ANA Discussion Forum
AN Community => AN Community => Topic started by: Captain Deb on January 09, 2007, 02:06:31 pm
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Well, family, I got a phone call from my disability lawyer and a hearing date has been set with a judge for March 21. (The spring equinox, no doubt!) I first applied in Sept of 03 and was denied twice. The meeting is scheduled to be held in a hotel of all places--an hour and a half drive down the mountain during the snowiest time of the year.
Money from my settlement, which my lawyer is pretty confident about, will go to my new bionic ear, and to pay off the credit card I put medical bills on.
I am both excited and scared. Anyone else out there get social security disability on the third go around?
Capt Deb 8)
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3rd time is a charm, Capt'n! :) I'm keeping fingers crossed for you! :)
xoxoxoxo
Me :)
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I think double loaded - with ball AND chain
just to make sure they know you mean business ?
good luck
Tony
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AN's are usually not disabling. I went back to work 2 1/2 weeks after my AN surgery, have never felt disabled, even with total loss of hearing on AN side. ÂÂ
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Sam, question for you.... there are some folks here that have had life-altering AN surgeries (some even life threatening) and cannot perform their usual means of employment due to after-affects of surgery.....so am curious about how someone in that scenario would go about getting SSD... thoughts?
Thanks!
Phyl
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Sam, I totally agree that 95% of AN surgeries are not disabling. I was one of the unfortunate 5% who have suffered unrelenting incapacitating headaches for the first 2 1/2 years and they have tapered a bit in the past year and a half, but any kind of exertion, even going for a walk sometimes, can set one off. My specialist has diagnosed me with "cluster headaches with migranous components." Do a google of cluster headaches--they are nasty buggers.
Capt Deb 8)
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The cluster headaches may not be related to the AN.. Cluster HA's are a variation of migraine. No one in our local support group is disableled from AN, even those with facial paralysis and hearing loss. Dr. Brackmann at House has an air force pilot who returned to flying after AN surgery.
I can't think of a specific occ. that someone couldn't go back to, unless there were severe complications, like meningitis from a spinal fluid leak, or sloppy surgery causing a more global paralysis than facial, or extensive brain damage causing intellectual loss.
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Hello, everybody,
Yes, cluster headaches can be related to AN removal. I did not know what headache was until after AN surgery (suboccipital). I have had those unrelenting headaches for 10 years during which I had two pregnancies. I do not know where I found the strength to go on with the pregnancies despite the fact that I could not take any medication. I even had sciatica (not AN related obviously) in addition to the headaches in the second pregnancy which greatly added to my misery. Both suboccipital and middle fossa approaches are known for their potential for unrelenting headaches which is what I and Capt. Deb had respectively. Translab is not associated with headaches. I sincerely empathize with every headache sufferer. The only consolation I can offer is that the body starts to feel whole again but it happens after many, many years!
Eve
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Hi Sam
My husband is one of those that found himself disabled following treatment for his AN. It isn't a matter of feeling disabled. Rather it's the total sum of all medical issues. It's very real medical conditions that are disabling and often times are quality of life issues. It is the goal and hearts desire that everyone with a AN have a positive outcome allowing them to resume the lifes they led prior to the discovery of the AN. But due to size, location, experience of the treating medical team, and a lot of "just is" there are those that do find themselves in the disabled catagory. No one is asking for a "free ride" Just a fair and impartial hearing and the chance to honestly show the extent of the outcomes.
Outcomes may include the loss of ability to talk, headaches beyond understanding, balance issues that limit being able to move fast, climb stairs or run. Eye conditions, facial paralysis and the problems that come with it, swallowing difficulties. memory problems, loss of small motor skills,there may be upper and lower extremity paresis or limb ataxia and of course hearing loss.
Because the majority of treated ANers have positive outcomes it makes it harder for those that find themselves with outcomes to receive disabilty. We have to prove it, usually a number of times. In their eyes it becomes a question of "Most everyone is better, why aren't you". it's a hard struggle. 9 years after my husband was found by the Social Security Doctor to be "clearly severely impaired as a result of multiple neurologic deficits and symptoms as a result of complications of a right acoustic neuroma with hydrocephalus", we still receive paperwork as to if he remains disabled. Truth is, if at all possible he'd go back to work in a New York City second if he could.
