please give me advices for an apeal about disability

[Alysia]

Hi,
Ok, so I got an answer from the committee, the one that I requested recognition for disability from. The one with the ignorant, full of himself, disrespectful doc, who checked me only 5 min, with dismissive gestures, I wrote about it here http://www.wegeners-granulomatosis.com/forum/general-wg-chat/3830-you-don-t-look-sick-10.html
as expected, they didn't give me the 90% I aksed for, only 50% which means nothing. I was not surprised, they are known as ***** :sneaky: still I was angry :predrage: and started to write my appeal, which I can submit in 60 days.
In their answer they didn’t give any argument why I shouldn’t get more. They wrote only one line: "suffering from temporary vasculitis".
What ? since when is vasculitis temporary ?
I will be glad to get any advice as to what to include in my letter to them.
Thank you for being here. I couldn’t have made it without you :love:

[MikeG-2012]

They wrote only one line: "suffering from temporary vasculitis". What ? since when is vasculitis temporary ?

Boy, I wish it was temporary! Wouldn't that be GRAND?!?!?


I will be glad to get any advice as to what to include in my letter to them.

Perhaps you could send them a link to the VASCULITIS FOUNDATION website and maybe a couple PDFs from major university/teaching hospitals to EDUCATE them about the disease--since they obviously know NOTHING about it!

I wish you all the best Alysia!!

[Alysia]

yes, they know nothing. thanks Mike. diabetes here got 100%. they don't know what is wg so they gave me only 50%. are we less severe then diabetes ?

[pberggren1]

What did your doctor send them? Is this federal disability from the state or private insurance? You may need to get a lawyer.

[Alysia]

it is from the gov. the institute for national insurence. my doc send them an opinion over 5 pages with about 20 papers added and claimed for 90%. they didn't read it ! in their letter they write that I gave only 3 papers !

[annekat]

Good luck, Alysia. I wish I had something helpful to say. Here, if you are working full time or beyond a certain amount, you can't get the federal disability because they see that you are able to work. I don't know how much you are working, or how it is done there. Phil may be right that you need to get a lawyer. I wonder if cutting back on your hours voluntarily would help, too. A lawyer could advise you on that.

[drz]

Good luck, Alysia. I wish I had something helpful to say. Here, if you are working full time or beyond a certain amount, you can't get the federal disability because they see that you are able to work. I don't know how much you are working, or how it is done there. Phil may be right that you need to get a lawyer. I wonder if cutting back on your hours voluntarily would help, too. A lawyer could advise you on that.

Here is the USA, the attorney capital of the world, there are attorneys who specialize in anything, including social Security disability appeals. Are there any attorneys or advocates in your area to help you appeal. Some times the governmental organization that turned you down might have such a department or even personnel who can advise you. Often they expect you to appeal and tend to lean toward denial on the first attempt. If you are still gainfully employed though that will usually preclude getting a full disability finding.

[RCOSSIO]

This is maybe how they see it..."can you work in any/occ not just own/occ and the answer for the majority of Weggies is yes!" With the fraudulent abuse the OASDI has taken the last 5 years it seems to reason they are just cracking down hard on what really is a disability.

Another definition is and it is here where you do have some justification:
"The disability must also have lasted (or be expected to last) at least 12 months or be expected to result in death."

Obviously for us Weggies this BFF stays with us...FOREVER!!!! Good luck and keep us informed!

[windchime]

What Mike said for sure. Do you have a copy of what your doc sent in? If not see if you can get a copy and rebutt anything that needs it. Send those attachments one more time. I would put it all together with tabs, a table of contents and in a report folder or something similar. That way they can easily find things and it has less of a chance of getting separated and papers getting lost. Just some thoughts. I've found that most government types like things all done up pretty for them. Good luck.

[jvilner]

Good luck Alysia! My GP helps me out a lot. Get their advice.

[BookNut]

yes, they know nothing. thanks Mike. diabetes here got 100%. they don't know what is wg so they gave me only 50%. are we less severe then diabetes ?

Diabetes can often be reversed with diet and weight loss. Everything i have read about WG says it is incurable! However, there is treatment for Wegeners. Sadly, for this disrespectful doctor, there is no treatment or cure for stupid!!

I am SO sorry that you are going through this, but I know you will be able to assemble a rousing appeal. I suspect that some statements from your doctors, hospital records etc will help. I would include quotes and links from the most well regarded hospital and research facilities. In this country, I would suggest Johns Hopkins, The Mayo Clinic, and of course The Cleveland Clinic. I know there are many more. YOU GO GIRL!!!

