Hi Maggie,

I believe the waiting period for SSDI is 6 months
following the last  day you were able to work. Not 12
months. I recently went through the process of
applying for SSDI and my claim was approved
withiin a month. I suggest to anyone applying for
benefits that they requests an in-person interview
with an intake officer--rather than a telephone
interview, which is the default choice if you don't say
anything. The intake interviewer DOES supply his or
her observations regarding your visible condition to
the evaluating team who will decide whether you are
disabled according to their criteria.

Consider that  you are going to have to stop working
at some point, although it is difficult for a number of
reasons. I was fortunate enough to get through the
transition without much negative happening. And I
will say that ALL of the Social Security personnel I
had any interaction with were helpful, courteous,
patient, and felt like advocates.

Take care,

Rick

Date:    Sat, 5 Oct 2002 12:21:45 -0400
From:    Maggie Mauney <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: New to PD

Thanks to all of you who replied to my recent email
to the list.  I'm still
trying to come to terms with my diagnosis, and was
only diagnosed last week,
so I have many questions on what my future holds.

I'm 52 years old, and am in terrible health--I'm
diabetic, have had 3 heart
attacks, have severe osteoporosis, and now PD; I
guess I'm expecting to die
suddenly any minute now.

I still have to try to work, since I've been told I don't
qualify for
disability until I'm unable to work for 12 months.  I'm
a cashier at a
grocery chain, and the tremors and difficulty walking
are definitely
interfering with my work.  I live alone in the country--
driving is difficult
now--I have problems getting into and out of the car,
and if I drive for a
good while, I get dizzy and disoriented.  My family is
not nearby, and it's
difficult for any of them to understand my limitations
and my fears.

I do, however, live just a few minutes from Duke
University Medical Center,
and from University of North Carolina Hospitals, so I
have a good referral
network close by.  I want to learn more about what to
expect, and will be
following the posts on the list to get some
suggestions about how to manage
better.  I will probably buy a cane to use for walking--
with my severe
osteoporosis, I worry about breaking bones when I
fall.  I will try to
discuss my concerns with my neurologist--though
he has a very hectic
practice and is always quite rushed.

Thanks for the links for more information.  I will
definitely check them
out.

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