How do I get approved for SSI? I was diagnosed with severe endometriosis, chronic pelvic pain, and depression.
405048
Unfortunately, SSI is not sensitive to Endometriosis and chronic pelvic pain conditions, but they are s-l-o-w-l-y beginning to understand the devastating toll diseases like Endo and IC are taking on women.  Your story seems to be on par with others attempting to file for SSI; it seems it takes an average of 3-4 times over the course of a couple of years before it is approved.  They try to make so hard that you'll just go away, so don't give up!  It looks like you are on course, since you're going before the judge now finally.  You might be interested in the following:\n\n"SSA Issues Ruling for Evaluating Interstitial Cystitis:\nThe Social Security Administration (SSA) has issued a new Social Security Ruling (SSR) that explains how the agency evaluates disability caused by interstitial cystitis or "IC." Published November 5, 2002, the ruling became effective immediately. It is titled SSR 02-2p, "Evaluation of Interstitial Cystitis." Applicants for disability benefits who have IC (and their advocates) should certainly review the ruling.  SSR 02-2p alerts SSA decision-makers to the disabling potential of IC, a relatively rare disorder, and helps doctors of women and men with IC focus on the issues that concern SSA when providing medical  documentation for disability claims.  SR 02-2p calls IC, "a complex, chronic bladder disorder characterized by urinary frequency, urinary urgency, and pelvic pain. IC occurs most frequently in women (about 10 times more often than in men), and sometimes prior to age 18. IC may be associated with other disorders, such as fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, allergies, irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, endometriosis, and vulvodynia (vulvar/vaginal pain). IC also may be associated with systemic lupus erythematosus." Click to view the text of SSR 02-2p, or look in the Federal Register dated November 5, 2002, pages 67436-67439."  Link: http://www.ssa.gov/OP_Home/rulings/di/01/SSR2002-02-di-01.html\n\nThere is also a similar case file available at http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/data2/circs/8th/051954p.pdf.\n\nYour best bet is to go armed with valid literature outlining the devastating effects of Endo, IC, etc. and it helps to have an atty. on your side who understands the SSI circus.  Maybe the Endometriosis Research Center can help you (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/erc/pending).  There are a few cases where women with Endo have been able to get it, so hang in there and keep trying.\n\nGood luck to you.
709363
You've qualified for the medical part, which means they have said that your disability is bad enough that you qualify for Social Security Disability. \n\nNow, they're going to look at your employment history to make sure that you've worked long enough in jobs that paid into the Social Security system to qualify for benefits.  Each year is split into 4 quarters, and if you earn enough money during that quarter, you earn a SS credit.  You have to have a certain number of credits to qualify to SSDI, depending upon your age.\n\nIf they find that you do not have enough credits for SSDI, they will consider you for SSI.  Since SSI is welfare (for those who haven't worked long enough to accumulate enough credits), they will look at your household income and your assets to determine if you get benefits.\n\nIf you've worked and have enough credits, you'll probably start getting benefits within a couple months.  \n\nI wouldn't go get a job right now, since you've qualified medically.  After you start getting benefits, if you get SSDI,  you can work and earn about $800 or so a month without losing your benefits.  If you get SSI, you can't work and still get the benefits because it is welfare.\n\nGood luck!
257486
Yes. Speak to her physician or psychiatrist. You will need a letter of reference from him/her. You can apply for disability allowances.
655499
have you tryed getting him on some kind of disability like 's.s.i'??? i know when you get ssi usually you get a medical card,and that helps with medicine.
216547
If you don't have income you may qualify for medical assistance and then can use that to seek counseling.  Seeking counseling is a wonderful thing to do, so I would encourage you to go to your closest Social Security Office and find out if you qualify for medical assistance (medicaid) temporarily till you get back on your own two feet. I know many people here may not like me suggesting you seek government help, but if it's with a goal in mind to help yourself for the long term, (rather than those who want to stay stuck for life with government handouts and never try to help themselves) it may be a worthwhile step for you.\n\nBest of luck.
