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Filing for Disability
  • chaosmomchaosmom
    Posts: 3,846Member
    So my son's psychiatrist has mentioned a few times that I should file for disability for him and his therapist agrees. He definitely fits the criteria. We are just having such a hard time lately financially. I have to borrow money from my mom for gas to take him to his weekly appts & therapy sessions. And now we are talking about taking him to the hospital (maybe today) that is about an hour away to see if they can stablize him since we aren't having any luck. His therapist wants to try equine therapy but that is an hour in the other direction. I just can't afford it!

    Anyways, my question for all the moms that have been there & done that...how do I file for disability? What do I need to get together beforehand? Do I need his school records or just the medical records? Do I need to go ahead & talk to a lawyer or wait & see if (when) it gets denied? What should I expect? I have no freaking clue about any of this and it will help *my* anxiety if I kind of know what will happen.
  • LesboMomLesboMom
    Posts: 2,842Confessional Manager
    I don't know much about this but.....

    I would start here....  http://www.ssa.gov/disability/  or here    
    http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/10026.html

    You can help us make a decision by:

    • Telling us as much as you can about your child’s medical condition(s);
    • Giving us the dates of visits to doctors or hospitals, the patient account numbers for any doctors or hospitals, and any other information that will help us get your child’s medical records; and
    • Providing us copies of any medical reports or information that you already have in your possession.

    NOTE: You do not need to request information from your child’s doctors. We will contact them directly for any reports or information that we need to make a decision about your child’s disability.

    confessional-manager

    Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see a shadow. -- Helen Keller
  • GingersnapGingersnap
    Posts: 7,290Member
    It's been a few years since we filed for our son. I can't remember everything I needed, but it is listed in the application package. I didn't need school records, only medical records (specifically, his diagnosis). We also needed financial records (current bank statements and the previous year's tax return). I think it took four months (?) to get everything finalized, and we did get retroactive checks for the months we waited through the application process. I filled out forms, sent in copies of everything they wanted, and completed a phone interview. 

    image
  • chaosmomchaosmom
    Posts: 3,846Member
    @lesbomom @gingersnap Thanks for the links. I was googling the hell out of it this morning but extremely distracted so I didn't get anywhere with it. I'll try to print some info out & hopefully start the process in the next few days if we can calm things down a bit.
  • GingersnapGingersnap
    Posts: 7,290Member
    I felt kinda overwhelmed when I got the paperwork packet. I don't know if the process has changed, but it's a lot of paperwork. It's tedious, but it's not difficult and SSA has to help you if fill it out if you need help. Take a deep breath (and don't forget to let it out).
    image
  • LesboMomLesboMom
    Posts: 2,842Confessional Manager
    That was the one thing that was good when my mother was filing for her own disability - someone HAS to help you out if you need it. And once it is approved you get back pay to when you began filing. It is a time-intensive and labor-intensive process...but when you finally get that help, it was all worth it. 

    Love you, buddy!!! 

    confessional-manager

    Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see a shadow. -- Helen Keller
  • SammieSammie
    Posts: 7,277Administrator, Moderator
    It will be a long, mind boggling process with all the paperwork and waiting...but I do think this will happen for you and your son and I know it will help immensely. I've never dealt with any of this myself, so I can't offer much advice in the way of how to go about applying, who to call, etc. but I can tell you that you are such an inspiration to me. You really are. You've got so much going on, and you're worried sick about your son and trying to take care of your other boys as well, and you always manage to be so kind and supportive to everyone in this community. You never complain! You're an amazing momma. I know this is a long, rough road that you're on, but your boy is SO lucky to have you. He really is. With a momma like you, he's going to be just fine. 

    I would give his doctor and therapist a heads up that you're planning to file that way they can start getting paperwork gathered up, copied, etc. and you can get the ball rolling. That way when you're ready to send it all off, you don't have to wait for them to catch up with all the paperwork. Also, can you call the equine therapy place. A lot of times they will offer special accommodations for low income families. Maybe you could even commute with someone else in the area who drives there? There's options. Don't give up!! 
    >:D<

    community-manager


  • LoveLove
    Posts: 12,757Administrator, Moderator
    I think this will be a tremendous help, after all is said and done. I know it seems daunting now, but you are an amazing mother and you WILL get through this!

    Sammie has some great ideas ^^ and if there is ANYTHING any of us can do to help, just hollar!

    community-manager


  • chaosmomchaosmom
    Posts: 3,846Member
    @gingersnap, that's where I am now & I haven't even seen the paperwork! Just trying to make it through the last 2 weeks of school, get the ball rolling on this, & then get a 504 or IEP or whatever it is he needs in place when he goes back to school next month. Worried about if his teacher will be as amazing as the one we had this year.