[LisaT]

I would just add, give very specific details of what you can and can't do and for how long, eg, sleeping x number of hours plus napping in the afternoon, routines required for managing your symptoms (example tell them if you need to rinse your sinuses and use a nebulizer twice daily for total two hours), sitting in a warm bath or going for physio or whatever else takes your time and energy to manage your disease, how frequent are your appointments etc. they look at functional abilities and daily routine... When they see that after adding up everything the disease 'takes' from your day, there's not much of it left, it is harder for them to deny. I don't know how the system works in Israel, but here many people are initially denied and then succeed on appeal. In addition to sending the reading material you could tell them clearly that vasculitis is not temporary and you can expect to deal with it for life. In case they don't read the attachments. Sorry you have to go through this! It's stressful having to try to prove your illness... I hate it. You feel guilty as though you're making bit up or being lazy. They should feel guilty for causing ill people more stress.

[Titus3:2]

Alysia,you should be creative when describing what is causing you to be disabled,and there is nothing wrong with over exaggerating when doing so.Having letters from the docs in charge of your care to support your disability claim is very helpful.I am sorry that you must fight for your disability to be approved.Wishing you well.

[me2]

I'm sorry Alysia you are having trouble with this. I don't know anything about the process but if it were me I would be asking this person to back up the claim about your vasculitis being 'temporary' .
Please give the citations of even one study that shows the condition is temporary. It IS treatable but it is not temporary. Dump a load of citations on them from studies that use the term 'chronic' , 'incurable', or even the one that shows the genetic components.
If he thinks this condition is temporary the medical community and the patients who have it would be very excited to know how he makes it go away.

[Alysia]

Another definition is and it is here where you do have some justification:
"The disability must also have lasted (or be expected to last) at least 12 months or be expected to result in death."

Obviously for us Weggies this BFF stays with us...FOREVER!!!! Good luck and keep us informed!
wow, thanks. this is a serious argument to use. nice to see you around. I hope that you are feeling good.

[Alysia]

What Mike said for sure. Do you have a copy of what your doc sent in? If not see if you can get a copy and rebutt anything that needs it. Send those attachments one more time. I would put it all together with tabs, a table of contents and in a report folder or something similar. That way they can easily find things and it has less of a chance of getting separated and papers getting lost. Just some thoughts. I've found that most government types like things all done up pretty for them. Good luck.
great idea. going to do it. thanks !

[Alysia]

I would include quotes and links from the most well regarded hospital and research facilities. In this country, I would suggest Johns Hopkins, The Mayo Clinic, and of course The Cleveland Clinic. I know there are many more. YOU GO GIRL!!!
good idea. like Mike also said ! I will ! thanks !!!

[Alysia]

WOW, thanks everyone, also those that I didn't thank by relating specific to their replies :thumbsup:
I love you all very much :wub: I knew I can count on you.
so I need to make a big file, and to include, all my complaints, with exagerating (thanks Titus), and with all the papers from the docs (I have more then 20 from alll kinds of docs) and also links or articels about wg, because prob they are so ignorant :thumbdn:
I don't know if I will take an attorney, but I will check about it.
after all, I can be my best advocate. I hope.
thank you so much for your support and good words and excelent advices.
I am so blessed to have my weggie family :wub:
weggies are not only kind, sweet, and good looking but also so wise :thumbup:

[windchime]

Forgot to add highlight the important cites. That way they don't have to go searching for them. Maybe they'll actually look at a few that way. Make it as easy as you can for them. My file was 2 inches thick. Don't forget labs, scans etc.

[LisaT]

When you describe your daily activities and schedule, base it on your worst day. Not your best.

[me2]

It is the policy of most bureaucracies to deny things as a matter of policy (whether written or implied). I have had to fight many times against this . A book by Lori Todd helped me tremendously. It is about fighting insurance claims but the book is so well done it really has broader application than that. Plus Lori's personal story is very inspirational as well as the stories she shares about people she has helped. Request it from your library. If they don't have it request they get it- or order the book or ebook from Lori.

health insurance help (http://www.theinsurancewarrior.com/)

How Laurie Todd Fought Her Insurance Company and Survived | Senior Planet (http://seniorplanet.org/how-laurie-todd-fought-her-insurance-company-and-survived/)

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2741966.Laurie_Todd/blog

[Alysia]

It is the policy of most bureaucracies to deny things as a matter of policy (whether written or implied). I have had to fight many times against this . A book by Lori Todd helped me tremendously. It is about fighting insurance claims but the book is so well done it really has broader application than that. Plus Lori's personal story is very inspirational as well as the stories she shares about people she has helped. Request it from your library. If they don't have it request they get it- or order the book or ebook from Lori.

health insurance help (http://www.theinsurancewarrior.com/)

How Laurie Todd Fought Her Insurance Company and Survived | Senior Planet (http://seniorplanet.org/how-laurie-todd-fought-her-insurance-company-and-survived/)

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2741966.Laurie_Todd/blog

health insurance help (http://www.theinsurancewarrior.com/)

WOW, thanks :thumbsup:
yes, it is their unpwritten but well known policy to deny as much as they can.
the gov here is aweful. for example, just imagine how aweful they are, that the money which was sent from Germany to help Holocaust survivers, is still kept at the gov and not given to survivers, poor old and dying, the gov prob wait untill they will die and then the money will remain for the corrupt :thumbdn: