Ltd was denied still await SS..need advice

[dbays]

I have filed for SSD. I also filed for LTD from work. I got my letter today and was denied. It goes as following

The Medical information provided by your attending physicians supported your treatment for interstitial cystitis, but does not indicate that you are restricted in your activities as a store manager. We are not stating that you may not have some health problems as a result of your condition, rather, we have not been provided with medical documentation to support an impairment of functional capacity severe enough to affect your ability to work. As a result we must regretfully advise that your claim has been denied at this time.

I do plan to appeal but that someone out there might have some advice...I may be over looking. Both of my doctors have said that I am unable to work. I am really disapointed that my Ltd was denied. I work for this company for 17 yrs. Knowing that SS will be even harder it is very disapointing.

[carla_2004]

I am sorry to hear of your SSD denial, sadly, this is so typical.

Is it possible to contact the case worker who sent out the SSD paperwork to the doctors? In my state (CA), Social Security sub-contracts out the medical determination to the CA Dept. of Social Services. If you could get ahold of this person, you might be able to ask if they received back all the reports and medical records from ALL physicians/hospitals. I did this for my adult disabled child and was able to ascertain that all records had indeed been received.

Keeping a voiding and symptom diary would perhaps help to document the daily impact IC has on your ability to work. Get copies of all medical records, work attendance records,Social Security records etc. Do you have the Nolo Press book related to SSD appeal?

Good luck and keep us all posted. Perhaps someone who has successfully appealed could share tips for proving up your case. I'm guessing that the disabled individual has the burden to prove that the disability prevents them from working.

Hugs, Carla

[carla_2004]

I copied the following from the ICN Shop:

Social Security Disability Kit

A powerful combination of books and articles:

1) The NEW Nolo Press Guide to Social Security Disability
2) The Disability Handbook for Social Security Applicants
3) The actual regulation
4) An explanation of the regulation in plain english from the ICN Newsletter

Finally, everything you need in one place and at a great price! We felt that the combination of these newly published books along with the actual regulation and an current article about the regulation would give you the information needed to successfully apply.

'If you're applying for private or government disability, these books will help you understand the system of disability insurance so that you can make it work for you. They helped me apply for benefits and the great news is that I was approved for private disability the first time around. They are just wonderful books! The SSA Ruling Sheet was also a big help as it helped me assemble what I needed to apply! It was so nice to be able to click and you have every thing in one click. It was so convenient and I appreciate not having to piece this together!' - Andrea S. (11/03)

Price: $49.99


http://ic-network.com/cgi-bin/ustorekeeper.pl?command=goto&file=Books-WorkAndDisability.html

Good Luck! Carla

:kiss:

[carla_2004]

:ignore: I went back and reread and see that you were denied your long term disability insurance, not your SSDI.:bonk:

I've appealed medical decisions by my ERISA medical insurance, but I'm unfamiliar with the appeal process for your particular plan.

Do you have a copy of your LTD plan legal description? Does you state have an insurance related agency who might be of assistance?

Wish I could help. I really feel for your situation. Hugs, Carla

[carly]

The ICA has a packet you can get. It compares IC with other disabilities. It does a good job of saying for example: it is hard to stand, sit, push, pull, bend. ect. I would really recommend you get it, it really helps. Good luck!

[carly]

The ICA has a packet you can get. It compares IC with other disabilities. It does a good job of saying for example: it is hard to stand, sit, push, pull, bend. ect. I would really recommend you get it, it really helps. Good luck!

[Katrina]

One other recommendation I have is to state clearly the affects medications have on you. I need many more hours of sleep because of meds and than live with fatigue when awake.


If your pain ever makes it difficult to walk explain that....I find that I often need to walk slowly limit pain.
If bending hurts or sitting hurts explain that. Sitting has been very painful for me at times and I suspect as a store manager that is required for periods of time allong with moving around which often makes my symptoms worse...combine the two must be difficult.

Working on disability is difficult because instead of focussing on hope and what we can do we look on what we can't .....which sucks but this is war and we are on your side.