I am very glad that you had such a positive outcome. I am also very glad that Debby will receive her hearing that she deserves.
Best to all
Raydean
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Well,
I am one of the five per cent.  My hearing is coming up very soon after two turn downs.  I have always worked with the public and usually fifty to seventy hours a week.  I have severve depression, no balance, dizziness, headaches , no hearing on the right side, no feeling on the right side of my face, I had a stroke and have broken several bones since my AN surgery.  I also have fibromalaysia and MS.  None of it was severe until after my AN surgery.  My AN surgery changed everything about me and my abilities.  I know that it has been hard on a lot of people on this forum and to say that it doesn't cause disability is hogwash and totally disrespectful to those of us who would really love to be our old selves and work like we did before, but can't.  I have had PT, OT, therapists and sheer will power and guess what?  I get up at 4:30 in the morning, take a nap at 8:30, take another nap at 11:30, rest at 2:30 and go to bed at 8.  Bright lights, loud noises, more than a few people in one room, all send me reeling.  If I had it to do over I would live wioth the tumor and my perfect hearing and work until I dropped dead and then people couldn't say "The AN,didn't disable her."  Sorry to go off, but I hate blanket statements and unless a doctor has had an AN he can't say how he would react or how his body would react or what the out come would be.  Yes, and I feel that I have had intellectual loss and well as my short term memory is the pitts.
Just my two cents.
BrendaO
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My cluster headaches may not be related to my AN? They started at 10 days post-op. I thought I was going to die during the first one, even with the pain meds the doc gave me post-op. Before that I a few headaches that I thought might be very mild migraines that went away with a Tylenol in an hour. You do the math.
Capt Deb
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I have no iidea whether AN post-op complications, especially headaches, constitute a disability under Social Security rules, which can be arcane and seem to favor mental problems such as depression over physical problems, which I find absurd.
My wife filed for SS disability - based on extensive spinal injuries caused by an auto accident in '97 - and it took almost 3 years and the retention of an attorney 'specializing' in Social Security cases for her to receive a favorable ruling and an 'award' (benefits granted). This delay occured despite many physicians reports submitted to the SSA, including some physicians 'appointed' by the SSA to examine her and her medical records. She is still collecting SS benefits. She is sent a form every year to attest that she continues to be disabled and about every three years, she is ordered to submit to an 'outside' physicians exam (from a doctor, usually about 30 miles away, that doesn't 'know' her) to establish that her disability persists. The assumption on the part of the SS bureaucracy that her 'regular' physician is lying or too stupid to know a faker from a genuine diisability situation is insulting to him, in my opinion. Not that anyone cares about my opinion in the SS bureaucracy. These 'outside' physicians, paid by the SSA, are not inclined to find a disability persists. However, in my wife's case, her many spinal-related surgeries basically make her case. Her neurosurgeon is also very well-known and respected in his field and does not pander to malingering patients as he is far too busy for such nonsense - and most area doctors know this.
She endures all this bureaucratic nonsense for about half of what she earned while employed - for almost 30 years. Fortunately, my wife had disability insurance at work, which was supposed to pay her 70% of her salary if she became disabled. It does, in a way. The insurer demanded that she file for SS benefits first, as they are - in their words - an 'entitlement'. The insurance company pays her about 20% of the 70% they promised, because SS pays close to half of the amount that makes up the 70% of her former salary. Clever, no? She paid good money for disability 'income-protection insurance' and when she tries to collect on it, the company shifts most of the financial burden onto taxpayers in the form of Social Security Disability and it's attendant delays and hurdles, ostensibly to deter fraud. Right. Ah, well. It probably could be worse - and we are grateful for the income.
I certainly wish Deb well at her SS hearing and I hope that her headaches, whatever the actual cause, AN or otherwise, can be controlled, if not eventually eliminated. I cannot imagine having headaches that intense for very long. As one of the 'lucky ones' who had an almost complication-free recovery from AN removal surgery (and follow-up FSR) I can only say:
Good luck, Captain Deb! :)
Jim[/color]
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To me, whether right or wrong, I think it also depends on what the livelihood of the AN patient was prior to treatment.
