1)      My question is, in the case of a condition that was approved for disability but is expected to get better in a short period of time(I am 22 years old)if i lose the weight within the next year am I obligated to tell ssa that my condition has improved or can I just wait till they review my case again, and I will just agree with their determination?

2)      Since I am 100% service-connected, diagnosed as Bipolar 2 disorder and have chronic pain, what are my chances of getting ssd?

“Mark Williams went without sleep for his teeth. What was remarkable about that was he was joined by about 2,000 other people Thursday night doing the same thing in the dark outside a church in Woodstock.”  By Jeffry Scott, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

“It was an outpouring, and pulling out, of bad teeth. And maybe even a new economic indicator in a nation where millions are out of work and the insurance that goes with it, especially dental insurance, which many consider a luxury and the first place they cut when trimming budgets to survival mode.” By Jeffry Scott, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

“More than 1.5 million people in Illinois are uninsured, and many others have just bare bones coverage.” Reported on August 19, 2011 by Nesita Kwan, NBC Chicago.

“That’s why more than 600 medical professionals from 24 states came to Malcolm X college Friday for a three-day clinic in which dentists, doctors, opthalmologists, and many others are working for free: offering health care to people who couldn’t otherwise afford it — or have never even had it.  For the hundreds of people who lined up starting at 3 a.m. Friday, this may be the only way to get a medical evaluation, or maybe the first time they’ve had one in years.” Reported on August 19, 2011 by Nesita Kwan, NBC Chicago.

Thousands of people lining up for Free Dental Care.  Hundreds of people lining up for Free Health Care.   How many of these people would use  universal health care if it was available?

A few years ago, when President Obama took office, his push for universal health care was (and still is) a hot political topic.  Pundits yelled, screamed, debated and demonized this so-called Socialist attempt to take away our society’s free market ability to get health care on our dime and on our own time.  “Obamacare” was seen as just one more example of an over-reaching, overly expensive government effort to bankrupt the country, remove our freedom of choice, and add one more layer of government intrusiveness.

I found it interesting as the media covered the thousands of community activists and political experts, I didn’t see one interview of a person this program was intended to cover:  The uninsured.   I am curious.  Are any of those persons who were screaming against universal health care now in the position of needing universal health care?

Sometimes it’s easy to disassociate yourself from someone you believe is not like you.   It’s easy to paint a picture of the uninsured as deadbeats, homeless or dredges of society.  When you have that picture in your mind, you can find a lot of reasons to discount this segment of society.  In your mind, they aren’t contributing to the greater good.  They aren’t contributing to the financial well-being of the country.

However, when you take the time to really speak to the uninsured, you will find a very large population of those individuals who have college degrees.  They are management personnel.  They are people who have worked for 10, 20 or even 30 years for the same employer.   They are educated, sophisticated, and dedicated.  And, equally as important, they vote.

Unfortunately, due to the state of the economy, these people are no longer working.  They can’t afford the co-pays for their insurance.  They can’t afford to pay for COBRA coverage.  They can’t afford to pay out-of-pocket for their medical expenses.

As a business owner who pays for health insurance out of his own pocket, I understand what it is to have and NOT have health insurance.   I, also, have represented hundreds of clients who have found themselves in the powerful position of trying to obtain disability benefits with no health insurance benefits to pay for their doctors.  These clients used to work actively and had the benefit of employer sponsored health insurance.  They now have to figure out how they are going to pay for their doctors’ visits since they no longer have insurance.

And now, we are in situation where a growing number of people are forced to look for health treatment with no insurance.    People who would normally have insurance through their employers are now finding themselves in the powerful position of understanding what it is like when you no longer have your benefits.  I’m curious to know how many of them were against universal healthcare.  I bet they have a different position now.

I hope you enjoy today’s video regarding Heart Conditions

1)      Is my DLI is something I can get from (or find) the annual Soc. Sec. statement?

2)      i settled a workers comp case back in 2007, Since 2007 I haven’t worked or seen a doctor for my injury.Focused more on elderly parents care. now its 2011 and I am having neck and back pains daily along with depression.  is it too late to file for disability? Did I wait too long to apply for disability?

3)      My question involves part-time work or college (online classes only) while currently receiving DIB. If a person getting ssdi benefits has a disabling condition that limits them to possibly being able to work a sedentary type of job for a only a few hours (2 – 4hrs) a day cause their DIB benefits to cease? Would these hours count against the trial work period considering that the income wouldn’t even come close to the SGA amount?

