Just Got Approved From SS!!!

pupfoster1

I don't know ANY of the details yet, but I just hung up with SS who said I was approved for benefits.  I had applied several months ago and was initially denied.  I appealed just about a month or so ago (on my own w/out a lawyer) and the lady I just spoke with said "I have good news, you have been approved for SS." 

Wow, what a relief this is.  I've been so stressed out about so many things (this included) and it will really help take some of the burden off my husband who really needs to retire because of serious back issues.  Again, I don't know any more than that I've been approved, so I have no idea how much I might be getting, but I guess something is better than nothing right?

I do have mixed feelings of course about their reasoning on me getting it.  One of the criteria is that you have a disease that could result in your death, so that part freaks me out.  But if I can help my family with this I just need to get over it.

I'll let you all know more once I find out what's happening!

Love you all,
Sharon

jennyboog

Congrats Sharon, I'm so happy for you....hearing this makes me regret not applying

Kay_G

I am happy for you! I don't know a lot about it, but I don't think having a disease that could result in death s a requirement. I thought the only requirement was that you be unable to work. I have heard they are pretty tough to allow it. Congrats, you must have done a good job on the appeal.

bak94

Congrats! I also was approved and had the same worries as you, but they also will approve based on you being disabled for at least a year, not only with expected death! It is a huge relief financially. Looks like you may get back pay because of your diagnoses date.

pupfoster1

Jenny, as far as I know there's not a time limit.  I didn't apply until July of this year.  They denied me the first time around and approved the appeal.  You should look in to it.  There's a thread here dedicated to this topic, and I have to thank those ladies for spurring me on.  And YES I get retro back 10 months.  Couldn't have come at a better time.  NOW if I would just feel better so I might be able to enjoy it a bit.  At least my husband can relax a bit.

Take care,

Sharon

pupfoster1

Wow, I just noticed----3 more (now 2:) posts and I will have hit 1000.  Never thought I'd spend so much time here, but I can't say enough how much you ALL have helped me!!!!

jennyboog

No, I don't think there is a time limit.  I actually just got offered my job back last week and I accepted it.  After the first week I might regret it and wish I would have just applied and sat home but here goes nothing. 

bak94

Jenny-I think you could still apply if you find going back to work too difficult. Although it will be tough at first to go back, I think you will be happy to be back working, unless your side effects are too much. I want to go back to work once I get done with treatments and surgeries. Looks like you could have qualified while you were going through treatments also.

Pup-I was approved on first try, that really did scare me! I thought for sure I would be denied and then have to appeal also. I think my positive im nodes is why I was approved, and also one of my scans says I am stage 4.

pupfoster1

Glad to hear things went smoothly the first time bak!  We thought for sure we'd have to hire an attorney but they approved the appeal within a month or so.  So weird, not sure I WANT to know WHY they did a turn around.  I am NOT going to ask!

Jenny, you may be eligible for retro SS while you were out of work.  They told me they have a 5 month waiting period from the date you were considered disabled, then go from there. If they consider your date out your dx date, that would still be around 11 months unless you've worked full time since then.  I have only been working VERY part time.

Take care,

Sharon

fredntan

would this work for me too? I guess I'm going to apply and see what happens.

I'm a nurse and work in hosp. pull a lot of patients over on tables/push a lot of stretchers. with my axillary nodes gone, I'm not sure If i can do this anymore. its very fast paced. I think I may have allready developed a little trunkal lymphedema.  wouldn't they just suggest I go to another area of nursing? 

Ihopeg

I am five years out, Can I apply too? I have been out of work for 6 months since by business closed. 

bak94

Sharon, it could simply be that the people that reviewed the appeal disagreed with the first decision, not that they found new information ar anything.

ihopeg-my brother was in a similiar situation. He was laid off work because of lack of work, not because of disability and ss did not approve him, reason being that he was working with the disability that he claimed he has, which is very poor vision due to an eye disease and he has a compressed spine that surgery helped but he has major numbness in hands and feet and he trips all the time and drops things. He goes to interviews and no one will hire him, I think it is because they do see what poor shape he is in. SS argument is that he was working and he can't prove that his condition has gotten worse, so he basically needs a lawyer to help prove that he can't find work due to his disability and that his condition has gotten worse. It shocked me that they did not approve him, he really is in bad shape. He had a cornea transplant in one eye and still has problems.

Congrats on being out 5 years ihopeg! I hope I make it to 5 years and am able to work by that time, or sooner! I have always worked and am going a bit stir crazy not working.

bak94

Jenny-when do you go back to work? Do you at least get the holidays off?

Ihopeg

Sharon,

 The SS system is really messed up. The people that really need it have to fight for it, and the ones like your brother can't get SS without a lawyer! My sister in law fought for a few years after having a stroke at the age of 23. She finally got SS and it was retroactive. So maybe your brother will get that too! Good luck, Ilene