ANA Discussion Forum
AN Community => AN Community => Topic started by: Battyp on October 26, 2006, 05:25:58 pm
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You know just when I thought things might pick up we're sliding back down hill! Last weds the appeals guy for ssd finally got my records...faxed him my doctor reports, filled out the 8 page questionaire, sent it all back in and in less than a week later I get the letter I'm DENIED yet again. He actually states in his letter that ssd hearing, numbness in my face, balance issues are not enough to keep me from teaching. Didn't mention the gagging until I throw up problem when I talk too much, geesh. The system is so frustrating! I feel like the let kick the dog when it's down syndrome!
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I'm sorry Michelle :( ÂÂ
Will the ENT that you saw last week be of any help?
hugs,
Cheryl
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he documented that I could not at this time work due to a permanent speech problem which caused choking. All the doctors documented independently of each other, they all said the same thing even the lady who tested me from VR said that at best with training I could work 2 to 3 hours a day every other day...not enough to support a family on unless I'm getting doctor or lawyer wages.
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Michelle,
I'm sorry about your being denied. I havent been exactly up to date on "your story". Were you denied access to go back to work?
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I was told I could no longer teach due to not being able to handle stress, being highly irrational, and having a speech problem. I was tested through vr and the tester determined that the best I could do would be to work every other day a few hours given my problems since surgery. I have had 4 medical doctors one neuropsychologist, one social worker all document their findings. Social security has denied my appeal and the letter stated that the records provided indicate that I can go back to teaching without any difficulties or problems. When I talk too much my throat gets irritated and I start coughing and in turn start choking until I start gagging and throw up. Lovely trait for a teacher to have wouldn't you say? LOL I am stressed tonight and decided I'm going to call the idiot who made this determination and ask him very every so sweetly where I can find a job that requires little to no talking, has no stress, and requires no balance since I have little left I want to make sure to get my application in for consideration! Also, my eduation is thus that I can teach. It's not like you just wake up one day after teaching for 10 plus years and go..you know I think I'll become an accountant today and step right into it. Just been a rough couple weeks. I was told tuesday I made too much money on my disability (60% of my pay) that I can't qualify for state insurance help for my son. I was 189.00 a month more than poverty level over so in order to get him insurance I need to give them 120.00 a month. Doesn't matter if I have any money left over to pay the mortgage or provide food for him. Govt at work at it's finest!
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Sorry to hear of your troubles
I am sure I read a month or so back that others on this list were denied
2-3 times before it was all sorted
maybe re-post under disability advice ? or similar
is there such thing as a disability lawyer ?
(20% of the worlds lawyers are stateside - there must be one)
best regards
tony
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Sorry just saw it - check out the thread "Social security disability"
some of the first 1-4 entries are very interesting
best regards
tony
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I don't understand how gov't policies work. At least not very well. There has to be something you can do. Thats strange that on one hand you are told you can work, but you can't. I'm sorry, i'm only 22 and I don't understand many of your problems, with insurance for family and such. There has to be something you can do though. Maybe someone else on this forum has similar experiences and can help tell you what to do. All I can tell you is keep fighting this. Maybe SSI needs more proof that you are temporarily unable to work, and they can grant you more money at least temporarily.
I'm sorry i'm not much help, but I feel for you.
I hope something works out for you.
Chris
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Michelle,
Request a hearing where they have to see you. Do you have an attorney? If not get one ASAP. I have been turned down twice and now I am waiting for my hearing. I figure if they can see me and hear me it puts a face on the records and it is harder to turn down a face than pages. If I can turned down at the hearing I will appeal. The process takes way too long and they are not consistant in their findings. I'm keeping you in my prayers.
Hugs,
BrendaO
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I have an attn and am filing my appeal to go before the judge on monday. So the wait continues. In the mean time things are still a struggle.
Tony I've seen and participated in that thread. I've done all I know to do. I can even show you in their literature where and how I qualify and show doctor documentation that I do. I think that is the frustrating part I think the employees are just trained to stamp NO on anything they get.
