Hello all......I know we are all in the same neighborhood of RA and I was just wondering if it's possible to get approved for disability. What are the chances?? I cannot keep a job anymore and cannot get even close because of my attendance. I am absolutely at my wits end. I have applied for disability and don't know what to think.
Yes, it is a valid disability. Ive been told as long as you have a paper trail and a doctors statement saying you can no longer work due to RA and it's complications this helps alot. Ive also been told that your personal statement is the one they really look at. Hope this helps and good luck to you. Im sure I will be in the same boat in the future.
Sincerely,
Jane
Did your rheumy tell you that you can no longer work? I have already tried once, was denied of course. Now I am into the 4th month of my appeal. From what I hear you are always turned down the first time. Usually how it goes is the doc tells you that you can not work. Then you collect TDI for 6 months. Then you apply for SSDI. Not sure if you can apply for SSDI while you are collecting TDI or not.
Hello,
I applied for disability and received it the first time I applied and without a lawyer. I think there are some key points that they look at. How close are you to being 50 years old. I was 49 when I applied. I do believe that your level of education plays into the approval process also. If you are a high school grad who has always had blue collar type jobs I believe you are more likely to be approved. I happen to have a college degree, so this may not be as much of an issue. When you do file I am convinced that you need to focus on the things that you can no longer do for yourself and need to hire help or a family member has to do things for you. Examples: wash your own hair, put your bra on. Lift heavy pans while cooking, peeling vegetables for cooking. lifting wet clothes out of the washer and putting them in the dryer. vaccuuming, cleaning windows, maybe driving because your meds make you unsafe to drive yourself. cleaning your house, mowing your yard. What hobbies can you no longer do? gardening, handwork, needlework, fishing,hunting, etc. How has the disease changed your life beyond what the doctor is going to diagnose it is doing to your body and limiting you. Lastly, are you depressed. How has this disease affected your relationships with loved ones. Do you feel islolated? If you want to talk about the process I would be happy to email you back you can feel free to contact me. If you have insurance MAKE SURE YOU DO EVERYTHING YOU CAN TO KEEP IT! you will not qualify for medicare for 2 years. Good Luck and hang on to working as long as you can. Even if you can only work part-time. It is isolating and restless staying home and not working anymore. I miss the relationships with my co-workers. It is yet another thing that the disease took from me.
Cindy
It's very possible to get SSD Friday, but getting approved can be a battle - I wrote a post this year about getting SSD when you have RA and it has a number of links to resources that may be helpful to you.
Yes you can get disability, in fact arthritis is the number one cause of disability. I have had RA since 1994, i owned a very busy barbershop and was able to keep working until 2001. My RA was so aggresive due to the repitious work that i finally had to apply for disability. It took me until 2003 to swollow my pride and realize my working days were over. Being a single, very independent mom that was a very hard thing to do.
I applied in July 2003, it took me until 3 years to get approved. They turned me down twice and then i had to go before a judge who made the final decision to approve me. It is a very long, stressful process but you can't give up. It felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders when i finally got approved. I live in GA, when you get approved for disability, you also get approved for medicaid, which i tell you, all these people are doubting government run health care, i had the best health insurance money could buy until i couldn't afford it anymore, i personally wouldn't trade my medicaid to have my personal health insurance back, no way. Medicaid really takes care of all your health needs, from yearly test, all test needed for health problems you may be having, ER visits, medications, never received a bill from docs, hospitals, etc.
You also are prequalified for food stamps, which this is another swollow your pride issue, but when you are living on a fixed disability income, they sure help.
Good luck to you, go ahead and get the ball rolling, and don't give up as frustrating, and stressful it gets.
If you mean SSDI which is administered by the federal government, it is really not that easy to get. I was turned down and now need to appeal. I was told by friends and a lawyer that 2/3 or more get turned down the first time around and to appeal. One thing I recently found out is if you keep working with your RA they will tell you that you worked with it so why can't you now. Be careful to tell the truth and the same story on all of the forms and if it's gotten worse, document through tests and doctor appointments. Good luck.
