I have some questions

[marie22]

Can anyone tell me if they would consider you for disability if you are currently working? I read somewhere that in order for them to consider you for disability you can't be working already. I think that is just ridiculous. Obviously we don't work because we want to but, we can't afford not to work. That is the whole reason that we are applying for disability. Also I am young and going through some extremely difficult financial times. Is it even worth it for me to apply if I probably couldn't afford an lawyer to help me appeal? I expect to be turned down at first like everyone else is. Did anyone get it without the help of an attorney? Thank you for any help or info.

Marie

[pam]

Marie, I don't know that much as far as "if your working now"...but........You can call your local SSI office and ask! I have a court date for next wed, Sept 18th before the Administrative Law judge.......finally...after 2 denials without a lawyer, I finally obtained one 18 months ago,and it has been a long rough road financially, but next Wed, I have my life before a judge, a medical expert, and a vocational expert <img src="graemlins/scream.gif" border="0" alt="[scream]" /> . I wish I had more answers for you~call your local office and ask~it sure won't hurt, and they will guide you through [img]wink.gif[/img]
Wishing you TONS of luck [img]smile.gif[/img]
Pam~~Marie....BTW, If you do get an attorney, they do not get paid unless they win your case [img]wink.gif[/img]

[JaneP]

Hi Marie,
I think that you can apply if you are still working, but I have heard that it is hard to win if you are working. Their definition of disability is that you can't do any kind of work, not just the work that you have done in the past. I sure understand what you are saying about the financial devastation of IC. When I quit working, we had two kids in college and it really made things hard. I have so much guilt over all of it and how it messed us up financialy. I was one of the lucky ones and was approved for SS with my initial application. I am very grateful for my benefits, but would much rather work and make the same money that I did. You could probably consult an attorney, who has experience with disability, to find out if you would be able to file while you are still working. I think that they may not charge you for a consultation. Best of luck to you.

[lmeyers]

Marie,
You can continue to work while applying for beneifts, but you can only make $600 or less a month.. I worked part time, after I had to quit my full time job.. I know $600 or less is not enough.. I applied 2 years ago, and just went to Court in Aug.. An atoorney is the best bet for this, they work pro-bono, so they only get paid if you are approved.. They can only receive 25% of you back benefits only... After you are approved, they will pay your back pay to a date which you applied for that was the date you felt you became disabled, for me that was Dec of 2000.. .
Now that I am approved, I still have to wait 60 to 90 days, before I receive my back pay, one check will be mailed to me, another to my attorney for his percentage.. Then I have to wait another 30 days before my benefits start.. They can set you up on direct deposit... So for me it took 2 years, 2 appeals, one court apperance, and now I am still waiting.. This is hard.. But you can deal with this dreaded illness, so I know you can deal with SSI... LauraM <img src="graemlins/hi.gif" border="0" alt="[hi]" />