Example, I have been a hairdresser for over 25 years (now retired due to extensive back surgery in the 80's, but know my AN and Chiari situation would also give added complications had I not retired by now). If I were still a full time hairdresser as my only source of income, then had AN surgery that extremely affected my physical well-being, preventing me from standing on my feet due to balance issues, dizziness mixed in with fumes of hair colors/perms, etc... then, would that then help me be eligible for SSD? Keep in mind, to have to go through training to learn a new profession make not come easy to one either.
Just a thought for discussion.
Phyl
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Phyl to add to your posting, we were told that disability wasn't based on if he was able to do the job prior to treatment, rather if he was able to do ANY job, regardless of difference in wages. Any job could mean just that, ANY job, even if entry level. Go figure.
To add to this discussion I've often wondered in the event of an emergency where the need for fast immediate evacuation from the work place especially in a high rise office building or other large building that it would be an libility for everyone if due to the outcomes the process was slowed down. I know that when we flew to California we were given seats by the emergency evacuation door. On seeing my husband we were asked to change seats. He was not allowed there due to safety reasons. We'd like to think that the outcomes affect only ourselves, but in truth it effects everyone around us. I know one ANer that almost got run over by a hyster because she couldn't hear it.
Hugs
Raydean
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go figure is right, Raydean. I know of some here that have had to check into training for other jobs... was Chet offered such a type of training?
xo to you all,
Phyl
Phyl to add to your posting, we were told that disability wasn't based on if he was able to do the job prior to treatment, rather if he was able to do ANY job, regardless of difference in wages.  Any job could mean just that, ANY job, even if entry level. Go figure.
Hugs
Raydean
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Evaluated for job retraining, yes. It was decided by the vocational dept that it was not in the best interest of all parties. In short to many outcomes.
Hugs
Raydean
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About time Captain. I know what the Brain Wrecks have done to ya.
Third time was a charm for my cousin's wife. She is still undiagnosed after 7 years......can't walk without a cane, can't drive, can't do anything......vertigo, motion sickness - must be something inner ear but no one, not even Mayo Clinic can give her a diagnosis.ÂÂ
Good luck to you, Kathy
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Hey Deb!
Glad to hear that something is finally set up for you. Sounds typical for the SSA, they only have two speeds, slow and reverse! I hope things work out for ya. Would also like to add that being able to do the same type of work as prior to the AN surgery is my issue. I had to take a big time pay cut in my current job because I had tried the work I used to do and the cognitive skills just aren't there anymore. For me, I think it has to do with the tinnitus and deafness. I can't hear worth beans in an office setting and get very confused very easily because of it. I also have been diagnosed with cluster headaches but not sure whether the AN is the cause or not. I did read that it can be the cause but I also had headaches prior to AN diagnosis. I must admit that they did get worse shortly prior to diagnosis and have remained the same. I don't know how to prove it is and can't prove otherwise :/ Working on trying to get treatment to improve the situation. Hang in there Deb, hopefully 3rd times the charm!
~Karen
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Yep it's based on if you can do ANY job even a minimum wage one if you were a higher paid employee.  Sam I too am in the 5% and have been denied twice and am awaiting an appeal hearing which I've been told will take up to a year to grant. I was a teacher but due to trigeminal nerve damage result in thoat numbess that is irreversible and very highly unlikely to heal itself at this point the doctors recommend I not return to teaching due to the volume of speaking involved.  I'm also told to avoid a stressful job due to the ADD that has occurred since the surgery as I'm unable to cope with chaos and noisy enivronments.  Trust me as a widow with a child SSD is not a means of supporting myself as it won't cover my house payment.  I'm trying to relearn a new skill through another govt agency which also verified my job limitations but ssd ignored their recommendations.  The whole process and system if frustrating.  I'd much rather be in the 95% category that got to go back to work. ÂÂ
Capt Deb I just got a letter from SS stating they have finally processed by appeal which was filed three months ago.  In my letter it tells me they will notify me at least 20 days in advance of my hearing and....had to be within so many miles of my location or I could request transportation fees?  We know my memory doens't work great but I recall seeing some sort of guidelines on that.
VR will provide you with training SS does not care if you can afford to get the training they just care if you can do any job.  My attn had some kind of software program he inputed my info in and it gave him a list of possible jobs.  When we went through the list there was valid reasons why I could not do those jobs due to my imbalance issues, speech issues or impulsivity issues.  Not to mention that with the daily headaches I'd have a lot of absentism and have a hard time keeping a job.  There has to be a better way or system!
