Just need opinions on filing for Social Security Disability, either online or in person.
I was going to file last month but, due to an allergic reaction to Revlimid, I was a real mess. Now I am on Velcade / dexamethasone. I have an appointment with my family practitioner next week. He was actually the one who ordered my labs that showed my first symptoms pointing to multiple myeloma. So he is looked at as the prescribing doctor, even though my oncologist makes all the decisions.
I have gathered most information but still need to talk over the decision to file for disability with him. The new treatments of Velcade plus starting Zometa soon will really keep me from returning to work. Plus, I will be looking at a stem cell harvest hopefully in a few months, then a transplant, possibly next year at some point.
The other side of the coin is that I also had quite a lot of bone damage that's shown on my bone survey, so I would need to list that also on my disability forms.
I want to get this done next week after I see my doctor. My thoughts were to make an appointment with our local SS office, which is about 20 minutes away, and have someone in front of me that I can speak with and start the process that way. I guess that I am old school, so to speak, in that way.
But others have told me that online is better: no appointments, it's faster, and no driving to a local office. I am concerned about filling everything out correctly and having all the information they need the first time.
My thinking was that in person, they might be able to help more than someone over the phone. What are your thoughts?
Thank You,
Castaway
Forums
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Castaway - Name: George
- Who do you know with myeloma?: just myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 1/24/14
- Age at diagnosis: 62
Re: Social Security Disability filing - online or in person?
George,
After my ASCT I applied for disability. It was painful for me, but I spent around 6 hours over two days at my PC and filled in all the requested info. I was approved within 6 weeks. It required me to have all my doctors names, appointment dates and medicines / procedures involved. I am by nature meticulous, so I had all my paperwork together.
If you're not confident that you have all the requested information, I'd recommend going to Social Security in person. Now, in my case, I only needed short-term disability, so your goal may be different.
Customer service isn't what it used to be, so I chose to complete my application online, but you may have a pleasant experience in person.
Good luck!
Kully
After my ASCT I applied for disability. It was painful for me, but I spent around 6 hours over two days at my PC and filled in all the requested info. I was approved within 6 weeks. It required me to have all my doctors names, appointment dates and medicines / procedures involved. I am by nature meticulous, so I had all my paperwork together.
If you're not confident that you have all the requested information, I'd recommend going to Social Security in person. Now, in my case, I only needed short-term disability, so your goal may be different.
Customer service isn't what it used to be, so I chose to complete my application online, but you may have a pleasant experience in person.
Good luck!
Kully
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kullybunnny1 - Name: Kully
- Who do you know with myeloma?: me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: August 2013
- Age at diagnosis: 48
Re: Social Security Disability filing - online or in person?
Kully,
Thanks for the information. I did look on the Social Security website and found there list of information they will ask for. My family practitioner has mentioned that he would like to see me receive 6 months of Zometa before even considering a release to go back to work.
That would put me out to about April next year if I start Zometa next month. That would also have me at about 15 months away from work. My doc also has my first x-rays when I broke several ribs back in January at home. so I will need those reports also.
I believe that I will have to show a couple of reasons for being off work. Not only the multiple myeloma but the accident that initially started the lab work and x-rays showing 4 broken ribs. I would imagine that I will also have to show that my Revlimid / dex treatments had to be stopped and a new combo of Velcade / dex was started also.
My oncologist and family doctors both told me that I need to file first, then SS will contact them to get all my information. So I am a little confused. Do I really need all the the tests, office visit dates, lab results, etc. if I do go to a local SS office when they are going to contact my doctors anyway? Both doctors have dealt with SS over the years, and I feel that they must know what they are doing.
Thank You, Castaway
Thanks for the information. I did look on the Social Security website and found there list of information they will ask for. My family practitioner has mentioned that he would like to see me receive 6 months of Zometa before even considering a release to go back to work.
That would put me out to about April next year if I start Zometa next month. That would also have me at about 15 months away from work. My doc also has my first x-rays when I broke several ribs back in January at home. so I will need those reports also.
I believe that I will have to show a couple of reasons for being off work. Not only the multiple myeloma but the accident that initially started the lab work and x-rays showing 4 broken ribs. I would imagine that I will also have to show that my Revlimid / dex treatments had to be stopped and a new combo of Velcade / dex was started also.
My oncologist and family doctors both told me that I need to file first, then SS will contact them to get all my information. So I am a little confused. Do I really need all the the tests, office visit dates, lab results, etc. if I do go to a local SS office when they are going to contact my doctors anyway? Both doctors have dealt with SS over the years, and I feel that they must know what they are doing.
Thank You, Castaway
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Castaway - Name: George
- Who do you know with myeloma?: just myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 1/24/14
- Age at diagnosis: 62
Re: Social Security Disability filing - online or in person?
George,
I did mine all online. It was very efficient. Likewise, I had access to my records online from the oncologist, so if I was unsure of dates of test, etc, I used another window to access the records.
Online it states it takes 90 minutes and I started mine just before going for a Velcade treatment. I did not quite have 90 minutes but figured maybe it would not take that long. It did take exactly the time suggested so I just saved my application and completed it after my appointment.
I have heard "stories" about in person visits to SS so I decided to do it myself and if needed afterwards I'd visit SS but that was not needed.
Good Luck with the process and to you on this myeloma journey.
Marian, Glenview IL
I did mine all online. It was very efficient. Likewise, I had access to my records online from the oncologist, so if I was unsure of dates of test, etc, I used another window to access the records.
Online it states it takes 90 minutes and I started mine just before going for a Velcade treatment. I did not quite have 90 minutes but figured maybe it would not take that long. It did take exactly the time suggested so I just saved my application and completed it after my appointment.
