You mentioned that your doc wrote on a form that you are disabled. Is that the same form you will be mailing back to SS Disability?

If not, I would get and send a copy of that, even if they are not asking for your records at this point. If yes, same form you already sending, that should carry a lot of weight in the decision.

Also, there is a big difference between feeling better..like pain tolerable or not sending you to ER..and being able to function productively at a job.

And re' age, education, etc...I am not an expert at.. anything...
But it is my understanding the only thing that matters is the number of quarters you have worked and paid into the system.

Again..I'm not an expert at all...but I am on disabiliy myself.

I used an attorney. I didn't want to risk anything.

Good luck!

The older you are, the more likely SSDI is approved and continued. Those over 55 have the best chance of approval/continued benefits.

Education and work history play a large role. Those with no education who only did heavy work are more likely to be approved/continued benefits if they have a disability that limits them physically. Those who worked a "desk job" have a harder time getting approved/continued benefits IF there is any indication of improvement.

If you are still under a doctor's care and on significant medications and no improvement has occurred, then SS may continue. Did SS send you a short form for you to complete alone or longer version which requires doctor input? What is your age at disability and current age? What was your occupation for most of your working life?

The form I was sent was the update medical information form, there were codes on this scannable form next to my name &s.s. Number and date of birth, it said low, which according to what I read meant their opinion of how likely I was to recover completely and there was a score of 0017, I read the lower your score the better but I don't have any frame of reference if that is a low or high score and then the medical code for
My disability

It just asked 6 things, have I worked, no
Have I had any schooling or vocational training since I was approved
Then it asked, have I talked with my Dr. About will I be able to work
Again, there were boxes to check, like, no, have not discussed, &
I was able to check the Dr. Says I will not ever be able to do any
Type of work
Then it said, are you 1. Better. 2. The same or 3. Worse

I called my Dr.s office and spoke to his nurse. I told her that I felt as if this question was crazy but I had surgery, I will not end up in a wheelchair doubled over from scoliosis
However, before surgery I could move about freely, bend down, do anything pretty much, terrible pain but I could do my job. Now I have such limited mobility and stamina, my pain is different than before surgery but it hurts more now if I do too much.

The Dr.s nurse said to mark worse because even though I had the surgery, it caused so many other problems for me like I can't bend, if I ride in the car I can only stand about 30 minutes and so on. Anyway, they told me to mark worse, so I did.

Then it said we are only wanting information about the last 12 months and to list only my last 3 Dr. Appointments, including a psychologist. And when and why I went.

My last 3 appointments were a Dr. Appt. I wrote bad back pain, fall, checkup and Rx
Then the other 2 were to see my therapist for anxiety and sadness.

Those were in the last 30 days before the form came in the mail.

And have you been in the hospital, why, & I was actually admitted for about 20 hours, the ER Dr. Was convinced It was my appendix and for the reason severe back pain and
Kidney infection. They did xrays and a catscan. So I answered that.

I was 49 when I was approved in my first try and now I am 52. I have a GED and only 1 college credit. For the last 17 years I had owned and operated a babysitting service which is extremely physical work. I only finished my Sophomore year of high school.

I do take Percoset but a low daily dose combined with muscle relaxers and klonopin and wellbutrun. I go to my Dr. Regularly and see my silent surgeon now once a year. He never says anything to me!

I was without oxygen for a short time due to complications after surgery and sometimes I phase out and can't get out what words I want. I am pretty sharp tonight.

Then because I tried so hard to print the way the form said so the computer could read it, I made an error! S.s. Told me the computer will kick it out and a person will look it over and decide if I am to be reviewed as scheduled or get a letter saying no review needed at this time , I forgot to send it return receipt requested and the customer service line tells me it is not in their system, it may be in the process of something but it does not show up. I presume they got it but they told me if for some reason they did not receive it I will get a letter, it was mailed at the post office, it is out of my hands. I mailed it Oct. 22nd.

I just realized that I have given my life story instead of Briefly answering your questions,I also have OCD but that was not why I was approved for.

Longest post ever, I am embarrassed, I guess I am anxious. My Dr. Filled out a disability form last year for an ins. Premium waiver and he listed everything totally disabled, and that I have no chance of working in the future.

Hope I didn't make trouble for myself when I made the error on my form and had to make a notation under remarks.

Well, that covers it, I would appreciate and value your thoughts, thanks, susie

I had this huge fusion with complications. I am just all messed up,
I cannot turn my head to look over my left shoulder. My surgeon
Said the anterior incision was very deep and that is why my left side has problems, like I have nerve damage from knee to waist and that leg is kind of wobbly.

I can certainly walk but after a 2 hour shopping trip, it may take 2 days to get over it, I just never regained my stamina and my back has to go to bed by 7:30, kind of like
My back has it's own personality.

...own personality, too!
It's like a sick friend I take care of

It sounds like with doctor..nurse's input.. helped you to document what SSDI wants to hear.

It sounds like you covered it all...you named the pain and the need for a therapist.

Good luck! Please let us know how it turns out.

I received my S.S. Disability review letter yesterday and I was approved and do
Not have to go through the long form, stressful, it took one month

I received my S.S. Disability review letter yesterday and I was approved and do
Not have to go through the long form, stressful, it took one month

I don't think you will have any problems.

Sorry about that, I left my computer and for some reason it posted what I had typed already. I have been on disability for a year now, I am 47. I fought filing for about four years but after surgery number nine I couldn't out do it anymore. I was just worried about what people would think about me, but realized I couldn't do anything about it. As long as you're not out there lifting weights or something else that you shouldn't be doing, I think you will be fine, if they even do a review. My sister in law has been on SSD for quite a while now and she said they have never done a person to person review with her yet. I'm certainly no expert on the matter, but I really don't think you have anything to worry about. If you have any more questions about SSD or back fusions feel free to ask.

Glad to hear you didn't have to go through the long form. And SSD doesn't do anything fast. It took me over three years to get my SSD. Hang in there.

Very happy to hear! glad no more worries about SSD. Charry

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Post Edited by Authority Member Liz

I have been off work for almost 3 yrs now and filed for disability in May 2010, have had numerous MRI'S and medical records stating I have it very severely, I am in so much pain and cannot work anymore or do much of anything I used to do. I am female 53 years old, high school education and worked for some 32 yrs as a Custodian. I was denied at the application level, denied at reconsideration, given an unfavorable decision at the hearing level. Now I have to appeal it to the appeals council. Why was I denied the Judge even admitted I can no longer do my former work and I don't know what to do, I've lost everything through this madness. I do an an attorney too and she even still says I have a very strong case. anybody's thought Please !