    @lesbomom, I may just make an appt & have them help me fill it out from the start. Love you too!

    @sammie, you made me cry! Thank you though. I needed to hear that right now. I feel so in over my head but I just keep treading water. That's all I can do right now! His therapist just got all her certifications for the equine therapy. She doesn't really have anything in place yet to help with the transportation costs.

    @love, whipped vodka and a night off???? Lmao
  • pdxmama
    Posts: 1,470Member
    Ok, first... Breathe! I just did my son's disability last year, so it's relatively fresh in my mind. If you have any questions while you're going through the process please feel free to pm me and I'll do my best to answer them. I did the initial application in July, and he was approved in Sept, started getting his checks in Oct. So it was like 3 months, and we got retroactive for 2 of them. Unlike adults who often get denied, sometimes twice, and end up waiting years sometimes kids' apps usually move pretty fast.
    1 thing that's important to note - when you start the paperwork at ssa.gov, they'll give you this really long pin # that you'll use to get back into your application to keep working on it. WRITE IT DOWN AND DON'T LOSE IT! Ssa doesn't have any way to look these numbers up, so if like me, you finish all but the final section then misplace the pin there will be no way to get back in, and you'll have to start all over.
    They did want my son's school records too, like his IEP, any educational testing that had been done in school, etc. And all medical records related to his qualifying condition of course. Now, I'm a bit anal about holding on to paperwork, so I already had all this stuff at home and was able to make copies of it and drop them off at the office which saved a lot of time since they didn't have to send away for them. They did make my son see one of their doctors (well on that they have a contract with), a psychologist I believe. He was a weird guy, but was actually a big part of ds getting approved. It's tedious and long but not as hard as you would think. Don't get a lawyer now. Seriously, there's no need for one, you can do it all by yourself. The only time I would get a lawyer is if you've been denied and are appealing. Even then, maybe not if it was the 1st appeal.
    Anyway anything aren't sure about, pm me and I'll do my best to answer your questions.
  • GingersnapGingersnap
    Posts: 7,290Member
    Thanks @pdxmama! Glad you've got it fresher in your mind than I do. 
    image
  • Luvlyssa
    Posts: 2,931Member
    kids approvals move MUCH MUCH faster than adults.
    the only thing I can say as an adult who filed.... keep EVERY piece of paperwork you send them. document EVERYTHING. If he gets denied.. APPEAL. the govt is a bitch about this stuff.

    I only have experience in helping friends do it for their kids. no personal day to day but *hugs*
    Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming. What do we do? We swim, swim.
  • Charlotte_SometimesCharlotte_Sometimes
    Posts: 1,756Member
    I just skimmed the responses so my apologies if someone already said this...  you've gotten good advice on applying for the disability (which I will come back to read later because we have the same questions about DD9) but I wanted to ask you if your child is on Medicaid?

    Asking because at least here in Texas there is a Medicaid transportation assistance program.  They will help you with transportation costs to and from appointments.  I think (?) they give bus passes if you don't have a car, if you have a car or have a friend with a car they will reimburse partially for gas. I found out about it because the therapist we are looking into for DD9 is over an hour away in another city and the therapist recommended applying, they reimburse you on a per-mile basis for gas and he said they are pretty good about paying in a timely fashion.   You just have to fill out a form.  Check and see, this might help in the meantime while you are working on the disability.

    "But a lesson must be lived
    In order to be learned"

    Ani DiFranco, Manhole
  • chaosmomchaosmom
    Posts: 3,846Member
    @charlotte_sometimes, good idea! I had forgotten all about that! I will check with my case worker tomorrow. Thanks :)
  • PrimalbitchPrimalbitch
    Posts: 1,283Member
    @chaosmom, idk if I mentioned this before but if ur doc wants therapy at the equine center, call the center and ask what kind of assistance the can give. Some barns have sponsors for their programs who will provide gas vouchers for kids to be able to get back and forth for their appointments. If you need some help w that let me know!
  • Charlotte_SometimesCharlotte_Sometimes
    Posts: 1,756Member
    @chaosmom keep us posted.

    We really really need to file for DD9, and for DW as well.  But just the thought at this point seems exhausting. :(
    "But a lesson must be lived
    In order to be learned"

    Ani DiFranco, Manhole
  • chaosmomchaosmom
    Posts: 3,846Member
    @primalbitch, his therapist has just recently gotten all her certifications for her equine therapy. It's not something she does all the time but she figured since she had horses & was a therapist, the option would be nice to have as needed. We have actually decided to wait on it. He is currently doing a "sand box" therapy. It is basically a container of sand that he builds scenes in & they talk about what things represent for him & why he put them the way he did. It is allowing him to work some stuff out that is rumbling around in his head. We have actually seen some progress with it!!