552862
As a cfs, fms, rsd, chronic pain support leader, I can give you suggestions. Your local weekly shoppers guide should have a section with support group information. They may ask your question in some part of the guide if you request. The newspapers also have sections with support group information. The United Way usually has support group information, and maybe the Red Cross. \nI was not comfortable with the support groups in my area because I felt they were more pitty parties. My goal was to research and share information about any illness, disease, or syndrome. At times we laughed and sometimes we cried. Those times, were times that we just needed to let go. not often. \nFamilies of this member need support also. It would not be a bad idea to look for a group for you and your family. Here again, you may want to start you own group. \nLive one day at a time. Oh, you may be able to find chat rooms for you to get support through. You can get so much help with the groups. Just type in "heart implants" in your search and you will be surprised at what you find. \nGod bless you.
728801
Yes you can get disability... go to your local Social Secerity office and apply... They will probably turnyou down but dont get discouraged....APPEAL IT!!!!!
973798
I had a similar situation, I felt i could no longer work due to my emphysema, I quit my job in June 05 applied for ssd the same month, was denied in August.  I filed an appeal in Oct. 05 got a lawyer and was finally award SS Disability in January 06. Its kind of a lot of bs and most people i know, unless you have cancer, you will be denied the first time, and will probably need an  attorney that handles these kind of cases. It will take awhile but i say you should go for it. eventually you will get it  GOOD LUCK
851708
Go to http://www.ssa.gov/ for your answers on SS
247953
What a terrible situtation for you! As if having Fibro isn't enough. The two answerers above seem to have forgotten that there's a little law called the Americans with Disabilities Act.  \n\nDoes your employer know for a fact that you have been diagnosed with having Fibro? If not, speak to your doctor about the situtation and have him/her send your employer's Human Resources Department and your Nursing Supervisor a letter explaining that you have Fibro and provide recommendations, be sure to get copied in on the letter for your records. Next, create a paper trail by keeping a journal of what happens each day at work and how you feel at the end of the day. Next share with Human Resources your situtation and see what they have to say. This gives them notice that the hostility needs to be addressed immediately.\n\nA study explains why we feel so much pain and you may want to share it with Human Resources also.\n\nFibromyalgia pain, isn't all in patients' heads new brain study finds. \nJune 7, 2002 \nfMRI scans give first objective measure of mysterious ailment, provide road map for future study\n\nANN ARBOR, MI - A new brain-scan study confirms scientifically what fibromyalgia patients have been telling a skeptical medical community for years: They're really in pain.\n\nIn fact, the study finds, people with fibromyalgia say they feel severe pain, and have measurable pain signals in their brains, from a gentle finger squeeze that barely feels unpleasant to people without the disease. The squeeze's force must be doubled to cause healthy people to feel the same level of pain - and their pain signals show up in different brain areas.\n\nThe results, published in the May issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism, the journal of the American College of Rheumatology, may offer the proof of fibromyalgia's physical roots that many doubtful physicians have sought. It may also open doors for further research on the still-unknown causes of the disease, which affects more than 2 percent of Americans, mainly women.\n\nLead authors Richard Gracely, Ph.D., and Daniel Clauw, M.D., did the study at Georgetown University Medical Center and the National Institutes of Health, but are now continuing the work at the University of Michigan Health System. In an editorial in the same issue, Clauw and U-M rheumatologist Leslie Crofford, M.D., stress the importance of fibromyalgia research and care.\n\nTo correlate subjective pain sensation with objective views of brain signals, the researchers used a super-fast form of MRI brain imaging, called functional MRI or fMRI, on 16 fibromyalgia patients and 16 people without the disease. As a result, they say, the study offers the first objective method for corroborating what fibromyalgia patients report they feel, and what's going on in their brains at the precise moment they feel it. And, it gives researchers a road map of the areas of the brain that are most - and least - active when patients feel pain.\n\n"The fMRI technology gave us a unique opportunity to look at the neurobiology underlying tenderness, which is a hallmark of fibromyalgia," says Clauw. "These results, combined with other work done by our group and others, have convinced us that some pathologic process is making these patients more sensitive. For some reason, still unknown, there's a neurobiological amplification of their pain signals."\n\nFurther results from the study were presented last year at the ACR annual meeting. The project will continue later this year at UMHS, joining other fMRI fibromyalgia research now under way.\n\nFor decades, patients and physicians have built a case that fibromyalgia is a specific, diagnosable chronic disease, characterized by tenderness and stiffness all over the body as well as fatigue, headaches, gastrointestinal problems and depression. Many patients with the disease find it interferes with their work, family and personal life. Statistics show that far more
421735
Under the Social Security Act there is a program called the Ticket to Work Program.  As a Social Security beneficiary, you have probably heard of it.  Under the Ticket To Work program, there is another program that is a freedom to work program.  If an SS beneficiary can work at least 1 hour a month doing ANY legitimate employment, they can earn above the limits and still receive their SSI benefits including medical.  However, as you earn more, your SSI check would be reduced by 50% of your earnings. But you would have earnings to replace any lost benefit.  \nWith a back problem I am guessing that sitting and standing for any length of time is out of the question right?  Are you working with a Vocational Rehab counselor?  They should know about this program and could help you find a part time job that will accommodate your disability.  \nIn any case, you can go to www.ssa.gov and look at the Ticket To Work Program.  Click on the Benefits, Planning, Assistance & Outreach (BPAO) program for your state.  They have Social Security trained benefits specialists that can help you evaluate your situation and see if the Freedom to Work program will work for you.\nBest of luck to you.