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I live in a different State than you but let me tell you something about State Government and VR in particular. Back in the later part of the 80"s I got a Masters in Counseling and did an Internship at our local VR office. Most people in your case cannot afford a Lawyer and the State knows this. So when I was working with The VR counselor-every case was turned down no matter the disability. The case was speeded up if the client had a lawyer. So it was catch 22. I do not know what State you live in but it sounds like they may be using the same tactics. I can give you some advice though-do not call the person and tell them off because you will put them in a position to defend their case against you. This I have seen myself from my experience working with the State and VR.DO NOT take NO for an answer and exhaust all appeals. They want to wear you down so they will not have to put you on the public payroll. I know it can be frustrating. My first AN I had we lost our house-my job-my wife's father had a massive heart attack and died-no money-so I aplied for Unemployment and got it. Then after I had exhuasted my money the State called me and wanted their money back and continued to harassess me. This was back in the later 1980's. Finally I went to see a lawyer and they backed off. I feel so sorry for you. Do not lose your cool-keep on appealing. They will finally give in but not without a fight.
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Hi Battyprincess,
Just wanted to say that my heart and thoughts are with you. It is very difficult to deal with the AN alone and adding any more to it is frightening especially for single parent. I wish I could do something to help.
Flier58
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Michelle. Do what everyone else does in these situations: get a lawyer!
Do it and you'll have your SSD within weeks! That bull they're slinging at you is customary. Don't let them get to you.
I know of grown, able-bodied men that are getting SSD and hardly deserve to get it. One of them is an alcoholic that's been in rehab one too many times and the other guy claims to be a bi-polar nutcase but is more just a total jerk to put it mildly. Then there's a guy I know that had a spinal fusion procedure that's on it. I know of two other people that have have the same procedure done that are still working without any problems.....
It can be a tough call.
  In your case though, from what I know about you, there's no reason why you should be denied having it. The lawyers take a chunck of the first retro installment.
 Paul
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I have an attn got one after my first denial.
The sad thing is I know people getting help that are drug addicts and alcoholics...I didn't chose this path but at the rate things are going I just might have to start drinking LOL At least it won't cost much for me to stay drunk one sip of wine and I get sleepy, 2 I get silly and 3 i'm out LOL
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Batty:
I can understand your frustration. We once knew a young man of 18 who was immediately approved for SS disability on the basis of depression. He had never worked a day in his life and lived with his (divorced) father. He received almost $600. per month.
My wife had an experience siimilar to yours with obtaining approval for Social Security Disability benefits - after working for 30 years. Denied initally, denied again and then she hired an attorney who 'specialized' in SS disability cases. When she went before the judge, with complete documentation of her medical handicaps; numerous spinal problems - and surgeries - due to an auto accident in '92 - (she was rear-ended) the judge approved her claim and she was finally granted Social Security Disability benefits. She still has to submit physician verification forms annually and every 5 years or so SS requires her to submit to an examination by a doctor of their choosing. The SS-approved physicians never give her much trouble once they read her medical history and examine her but the fact that she is treated as a potential fraud by the Social Security administration is annoying, considering the pain she has to endure on an almost daily basis and that she worked for 3 decades before applying for these benefits. What a system!
Hang in there. You'll get your SS disability approval, likely from the judge.
Jim[/color]
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I'm so sorry Michelle,
Too bad you didn't come to Florida in a rubber raft, if you get my drift. You'd be getting government help for sure. It angers me so to see people really in need be denied, yet so many that don't need it taking advantage of the system. I'm sure you must be about to blow your top. I can't imagine the denial when your employer let you go because you can't do the job of teaching. How can they say you CAN teach when your employer says you can't. WOW how frustrating. Keep fighting it. As tiring as it is. My step dad fought for 2 years before he finally got approved for disability. He was denied over and over, but kept fighting. i think in the end they realize your not going to go away so they finally approve your. Just keep fighting.
Sending big hugs and a smile your way, watch your mailbox!
patti UT
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Hi Batty,
What do you teach? Can you set up a website and teach over the net for extra income?
