I am receiving Social Security disability. It is not an easy thing to get, but it can be done. I used to work for the Social Security Administration and I learned through them and through working with Bev that you absolutely have to be very specific when you are telling them about your problem. You can't just say..."I have severe pain"....severe is subjective. How bad is it? Does it stop you from sitting at your desk? Are you able to stand for an hour? Have someone put you through a job interview. Why wouldn't they hire you? Do you have to go to the bathroom every 15 minutes? Are you on narcotics? If so, this must effect your ability to drive even if its just to and from work. It also effects your other work. How? Go through your entire work day. What are things that you used to do that you have problems with. When you get done sit down and write these all out. If you feel you can do it, sit down and write a letter. You are your doctor. What are the things you cannot do? Why? Put in there that "Brenda should be placed on Social Security disability". Don't use percentages....there are no percentages except 100. I wouldn't make it any longer than a page and a half to two pages. Doctors don't write any longer than that. Then bring the letter to your doctor. Ask him to read it and either rewrite it himself or just photocopy it onto his letterhead. If he is going to write the letter tell him...it has to be specific and clear. If he rewrites the letter and it doesn't appear clear enough ask again...you have that right. Point out to him what isn't clear. I have written three letters for my doctor. Each time he just had it photocopied onto his letterhead. I think he was happy that he didn't have to take the time to sit down and dictate it himself. It won't hurt to approach it this way.
Karla
--- Cheryl <cbj1790@yahoo.com> wrote:
> Hello everyone,
> I saw the posts about disability. There is a
> website http://www.ssa.gov with
> info about it. I applied last year and was turned
> down before I even
> left the office because I was working and making
> over the cut-off
> amount. It makes no difference I had to go to
> part-time instead of
> fulltime. I could hardly work and doing only the
> minimum. There is
> also a list of disabilities they use. In short,
> it's very difficult to
> get it. I'm having another surgery March 27, next
> Wednesday and dread
> it bad. Please keep me in your thoughts. Thanks
> for all the support
> from the board.
>
> Cheryl
>
> http://www.adhesions.org/forums/listcmds.htm
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