Okay, my request for an appeal *on my disability* has been denied. That means I can file a new claim and go through this entire MISERABLE process all over again. Not to mention 2 more years of waiting, which I could be denied AGAIN. I found this out a couple days before classes started. Anyhow, I now have the option to change lawyers. I honestly don't know how they could deny me, I am a medical disaster w/ vision, neurological, fibro, and the autoimmune thing going on. I was also just diagnosed w/ carpal tunnel So I'm unsure if it was crappy lawyer work or if it is just fate.
Going to class 2 days a week has really bothered me pain wise. I feel better mentally, but feel worse physically. I'm seriously unsure if I could work full time, or even if going to class will become too much for me to handle.
There is a program I can apply for that will let me work 22 hrs a week for min. wage doing general things at the college, like answering phones and making copies. They are completely willing to work around my limitations. That will give me over $600 a month extra, which will help tremendously at this point. If I do this, I can kiss my disability goodbye for certain. I don't know if I can live struggling like this for another 2 years awaiting another court date, or another denial for a court date. I also don't know if I'm physically capable of doing otherwise. I'm so stumped on what I should do.
Any advice?

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Krysti

My step dad went through this. He had a pretty good attorney, but it is the government. He was to the point of not being able to move by the time they got him on SS and medical card. He has a lot of back problems and has to go through therapy so he don't end up like he was back then... Of course they gave him back SS when he finally did get it. (it took 6 years) All of us kids got SS checks for living with him and helping him cope. So in the end my mom and step dad were able to pull out of the hole (for the most part) right after being approved. You just have to weigh the pros and cons and figure out what is best for you and your family. It is a hard decision, but for my step dad it was the only one, we needed that money. My mom was a factory worker and between the two there was 9 kids. We really needed that money.

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Benny and Shan March 30th 2002

Aw, K, that sucks. I don't know what to tell you. I don't know much about how that process works, just that it can be really hard to get on disability. It seems crazy to me that you got denied. I wish I had some advice.

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Here I am again. I went and got some advice for you. My mom (through working with my CPA dad) helps people with government stuff a lot, so I emailed her to see what she thought.

Does your attorney specialize in disability? You definitely want one who does and who also works on contingency fee - s/he only gets paid when you win the case. She said they work hard to get "back" benefits (ones you should have had over the years).

My mom advised two people close to us of the same thing, and they received disability in less than a year. Another good friend chose not to hire a lawyer and has been fighting for five years. She has recently decided to get a lawyer.

Another tip is that once you're on disability, the health coverage does not kick in immediately. There is an 18-month waiting period or something like that.

That's all she told me. I don't know if that helps or not, but it's better than what I could come up with! Good luck!

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