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Applying for Disability
Members have asked about Disability and the guidelines that are set that makes one eligible. Click here for the guidelines: https://www.ssa.gov/disability/professionals/bluebook/3.00-Respiratory-Adult.htm#3_07 Bronchiectasis, COPD, Asthma, Pulmonary Fibrosis, Pulmonary Hypertension & Lung Transplant all qualify. The link above includes the charts they use to gauge the extent of your illness. Keep records of everything. That means doctor reports, medications and their side-effects i.e. brain-fog, muscle aches twitching or heart palpitations. State that you are fearful of catching colds, flues, etc. (because these can land you in the hospital). State if you are suffering depression or anxiety from battling chronic illness (this can also be another side effect to medications). Describe the chronic fatigue from bronchiectasis, shortness of breath, and loss of sleep from night sweats. All of these make it difficult to maintain good work performance; not to mention dragging your body down further. Describe the medication and nebulizing schedule (that is hard to fit into a workday). State if you cough non-stop all day. You must build your case. Not all will want to go on Disability, but may opt to work from home to accomadate their situation. If you decide to file for it, remember, the sooner you apply, the sooner will get it.
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How long is the processiing of the document-approval for the Disability, will it take four to eight weeks???. Thanks.
@rosebrown, Hi there. I am not sure. Will you please let us know if you find out?
I am not sure when I went on disability all I remember is my doctor handed me a signed piece of paper and sent me over to the business office to turn it in. It wasn't very long after that I received my placard for the car and started receiving a check from SSD. It had to be sometime around the time I knew I would have to start dialysis as soon I had a working access, which was September of 2003. I worked the rest of September and started dialysis in October.
The length of time will depend on your medical insurance to get you on Medicare, Social Security Disability, and your state to get you your disability placard. The biggest factor could be your insurance company. I have a wonderful insurance and I did not have do anything besides walk the signed piece of paper over to the business office. That was it, all of my medical records are available to anyone, with the right password, to see. So, I did not have to keep copies of anything. Good luck.
mlmcg
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2 ReactionsApplying for disability can take weeks and approval can take up to years - the majority of applications get turned down the first time around. You need to be diligent and have the proper support along the way. Be leery of these :Disability Lawyers" as I'm not sure they treat each case personally.
@rosebrown, I applied and received my Disability in Tucson Az. I was getting ready to move back to Virginia. My aunt told me to apply in Az. as most states make it difficult to get it. I did so before I moved. I believe filing there made it easier and also the fact that my breathing test (lung function test) clearly put me in the guideline that the gov't has set. Once you are approved for Disability, you will receive $$ monthly, but you have to be on disability for two years before you will receive the Social Security health benefits.You MUST have all supporting documentation in your hands and leave no stone unturned; to state your case. I posted the things you need to supply at the start of this thread - when I first started this conversation. Did you see it?
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4 ReactionsIt took three years and 2 appeals for me to be turned down completely. I did not file a federal appeal. I filed a new claim 3 months ago & don’t expect an answer for 6 months to a year.
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2 ReactionsI had disability insurance through my employer. Shortly after going out, the insurer contacted me to offer assistance to file for SSI. I completed their paperwork, saw their recommended physician. I think the process took about 7 months and I was approved. I started receiving government checks almost immediately as well as a check for back payments. My disability was related to my knee.
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1 ReactionI applied through an attorney and was approved in just under 3 months
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2 ReactionsI have been on Social Security twice in my life. I would recommend getting Attorney. They are limited in the money that is charged for this service. It just takes the stress out of the process when you are under so much stress just from the organ or organs not functioning right.
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3 ReactionsI live in Illinois when I was informed of my COPD I was all ready at stage 2 and that was back in 2010 . In 2014 I was hospitalized for respiratory failure was in hospital for 2 weeks. That's when I applied for SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY. IT took 7 months from the day I sent my application in until I received my first Social Security Disability check.
I did mine on my own no lawyer involved. Had a lot of doctors appointments to go to..chest xrays, PFT testing,blood work. I was also on oxygen for activity.
Social Security gave me an Advocate to help me through all the process which was the best thing that they could have done.
I kept in contact with the Advocate on a weekly basis if not more.
Now I don't receive a large monthly payment but it does help. It depends on your Employment status of 10 years or more and how much you made when you were employed. Of course I worked in a warehouse selling auto parts so I was in a unhealthy environment 6 days a week 50 hours a week I was around chemicals, dust,cardboard, mold,mildew and exhaust fumes not to mention brake dust.
Copd is a disease that there is no cure for all they can do is help you maintain with medication and try to give you the best quality of life.
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