10 Replies to “Social Security Disability Pitfalls”

1. No chance of improving any kind of medical benefits before 2024-5 if the T-Man gets re-elected!
   Question for you, Mitch. Ever since you committed yourself to tell your story, you have emerged as a talented author. If you hadn’t been pitched the nasty curve of MS, would you have even been a writer?

   1. Roger, I most certainly would not have discovered writing. I was going 100 miles an hour and would not have slowed down enough to do something as thoughtful as writing. I think I would’ve done good things but less important things.

2. Large problem is the people who abuse the system. I had a difficult time getting benefits even though I had progressive MS since I was 21, in a wheelchair with limited use of my hands when I applied for Social Security disability benefits. My Social Security was rejected over and over even though I was unable to work and had previously worked for years. I then had to hire an attorney, go to court and be interviewed by a judge. After two years I finally received benefits. Apparently around 10 million people receive disability benefits monthly. The number has become smaller in part because of a strong job market.

   1. Katie, you are so right. If Social Security wasn’t inundated with false claims that they have to sift through, then the legitimate claims would go much more smoothly. But yours is an unusual case — being in a wheelchair with progressive MS is usually enough. I’m so sorry you had to go through that.

3. I had an easy time getting disability for my MS. I had years of doctor records that I submitted. I didn’t want to file, however. Siblings finally talked me into it. It was the right decision, but I regretted the loss to future Social Security income. I want to work, but the fatigue and cognitive problems make it difficult.

   1. Brian, it is a difficult decision, isn’t it? Feels a little bit like giving up, but after all is said and done, it is indeed the right choice for people like us.

4. Thank you for sharing, i appreciate with you.
   Lightweight Transit Wheelchair

5. Back around 1994 I submitted my hand-written application for Social Security Benefits. (Online forms were just a twinkle in Steve Jobs’ eye back then.
   I inundated them with such a detailed application for SSDI, I think they might have just decided they’d rather sign me up for Disability than have to read all of the small, well, minuscule writing that I had used to fill in every available empty space and edges of the 4-page form.
   I included in my application skills which I could no longer do for myself such as cooking, dusting, sweeping, vacuuming, laundry, shopping, bathing, dressing, driving, laundry .. . you get the gist of it.
   In addition I listed every neuro appointment I’d had and who it was with as well as when/where it was located.
   I obtained copies of several years’ neurologists notes from every neuro appointment. I obtained hard copies of every MRI I had received and included them with my application for SS Disability.
   Lastly the applications asked what I could still do. There was no list.
   Walk? No.
   Cook? No
   Sweep, mop, dust, etc.? No.
   Drive? No.
   Bathe myself? No.
   Dress myself? No.
   With about 4″ of doctors’ notes and records and lab tests, films and hospital chemo infusion records, I think they gave up trying to find some kind of job I could do.
   Therefore, I was awarded Disability Benefits without any delays. It began in January after their office having had my file for 21 days.

   Karen L. Sawyer

   1. Karen, oh how we long for the good old days when you could literally bury your opponent in paper!

6. Please see above ^ .

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