My DH own are own business. We are a leased company, and both of us get paychecks and input into the state disability fund. Due to my health lately, I have been homebound for 2 months now, and am thinking of trying to go out on disability. Anybody have any experience with this process? It seems very daunting to me, but I'm sure not. I waited this long as I thought my health would improve but it's getting to be a long time now.

Thanks for your help.

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Eileen

**Some people are like Slinky's, not really good for anything, but you can't help laugh when you see one tumble down the stairs**

I'm not sure how all of it works. You could always file and see what happens. I am in the process of getting social security disability for my 18 year old autistic son. I applied before, but I made too much money for him to collect. Now that he is 18 it is based on his income only. They have already approved to pay him and we have an appointment on Monday to set everything up. He still has a psych eval appointment, but they are going ahead based on everything I gave them. It never hurts to try. I am guessing from what you wrote that yours is a physical disability. I have heard they autimatically deny benefits and that you have to file an appeal. We were denied based on the fact my son had no credits invested, but we were told that was automatic and he is filing on a different basis. I also think for social security it might have to be a permanent disability. It NEVER hurts to try.

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Love like you've never been hurt, and
Dance like you do when nobody's watching.

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All I will say is "BEST OF LUCK" it took almost 3 years to get my husband's disability started!!

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Brenda

GO #24 JEFF GORDON

I do hear that it takes a long time and can be a fight but it seems as though social security disability -- when it *does* come through -- will backpay to the time of unemployment.

VERY GOOD LUCK !!
It took me getting a lawyer for my 6 year old son's case. We waited nearly 1 year to the date for the appeal hearing. My son's file was over 7 INCHES THICK with doctor notes starting when he was 3 years old.However,When we met the judge for the hearing I was ONLY asked 1 question-and it was "how is your son doing in school" everything else was directed to my lawyer. It took almost 2 months for the judgments to come Thur. The Judge made a note in the paper work my son should have been approved the 1st time around ( that was 1 year and 9 months before )... He did get back pay HOWEVER, it wasn't for the 21 months we waited, but for 1 year ( back pay ), It went into a fund you had to set up just for his use. It can ONLY be used for Medical, RX's, Doctors, Repairs to the home-for his use, Etc ) So very good luck the 1st time applying, Dont be surprise if you get turned down and have to get a lawyer to fight your case.


My Mother also had to hire a lawyer, She had a heart attack, then a mini stoke,She was unable to work, She applied and was told she could get a SIT DOWN JOB !, She hired a lawyer to fight her case it took nearly 3 YEARS,Yeppers 3 YEARS to win the case. Each time they said she could get a sit down job. Finally the lawyer pleaded for the SS Board to find this "sit down job " for her. She wasn't a spring chicken at that time, she was 56 years old. The judge agreed with them , She got her back pay for the full 3 years her case was on appeal.

Just remember, A Lawyer will get 25% of any Money if you have to hire one to fight for you.

Good Luck, It might be a fight to win your case.

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Definitely get a lawyer who specializes in social security disability. He/She can walk you thru the entire process. You shouldn't have to pay them anything until your case is finalized and then it's determined by what you end up getting. Good luck.

I am on Social Security for having Brain Cancer. I was approved immedietly, but after 2 years was reviewed and told that I needed to go back to work. I hired a lawyer and fought and won and that was a 2 year process, but did receive the back pay. It was court hearing and reviewed by their doctors all over the state. Good Luck!!!!

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Carolyn
At the Jersey Shore

Do you have short or long term disability with your business? I would do that if you do. To get disablitiy with social security is hard. It takes a minmum of 4 months and you have to be disabled for 6 months before they start paying. My dh had viral encephalitis (brain infection) from singles. It is pretty rare. He tried working after it but then started having seizures. His neurologist said he needed to stay home to let his brain heal. His company did not have long or short term disablitiy so we went to social security and was told the above. He happen to have a seizure in the office while talking to the person taking our info. I don't know if that had anything to do with our case but he got it in 4 months. They went back to the day the problem started, counted 6 months, and we were paid a lump sum in back pay. We started getting the monthly checks after that. It has been about 14months since we started getting paid. My dh still has seizures but instead of 5 a day he has about 2 per week. A year ago he also had prostate cancer. But it has been a year that he is cancerfree. I have carried the health insurance for a long time (because it was cheaper)so we were ok in that area.

I got disability social security, but it was a long hard fight for me. I've had medical problems my entire life. A heart condition and back problems. I began my fight in my early 20's when I could no longer work due to seizures. Yet, no attorney would touch my case. I fought the fight on my own and won. You have to be persistant. Don't give up when it gets tough.

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I'm in a constant search for the next great freebie or deal.

WOW!!! After reading all this I feel very fortunate that we were approved for payment after only 2 months. This is my third time applying for my son though. I applied for survivor benefits for my son a long time ago because his father died before my son was born. We were denied because his father didn't have enough credits for them to pay. He was ONLY 18 when he was shot and killed. Then I applied based on my son's autism and we were turned down yet again based on the fact I had too much income. So now on the third go round my son is now 18 and my income does not affect him anymore. He still lives at home and probably will for a long time still. Our appointment is tomorrow. We are going in to set up the payment of his benefits. He does not have a bank account, so I am guessing we are going to need to get him one.

__________________
Work like you don't need the money,
Love like you've never been hurt, and
Dance like you do when nobody's watching.

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