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My company only lets you teach over the net 10 hours a week and you have to be able to talk as they use headsets to talk to the students. Even most online colleges require you to have a headset to communicate with.
I'm wondering since SSD said I can teach but my neuropsychologist says i'm a risk since I have problems controlling my outburst and impulses since the surgery what would happen if I did go back to teaching, lost control and smacked a kid..could the parents then sue the goverment?
The whole system doesn't make sense..it's not like it's saving them any money by denying me seeing how as long as I keep playing the game the money is retroactive from when I applied. I'm sure there are those who give up and walk away out of frustration. I'd probably be one of them but know me well enough to know I'm not ok to work especially as a teacher. Geesh if I talk too much I throw up..not a very becoming employee trait now is it? LOL
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Hi Batty
I am sure you will think of something. As a teacher you must have heaps of patience. I couldn't handle the little treasures regardless of how I was feeling ;D
Why do you have to work for an agency? Can you think of anything else you could teach that doesn't require a lot of speaking? You may have to do some extra training of course. Maybe there is something else you have always wanted to try but didn't want to change your routine?
Don't give up.
Regards
Chris
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I do appologise, I hadent realised you have a swallowing issue as well
I see the swallowing/throwing up issue could be an obstacle to work
for you (or anyone)
Can I make a suggestion ? - try reading a book out loud
when you have a glass of water to hand
If you take a regular sip - does it take away the sensation ?
Let us know how you get on
Best Regards
Tony
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Unfortunately I don't have a masters degree. Figured there would be time to get one later only later was an An instead :( I'm trying to go back to get my masters in accounting through vr it's just a slow slow process. In the meantime I have to keep the roof over my head, food on the table (can't figure out why my son wants to eat everyday LOL) and the bills paid. That and the stress of no health insurance right now is staggering and then to keep being denied help from the state is overwhelming. They stated in their letter they could see no reason why I couldnt' teach in the same capacity I did. ER UM DID YOU MISS THE PART WHERE I THROW UP?
Tony I keep water with me at all times...if I say more than a few sentences at a time I start choking (coughing) and can't get stopped. Sometimes it takes me a bit to get swallowed and ready to answer someone and if they don't have the patience then it makes my situation worse with trying to hurry. Feels like there is something stuck in my throat and when I get tired it feels like my tongue is swelling (I've looked and it appears normal in the mirror lol) I was told it was trigeminal nerve damage from the tumor sitting on the nerve and it will either come back slowly on it's own or never it's still too early to tell. Of course I've had two opinions that told me since it wasn't back after 9 mos it's not coming back so who knows. It's all just so frustrating!
Chris I no longer have much patience which is why they don't want me back in the classroom with the little buggers. I tire too easy and have no impulse control which has been throughly stated by a neuropsychologist and a social worker but SS insists I'm ok to teach. Yeah right!
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This really kills me - people like you who deserve SSI, have worked all your life, & being denied! I work in a psych hospital, & I can't tell you how much misuse of SSI there is - I'd love to blow the whistle on these people misusing the system, but 'confidentiality' and all - it's BS.
One guy was getting disability for an 'arm injury' 10 years ago (we all said what injury??) then the dr. says, 'if there was a 50 lb. bag of cocaine on the floor he'd of picked it up with that arm no problem!!' (detox pt.) Jeez louise, just not fair at all.
Add-on: just a thought - teaching children who are hospitalized?
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I have some info from the NF2 crew re speach and swallowing issues,
exercises, and other possible remedies
(its actually slightly more common with that condition)
If you want I will mail direct - I appologise now - its rather alot - please ask
if you want it.