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Capt Deb,I think as you know I am disabled, yes I do have other facters.BUt, when something like this that we have been through eats on us day after day. It gets to us. There is a lady that I know that has headaches and she is on paxil to help calem her. and she got disability too. I am sure that with your degree of pain and the fact that day after day it is something that you have to live with . They will give you the disability. as far as some people go through this and never have any problems ,But what the heck. they say 1 in 100.000 people find a AN. The wonkey heads how may have what. we could all be a little more compationate with the others. I will pray Capt Deb that you get that disability and show them all. I know that the disability is not the cure but it sure could help with the finaces..I only get 203.00 a month not much is it. If you all dont know about capt Deb, then you should go to some other threads and see what she has to do to deal with the pain she goes through.. GO Capt Deb..I will board the ship...Sorry were not closer,i'd drive ya..
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My previous "job" was as a self-employed landscape painter and I have spent years working in restaurants and stores so I could quit my "day job." After having to relocate because of a major hurricane in the Virgin Islands which took away any kind of economic base, and everything I owned, I worked my way through college at the age of forty so I could get to this level of skill. I finally found a genre that sold quite well and 3 terrific galleries, 2 of which have dropped me because I could not produce enough new work. My remaining gallery is hesitant to give me a show because I can't produce enough work, and that is very problematic for an artist in my league. I can no longer hike to places to do photo research, either. My only other qualification is as a sailboat captain and I think that's kind of out of the question now. As far as holding a regular "job" the absenteeism because of my headaches would be a huge issue.
Capt Deb 8)
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I would love to see some of your art work all though i probly couldnt afford it..I think a few good photographers could get picsto you so you coud do some more painting. if you could stand that long. Does the paint bother you. the fumes..I sur ehope that it all works out for you
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I appreciate all of your support immensely!
See my work, what little there is of it at http://www.artcellaronline.com/fineart1.asp?collectionID=28
Capt Deb 8)
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Hey Deb, you go give em H_LL. It''s time you get that disability.
Your work is beautiful, I want to send you a picture that I took laying on the ground at the base of some beautiful aspen trees in the fall looking up at the blue sky. It is a very cool picture. I blew it up and have it framed, if I can find the neg or roiginal 3x5.
It would make an awesome painting.
patti
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To the Pirate (and all in a similar boat ?)
Maybe its possible to look at the work from home options ?
If you are at home - and feel unwell - you can take ten mins out
and make the time up later
Providing a certain output is met over a day or week
timekeeping, absence, and similar are not really an issue
(I dont mean sewing - modern computers/broadband etc
allow quite sophisticated work to occurr even at home)
Basically if punching in 9-5, or flights of stairs,
or regular attendance is a problem
then seek options where it might not matter ?
Best regards
Tony
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Hi Deb, VERY nice work! Galleries dropped you becuase you couldn't produce enough work?? What a ridiculous notion! OMG, Is it about production now rather than content and quality? Geeee, one would think that less work but of high standard would make it more desirable and it would sell even better, for higher prices! I don't know, I'm a designer so I don't have the gallery thing to deal with, but I do a lot for work for artists in designing catalogues and so on, and amount of work does not seem to be such a problem here anyway. Most of them have a show maybe every year or every second year. I guess that's where creative endavour meets commercial requirements and the two don't always go hand in hand. Interestingly though, galleries can't function without the creative forces. Personally, I think those galleries have a serious pproblem with vision. Do you still do work like that?
This doesn't help in any way of course and is probably completely off the mark. I hope you get your disability sorted out soon.
All the best, Lorenzo
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Deb, That is great. I pray you win. Your persistence will pay off.
Amy
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Deb is def our acclaimed artist....if we could all afford to buy a deb orginial we would!
If I ever hit the lottery deb I'm coming your way to fill my blank living room wall :o)
Tony I've been trying to come up with something I can do from home on the computer but haven't hit on anything much. Have an ideas? Most of the things I come across want me to give them money to find out how to make money which I've read is a no no. I know I can do something from home but just need to be retrained. I'm striving to get a masters degree so I can try to teach college coursework from home.....
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Deb,
Your "Into the Woods #7 " me homesick and I haven't missed NYS in thirty years!! They are all beautiful paintings.
