Question about Social Security Disability

[aprilchen]

Hi:

Right now, my IC, the pain, the continuous doctor's appointments makes it virtually impossible to work everyday and to keep a steady job. I was wondering if anyone knows who to contact or if IC and Chronic Pain qualify you for drawing a disability check? Is it a diagnosis that does?

Thanks for any information anyone can offer.

God Bless!
April

[Berkshire Road]

You CAN qualify with IC, but it's not cut and dried. You have to prove your particular case is so severe you can't work at all.

If you are working, you have to stop before you apply for SSDI. And then the process takes a long time, sometimes years. There's a whole section of this forum dedicated solely to Social Security issues, so you might want to spend some time there.

[aprilchen]

Hi Carolyn,

Thank you for your response. What if you ARE working (I work for a temporary agency as a substitute teacher), but have to constantly call in sick for flares, doctor's appts., etc.? If I were to work anywhere else besides a temporary agency, I feel I would have already been fired because of the multitude of absences I have had.

I don't even make but about $400 a month most months and that is not enough to support myself. Luckily, my husband makes good enough that we don't really have to worry, but it would be nice to have steady income from my side.

At this point, my IC is so debilitating that I have to take pain meds to school (Kelly knows about it), sit on a pillow and use ice and/or heat packs every hour. I also get epidural blocks for pain management and those require one to two days off at a time, plus the Urologist, Primary Care, Rheumatologist, etc. They are still testing for some auto-immune disorders because IC goes along with a lot of them.

Would making a visit to my local Social Security Office WITH all my medical records be the thing to do to try to apply and ask all these questions?

There is one that is really close to us. And, I worked for ten years before being afflicted with this and other diseases. I have debilitating migraines, IC, chronic kidney problems (but not renal failure), high blood pressure, hypothyroidism, history of a blood clot, chronic pain/chronic fatigue syndrome...and the list goes on.

Thank you!

[ICNDonna]

You will need the support of your physician to qualify --- I suggest you talk with him/her at your next appointment.

Donna

[Kara29]

April :hi:

There is a process for applying. Like Donna said, it does require one major thing. A physician to help you qualify. You may need to have the diagnosis of each condition (or the condtion that disables you the most) from the doctor and he fills out paper work for you that explains the disabling nature of your conditions. A Primary or General Practioner is a nice place to start looking. The ICN has a board dedicated to social security questions and concerns. If you haven't checked it out here it is: http://www.ic-network.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=114

The ICN Patient Handbook has a section called "Living with IC - Disability" There is a lot of helpful information there. http://www.ic-network.com/handbook/index.html

Maybe you could call the Social Security Office first and then see about an appointment to visit with someone there for information. Sometimes if you are too sick to drive there, they will call you over the phone.

I am sorry to hear about your history with all of your conditions. There are lots of people on the ICN who can help support you through this tough time. Many of us have other diseases and conditions as well as IC. You are not alone.

Kara

[Berkshire Road]

April -- First off, everyone else is correct, you do need your doctor's records at a minimum, and your chances are much better if your doctor supports your decision and is willing to write a letter stating that you are unable to work. The SS application process is long and tedious, but you can find a lot of information on their website: http://www.ssa.gov/disability/

My sister is a disability lawyer, and I checked with her, and she said you absolutely cannot be working when you apply (well, it's an automatic denial) because is you are working, that is proof positive that you are not too sick to work :rolleyes: But their might be an exception if you are making so little money. I don't know, but I think you should spend time on the website first, before you go into the local office, because that way you'll be somewhat informed ahead of time.

Sorry I don't have all the answers! I hope it works out for you.

[aprilchen]

Thank you for your response Carolyn. I am working SO little that I am making SO little money. Financially, it's about to get harder because my student loans are coming due and we can't make those payments. I just qualified for a temporary deferment based on medical reasons, but it's only temporary. So, I just thought of trying this.

My issue with doing this is that I WANT to work, but all the pain, ER and Doctor's visits make it next to impossible. I am always having to cancel an assignment with the temporary agency and they have been a god send to me as far as trying to work a little. The most I have ever made in one month was $250. One can't live on that. If I wasn't married, I would be on welfare, seriously. Anyway, thanks for the information. I am seeing my doctor to see if he supports disability claims soon.

God Bless!