Filing for Disability

I was wondering if anyone on here has experience in beginning the disability process. I'm still working at my job at the Goodwill, although I can barely do it. My major question at this point is, do I have to quit my job to begin the process? I'm working and making minimum wage as a processor at the Goodwill. I have to stand all day on concrete, lift heavy bags out of large cardboard crates and climb up a ladder to empty heavy trash cans. With my arthritis, you can guess how hard this is for me. I am barely getting through each day. If I apply for disability, do I need to be not working? I heard that as long as you are still working they will say that you CAN work. Thanks!

No, I'll have to go to the public employees retirement system for disability. I didn't pay into SS, but its almost the same.

I have been through the process in PA and I know here you cannot apply for disability while you are still working unfortunately. It is a difficult situation because it is a long process and I had to pay out of pocket for medical insurance (I am still waiting on my Medicare) but every case is differnt depending on the type of SS and income you have I am married and because of my husband's income we "make too much" which some days makes you want to cry by the time you pay health insurance co-payments and all the bills out of one income but eventually it was worth the wait. After years off pushing myself to keep working through the pain and dealing with the stress of employers who didn't understand my diseases I am able to stay home and do volunteer work and maybe some day I will be able to work part-time...
Sorry I didn't mean to ramble I hope that answered your question I have been through the entire process so whatever questions you have let me know :)

LOL I don't think it will go any quicker but you will get more assistance financially and with medical assistance while you wait for your medicare :)

Paula

Believe me I have been there it actually took a brain tumor to get me to stop working and even then they had to fire me :) I wanted to go back to work but I ran out of FMLA time while I was in the hospital having my 2nd craniotomy due to complications from the first surgery but now I know it was God's way of telling me it was time to stop working but believe me it was of the hardest things I ever went through. I worked in human services as a Case Manager for years so applying for disability wasn't easy but it was the right decision and I have been able to recover from my surgeries and realize (it took awhile) that things do happen for a reason....hang in there. Anytime you want to chat.

Gypsysgrounded, thanks. I tried to get in to see a new rheumy last week, and they wouldn't take me because of no insurance. I recently read about some insurance for people with pre-exisiting conditions, including RA and IBD. Has anyone here heard of it? I'll try to find the link...

Here it is:

/www.pcip.gov/Default.html

I'm going to bookmark it. Maybe that will help if I can at least get help getting back to see a rheumatologist.

I saw a video with the author of the "spoon theory" and she said to write down things that happen to you between dr. visits and give a copy if it to your dr. for his files. Then when he fills out the forms he would have a reference.
She also said don't miss filing deadlines or you have to start over. You also need to keep up on weither or not people sent in their testimonies. I saw the interview on webmd site.