Disability Forms and Documents

I started this blog with a frustration over nearly 9 months waiting on an Initial Decision from the Disability Determination Service. I have since come to realize that the 9 month wait for the Initial Decision was better than the 2-3 year wait for those that are denied. 

Medical Reference Page Added

I’ve added a new page – Handy Links to Medical Reference. It contains links to sites with General Health information, Prescription & OTC Drug Information, Chronic Pain and much more.

If you are living with severe or disabling medical condition, I hope you will find it helpful.

Forms Updated

Several people have let me know about changes to the SSA forms. I’m afraid I fell a little behind in getting them completed. My apologies for not acting sooner.

I have had a lot going on, that has affected me physically as well as emotionally. Disability sucks!

I’m back on track now, and all forms are now current. The updated forms are

• SSA-3368-BK: Disability Report – Adult
• SSA-3373-BK: Function Report – Adult
• SSA-3381: Medical & Job Worksheet – Adult

I have also updated the Forms Package to include all of the above updates. Please let me know if you find any errors in the new forms.

SSA Form 821 – Work Activity Report

The beginning of the year my former employer asked if I would be willing to try returning on a part-time basis. He was willing to let me work from home and at my own speed.

So we tested my ability for a couple of weeks and found that I was capable of about 10-12 hours a week, working when I was alert, and napping when I needed. And, I have to tell you, it felt good to have a purpose again, even if only for a few hours each week.

One of the letters I was mailed after the SSDI was approved stated that employment MUST be reported, and gave the phone number for reporting. So, toward the end of January I called and reported employment. It took nearly an hour on the phone to answer all the questions that were asked. I thought that would be the end of it. But, then it is the government…

The next week I received the 8-page SSA Form 821 – Work Activity Report. It was accompanied by a letter that stated the form must be returned in 15 days, and had the name, phone number and extension of the person I could call with questions. I had several questions, so called and left a message on voice mail.

The phone call was never returned, but when the 15 days had elapsed, I received a second letter with the same information as the first. Again I left a message. I am nearing the 15-day deadline, and will have to submit the form as I interpret it should be completed. That phone call was never returned either.

I have added this form to the Social Security Disability Forms and Documents page.

I hope if you find yourself in need of the form, you have a better understanding of it than I do.

One of the bad days

Since the onset of Neuropathy, I have found myself counting the good vs. bad days. Thankfully, since I am no longer working, I can count more good days than bad. But, yesterday was one of the bad.

So, I decided to do something friends and family have encouraged me to do for some time now. I have started the story of my five-year journey with Peripheral Neuropathy. If you would like to follow the story, you can find it here: Living with Neuropathy.

Melancholy Baby

Yesterday a friend commented on my lack of excitement over the SSDI approval. He’s right, I should be shouting it from the mountain tops, but instead I find myself wanting to avoid the subject. 

After the initial elation passed, I have been trying to sort out an emotion that is new for me, so I have a hard time finding the words that can best describe it. He suggested that maybe it was melancholy – ‘a thoughtful or gentle sadness’? Hmmm. Maybe.

It is not exactly the ‘let-down’ feeling that can happen when a long struggle is finally over. Nor is it the satisfaction at having won the fight. It is Realization.

Realization that I am Disabled. The handicap parking sticker, the cane, the loss of freedom when I could no longer drive – none of them made me feel truly disabled. But once the Federal government gave their stamp of approval on my SSDI claim, it sunk in. I am Disabled…

…and therefore maybe a little Melancholy.

A P P R O V E D ! ! !

I can’t believe I spent so much time agonizing this weekend. When Ms. Williams called back today, she even said that I was already set up in pay status.

She didn’t know what the delay was with DDS, but DQB approved me in a matter of weeks.

I have several thoughts about the entire process that I will be sharing in the weeks/months ahead. But for now – I’m celebrating.

Disability Quality Branch

October 23, 2009 – 253 days

Do I dare call SSA back, and prod them even more about what I can expect? I have been instructed to wait another 2 weeks before calling. But it was DDS who told me to wait. What will SSA tell me?

242 days and counting…

My disability story began on January 26, 2009, when I called the 800 number published at the Social Security website to schedule an appointment with the local SSA office.