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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. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn