Procedures on obtaining disability insurance vary from country to country and within a country from examiner to examiner. Here are some suggestions that were posted by people who had experienced the procedure - in this case, in the United States.
The Physicians Disability Services, Inc. website contains a wealth of information about claims for disability income. They also have a book written by an attorney wo specializes in disability cases and a quarterly newsletter to which you can subscribe.
This is an article written by Peggy Willocks for the APDA Young Onset Newsletter, in Fall, 2003:
Peggy Willocks was diagnosed at age 44. In 1997 she was voted Tennessee
Elementary School Principal of the Year. In 1998 she was awarded disability
status from SSA. She is currently Tennessee state coordinator for the
Parkinson's Action Network (PAN) and received the Louis Fishman Advocacy
Award in 2003.
WADING THROUGH THE DISABILITY FILING PROCESS
By Peggy Willocks (a successful applicant)
This list of tips has been compiled from the author's experience and hours
of research, from ideas offered by people with Parkinson's disease who have
been through the process, and from others who have independent expertise.
It is important to note, however, that each case is different and that the
author of this article is not an attorney. This article therefore should
not be construed in any way as legal advice. Consulting with an attorney
specializing in disability may be advisable.
1. Keep in mind that SSDI is NOT welfare. It is an earned benefit. If you meet
the required criteria and you have paid into the system for the required
length of time, you are entitled to benefits. You must show that Parkinson'
s (plus any other physical or mental ailments you have) so reduce your
functional capacity that you cannot work on a full time competitive basis.
You are free to prove that multiple medical conditions (such as depression,
sciatica, etc) effect your work capacity and contribute to your disability,
instead of trying to make the evidence fit the narrower criteria of
Parkinson's disease only. [ADD] However, if your doctor is familiar with the
Social Security Listing of Impairments (in particular section 11.06 -
Parkinsonian syndrome with the following signs: Significant rigidity, brady
kinesia, or tremor in two extremities, which, singly or in combination,
result in sustained disturbance of gross and dexterous movements, or gait
and station) and your medical findings coincide with listing criteria, it
also may be very helpful for the doctor to tell Social Security so.
2. The process is not a difficult one, but it does take organizational
skills, patience, and more importantly - perseverance. REMEMBER, IT IS NOT
"STANDARD PROCEDURE" FOR THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION (SSA) TO TURN
YOU DOWN THE FIRST TIME. Your first contact will most likely be a telephone
interview. Make preparations prior to the initiation of the process. If
your initial contact is in person, you should be aware that you will be
asked if you drove to the interview.
3. Buy a notebook and take notes on every phone conversation you have with
doctors, nurses, insurance companies, pharmacists, and especially with any
Social Security representatives. Include the day, date, time, the person's
name, title, phone number and extension.
4. Start right now, TODAY, to collect all records pertaining to your
illness(es). Buy a 3-ring binder and organize everything in chronological
order. If you do not already have written reports of past doctor visits,
call his/her administrative assistant or nurse and request them. It is much
easier when you have collected your medical records as part of your routine
visits, but do not delay initial submission of your application while
waiting for reports. Follow up persistently with any medical sources, even
after applying, until SSA has all your records. Continue to send all
medical reports of each doctors visits and a dated list of your medications
each time they change. Include relevant reports from any other physicians,
(including therapists, foot doctors, chiropractors, OB/GYN, urologists,
internist, etc.), and anyone at all who observes your condition and is able
to affirm that you are disabled. Submit annual evaluations from work that
might indicate you are regressing (such as a lower score on an evaluation
and why).
5. Assume that Social Security will misplace at least one document. Social
Security representatives are generally polite and professional, but they are
dealing with mounds of paperwork. They can use all the help that you can
provide. Keep a copy of everything that leaves your hands. Do not assume
that you will get anything back.
6. Send everything by registered mail and get a receipt. If a Social
Security office is near you, personally deliver the forms. Have them date
and sign your copy. This often saves time lost from having to start all over
after several months of paperwork. Keep meticulous records in order to
respond intelligently to a denial of receipt of a report. Be specific, for
example: "On Friday, August 12 at 8:30 a.m., I handed these papers to Mr.
John Doe at his office at 1000 Main Street; and I have his signature in my
hand."
7. Fill out the forms completely and attach extra sheets, if necessary. Do
not limit yourself to the space provided. Emphasize what you can NOT do -
not what you can do; this includes times when your medications do not work,
or "off" times. Ask family and friends what they notice that is different
about you - what you seem to be struggling with, and any ways in which you
are getting worse. Take notes. Sometimes observers have insights that you
might miss. Describe special tools needed in accomplishing tasks; e.g. using
a special mouse to be able to operate your computer, or using bathroom
handrails or a shower chair for daily hygiene.
8. Make note of the amount of time it takes you to accomplish everyday
tasks, compared to how long the same tasks took before your Parkinson's
progressed. Be specific.
9. You will be asked to describe what you do each day and how you occupy
your time. Again, be prepared and be specific; include an hour-by-hour
typical day. (For example: 7:30 a.m. - Awaken - take medication - go back
to bed until medicine takes effect; 8:00 a.m. - get out of bed and take
shower, etc.)
10. You may be asked to see a doctor that Social Security personnel have
chosen. Independent examinations might be given, especially if your initial
report mentions secondary symptoms; such as: pulled muscles, difficulty
focusing thoughts, psychological issues, etc. Such symptom reporting might
require additional testing, but the reports will most likely strengthen your
case.
11. Sometimes when you call Social Security, you may get different answers
to the same question. Be sure to keep track and document in your notebook
what person told you what in your contacts. Call back and talk to another
representative to verify an answer.
12. Be certain to retain a copy of everything sent to Social Security by
you or others on your behalf (when possible), so there are no
misunderstandings about what is and is not in your file.
13. MEET ALL THE DEADLINES YOU ARE GIVEN!
14. You may be asked to get statements from relatives, co-workers, or
friends who can attest to your disabilities. Ask them to be honest and
emphasize what you can NOT do. You will get to choose some of the
individuals who will fill out these statements, but it is that person's
choice as to whether or not to show you their completed report.
15. Call your Social Security office periodically for a status update,
especially to ask if all the information they have requested has been
received. They don't have the time to alert you if your doctor or someone
else has not sent requested documents, and your file will remain incomplete
until the information is received. Follow up with anyone having a
delinquent report.
16. DO NOT BE DISCOURAGED if you are turned down on the initial application.
You may request to be placed on "reconsideration" status or request a
hearing before an administrative law judge (ALJ). Hearings are typically
low-key, always private, relatively informal and non-adversarial .
17. At this point it would be wise to seriously consider hiring an
experienced disability lawyer.
18. In preparation of your appeals hearing, it is advisable to get new
letters or narratives from your doctors. Some of your doctors' statements
may be several months old by this time. The more current or up-to-date the
statements, the better.
19. If your case goes to a hearing, you are allowed to go before the date
of your hearing and make copies of your file. You will probably be
surprised at how large and inclusive it is. For your appeals hearing, wear
business or business-casual clothes.
20. Be honest. Do not exaggerate or understate your impairment. It is not
necessary to exaggerate; and is, in fact, illegal and will undermine your
credibility and jeopardize your case. If an SSA decision maker decides you
are credible, you have gone a long way toward winning your claim.
This is a letter written by Teresa as a supplement to her application. It may have some points in it that you would care to use in your cover letter also.
After continuing attempts to be productive in my normal work environment Dr.
Xxxx agreed that I should refrain from further work and accept disability. I
have been unable to accomplish many of my work tasks in a suitable manner
for my employer and for that matter any reasonable employer. I work for
Xxxxxx Corporation as an administrative assistant in their head quarters
building in Xxxxx Xxxxxx. These are some of the difficulties that led to
this disability application:
a.. I have lost considerable small motor control on the right side of my
body making computer related keyboard and mouse activities slow and
inaccurate.
b.. My handwriting has varied to a great degree making mistakes frequent
and is now at an unacceptable level and speed for reasonable office work.
c.. While at work I feel I am under considerable stress even in a
reasonable office environment.
d.. I have suffered several anxiety/panic attacks that have required my
being taken to the ER while at work. Less severe attacks are occurring
several times a week with increasing frequency.
e.. I have suffered many balance related incidents that have left me
unable to stand and then move without assistance for periods of from 30 to
60 minutes while at work. These balance related incidents have increase in
frequency to several times a week. They occur at unpredictable times but
increase with perceived stress.
f.. I am experiencing short term memory loss. This condition is more
severe under stress and is interfering with my ability to communicate in a
reasonable office environment.
g.. I am experiencing very slow memory recall. This condition is more
severe under stress and is interfering with my ability to communicate in a
reasonable office environment.
h.. I am experiencing periodic inability to speak in complete sentences
and am experiencing unexpected word substitutions.
i.. I am experiencing low speech volume requiring those around me to
request a repeat of conversations. Phone conversations are very difficult
to control at an acceptable performance level.
j.. I have been unable to participate in a reasonable manner in normal
business meetings.
k.. I have been unable to participate in client communications in the
required manner.
l.. I have been unable to communicate in the required manner with my
business associates.
m.. I have been unable to perform my required office physical duties in a
reasonable time frame.
n.. Normal work related stress triggers one or many symptoms that make
meeting my normal job requirements impossible.
o.. I have even been unable to complete dressing for work without the
assistance of my husband.
My employer has been most accommodating but there is no reasonable workplace
condition or environmental factor that they can change that would allow my
continued productive participation. My Parkinson's disease continues to
progress and medications do not correct the symptoms to a degree that allows
for productive work.
