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Today I'm thinking about how getting disability benefits is so much harder if you don't have access to financial resources and/or good insurance.
I'm currently filling out a short questionnaire to evaluate whether they're going to initiate a full medical review.
I have 30 days to complete it (minus the time it took getting delivered, thanks this administration)
I have 30 days to complete it (minus the time it took getting delivered, thanks this administration)
My dad is helping me with the form, and also we're getting a letter from my GP summarizing my current health issues and reasons why I can't work.
But if you're going to a free clinic? Lol those doctors mostly do not have time for this kind of paperwork.
But if you're going to a free clinic? Lol those doctors mostly do not have time for this kind of paperwork.
Like I consider myself lucky that I have found a psychiatrist I don't hate who takes my insurance
But she's part of a big hospital system so if it's pretty impersonal, and her office explicitly does not provide documentation for disability benefits or worker's comp
But she's part of a big hospital system so if it's pretty impersonal, and her office explicitly does not provide documentation for disability benefits or worker's comp
Also, it usually takes a week or two (at best) to schedule an appointment with a doctor, plus then they have to write a letter and get it to you. Within 30 days is pushing it. https://twitter.com/UntoNuggan/status/1321887291883855872?s=19
Insurance doesn't pay for doctors to write letters to help you stay on disability benefits, or fill out pre-authorization forms for expensive medications, or write a letter to HR about what accommodations you need to work
Last time I had a medical review, I had to meet in person with a private contractor hired by social security to evaluate my mental health, because I didn't have a psychiatrist willing to write a letter on my behalf. https://twitter.com/pyrrhl/status/1321889185314283521?s=19
In my area, if I wanted to see a private psychiatrist it would cost roughly $400-500 for an initial consultation and roughly $175-200 for every follow up visit. Plus I'd probably have to pay them for time spent writing a letter documenting my disability.
Consider how much harder it is for marginalized people to get a doctor to believe that we're actually sick. Consider how many doctors are loud about patient being "malingerers" or "anxious"
Now consider how hard it is to find a Dr who will document that you're too sick to work
Now consider how hard it is to find a Dr who will document that you're too sick to work
What happens if you have an HMO and the doctor won't refer you to a specialist so you can simply get a diagnosis
Much less ask that specialist to document how that condition affects your ability to work
Much less ask that specialist to document how that condition affects your ability to work
People think qualifying for disability is purely about how disabled you are
But a lot of it comes down to if you can pay for a lawyer, or fancy tests, or how privileged you are (wrt race, class, gender, sexual orientation, etc etc)
But a lot of it comes down to if you can pay for a lawyer, or fancy tests, or how privileged you are (wrt race, class, gender, sexual orientation, etc etc)
When I went in for my disability review, the interviewer said he was going to tell SSA I was "very honest"
I mean, I am? But also we all know white people get the benefit of the doubt, and I am 100% certain white privilege played a role in my disability review going well
I mean, I am? But also we all know white people get the benefit of the doubt, and I am 100% certain white privilege played a role in my disability review going well
Exactly this. For every test and scan and durable medical equipment and pre-authorization and accommodations letter. https://twitter.com/loafingcactus/status/1321893578549972992?s=19
One of the questions on my mini disability review questionnaire is about whether I've been to a doctor since my last review, when, and what for
But if you're too sick to go to a doctor regularly or have med trauma or can't afford it? https://twitter.com/JentoInfinity/status/1321894907515150337?s=19
But if you're too sick to go to a doctor regularly or have med trauma or can't afford it? https://twitter.com/JentoInfinity/status/1321894907515150337?s=19
[disability benefits]
My friend applied for disability benefits and while they were waiting for the endless bureaucracy, they went on a bucket list trip before they became too disabled to go. Wheelchairs were involved.
The judge used this as proof they were still able to work
My friend applied for disability benefits and while they were waiting for the endless bureaucracy, they went on a bucket list trip before they became too disabled to go. Wheelchairs were involved.
The judge used this as proof they were still able to work
[disability benefits]
Yup there are all sorts of reasons for not getting medical treatment, but social security just assumes it's because you're not "really disabled" https://twitter.com/JentoInfinity/status/1321897331504123906?s=19
Yup there are all sorts of reasons for not getting medical treatment, but social security just assumes it's because you're not "really disabled" https://twitter.com/JentoInfinity/status/1321897331504123906?s=19
