I have my appointments today with the SS doctors. And it’s been over a year since I worked full time (back in December of 2022) but I am working part time up to 22 hours a week. And yesterday my boss presented a new job for me they think I can at least try and I would like to. I didn’t tell them about looking into SS.
My question is that if I take this new job and go full time then figure out that I can’t handle the new job and have to go back part time does that negate the 5 month waiting period that I already have in place since I haven’t worked full time up to this point?
Thanks
Good question! I don’t know. It took me over two years to get my SSD and they only sent me to a therapist. The attorney we hired said I didn’t get it for my rupture but for my back surgery the year before I ruptured. He also said that in NC there are no boxes for SS to check for a rupture so they use the boxes for ischemic strokes. Every State controls their own SS. He was insistent that we would go to court and I not wear my sunglasses as my words were really bad without them. But I called my new Senator’s office and spoke with the young man who was over the Health issues. He made a call to SS on my behalf and I had it the next week. I had met him while lobbying the year before.
Your State might list what happens if you apply and try a different job. You could also have a friend ask them and not mention your name. In NC, if your college educated, SS here in NC says you can do a factory job. If your education is lower, the attorney told us that it’s easier to get SSD.
I did have a colleague who told me she had a minor concussion and was put on disability within a couple of weeks after applying. She had quit working in CPS, went to a friend of hers that owned their own business and had the friend write a letter to SS explaining she couldn’t work. Sort of angered me…but it also showed me there are work arounds.
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So I found out from a friend that if I went back to work full time it would negate the five month waiting period and if I couldn’t stay full time the claim would start all over and I’d have another five month waiting period.
As for the meeting, I’m 43 but they allowed my father to come in with me but he wasn’t allowed to talk.
They had me fill out forms that I have already filled out and that took longer then the appointment. I had the meeting with their mental dr and the physical dr had to be rescheduled. Which I had to call back this morning to reschedule and that is now 2 weeks out. I wasn’t sure if they were testing me on this but I am a laid back person and in general I handled it well but do not want to wait anymore. I think I was more concerned about it then angry and I think that it showed
For the mental test they had me count to 20 which I can then had me count back from 20 at intervals of 3 which I think I got that correct too. They had me remember three words but I think I only got 2 of them right. Also asked me questions about education and work and things that I like to do and eating habits as well as day to day things. All pretty generic and a lot of the stuff is on the forms they had already had me fill out.
Overall I was truthful in that I told him there are things I could do at 41 that I can’t do at 43. I have to be dependent on my parents as roommates and don’t see how that can change. I told him I like to walk but I fell on the ice so I can’t walk in the winter. I like to ride my bike but i tried to once last summer and wasn’t able to… that I can do simple cooking like microwave things. And that my parents take care of things like laundry and shopping and cleaning, which again is my dependent on them. But I worry as they are in there 70s where will that leave me when they pass away. Overall I want to have a relationship with someone but at this moment I don’t see how I can, I think I put that on one of the forms
I’m glad your friend knew about the waiting period Rick. It can be really frustrating to wait for SS wheels to turn so I’m glad to read you’re a laid back guy. Your independent life skills can improve but it takes a good bit of time. I couldn’t cook unsupervised per my ST and the Neurosurgeon made it one of my many rules. I learned that I could help better by doing all the prep work and putting the different items in different containers so I could see them and I’d still leave one or two out😂
Mom was reteaching me how to cook and we were having as much fun as we did when she first taught me. Once, when she was in hospital, Dad wanted hot dogs so I told him he’d have to come sit at the table and watch me cook. He didn’t want to. Dad called me into the living room and was talking. Of course the hot dogs burned, but we ate them nonetheless. BH came home and boy did we ever get scolded! I truly didn’t understand why I was getting a scolding since we ate them and didn’t waste them. Fortunately Dad didn’t keep laughing when it was his turn to get the wrath of BH.
Things will improve for you but you need time and a lot of it. I think you’re about a year out from your rupture. In five years, you’ll be able to do more things. I think it took me four to be able to go to the grocery store successfully. I tried the first year but I didn’t get an exact list of the few things needed. I couldn’t remember the brand or the right type, I came home with lots of different kielbasa that time and was completely overwhelmed, disoriented and confused. Some days I still have trouble especially if I go somewhere that only has self checkout. The folks that are supposed to help don’t. When I talked to a store manager about it he was really nice and gave me the district manager’s number. I was told the younger people prefer it. I suggested they get a couple for those of us who despise self checkout and have problems with it. Of course they said it came from the head office and they couldn’t change it. I rarely go to those stores by myself.
When you get your SSD, you may be able to access other programs in your county. Please don’t worry about that now. Remember one day at a time, one goal at a time. It’s rather fun for our parents to teach us again and that can make it fun for us. I started with laundry (and Mom) as I don’t much like the way BH does it, but please don’t let BH know🤣
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Yes I am just over a year… I recently read about a girl who five years ago had a stroke and now she is training to be a professional wrestler. It’s insane the work that she is doing and able to do. It gives us hope that time will heal and things will continue to get better
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Last week I had my physical with the SS nurses. There were 2 of them and they came to see me separate . The first was concerned about my stability. She asked me to put on a gown and I asked if it was necessary as my rotator cuff is bad and changing clothes is the hardest thing for me to do even though my dad was in the room with me. She said you don’t have to. I got the sense they wanted to see if I could do it and how long it would take me…
The second had me tie a knot which I could. She had me do different things to check my mobility. I did pretty good overall, but I know my condition is more mental.
This week my lower back has been bothering me, I think it has to do with the weather changing but I’m not sure. My mom said too bad this wasn’t the case
Last week when I had my appointment.
Today I go get my blood drawn for a specialist I see in 2 weeks about my potassium being low.
Then next week I go to the dentist and my dr found me a mental dr finally, I go see him for the first time next Wednesday, I look forward to it. Waiting on an appointment with my primary dr now. And my follow up about SS, which is probably a month out
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My goodness Rick, you’ve been a busy man! Sounds like they were checking both your fine and gross motor movements. Rupturing can take its toll on both. It takes a long time to get the wheels of Social Security moving when it comes to their decision. Fingers crossed it goes your way the first time!
It always amazes me the way different States work for SSD. Here in N.C. they only sent me to a mental health therapist, no doctor. I would have thought they’d send me to a Neurologist at least. I have always been confused as to why they sent me to a therapist instead. My old neighbor was sent to both a therapist and a doctor when he applied. He’d fallen through the roof of a commercial building, doing a good bit of damage to his back.
Here’s hoping your rotator cuff heals quickly so you don’t have pain when you get dressed and undressed. I’ve messed up my lower back pretty bad. Just started PT for it and she thinks it’s a disc problem but I don’t have any images for her to see. If your doctor sends you to PT, don’t forget to do the exercises they teach to help you heal!
I’m glad your doctor was able to find you someone to speak with, therapy really helps when they teach as skills we need to cope. Sounds like you and your doctor are on the ball for everything happening. Good job!
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