alot of reading, I knew not to really focus on lyme disease because it is considered not disabling. They presented everything as secondary diagnosis under the umbrella of lyme disease. I am also fortunate enough (if you can call it that) to be serologically positive on every tick related blood test that I've had.

I am not eligible for SSI (that is the need based one right?) because I am married and my husband makes a significant income as an attorney. His company also provides my health insurance. In these ways I am very lucky. Since I am only 26, they expect that my work credits will expire in about 6 years. I sure hope to be well enough to work at that point!

Has anyone ever felt shameful for getting disability? I feel like there is such a stigma about having it that I don't want to tell anyone except my husband and my parents. I guess that it is my own issues about justifying that I am really sick, that this is really happening to me and that I need this time to get better.

One final question: I have worked part time throughout my illness (~15 hours per week) and the application process. I would like to continue working a bit if possible because I love my job and the people that I work with and my boss are so understanding (I work at an animal hospital so they all understand lyme very well). Can I still work a bit and keep my disability?

Thanks everyone!