Hi, I live in Canada. I am a RN and had to go on LTD last novemeber when it became impossible for me to continue working due to pain and extreme fatigue. I was refused based on the fact that I had worked full time despite having RA. My RA has been progressive and it began with one finger. It prgressed over the months to the point where most of my joints were affected. I appealed and won my case based on the letter I wrote describing in detail the progression of my disease and how it affected my ability to perform basic tasks such as grooming, dressing, shopping, household chores etc. It is best to detail everything no matter how mundane it may seem. The person deciding on your claim is most likely not familiar with RA and so it is necessary to explain in detail how RA affects your ability to work. Good luck with your appeal, it does take time but it is worth the battle in the end do not give up hope. Be honest and forth coming with all information pertaining to your case and as mentioned in previous posts, document everything, keep a daily journal of your pain and what you had trouble doing that day.
Best wishes,
Michelle
Hi my name is Jackie and yes it is possible to get disability due to RA. If they deny you get a disability lawyer, they can also get you social security disability. don't give up. I am going to do this also. I am trying to work another 5 years. my dr. and the lawyer told me when i am ready to retire they will begin the disability process for me. Good luck.
I have had systemic JRA for 34 years since I was 3. I am now 37 years old. No remission, always top of the line meds, immune suppresive meds, and now 15 surgeries. I have been termed "DISABLED" by social security only since 1997 when my disease flared and I knew (after graduating from college in 1995) and flaring badly in 97 that I would not likely every hold down a full time job. To this day I work 3hrs Weekly at the local library and work from home as an E-Rep for Avon. If you want Social security to work with you, be prepared for a fight and a very long application. You need to know all your doctors, dates you saw them, all medical tests you have had. They might reject you the first time, but like a health claim, they may turn you down the first time, but if you keep fighting they will say Yes eventually. They did to me and I have been on disability since 1997. But they go by your work history, so because I only had ONE full time job my whole life w/JRA they only give me $646.00 monthly. Some people get as much as $1200.00 monthly. Also for great gifts check out my website www.youravon.com/kroy8242. Use Free shipping code FSANY. Happy Holidays
NZippy1
www.youravon.com/kroy8242
I was forced to quit my job last August. I had worked as a convience store clerk for 20 years. I could hardly walk anymore. My knees poped all the time or else locked and I couldnt unlock them I hurt my left knee in high school and they took all the cartilage out. That started it. But 20 years on my feet like I was didnt help. Im not on my knees as much,but I still have a lot of problems. The doctor told me I had to quit or he wouldnt treat me anymore. I was approved for SSI first and start my Social Security next month. But Im also 52 years old.
I have had RA since 04 i was only 33 since then i have continued to wprk despite the pain and the days where some times my shoulder and wrists and not to mention knees feetand hand joints i still drive semi .My Ruemi never told me if i am mild or moderate RA both hands shoulders knees and feet 6 fingers and both thumb hurt .oh sis i mention my hips are starting to hurt.I am on plaqunal and luflimide been on it for two years now and the plaqunal for four .i take ib for the pain .some days when i get home my parnter wont give me a massage to ease the muscles hurting she tells me to take a ib i dont thi nk she fully understands what im going thru .ugggggg any suggestions
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but I don't have any experience with that. I do know that I'm am starting to try and document changes and problems I am having in case I have to apply for disability at some point in the future. Last week I told my GP that sometimes it gets overwhelming going to several different doctors, no one sees the whole picture, and gave him a list of most (forgot a few oddities) of the things bothering me, ranging from rashes to liver function tests to meds I can no longer use due to stomach pain.... He did understand. I said please put this in my file in case I drop on the street so at least someone will have the info! I'm not quite in that state of mind now, and find it hard to "share" that with someone (except my hubbie, who has had more than his share of listening!) while it's happening, but I did feel it was necessary to make that statement!
Some people need a lawyer's assistance - if your first try doesn't go through, don't give up! Possibly someone else can give you more specific guidance.
Thanks Ellen