4)      if a DIB recipient was physically unable to attend college but tried to take 1 or 2 online courses per semester would that negatively affect DIB?

5)      Do you think online classes would allow disabled individuals the freedom to work at their own pace and would allow the individual to learn new skills to try to re-enter the work force?

6)      Can a Long Term Disability Carrier charge me for more than the totall SSDI benefit I received? Is there a way to contest this and who do I contact?

7)      I’m 32 with CHF with a heart fraction of 20%.  I apply for disablility in April of this year. I just got a letter stating that I have to go to one of their doctors. My doctor gave them all the information that they asked for but the letter stated they need more medical evidence about my condition. I do have a college education. ( 2 degrees) I don’t know what to make of it. I know watching one of your videos my age will be a great problem in getting my case approve. Can you tell me why do I have to go to the examination? Why couldn’t they use my medical information? What happens after I go to examination? What kind of heart case will get approve?

8)      what if you have a bad back and are 300lbs because you are no longer active, and your doctors tell you to lose weight . and you are applying for disabilty for back injury.  before you were able to dance,play basketball/touch football  yet since hurting your back your activies are limited to walking or riding on a bike trail. yet you feel you cant work any longer. how does one exercise without worrying that ..oh you can ride a bike and take walks your not disabled?

9)      what if you have a hobby and make personal items for folks every so often and they pay you cash.  you make 20 dollars here & there will that effect your disabilty claim?
or should you stop doing it?

A few days ago, a good friend asked me to call her brother-in-law on the phone.  When I called him, the first thing he said to me was that he’d just been diagnosed with cancer and he wanted to know what he should do now.

I could tell from the sound in his voice that the news hit him like a brick.  No one is ever prepared to hear that kind of information.   Here’s a 35-year-old husband and father, telling me that he has a condition that may be terminal.  There is no handbook for how to respond to this situation.

Of course, I knew he wanted to talk to me about his options as it related to Social Security Disability benefits.   I told him a few things to help him organize his mind as he prepared to handle this life-altering news.   The biggest thing I stressed to him was to get ready to accept a few fundamental facts:

1. Accept the fact: you need to apply today

Don’t mess around.  Get right online and file that application.  Call SSA on the phone.  Go to the nearest office.  If you know your time is limited, don’t wait until after you start treatment.  Apply right now.

1. Accept the fact:   just because you’ve been diagnosed with a terminal condition, you may not get approved right away.

SSA is not going to take you for your word.  They are going to need medical documentation regarding your condition.    Even if you think your condition is pretty severe, they are going to want proof first.

1. Accept the fact:   No one can tell you how long you have to live.

This part is particularly hard.  If you have a condition that is rapidly deteriorating, SSA is probably going to approve you more quickly due to the condition.  However, so many treatments can prolong life that you may live another 5, 10, or 20 years after your treatment.

1. Accept the fact:  Don’t be surprised if SSA denies.

Remember, the magic number for SSA is ’12, as in 12 months.  Your condition has to keep you out or have a reasonably likely potential to keep you out of work for 12 months or more.  You don’t get payments for 5 months or 11 months.  You don’t get money for 363 days or 365 days.  You have to have the full 365 days and if the medical records show that you will get better, SSA may deny you.

1. Accept the fact:  You may get better.

Accept this realization right now because you may find yourself in the position of improving.  This situation happens all of the time.  The early phases of the treatment may be rough but you shouldn’t be surprised if you find your health improving.

1. Accept the fact:  You may get worse.

This situation is the other side of the coin.  You really don’t know which way you are going to go.  Everyone’s body responds to treatment differently and you have no way of knowing how your body is going to respond.

1. Accept the fact:  You need to get your doctor on board

Your doctor is the biggest asset you have.  He/she can provide you feedback.  It’s important that you get him/her on board because he/she is the source of medical evidence SSA will rely upon to determine your case.  You need to ask those doctors these crucial questions:

1. Will I be out of work for 12 months?
2. What are the side effects?
3. What is the likelihood of remission?
4. If you think I will be out of work for 12 months, will you write a medical source statement to that effect?

When anyone hears any news about a terminal condition, it can be devastating.   However, you can make the transition successfully if you stop and take a moment to attack this information in the same manner you have with any other adversity in your life.  You will be ok.  Just keep your head up and persevere.