Brenda
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Like your work!!!
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Throw me in the 5% :( I can't return to my former occupation. Cognitive issues, balance problems and general wonkyhead. I've been through various therapies and consistently work at trying to help myself, will be 9 years in July. Luckily my husband makes enough to support us, I don't know what I would do otherwise.
Good luck Deb! Wish we could all be there in person to support you, wonder what the attorney's would think if they saw a group of pirates/wenches ;)
hugs,
Cheryl
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Reply to the battyprincess
To some degree it depends on what you did before
(ok outdoor window painting might be out for now)
But look to your back ground or experiance to date
- and see if it can be developed forward
Could you set up your own business ?
One of the things I have noticed is I/we seem to get too
hung up on what we cant do - rather than investigate what we CAN do
Many companies now outplace a good % of the staff
so home work isnt quite so unusual.
Actually if you are going to throw money at it
- an hour with a good career councilor might be money better spent
($40-60 ?)
The outcome you are looking for is a clear direction ?
you may need help finding it
Best regards
Tony
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Captain Deb:
I explained your Social Security situation to my wife (who has been collecting SS disabilty benefits for over 6 years) and she suggested that if you are now taking (or can be prescribed) an anti-depressant drug and make your Social Security Disability claim on the grounds of 'depression' (due to chronic headaches) you would probably have a much better chance of receiving an award. She also mentioned that her initial 'diagnosis' for SSD was for 'depression' based on her chronic, severe back pain. It's sort of a 'back-door' method of 'working' the sometimes unfair SS system. You claim 'depression' - which is quite real for most folks suffering from long-term illness or pain - but the depression is based on the underlying physical problem, which is very, very real - but something that SS seems to want to avoid recognizing, for reasons I do not understand, as physical problems are generally much easier to verify than most mental problems, where a clinical diagnosis is the best any doctor can usually do - and even that can be highly subjective.
My wife also mentioned that before your upcoming hearing, a Physical Therapist will review your file and determine whether you are eligible for any kind of work, no matter how menial or detached from what you have worked at for years. Social Security Disability rules require that you be 100% 'disabled' and unable to work at any job. They don't award partial benefits - it's all or nothing. Either you are totally disabled and unable to earn a living or they refuse to grant you any benefits at all. Again: go figure.
Please know that right along with everyone else here, I wish you the very best, Pirate Lady. :)
Jim[/color]
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I am on antidepression mes, which was sited on my first two claims and they said I could still work. When I asked the guy what he felt I could do so I could pursue that avenue I was told he had no idea. Hmm...let me get this straight..the guy making the decision saying I can work can't tell me what he feels I can do. Now does anyone else have a problem with this? LOL
Tony I was a teacher (how's that for good grammar) I've done a variety of other jobs I've been trying to get skilled in areas that the job tester said I could do from home it just costs money I don't have so trying to get help through the govt which is taking forever. I'm trying to stay optimistic that by this time next year I'll have my own company. It's just a shame that there isn't better resources out there for people in our situation. Not just AN wise but anyone who's had an illness and is displaced from their source of employment. I know a guy with a heart illness who's buying a franchise so he can work. I don't have that kind of money :o(
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Jim,
Oh yeah--been on the happy pills for quite a while. Funny, though, since I started posting here and joined this looney bin of a cyber-family, my depression is a whole lot better! (Not telling the SS people that one for sure!) Chronic pain and depression do go hand in hand.
Capt Deb 8)
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Good luck, Capt. Deb with your mission to get what you deserve. I didn't fare too well when I tried, but I figured it would be a losing battle for me anyway. Right now all I'm doing is picking up some extra money by cleaning houses. Then today, I go to work, and discover that my Wednesday morning lady died last Saturday night! Her son tried to call me but was unable to get through I guess. Somebody was on the computer. Not a big surprise that she died as she was pretty ill. So now all i have is two ladies every other week. Hmmm $60 every two weeks isn't a lot, but it's something. I told myself if something happens to my Wed. lady that I would apply to where my daughter-in-law is working - Wells Fargo Collections, but now that I can, I don't know if I want to!! Of course, applying for the job doesn't mean I'll even get an interview. I am not sure if I can work in a call center. It's probably noisy.