Take Care

[carly]

Katrina had some good advice. I would also focus more on the pain than the frequency. I can not sit at all anymore without my feet up. Walking is also painful, and going up steps painful as well. I find it most difficult to bend over (I tell my kids my Indian name would be "hurts to bend".) I got disability from my work before I got social security disability. One thing I did was have my Dr. write a note saying that I had to be within 3 minutes of a restroom. I worked in Intensive Care. He wrote that if I couldn't get to the bathroom, I would be in a lot of pain, and would not be able to concentrate on what I was doing at work. I took my note to employee health and they said I could no longer work at the hospital. Good luck!!

[dbays]

Thanks guys. I talked to the case worker today for the Ltd. He was very helpful. He said all they need is a piece of paper from my doctor linking my ic to the pain... and the effects it has on me. I have diary although it is not everyday that I am going to send in.
Right now I am feeling pretty good, but know tomorrow could be a different story, I plain to work on it. I know I deserve it and need it. So I need to work hard while I feel like it. My frequency alone is up to 30 times a day, on the good days. I will keep notes too...for future help to others. But the ignorance about ic in the medical community is alarming. I am beginning to realize the barriers we face.

[dbays]

I went to my doctor today (one of them), I took the letter from ltd and let him read it. His reaction was this p----- me off. These people are so good at hearing only what the want to hear to benefit them. So he is writing another letter to the insurance company. Now I have another doctor to follow up with. I am going to see this through till the end. Just wanted to update you guys on my progress for benefits......

[mwenke]

I was sent a lette today saying that I was denied for benifits. this is my second try. I am totally bummed out. Today it took 3, 7.5 percoets to get my pain under control. I know I cannot go back to work. The stress today, having been turned down, destroyed me. I understand your pain. I don't know what they want from me. I worked for 27 years full-time. I am so upset.
Marcy in georgia:confused:

[MAMASITA4]

Wish I had some encouraging news...however...I too am fighting with my work disability. I was diagnosed with IC in 2000. Have many, many other health problems and autoimmune diseases. Had my most recent hydro/urethral dilation on 3/29. Doctor informed me on 4/21 that my IC had progressed significantly since last hydro in 2000. My doctor also wrote a letter to my short term disability carrier thru work. Said that medical evidence did not support that I could work a sedentary job. And also questioned me about what was different now than my last day of work on 3/26.

I have also applied for SS Disability. I had 4 different doctors to refer to SS to get my records from. Those *&*&$#* people with my work disability are totally ignorant morons. Not only am I in constant pain and the frequency...but the last I heard it was ILLEGAL to take the pain meds that I'm on and drive a vehicle much less to think that I could perform my job duties. Get this...they told me that they could not take into consideration the fact that I can't drive while on paid meds unless my position at work were to require me to drive (such as a postman, UPS driver, etc!) I asked them how the heck they expected me to get to my job and furthermore I could not function even if I got there. They also informed that none of my other illnesses could be part of my disability claim unless I had been treated by one of the doctors since 3/29 (date of my hydro). Come on....you can't concentrate on fixing all your ailments at once. I had three surgeries in less than 90 days and they won't consider anything else??!!! The IC in itself should MORE than do it for them. I even asked the idiot rep if he had IC or had a clue of how debilitating it is.

I am getting ready to hire an attorney to fight this one. I don't have enough energy to do it alone.

Keep us posted on any updates....will do the same. If anybody finds something that may be useful that we haven't already tried....please advise. Thanks to everyone for their posts! We can hold hands in misery together!

[mayray518]

And I used to think that with all the new info about IC it would be easier to get SSI. I am so sorry. I went through hell getting it but this was in 1992. I got turned down and had to hire an attorney and then it took a year to get it. It is not an easy road and I hope you can get some help to get it. We all deserve it!!!

[mwenke]

I was truly bummed by my rejection from SSI. I've worked for 27 years. Now I need help and they say I don't have enough medical evidence to prove my case. Well maybe one of those morans should follow me around for the day. They would be amazed at how many bathroom trips I make. Or maybe they would like to experience the frequency, urgency and pain. Probably not. But guess what? That might be what it takes to make these people understand what we go thru. My mother-in-law was visiting for just 2 days and she was stunned at what I live with. SSI suggested I may want to get an attorney, well hello, guess you sent in my paperwork? My attorney. Did they not read a thing we sent? No, they probably just denied me again. Very frustrating. I've been out of work since I quit last June. Now who would want to hire a person that takes percocets for pain, gets very irritable from the pain and goes to the BR a lot? Don't I sound like the perfect employee?