Posted by zazenducke on April 18, 2012, at 16:21:07
In reply to Re: Disability? How do you survive? » Phillipa, posted by Phil on April 18, 2012, at 7:53:49
Phil you just have to give them the doctor's and hospital's names and addresses and they will contact them directly. All you have to do is list your jobs. You don't have to have any kind of documentation. There's no reason to feel humiliated or embarrassed. If you are not up to filling out forms online you can call your local social security office and talk to someone there and apply over the phone. All the social security people I know are really nice. (Maybe they have to be really patient to deal with old people).
The disadvantage of hiring a lawyer is that they will take a percentage of your award and realistically it could be a year or more of back payments so it would be a good bit of money. If you are denied you will probably want a lawyer then to file an appeal.
You know if things start looking up you can still go back to work. This isn't a declaration of defeat or anything! I'm really concerned about you Phil. You paid into this thing for years. This is what it's here for. I'm just sorry it has to be such a pain to get it started.
http://www.ssa.gov/pgm/disability.htm
> If I understood the equation, may not have, I came up with $1700 a month. With no insurance, my meds would be around $900 maybe. I'll try to get assistance from the drug companies.
>
> I've been unemployed for 13 months and haven't been able to put together a resume, buy clothes etc.
>
> I'll get through this. I have two things on my side, no degree and I'm 58. One attempt one hospitalization, 30 years on meds.
>
> With the anxiety and the subtle and not so subtle up and down of bipolar, it's very csary to me.
>
> I don't think that my doctor will fill out my forms. Isn't there info that needs to be gathered? Last 5 jobs, medical records, etc?
poster:zazenducke
thread:1015812
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20120411/msgs/1015889.html