Anyway, Cap't, I wish you the best of luck and hope that you will have a good outcome eventually.
Sue in Vancouver USA
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Hello all,
There is an article today in medicalnewstoday.com reagrding women with chronic headaches and depression. Here is a link and I hope it works:
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/healthnews.php?newsid=60505
Maybe, that will help.
Eve
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Sue,l
I used to work in collections, it was fun! I left that job because the place I was working for moved to another state. I did have an office to myself which made things alot easier. If I'm on the phone and there's alot of noise around me, I can't concentrate as well. At first I didn't hear anything because of the SSD but then as my hearing ear started to work harder as time went on, I started hearing mostly background chatter and it was very distracting. I also couldn't tell if someone was talking to me so they had to tap me on the shoulder to get my attention. That isn't the best scenario when someone wants to talk to you while you are also on the phone. No matter how much I told my coworkers I couldn't do that, they still tried and it was very frustrating. Everyone is different tho so you might want to give it a shot if you can still keep the other job on the side. I am currently in the same boat of working less hours doing a different job and making less $$ but nobody really cares. It's just like the comment I still get ............ "well, you can hear in the other ear okay right?" goes right along with "but you are still working". The act is taking place but the quality and/or quantity (depends on how you want to look at it) just isn't there anymore! Ok, so that made sense to me, hope it makes sense to anyone else who reads it!
~Karen
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Note to Battyprincess
I think you could still teach
If its done at home to your timetable - break the day up etc
So the real questions might be who are you going to teach
and what subjects ?, who might be in a position to pay for extra tutiion ?
Junior babysitting tends to be wasted (mainly fun) time
could you offer a kind of 11-15 type childminding that was
educationally based ? - something that the well-to-do concerned
parents would see as a benefit to the children ?
If you had 4-6 kids it would be very intensive learning for them
I wonder how many families where both work 9-6
- and the kids leave school at 3.30-4.30 ?
The key here is to look for the "gap"
what the market does not really provide well
A few thoughts for you
best regards
Tony
Maybe you you do the odd adult catch up class in the eve
to pad out the quieter days
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Tony keep brainstorming. :-*
I've thought of that and I've looked into it but...it's not enough income to pay my bills. If I had supplemental income it would be doable depending on some variables.
I really think they key for me is obtaining a masters and trying to teach for an online university.
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Thanks Karen for your input. That helps to have any information from somebody else who has the same problems. Maybe, if I can navigate their website okay, I'll apply. I guess this shows my age, but I am not fond of applying for jobs on-line. I'd rather do it the old-fashioned way!
Thanks,
Sue in Vancouver
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OK last idea for now :
If I may quote "In transition" from the Harvard Business School (pub stateside)
Basically it suggests you set up a board
( no salary, no financial input)
Simply 5-6 people you can trust who have skills in
Finance, business, teaching, sales, marketing, personnel etc
You approach each in turn - make it clear you are not asking for money
but from time to time you want their advice
Maybe buy them lunch ?
The idea is that when a good idea comes along they will
help you sort it from the trash - and help you invest your time wisely
Need to be able to trust them
- but not good friends or "Yes" men - you need cool, clinical, heads
This will open the way to "Networking" which
is something you will need to learn to develop
Good luck
Tony
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Hi Capn Deb
Respect !! Great work ! I really hope that you can keep on producing more ! Good luck with your hearing date .
Best regards Kat
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Capt Deb. Your work is beautiful. in the woods wow I could believe how real it looks. the rest are real great too..very proud of you.
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I have been dealing trying to get disability also. Do you have any suggestions that may help? I have always worked and been on the go. I hate to have to try and get disabiilty but there is no way i can work and am not sure when i will be able to. My husband works alot of hours for Northwest Airlines and they took a pay cut right before my surgery so we barely make it by. So any suggestions in dealing with disability would be great. :)
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HI CAPT., MY CAPT.:
SORRY I HAVEN'T WISHED YOU 'ALL THE BEST' TILL NOW (been in my own little world).
IF I HAD CONTINUED HEADACHES LIKE I DID POST OP, I'D PROBABLY WANT TO KILL THE -------- WHO DENY ME MY BENEFITS.