Best Regards
Tony
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I know people who are getting it because they "claim" they can't work and they work construction under the table..they also are getting their rent paid, their meds have a room mate paying the utilities so they are living quite well. Me I just balanced my checkbook and am more freaked out than ever LOL
I keep saying this too shall pass...so far it's not working LOL
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Darn, lost your address - incredibly there is still one more to come
Best regards
Tony
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Battyprincess:
FYI: Based on my wife's experience - the only one I can speak of with any authority - once you are finally approved for and receiving Social Security Disability benefits, you will not be allowed to earn much 'extra' money without being penalized by a deduction from your SS check. That being the case, the rules tend to inhibit going back to work in any serious capacity while usually not providing quite enough money for you to live on, comfortably, especially if you're a single mom. Sad but true. Meanwhile , the fakers and frauds seem to receive SS disabilty benefits easily and fritter the money away on drugs, booze and assorted garbage. It's a broken system.
Fortunately, when my wife finally started receiving Social Security benefits, some 11 months after she initally applied, she also was approved for the 'long-term' disability benefits she had signed up and paid premiums for through her employer, a major insurance company. Her employer had insisted that she apply for SS benefits because it was an 'entitlement'. Although her employer subtracts the amount of her SS benefit check from the total she is qualified to receive from them (70% of her last salary), between the two income sources (Social Security and her employers disability insurance) she receives 70% of her former salary and is considered an employee (inactive, naturally) so we still qualify for a very good medical/dental insurance plan as well as discounted life, home and auto insurance policies. It's not perfect but I can't complain.
You may need to look into all your options regarding generating income. There are social service agencies that will direct you to places that may (or may not) be able to help you apply for state aid or other assistance to help you make ends meet. It's often a long and somewhat discouraging process for anyone who has never had to ask for help, but in a financial crisis and with a child to consider, you may have to go that route.
Whatever you decide to do, I wish you all the best - you deserve it.
Jim
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Thanks Jim,
I'm trying to go back to school to get a masters in accounting which is something I think I can do from home or with little speech involved. I just need a year of help to work my way off the system. VR has agreed to pay for my schooling. I am getting LTD benefits at 60% of my pay and of course they have said the will pay until next november then I'm done. They also said I had to try for ssd and they'd supplement the difference since ssd is lower..not sure how long they'll do it but I"m still running short every month. It's just all so frustrating!
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BP, What did your atty say about all this? Mine said, after I got denied the second time, that just about every one ends up getting denied 2x and has to get a court hearing. I'm still waiting for one after 18 months after my second denial. The money I'll be getting wouldn't support me at all, fortunately I have a partner who works and no kids. Better to go for VR and try to get a different kind of work than try to live off SSD, but it would be good to get that retro-active check, so keep persevering! I also heard of someone writing their own multi-page "story" in conjunction with all the paperwork crap.
Good Luck,
Capt Deb 8)
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Batty,
wish i could do something from here. The only thing that I can suggest is that go and see the people that denied your claim and start reading from the book. make sure that their desk is in front of you and, this sounds awful, but then throw up on their desk.
maybe they will see that you have an issue or two.
I thought i saw something like that in a movie.
You could do that in court in front of the judge. maybe they need to see it first hand before they realise it.
Insurance and social security is the same world wide. They don't pay until you are exhausted trying to get paid.
laz
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I filed my appeal and after the paperwork was done the paralegal began explaining the procedure. It will take a year to get a hearing with the judge. GEESH.
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Battyprincess,
I called my attorney's paralegal on Friday to report new diagnosis and hospital stays, new meds, etc. She said the same thing to me. It has been since July when I got my second turn down. I changed banks and on the original forms they ask if you want direct deposit and I filled out the info. I called SSD to find out how to make the change on the paperwork. They transferred me four times because they couldn't find my paperwork! Finally, the person I spoke to was in the hearing office getting ready to set my appointment. I let my paralegal know that on Friday and so she called to see if the date was set yet. They said that it was set for February, but it may not go to the hearing process because of all of the case studies I submitted to my paralegal who toned them down and sent them on. They can't allow SSD for one person and turn the next down with the same disability. I hope this helps. I think because I wrote to all of my Congessmen and complained about how long the process takes it may have helped. It is worth a shot. I am keeping you in my prayers.