I have heard "stories" about in person visits to SS so I decided to do it myself and if needed afterwards I'd visit SS but that was not needed.
Good Luck with the process and to you on this myeloma journey.
Marian, Glenview IL
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Anonymous
Re: Social Security Disability filing - online or in person?
I filed online and found it to be relatively easy, but there is a fair amount of detail involved. But, you would need to have the same detail if you went in person.
The advantage of doing online for me was that I could stop any time I needed to and return later. I didn't have the energy to complete all at one sitting, and sometimes I would need to dig up more information.
Once my submission was completed, the approval process was simple. I got a phone call from SSDI and that was it. Done deal.
Good luck to you however you choose to apply.
The advantage of doing online for me was that I could stop any time I needed to and return later. I didn't have the energy to complete all at one sitting, and sometimes I would need to dig up more information.
Once my submission was completed, the approval process was simple. I got a phone call from SSDI and that was it. Done deal.
Good luck to you however you choose to apply.
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Norm - Name: Norm
- Who do you know with myeloma?: me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Aug-2010
- Age at diagnosis: 59
Re: Social Security Disability filing - online or in person?
I did mine online and it was very simple. They contacted the doctor for information and I received a phone call from Social Security saying they had my form and all the information they needed.
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Music box lady - Name: Margie
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 2012
- Age at diagnosis: 60
Re: Social Security Disability filing - online or in person?
Thanks everyone!
Looks like most people file online. I had to go to Costco today, and it's not far from the Social Security office. So I thought that I would just go in there and see if they had any info and what that office was like. I think that I will file online. No, I know I will file online.
There was no one to talk to, just a security guard sitting in the corner. Very strange feeling there. You have to use this thing that sort of resembles an ATM at your bank to input your information to see someone. It prints out a receipt for you. Those poor people waiting there looked so down and tired of waiting, really sad.
There is another office about 20 miles south of where I live that has had some good feedback from people who I work with.
Still, I am going for the online filing.
Thank You, Castaway
Looks like most people file online. I had to go to Costco today, and it's not far from the Social Security office. So I thought that I would just go in there and see if they had any info and what that office was like. I think that I will file online. No, I know I will file online.
There was no one to talk to, just a security guard sitting in the corner. Very strange feeling there. You have to use this thing that sort of resembles an ATM at your bank to input your information to see someone. It prints out a receipt for you. Those poor people waiting there looked so down and tired of waiting, really sad.
There is another office about 20 miles south of where I live that has had some good feedback from people who I work with.
Still, I am going for the online filing.
Thank You, Castaway
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Castaway - Name: George
- Who do you know with myeloma?: just myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 1/24/14
- Age at diagnosis: 62
Re: Social Security Disability filing - online or in person?
Helped my spouse apply online for SSDI earlier this year. Took a couple hours. Because we started on the last day of a month and wouldn't be able to finish that day, we completed the easier first section to set the filing date and completed the rest the following week. That ultimately got her an extra month of SSDI since SSA approved her back the full 12 months. Only took 6 weeks to approve with no extra contacts. Good luck to you.
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JoanieK - Name: JoanieK
- Who do you know with myeloma?: spouse
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 6/2012
- Age at diagnosis: 56
Re: Social Security Disability filing - online or in person?
Short and sweet. Go in person if you can. Any questions can be done on the spot rather then back and forth. Also, signing papers are easy done at office. Can't do online.
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Joe
Re: Social Security Disability filing - online or in person?
I just wanted to thank everyone who expressed their thoughts about filing for Social Security disability online or in person at a field office.
I also spoke with my family practitioner who is considered the prescribing doctor, as he ordered my first labs that indicated multiple myeloma. He first suggested to go into a SS office and have them help fill out the forms. However, he also said that some patients have complained about that office staff. I also looked at the reviews for that office and they were pretty negative (could be because the office hours have been really cut back).
So I did file online. I filled out most of the forms, then stopped and went back the next day to finish. It takes a lot of time to gather all the info but really not that long to fill everything out. I noticed that, when I entered that I had cancer, it asked to describe the type of cancer. When I entered multiple myeloma, it said that I could continue to complete the online application, but I would be asked at the end to contact a local office.
At the end of the application, it listed my local SS office information and there was a list of items that the office would require. So I just need to make an appointment and take in the documents.
The only issue that I found online is that some questions could be answered yes or no, and my answer could go either way. But they give you a box at the end of each segment to enter questions or remarks so I tried to explain my answers there if I had any issues.
Thanks again!
Castaway
I also spoke with my family practitioner who is considered the prescribing doctor, as he ordered my first labs that indicated multiple myeloma. He first suggested to go into a SS office and have them help fill out the forms. However, he also said that some patients have complained about that office staff. I also looked at the reviews for that office and they were pretty negative (could be because the office hours have been really cut back).
So I did file online. I filled out most of the forms, then stopped and went back the next day to finish. It takes a lot of time to gather all the info but really not that long to fill everything out. I noticed that, when I entered that I had cancer, it asked to describe the type of cancer. When I entered multiple myeloma, it said that I could continue to complete the online application, but I would be asked at the end to contact a local office.
At the end of the application, it listed my local SS office information and there was a list of items that the office would require. So I just need to make an appointment and take in the documents.
The only issue that I found online is that some questions could be answered yes or no, and my answer could go either way. But they give you a box at the end of each segment to enter questions or remarks so I tried to explain my answers there if I had any issues.
Thanks again!
Castaway
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Castaway - Name: George
- Who do you know with myeloma?: just myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 1/24/14
- Age at diagnosis: 62
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