I have a question???? Social Security Disability Benefits

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irish4411
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I have a question???? Social Security Disability Benefits

Post by irish4411 »

Hello everyone, It's been awhile since I've touched base. I have been working full time 40 hours per week on my feet, taking 4mg of clonazepam. I have it pretty well timed so that it doesn't have too much of an effect on my thinking by the time I go to work. Now, since the New Year has come around, the drug company will only approve 3mg per day for me. To be honest, I am just barely hanging on anyway. I'm 2 years short of retirement. Has anyone successfully collected Social Security disability benefits for this disorder? Susan in Las Vegas
gloria
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Re: I have a question????

Post by gloria »

Susan: Sorry to hear your news and the problem you are now faced with. I wonder if you spoke with your pharmacist about this perhaps they might have an option for you to follow. I don't understand what kind of practice we are faced with when you have been given a dosage for your medication from your doctor that has been working for you and the drug company decides you don't need that amount !!!!! I also remember a gal who has been on SS with her OT and will e-mail her about your question and perhaps she will be able give you guidance. Hope too there might be other OT friends who have experiences that might help you. Gloria
Marianne
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Re: I have a question????

Post by Marianne »

Hello Susan, My name is Marianne and I've been a member of the OT forum for several years. I haven't been on the forum for a while so I did not see your posting until Gloria Nelson brought it to my attention. I live in the northeast. I have had OT since 1995. The job I had was managerial and it required that I travel to different campuses, attend meetings in different buildings, etc. Often when I walked the corridor and met a colleague and stopped to chat, I had to excuse myself simply because I could no longer stand. It was then that I decided that I could not really do my job because the OT would not let me. I applied for social security disability just after I turned 61. I was going to hire an attorney but decided to apply for it myself. At this point in my life I could no longer stand but for a few minutes; now my tremors start about 6 seconds after standing, and the walking is no better. I can walk through my home with several stools placed strategically (where there is no seating) but I do use a scooter whenever I go out shopping. Some stores have them. When they do not (like the shopping malls) I have my own which we carry in the back of our SUV.

I googled the social security site and found information on how to apply for disability. I completed the paperwork, included any documentation that was required, mailed it and waited for a reply. To make a long story short, they did grant me disability. I did this all from home. SS even scheduled an interview with me over the phone. The only time I had to leave my home was to see one of their doctors for a cursory exam which lasted about 5 minutes. I was granted disability; however please remember that you will not get Medicare health insurance until you are 65. I was fortunate enough to be added to my husband's medical insurance (he had just retired and was continuing to receive the same medical benefits because the company gave employees who worked 25 yrs or more free medical insurance as part of their retirement package). Should you be granted disability you should find out about medical coverage (until you reach 65).

I have been using the same neurologist who is a specialist in movement disorders. He has been very supportive and when SS asks you to document your condition with a statement from your doctor, he must write a very strong letter, describing your condition and the reasons you can no longer perform your job. I too take Clonazepam and have taken it in many different dosages. I had been taking 6 mg daily and I suggested to my doctor (and he agreed) if we could try increasing it to see if it would give me a little more "standing time". I am now weaning myself up to 12 mg daily. I too, use a mail away drug company, and I have never had any problems with increasing or decreasing the drug.

As we all know OT is very debilitating. I have come to accept it although it does become depressing at times. If you decide to apply, I wish you good luck and hope that the process goes as smoothly as mine did. FYI, I applied for disability in early 2008, so I'm not aware if any changes have been made. I would go for it. I decided to do it myself and felt that if they denied me, then I would hire an attorney. Again, good luck and please keep me informed of your progress. Marianne
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Re: I have a question???? Social Security Disability Benefit

Post by admin »

Hi Marianne

A very helpful answer to the Social Security question! Thanks for posting your experience. I have changed the topic name to include "Social Security Disability Benefits" so that it might be easier for others to find.

best regards.
irish4411
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Re: I have a question???? Social Security Disability Benefit

Post by irish4411 »

Thank you for your support so far. I find with the clonazapan, even on the lower dose, I lose who I am. I think most of you know what I mean by that. I small pay off is not worth having no emotions, no feelings, basically going through life in a cloud. My husband often says he wants his wife back. I have a hard time remembering small things and concentrating is difficult. My job requires concentration and accuracy, not to mention standing in one spot for up to 2 hours at one time (I find something to lean on) At the end of the day I'm exhausted. 2 months ago, I made a mistake that could have been costly because I couldn't calculate what I needed to at the time (side effect from the meds) If it happens one more time, it will cost me my job. I know I need to do something soon or a disaster is right around the corner for me.
Rhonda
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Re: I have a question???? Social Security Disability Benefit