When I see so many people (I work in a psych. hosp.) who have benefits & SHOULDN'T (I wonder who they paid to get disability),
then hear about people like you who have a LEGITIMATE chronic condition due to a brain tumor, it just
MAKES ME WANNA HOLLAR !!!!!!
again, ALL THE BEST, Nancy
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Funny how illegals can get full SS SSI benefits and they don't even live in the country. Now the liberals want to give any Illegal SS who has stole or obtained a social security number illegally if they paid in. The SS system is the biggest case of Fraud in the history of this county. But, We as Americans will not stick together and vote the crooks out of office and demand Federal systems to be audited. You would think stealing or obtaining social security numbers and drawing benefits illegally would be a federal crime, but they will only deport them. IF citizens of this county would steal a SS number we would be doing hard time for quite awhile.
THEY WILL DENIE any claim time after time, you will have to get a lawyer (a smart rich crooked Lawyer) if you want to get the few hundred a month. They are cruel cold hearted ______ let you fill in the blank. On the AZ. and Ca. border towns they drum up business from across the border. I seen this on 60 min. a few years ago where a border town in AZ. had pop. of 5 thousands, But they had 18,000 mail boxes. every store in town was a postal clerk and had hundreds of post boxes for illegals to receive there SS, SSI, Food stamps, Worker-man comp, and unemployment. I fellow driving a new dressed out dully pickup said he also has an address in Ca. where he drew several checks for there also. He wouldn't say how much he was getting, but indicated it was over 6k a month.
So, you can see why they won't give it to the paying citizens that has worked the 40 quarters and earned their benefits. 60 mins Asked the store owners about the fraud that was going on with Social security, all they could say was it was good for business. Evidently they would get kickbacks or goods brought before they when back over the boarder.
Go luck, they make Al Capone look like a boy scout and twice as ruthless, they will smile and act like they going to help you knowing all the time, the big stamp denie, denie, AND DENIE. Only one other Federal orgaination was worst... Anybody remember how the IRS use to be????????
I don't want to just say people south of the boarder drawn benifits. It's a world wide problem I would with Vitnam Forigner, he told me he will only work a few years and then go back to Vitnam and draw SS with NO problems he knows hundreds that doing it right now. What a big slap in the face to use that work and contribute. The teamster's arn't this crooked.
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Hi Capt Deb,
I haven't been on the forum for a while. I want to congratulate you for your perseverance. I believe after reading all of the thread here, you have a lot of support that you get your SSD. So do I. I too had applied and have been denied once. Waiting for a hearing is the hardest thing in the world. You feel guilt that you want to work but can't or don't and I can say from my experience, I am finally giving up on work.
I applied last year in the early spring and within 60 days denied. After all the doctor bills piled up, and with little or no sympathy from family, friends, doctors, and co-workers, I went back to work in Aug 06. I work as a Credit Card Customer Service Rep taking in-bound phone calls. I had Cyberknife treatments Oct 2006. I hoped I would be able to continue my job but I immediately noticed I couldn't walk without dragging a foot or losing my balance to my desk or from it. I actually fell into a seated co-worker while trying to go take a bathroom break. My manager sent me home. I think at least she realizes that this is not faked. I have to go down via elevator to the lunch room 3 flights and by the time I get there, I'm sick to my stomach and usually don't eat a lunch. We can eat at the desk but I want to get away from my work when possible.
I have louder tinnitus than from before my treatments and I too can't hear a conversation or where it is coming from. I have an amplified headset but with the volume turned up as loud as it can be, I don't always understand what a customer says. If I move my head too much even while seated, during the call or transferring someone to another department, that will make me nauseated when I take my eyes off of my task. Oh,...just one more thing. Since my treatments, I no longer drive. My wife won't let me and frankly,... I really shouldn't be driving with my balance loss. I miss my driving!! I am turning 55 this Oct so it has all been quite depressing and yes,...I too am on Effexor for that.
I occasionally get headaches too, but usually not that severe as you. What I have found through my research is that your tumor can affect several different nerves. Lucky for me, my facial nerve had no damages, but I can assure you that my balance, hearing, short-term memory, and energy has been. I found out that it is the size/location of your tumor that makes all the difference what your disability is going to be. Don't give up!!!
As for those 95% that can still work, consider yourself very fortunate! My lawyer is getting ready for my hearing as we speak. Now that I have documented evidence of falling, and backing of my doctors, I'm going to try again for SSD.