Anyone on Disability that has P or PA?

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Permalink Reply by Patsy Wessinger on July 14, 2010 at 10:39am

Robin, I am not on disability, but I found this information hope it helps.

TIPS FOR FILLING OUT SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY APPLICATION
You can do most of the process online at www.socialsecurity.gov/onlineservices/. The site is very user friendly. It will also allow you to register a password so that you can go back in increments until it is completed. When going back to view a previous page you MUST use the SITES back button, not the one on your computer.
At some point you will need to print out and complete the Authorization to release medical information form, make 13 copies and mail to the address they provide or take to your local social security office as directed, be aware that it is usually a several hour wait just to get to the window to drop them off. As a courtesy notify all your physicians offices that you are applying for disability so they will be prepared to send documents and/or write summaries for you.
ABOUT YOUR DOCTORS section: be complete and include reason you see each Dr., the time frame you saw/see them, the treatments they provide(d) for you and their address. For example Dr. A has been my primary care physician since 1986 to present, he has provided me with referrals for psoriasis treatment and general healthcare. Dr. B is my rhuematologist from date to date, he treats my psoriaisis and psoriatic arthritis, monitors blood work. Treatment received IV Remicade every 4 to 6 weeks. Dr. C is my dermatologist etc. etc. Also include any other Dr./specialists you have seen in the past for the same condition
MEDICATIONS: you will need to list every medication you take, the dosage, the reason/condition for which it is prescribed, any side effects you have from it and the Dr who prescribes it. You can use this to indicate a poor response to a med as well, for example Atarax side effect: minimally effective in controlling itching and it causes residual drowsiness. Or Remicade (or any other biologic) suppresses immune system leaving me more susceptible to pick up an infection.
LABS AND X-RAYS: you will need the dates, types/names of test or xray, where you had them done and the Dr who ordered it.
HEAD TO TOE ASSESMENT MUST BE WRITTEN IN MEASURABLE TERMS:
Scalp, ears, face, arms, hands, body/trunk, legs, feet: estimate the percentage of skin involved on EACH body part involved, does your skin cause you public humiliation and stares that your work is impacted by (if so state how), do you have open bleeding lesions that increase your risk of infection ?, how much time on a daily basis must you spend treating it?
Rate your pain on a 1 to 10 scale (with 10 being the worst you can tolerate) in each and every body part involved as you describe your symptoms.
EXAMPLES OF MISC. STATEMENTS AND HOW TO WORD THEM: The skin/joint pain in my hands ( or whatever body part) is at a ____before pain meds and a ___ after meds, pain med only works for ___ hours but am only able to take it every ___ hours. Use this for every affected body part as you go through the form.
I am able to prepare simple meals ___% of the time. I can do dishes in the dishwasher but am not able to tolerate my hands in water or wear gloves due to (describe effect) burning, stinging, bleeding etc.
I can only walk ___ number of feet before pain in my ( describe location and/or type) ie skin or ___joint makes me stop.
The joint or skin pain in my _____is a ____at rest and a ___with activity (describe activity)
I am not able to bathe/shower without assistance.
I am not able to dress, get in or out of bed ,chair, car, toilet with or without assistance.
Think of your job and the affected body parts that most impede your ability to perform required tasks. Incorporate that information into a negative type statement. For myself as an example, I am an RN and at the time I applied the skin on my hands and feet were the worst effected so I had statements to effect of: Due to the pain and open skin cracks on my hands I am not able to wash my hands to extent required to function as a nurse. Wearing medical gloves takes the pain and stinging to a level of 9. I am not able to tolerate touching any type of paper due to burning at a level of 8. I have lost all of my fingernails which has impacted my ability to do fine motor skills such as staring IV’s or drawing blood. The open cracks in the skin on my hands, along with the immune suppressant effects of my treatment, leave me at high risk to pick up an infection. FEET: I am unable to wear shoes for more than ____min./hrs due to pain/itch/burn etc. I can only sit with my feet in a dependant (down) position for ____min/hrs before swelling or pain increases to a ____. I must spend ____ hours a day with my feet (or hands) occluded to get relief from itching, burning, pain etc.. I have to apply cream/lotion/meds to hands/feet ____ number of times per day or every____ hours.
The pain or stiffness in my hands only allow me to drive ___ amount of time.
I am unable to do my yard work and must have family do it or pay to have it done.
Fatigue causes me to sleep ____ hours per day.
I am unable to stand for more than ____ minutes
I can not do my job as a _____ under the influence of my pain medicine due to drowsiness and my pain is at a ____ without it.
My job as a ____requires ongoing walking/lifting/bending/ and the pain in my back/hips/knees/ankles goes from a ____at rest to a ____ with doing my job.
I am only able to do light laundry with the aide of a rolling basket.
I can only do light grocery shopping with the aide of an in store electric cart
I am unable to do things such as: changing linens, mopping floors, vacuuming, dusting and must have my family or hired help to do them for me.
The loss of strength/dexterity in my hands prevents me from doing______ as is required to do my job.
The above are generalized examples for you to fill in the blanks as applies to you. If you are having a hard time coming up with the appropriate statements please contact me so I can go through your specific problems and how they may apply to your ability to work.
I only had to make one trip to my local social security office to show them documents such as social security card and birth certificate.
I did have an evaluation done by a social security Dr. at no cost to me. Be prepared to answer his questions similar to above. He will go through all of your meds with you and will want the same type of information for each med as is noted in number 4 above.

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