I am so sorry about your situation. I do hope that things work out. Best of luck.

Thanks thats very sweet of you.

Many people are turned down the first time.Don't let this get you.Fight for it.Reapply and you may have to get a lawyer.If so they take a small amount of the award as payment,When you do recieve the award it is dated back to the first day you applied.It takes time.Think Postive
When my husband applied years back we just went first to a disabilty lawyer.He recieved his award on the first go round.We were lucky

Cassiecass

Thank you so much for the encouragement i am hoping that they will approve me from the long term i have taken out of my check each time. I know i will have to keep appying for Social security disability when on the other. They said it would be 50 to 60% of my pay. I just need a paycheck we can not make it without one. I am hoping with the letters of all 3 doctors exspeially the specialist from cleveland clinic they will approve me. So stress i can not put into words. No control if i dont take the medicine and when i take the medicine cant drive or work. Who would hire me now? I have worked since i was 15 and held down fulltime job and parttime job for 15 years after my j pouch but now my life is turned up side down. The women i deal with on short term is not pleasent at all. The stress is making my condition worse. Just so scared. Thanks for answering me. I wish so much there were support groups for all of us. None near me no one but people who go through this really understand. My family has been wonderful and i thank god for them everyday.

Hi Frances,I from Canada and I think both Countries are pretty much the same when it comes to Long and Short Disability issues.It took me about a year and a half to finally get approved for my long term claim.It got pretty depressing some times when dealing with these heartless goons but once I had all my eggs lined up and an Iron clad positive report meaning,my doctors report enphaticcaly saying that yes I was 100% disabled because of my pouch and no longer able to do any type of work.Frances that is very very important that in your claim you make sure your doctor states that you not only can`t do your job as it were but also any kind of work.And last do a lot of crying when talking to these people tug at their heart strings I`m positive that it was my weeping over the phone,I was so frustrated by then,that they knew I wasn`t messing around.Good luck,don`t give up!!! just keep at it until you get what is rightfully yours!God bless.Let us know the good news when you get it and trust me you will eventually get it.

Thanks so much for your support. I have 2 letters from 2 of the three doctors and 1 is from the expert from Cleveland Clinic. It took a year and a half. We cant make it that long with out my income. I know i will get denied from Social security but i hope not from my employer that i pay for with every check. I have been on short term for 8 weeks now and get 65% of my pay and i will run out 8-15 i think and then they send me to long term. Im so stressed about what will happen that i cant sleep and its effecting everything in my life. wish they could live 1 week in my shoes but no one seems to understand but us. What was your reason that they said they finally gave it to you. Were you on short term before long term?
So worried if i could take that out of the picture it would solve alot of stress for me.
So happy for you.
Have a great day
Frances

Frances, I got approved by my long term disability insurance company in 2 months, I didn't file until I was out of work for 10 months and they paid me back to the last day I worked minus the waiting period. They sent out requests for records to all of my doctors and in the initial application my Internist sat down and filled her part out during one of my exams. I am in the process of them going around and updating everything to make sure I'm still unable to work.

I finally applied for social security disability and it is a horse of a different color. I am a CPA, accountant, and am use to dealing with government paper work and red tape. If you aren't use to doing this you might want to hire an experienced lawyer right off the bat. Also, some LTD insurance policies that sound like yours will help you get SSDI if it is to their benefit. Some policies pay you the % of your wages and want you to apply for SSDI as soon as possible as they get to cut the amount of $$ they pay you by the amount you receive from SSDI. If your policy is one of those your insurance company will actually help you file for SSDI. The monthly amount you receive will still be the same but from two sources. So I think you should get the insurance approval first and then worry about SSDI. A friend of mine is going through this right now.

I on the other hand had a different kind of policy that I paid for outside of the work place and is for a set amount of benefits each month. I took the policy out the end of the 80's so am now going after SSDI as I've finally convinced myself I'm not getting back to work.

Please read your work policy to see if there is a social security offset. Or ask your human resources department.

General advice for both.

Fill out everything they ask you for and ask questions if you don't understand something. I too think crying or your voice breaking up over the phone helps as well. I have done both - naturally - but didn't hold back either. I was asked if I went out to dinner, movies, church etc. I don't and have only been to one movie and out to a quick early dinner a few times. Evening is the worst time of day for me pain wise. If I didn't have medical related appointments I would probably never leave home!

After recently finishing going through all of the SSDI's hoops, I am like you waiting for approval or denial. I see no way I can be denied and have been told that by several doctors but you never know. If I get denied I am going to hire a local attorney experienced with SSDI cases and not one of the ones that advertises on TV.

I'm sorry you started having these problems after so many good pouch years. Did CC mention that you have IPS? I went to Mayo's in May and they also diagnosed me with IPS, which makes sense as I had IBS along with IBD too. I'm wondering if they diagnosed that as maybe I should try the medication you are taking.

Good Luck and let us know how things are going.