Hugs,
BrendaO
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What a system we have. Only in America. You get sick and can't work, and get turned down and held off for "a Year" did you say BP.?? You sneak across the border, walk into the first welfare office and get everything under the sun offered FREE, no denial, no appeal, no hearing. you walk into a hospital, no need for insurance, it's all free. In my neck of the woods, even the kids l ski porgramthrough the school is free to illegals, which the rest of are charged forr and then we have to have to pay extra to cover the "free skiiers" and donate ski clothes and equipment for them. Down in San Diego, the welfare office isn't allowed to even "ask'" them if the are citizens when they show yup to apply for instant benifits, because "it is against their constitutional rights"?????????
Then they go off and work under the table while collecting. What the h### is that all about?? pretty soon this country will have more takers than givers, and then people like us who need the benifits won't get it because there is nothing to get.
This makes me so angry I coulp spit nails (one of my grandma's sayings) Batty really needs this to happen faster than a year
OK OK, enough ranting, but the thread was titled "VENTING"
patti UT
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Thanks Brenda..I'm planning on doing the same thing seeing how this is an election year I doubt anything will happen but it might make me feel better.
Patti the whole system stinks. When I went to the childrens and family office I was the only white person their not getting any help. Everyone else who walked in unaided and drove themselves there were there to pick up their checks. I had to have my mom drive me as it was too far on roads I can't handle. How pathetic is that? According to the state standards I'm 189.00 more than the poverty level so my son doesn't even get free lunch or insurance help. Of course by the time I pay the insurance and lunch I'm below poverty LOL
one day I'll get a break!
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Ok, now I feel like venting..if that's ok with you. Who do these specialists think they are? I finally got to see my Brisbane specialist today. He has been away with a broken collarbone and no-one else could see me. The good news is the swelling has stopped and the little sucker is dying. Unfortunately it has not started shrinking yet. Anyway, while he was talking to me, a female in a white coat came in. When he asked for her opinion she said she has read my casenotes and immediately said "this thing has got to come out". He explained that I have had radiation and we are waiting and watching to see what it does next. During this time I was not introduced to her and felt like I was invisible. In an effort to maintain my temper I kept my mouth shut. I should have asked her who she is and what experience she has. My specialist then said that surgery will definitely result in facial paralysis. I felt like saying, if I have to have it done at this hospital I wouldn't be surprised. Seriously I would have to look at travelling interstate for a more experienced surgeon. Sometimes I feel like I am living in a third world country (a bit over exaggerated I know).
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Chris,
That drives me nuts too! Sometimes doctors can be so rude! Because I am me I probably would have said excuse me" You seem to know me and my credentials, but I know nothing about you, so please introduce yourself." I think sense you were blindsided by that one you should call your doctor's office and asked who was consulting with your doctor (you will surely get a bill from that person---they don't usually even read for free). When you get the person's name check him or her out on the net. Good luck, Chris. Keepin you in my prayers.
Hugs,
BrendaO
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Chris,
AGREE with ya. My ENT surgeon (who I sacked after the op) told me a bunch of lies and mis informed me. You place your life in these peoples hands and not all but some of them just want to see the dollars in their bank account.
There are some good ones around so try not to get too clouded.
It sounds like you are on the right path though.
i would probabley write to your specialist and ask who the hell that woman was and shouldn't she have been introduced to me and who gave her permission to look at my case notes (they are yours).
cheers
laz
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Chris, When was your last MRI? What are your symptoms - if any - of late? If the thing is shrinking and dying then you should continue watching and waiting. Do you have any hearing in your effected ear?
Paul
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I have calmed down a bit after yesterday after eating pizza :)
I agree with my specialist about waiting and watching as it is too early to suggest anything else. I have no hearing in my AN side and I don't expect that to come back so that really doesn't bother me. My specialist is hopeless to contact so I may just leave it till next time and speak up if it happens again. I have faith in what he is telling me and I do sense if my head is doing anything different, after all I did diagnose myself and I don't earn anywhere near as much as the specialists do i'm sure. I won't hesitate to contact him if I feel the need. I just get really frustrated with some specialists and the way they treat people.
Thanks for letting me vent. You are a great bunch.