Post by Rhonda »

In response to the question about Social Security Disability benefits for OT: I retired from the Social Security Administration as a claims representative in July, 2011. I was diagnosed with OT plus December 28, 2012 and the leg tremors became very obvious to others when I was standing or attempting to stand and perform a task around August, 2012. I do not really know when I developed OT plus but it had advanced to a debilitating degree by August, 2012. After trying several medications in early 2013 with various side effects, I filed for SSA disability June, 2013 with an onset date of August, 2012. Since I had worked for SSA, I was very familiar with disability claims and documentation. I was age 57 at the onset date August, 2012. OT is not by itself an automatic allowance for disability with SSA. However, if medication side effects along with the OT disease get to the point that a person cannot perform their job duties, then the person would probably be approved for SSA disability. Depression is a part of OT and the medications used for OT also contribute to increased depression in many cases. I was approved for SSA disability two months after I submitted my claim. I did everything from home but my husband had to fill out forms as my ET prevented me from writing legibly. I did have to attend a consultative examination set up by SSA with a psychologist to determine the depression effect from OT because the antidepressant I was taking was prescribed by my primary care doctor. So I would advise anyone with OT that is preventing job completion and has reached the debilitating stage to apply for SSA disability.
gloria
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Re: I have a question???? Social Security Disability Benefit

Post by gloria »

Rhonda: Thank you for your very knowledgeable response pertaining to Social Security Disability Benefits and OT. Certainly this is very important information and advice for many of our OT community faced with job completion problems. All the best, Gloria
gloria
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Re: I have a question???? Social Security Disability Benefit

Post by gloria »

I feel both Marianne & Rhonda have done a great job of giving very comprehensive coverage of the possibilities of receiving SS coverage. If there are still outstanding questions for discussion from any individual please post because that is what the website is all about. Together we learn and help each other. Gloria
irish4411
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Re: I have a question???? Social Security Disability Benefit

Post by irish4411 »

Rhonda, That was very helpful advice. I think you pinpointed what I am feeling. A sense of nothing really matters, I suppose you could call that depression. I have been wanting to stop taking the meds because of the side effects but I have been just been trying to struggle through to get to at least early retirement. It has been so difficult because there are more downsides than upsides to taking them, but somehow I manage to get through the day. Don't know how much longer I can do it. Thanks again for sharing your knowledge with us. Susan
Lydia
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Re: I have a question???? Social Security Disability Benefit

Post by Lydia »

Hi, this information on disability is very interesting. I applied for it in March 2014, I have had OT since 2000 and was finally diagnosed by a neurologist in 2011. I had continued working and found ways to do my work since I worked in a office alone. After moving from California to Nebraska in 2010 I had trouble finding work because I could no longer fake my way around the offices. I started a daycare in my home and that worked for a short while until I feared that I may injure one of the children if I fell or dropped one due to my tremors. So I no longer work. I have recently been diagnosed with secondary parkinsonism and was started on medication for that. It has not helped my OT at all and I am having other side effects due to the meds. Last week I received notice that my application for disability was denied as I am not disabled according to social security administration rules. I have an attorney and we are going to request reconsideration. My neurologist was not very happy that I was denied and he is going to submit another letter for me. Not sure what else to do. I am 50 years old and struggle everyday to get around. I try to remain positive everyday and most days I can. I fight the depression and just get thru each day the best I can. Thanks for the SS information and I hope that mine will be approved this time around.
trpprjh
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Re: I have a question???? Social Security Disability Benefit

Post by trpprjh »

I have wondered about SS disability as well. I am a retired public school educator and receive a pension. Would this prevent me from being eligible?
Cheryl Snyder
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Joined: Fri Jun 16, 2017 5:27 pm
Location: Crescent City, FL

Re: I have a question???? Social Security Disability Benefits

Post by Cheryl Snyder »

I also applied for Social Security Disability Benefits and have been denied. Is there anyone who can recommend an attorney located in North Florida that may be able to help me with my appeal? Thank you
Cheryl
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