    @charlotte_sometimes, I have the disability report filled out & an appt scheduled July 9th for the rest of the application process. His dr has officially diagnosed him with Early Onset Pediatric Bipolar which she *very rarely* diagnoses. His case is just so damn severe. We have been working non-stop for 9 months & still don't have him stablized :(

    Everybody just keep us in your thoughts & prayers. The next 4-6 weeks are going to be UGLY. It started this past Monday. See, tomorrow is his last day of school & he doesn't do well with transitions. He's freaking out about being home instead of school, going into 2nd grade, new teacher/classroom/classmates/rules/etc. We are going to attempt our vacation (my grandma invited us) to TN in July for a week but I may be staying home with him while everyone else goes instead. Depends on how he is doing. But mommy sooooo desperately needs a break!
  • Charlotte_SometimesCharlotte_Sometimes
    Posts: 1,756Member
    @chaosmom hopefully he can do the equine therapy.  We want to do this for DD too.  A friend's daughter did it when she was younger and they said it was very helpful and again check out the transportation reimbursement thing!  We hope to start DD's therapy in the city an hour away this summer. 

    We'll be thinking of you and your family.   School has been out here for a couple weeks... and for our DD9 it just means constantly coming up with constructive stuff for her to do so she doesn't behave badly out of boredom.  I hear you on needing a break.  Because of our DD's issues (different than your child but the end result is sometimes the same, right?) we really cannot leave her with anyone who doesn't fully grasp how she needs to be supervised so it's pretty limited! 
    "But a lesson must be lived
    In order to be learned"

    Ani DiFranco, Manhole
  • chaosmomchaosmom
    Posts: 3,846Member
    @charlotte_sometimes, the only people that can watch ds7 is my mom or his dad, but only for a couple of hours. If he gets hypermanic & starts with the rages (30+ minutes of literally wrestling him to keep him & everyone else safe), I am the only one he will let help him so they are pretty limited on what they can do. Generally, he is at school or with me. No one else has really learned how to read him yet. It is so tricky. Once he gets to a certain point, I have to change my response & he will become extremely emotional & then calm down. But if I change my response too soon or too late, it sends him further into a rage. I'm...exhausted. I would really love a change of pace, even for a week. He will have a blast there if we can sedate him for the trip & heavily medicate him for the 1st day or 2 lol.
  • Charlotte_SometimesCharlotte_Sometimes
    Posts: 1,756Member
    Damn, @chaosmom, that sucks.  It sounds so hard.  You sound like you need respite of some sort for sure.  I am 40 and I have come to believe (not yet diagnosed) that I have bipolar disorder, and I cannot imagine being a little kid trying to deal with all of that, must be overwhelming for him too.  :(    Hope you get to take that trip!  

    Our DDs behaviors are less obvious, more underground / passive, so people always think we are overreacting or being hyper controlling with her, or  that we are just "strict".  Yeah, until they insist on her staying over for a few hours and then after she leaves they find the things she destroyed or got "into" when they weren't looking and they thought she was playing quietly like an angel. 
    "But a lesson must be lived
    In order to be learned"

    Ani DiFranco, Manhole
  • chaosmomchaosmom
    Posts: 3,846Member
    @charlotte_sometimes, he doesn't show his really crazy behavior at school so his teacher was in shock when I explained what was going on. She just thought he was ADHD. Then I had to tell the school about him sleeping 14-15 hrs straight & then trying to smother himself with a blanket & wrapping it around his neck because he wanted to die so that they could keep a close eye on him once he went back to school. That was fun. It makes it very difficult when people just see a glimpse & think they know what the problem is & how to fix it. We are always either too strict or not strict enough when it comes to discipline.

    You should go ahead & file for disability for your dd. The disability report looks intimidating (14 pages) but it is really just a way to gather all the dr, symptom & medicine info. You can print it out & take your time filling it out. Then call & make an appt. I am doing it in person because it seems like it will be easier for them to help me that way. I can't do long phone calls anyways with little people in the background.
  • Charlotte_SometimesCharlotte_Sometimes
    Posts: 1,756Member
    @chaosmom  yeah, I think we need to. 

    We filled out that big ass questionnaire for the special ed evaluation and the psychologist said he had never ever seen the kind of results we "checked" and he was shocked as hell because he dealt with her on a regular basis and had no idea at all about her behaviors.
    "But a lesson must be lived
    In order to be learned"

    Ani DiFranco, Manhole
  • sharkmommy
    Posts: 262Member
    @chaosmom My daughter is in equine therapy now, for her low muscle tone/balance issues.  She is on a partial scholarship to go, so it became more affordable.  A lot of the equine therapy places so have fundraisers in order to provide both partial and full scholarships for kids.  I hope this helps. 
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