Disability?
Find a Conversation
| Thu, 06-21-2007 - 4:34pm |
First of all, hello to those of you who were around when I was a "regular." Next, hello to the rest of you. I took off work *again* today. I've been missing a lot lately. My pdoc tried to switch my a/d because I didn't like the side effects of Zoloft. She changed it to Wellbutrin. Bad plan. It didn't work at all so I went back to Zoloft about 2.5 weeks ago. Now I'm rather depressed (note, I didn't say *very* depressed because I'm not suicidal). Anyhow, I wrote in my journal for the first time in a couple months. I was looking back at some of my previous entries and it struck me that I often get pretty darn crazy. That got me to wondering - how crazy do I have to be before I could go on disability? That led to even more questions which I'm hoping some gals here might be able to answer:
1. Is there a website where I can go for more information?
2. I've heard you have to be unemployed for a year before you can claim disability. Is that true?
3. I've heard the first two years on disability are for being disabled from your career and after that it has to be disabled from *any* type of work. Is that true?
4. Can you be "partially" disabled?
5. How bad do I have to be in order to be "disabled?"
6. How much does a lawyer cost?
Thanks in advance to everyone who answers.
Morgaine

I am unable ot give legal or medical advice. My opinions are based on my experiences and my personal research.
Morgaine,
1) Here's the link to SS's website section on disability: http://www.ssa.gov/d&s1.htm,
Oops forgot I was under my non CL name so my siggy didn't show!
Dear morgaine,
I am on disability and have been for 5 years. I was a teacher and the stress was just too much for me. My doctor made all of the arrangements for disability. I never had an attorney. The bad thing is that I miss my work very much and wish I could go back. Being retired so young can drive you batty also. I am now 58. All of my friends have careers and I feel left out. Also, the financial strain is tough because I don't get but 1400 a month to live on and that is always a challenge.