[Crook32]

My T this morning said “don’t they know how sick you are?” It kind of took me back at the time so I didn’t really say anything. But both her and my pdoc want me to quit working and try for disability. They think working is too much stress for me given the ptsd I have from my last job. My mood never stays stable I am always up and down, mostly down. They say my intelligence is the only reason I have made it this far without being fired. I never thought of myself as being very sick but given how many hospitalization and medications I have tried it really shouldn’t be a surprise to me. I have always been high functioning though so I have masked it well. I guess I should face reality and stop getting so frustrated which doesn’t help my situation. I just get such conflicting feelings about it.

[~Christina]

I personally do not use the word " sick" I prefer unwell or unstable.

I see no reason to not file, "most " people get denied at inital filling so then you can appeal and this is the point I say hire an Lawyer that mainly focus on disabilty If your still denied then you will have a court hearing, it a small room and you are just there with your Lawyer the judge and a employment specialist.

Be cause there was enormous backlog of cases it took me 4 years to be awarded SSDI .. You do get back pay to your intial filling date. Each state is different on how long it can take.

You have nothing to lose by filing now altho I expect there is a longer wait time with COVID messing the whole up..

Good luck

[Crook32]

Originally Posted by ~Christina

I personally do not use the word " sick" I prefer unwell or unstable.

I see you not to to not file, "most " people get denied at inital filling so then you can appeal and this is the point I say hire an Lawyer that mainly focus on disabilty If your still denied then you will have a court hearing, it a small room and you are just there with your Lawyer the judge and a employment specialist.

Be cause there was enormous backlog of cases it took me 4 years to be awarded SSDI .. You do get back pay to your intial filling date. Each state is different on how long it can take.

You have nothing to lose by filing now altho I expect there is a longer wait time with COVID messing the whole up..

Good luck

I have talked to two lawyers and they both say I have zero chance of getting it. First because I am only 41 and second they said if I can push a broom I won’t get it. That and I have to quit my job first because I make too much money. But I am scared to quit my job on the slim chance I could get disability. Even though that is exactly what my treatment team wants me to do.

[~Christina]

If both your T and Pdoc agree that you should file then do so, They have a long paper trail of mental instability that will show your constant struggle. You don't need to involve a Lawyer until after you first filling for it and If you need to appeal then contact a lawyer.

As for age I was a few months shy of 44 when diagnosed Bipolar and my Chronic physical pain and it took me 4 years to win my case. So the sooner you apply the better.

Hi Crook. I was only 38 when I was approved for SSDI. I had been in and out of the hospital and in PHPs/IOPs for much of 4 years, but had attempted to return to work again and again between them, with only brief successes. Just before my application, I did get terminated because they could no longer hold my job.

My husband and I did hire a lawyer from the beginning, but my therapist didn't think I needed to. In any case, I did get approved first try (about 5 months after application). I know most don't, but I believe many many do eventually get approved upon various appeals. It's always worth trying, if you feel that work is continuing to make you ill. Certainly if working makes you progressively more unstable, that is a significant fact. Hospital (and any IOP/PHP) records are significant. So is what your psychiatrist and therapist write to support your application. Since both of them are strongly encouraging your application, that's a plus. I've read of some people applying even without strong support from their mental healthcare providers. Obviously, not such a plus.

[*Beth*]

I can't say it enough...apply for SSDI ASAP.


I wanted to apply years ago, but put it off. Finally, after I was IP in 2018 I filled out the SSDI application. That was in November of 2018. I was denied, of course, so hired a lawyer. The lawyer is a tremendous help. Everything has moved along quite well, paperwork and such. Originally I was told my court date would be in September or October 2020. I thought surely that because of COVID my court date would be delayed. I was very surprised and pleased when my lawyer contacted me a few weeks ago and told me that my court date will be 7/30. It will be by phone, due to COVID.


I sure hope I'll be approved; I expect that I will. I'm just so sorry that I waited to apply. Unless you have a terminal illness or are completely physically disabled it takes at least 2 years to be approved. The sooner you apply, the better!

[bpcyclist]

Originally Posted by BirdDancer

Hi Crook. I was only 38 when I was approved for SSDI. I had been in and out of the hospital and in PHPs/IOPs for much of 4 years, but had attempted to return to work again and again between them, with only brief successes. Just before my application, I did get terminated because they could no longer hold my job.

My husband and I did hire a lawyer from the beginning, but my therapist didn't think I needed to. In any case, I did get approved first try (about 5 months after application). I know most don't, but I believe many many do eventually get approved upon various appeals. It's always worth trying, if you feel that work is continuing to make you ill. Certainly if working makes you progressively more unstable, that is a significant fact. Hospital (and any IOP/PHP) records are significant. So is what your psychiatrist and therapist write to support your application. Since both of them are strongly encouraging your application, that's a plus. I've read of some people applying even without strong support from their mental healthcare providers. Obviously, not such a plus.

I would just add that I have been told more thanonce that IP stays really buttressses the case.

[Crook32]

Originally Posted by bpcyclist

I would just add that I have been told more thanonce that IP stays really buttressses the case.

Well I have had 7 of those plus php and iop trips.