Applying for Disability...

[writegerl]

Why the heck is it so easy but so hard all at once?

[JigsawAnalogy]

easy?! are you talking about the US government version of applying for disability, or something else?

i consider myself a pretty intelligent person, and it was a struggle for me to figure out how to fill out the paperwork for that. that said, i did manage to pull off applying for and receiving disability on the first try, so if you need some tips (on the theory that i did something right, and it wasn't just that i am *that* pitiful!), feel free to pm me.

edited to add: i was approved in the first round, without having hired a lawyer. maybe i *am* just that pitiful, since everything i read about the matter indicated that most people are denied the first couple of times they try.

[writegerl]

Thanks!

I am going to apply for the federal one, but first, I am going to apply for the state emergency one, which seems easier. I'm told that the federal is difficult and I may not get it without an attorney.

The hard part right now is just managing to leave my house and accomplish anything.

[JigsawAnalogy]

yeah, that's a struggle for me, too, even with the depression vastly reduced.

i really wish they'd told me why i was approved so quickly, so that i could then pass that information along to other people. it might be that i am dealing with multiple issues (in terms of having DID, depression, and anxiety *and* having a physical disability). if that wasn't the reason, it might be that i was able to explain pretty clearly how the disabilities had made it impossible for me to cope at even a minimal level, and how that was different from before i had them.

one thing that helped me with sorting through my thoughts (although it was MEGA depressing!) was to make a list of all of the things i could do before i was disabled that i can't do any more.

[blueeyedgirl1970]

It's nice to know that some people do get approved especially on the first shot but definitely don't count on it. I did have and attorney and I was denied 3 times then finally allowed to go in front of a judge. (this took close to 2 yrs by the way). Yet despite the fact that I hadn't worked since 2008 and suffering from Bipolar Disorder, Anxiety/Panic disorder, sleep disorder, dibilitating migraines and an ulcer the judge denied me and the lawyer representing me decided he didn't want to appeal for me (but he'd help another lawyer if I got one before the 60 day time to appeal OR be happy to file a NEW claim after those 60 days) needless to say I found the whole thing extremely frustrating. That was a couple months ago and luckily last week I actually found a job that will be Monday thru Friday days in the medical field. I'm hoping this will make it easier for me to keep my disorders under control.