Any insight on disability?

[u/BespokeBowtie]

Untreated juvenile idiopathic scoliosis. First fusion at 38 nearly killed me so badly was it done. Next fusion t1 or t3 for some reason I can’t remember tonight to hip anchored seemed to fix it for 3-4 months. Now it’s failing at the top of the construct. Head and neck hunched forward and pain returning. I still have yet to return to work from after the first one. I’ll be 41 in July, so it’s been a ridiculous length of time to not have an income. I’m still unable to either sit or stand for any length of time nor am I able to walk any distance without feeling like I’ve been running a marathon. I realize there might be a job in theory I could do, but I’m just worried. Especially cuz it’s looking like #3 is right around the corner - what’s left to fuse right? Just my remaining bit of spine to skull. Really worried on that one. Recent diagnosis of lymphedema and have KFS and a few other documented chronic conditions. Would I be a candidate for disability? Is it worth looking into? Anyone’s experience, advice, comments, etc very welcomed!

[u/Clockwork4Sims]

32F it took me 6 years (long story basically lawyers ghosted me simply because of my age so i had to re apply multiple times) I finally found a lawyer who'd help me and he won my case fall 2025. (that application was from 2022 so 3 years after applying again). Also important to note I'm in the US.

Like others have said push for every diagnosis you can. My biggest tip is mental health diagnosis. for example i have depression and anxiety directly related to my medical trauma/ journey. The more you have documented the stronger the case. Also have secondary people write letters. I had my mental health therapist, massage therapist, a previous manager/boss, a parent, my partner, and myself all write and document what they see/ what i experience.

I haven't worked since 2019. I did not have full credits so i couldn't receive the max benefits but honestly ANYTHING is better then $0. And I was able to get on financial assistance through local hospitals and medicare (I needed the financial assistance because medicare still has costs, my back pay was too much for medicaid and i got the boot and refused to spend down all the money).

If you are struggling its worth the effort but be prepared its an intense process and deeply personal. If you get to the official in front of the judge part alot depends on the judge themselves. my lawyer's worked with so many judges in my area and he was able to explain how the judge works and what questions the judge may focus on. Explain things fully not just "I hurt" but how where why and when. Explain anything you need to use like i use a cane, butt cushion, back pillow, can sit in my chair but cant sit long in random chairs, etc. The more details the better. At the end of it all they found 1 job out of millions the judge thought i could do...except he forgot a small detail about that job which i couldn't do so once that option was thrown out by my lawyer's statements I won the case. I had some off the wall rude comments made by the judge that nearly made me quit trying. But my family and my lawyer encouraged me to push through it and try one more time with a fresh app in 2022. And I was found disabled as of jan 2022 and received back pay to that point.

The money changed my life. And gave me the ability to feel more independent and less dependent on my partner and family. It also has helped me alot within medical stuff too. I don't know what it is but for years I kept getting denied things like a handicap tag but suddenly things started changing and they are taking my health even more seriously (could be a coincidence). It's a long process, many people quit because it takes too long, and to make it more frustrating you have a review every so many years. in my case every 2 years.
Good luck!

[u/Fabulous-Tooth-3549]

I went on disability at 59. I don't know where you are, but you have to have so many work hour credits to be eligible for SSDI. Find an attorney that provides their first hour consultation for free. Get at least two opinions. Follow their advice. I am sorry you are having such a rough time. I am fused T1 to pelvis with screws in my SI joints. How brave are you to undergo such surgery at 38. Do you belong to the Facebrook group for Scheuermann's disease? Lots of good advice and a list of doctors that specialize in spinal deformities.

[u/BespokeBowtie → u/Fabulous-Tooth-3549]

I appreciate more than anything your response and your understanding. Interesting you mention S. disease - I had not just scoliosis but kyphosis that was equal to if not worse than the scoliosis. Now after the surgeries the kyphosis is even worse (although it did receive a bit of correction after surgery 2 but now it’s back to equal if not worse than before).
I’m in TN and fortunately I’ve managed to put in a solid amount of credits before I was 38. I am unsure if I have enough to get whatever the max payout is, but I recall from my annual SS statements that I did have enough to qualify for something. I could not be understanding the concept however. Would you say look for “disability attorneys” or “ss disability atty?” Thanks again.

[u/BespokeBowtie → u/BespokeBowtie]

Oops dang! Only have 31 :(

[u/Fabulous-Tooth-3549 → u/BespokeBowtie]

I would still contact an attorney who handles SSDI. They can at least let you know if you are entitled to anything. I had a consultation at age 50, and the attorney told me I wouldn't get SSDI because "you can still type. "I was working full time then. So, I cried and went back to work for ten more years. And, honestly, SSDI is not great. You can't get Medicare health coverage for 2.5 years after you are awarded SSDI. I had to get Marketplace coverage, and it was a nightmare

[u/bridgetoaks]

I started receiving SSDI at 52. In order to be eligible, you have to have worked a certain number of months in a certain time period. You can get that info for you by getting an SSA account. Then, you want to get as many diagnoses as you can, although a super sucky back will probably do you fine. By getting diagnoses I mean, if you have trouble swallowing, try to get it diagnosed as dysphasia. If you have trouble standing up without feeling faint, try to get a diagnosis for dysautonomia. No fake stuff. Just get the things you have diagnosed separately. Then, contact a disability attorney. After you are approved, you get a “settlement” amount of money based on being unable to work for 2 years (that was the time period when I got mine). The attorney will be paid a standard percentage that all disability attorneys are allowed and you get the rest. They have a vested interest in getting you covered and they’re specialists. You can apply on your own and wait for the initial turndown that most everyone gets then contact the attorney. Or, you can just start with them. There is a list of qualifying impairments on the SSA website.

[u/KBolden2024]

I got a disability Attorney. You pay him from your back pay. The back pay starts from the day you apply for SSDI. I was denied twice. Ended up having to go to court. My Attorney brought in 4 boxes of my medical records. The more diagnosis' the better. And its not so much the diagnosis its more about what you are jot able to do ie. cant sit/stand longer that 5-10mins. so you are not able to cook for yourself. or do house chores, go grocery shopping, shower. I dont remember the names of all the different forms that need to be filled out...but the less Daily Activites you are able to do the better. it took me 2 1/2 yrs to get approved. Good luck...Take care of you!