315306
Find a new doctor.  Endometriosis is something that a lot of doctors just are not able to treat effectively.  \n\nI used to have periods that were so bad that I would basically pass out.  If you have pain then your doctor should work with you to manage it.  Telling you to take Midol is not acceptable.\n\nI'm not sure if there is a proven connection between endo and fatigue but I'll bet there is.  I've had this pretty much since I started my periods at 11 but it got really bad at 16.  I was diagnosed at 26 and I'm 30 now.  For most of my adult life I feel like I'm 80 and not 30!  I was always tired and slept a lot while my friends were going out and staying up all night.  Can't tell you for sure but that's my experience.\n\nRight after my surgery I was put on Lupron.  I only made it 3 months instead of the usual 6 because of the bad side effects.  This is something that I wouldn't recommend as a first choice.  After that I went on BCP.  After experimenting with a few I got on Yasmin which worked for me.  I still have pain every day but it is nothing like it was.  I used to be in constant pain and now I notice it a couple of times a day.  If it gets bad ibuprofen usually helps to keep it down.  \n\nEndo is weird because the amount of scarring and implants isn't necessarily related to the amount of pain.  My left ovary is completely covered (can't really see the ovary) and my right only has a couple of little implants.  I feel most of my pain on the right side.  My doctor said that he has seen women with a gut full of scarring who had no symptoms at all.  Also, what one doctor describes as bad another describes as moderate.  Just be aware of this when dealing with doctors.\n\nPain is felt differently by different people so it is hard to say what you need.  Find a doctor that is willing to work with you and who isn't quick to say it's in your head.  Don't be afraid to interview doctors and ask lots of questions.  If you aren't comfortable with the answers move on.  Remember that you are hiring them for a service.  Be in control - this is your body.
277257
This si the national site...\nhttp://www.ssa.gov/onlineservices/\n\nI would recommend that you fill out your part, and then have your doctor fill out as much as possible.  They seem to trust the words of a doctor more than the applicant.\n\n\nBest of luck,\nJeffrey
727879
I know some about SSI. But you can go to http://www.ssa.gov
43214
If you want to continue with your studies you should.  You may find the need to have accomodations and rest. I know of a nurse practitioner with MS. Just remember that each person has their own set of difficulties with this condition. I know a couple who got married almost two years ago,the guy has severe symptoms of MS. It takes a special person to deal with it,but it is possible. There is a great chance you will live for a regular amount of time. Stay positive! It is not a death sentence.
108014
First of all, I'm sorry for your mom.  My mom had Lupus also. Check with the social security office on applying for disability.  I know my mom didn't qualify, but she never was able to work.
699324
I dropped them years ago when it took them 3 months to diagnose my daughter with Crohn's Disease.  She suffered horribly and lost 25 pounds.  They told me she had some kind of "virus," and even possibly cancer.  It was the most stressful time for all of us - my other kids were terrified their sister was going to die.  As soon as open enrollment came at my job I dropped Kaiser and enrolled in a PPO, which is more expensive but has totally been worth it for the kind of care she received.  With a PPO you don't need a referral to a specialist, so when my knee was killing me I just made an appointment with an orthopedist who did an MRI that week and surgery within the next three weeks.