Disability and the works

Let me just start off by saying that if you have Rheumatoid Arthritis and your not on disability, ask your Rheumy about it. I'm not encouraging this. I am just saying if you need it, apply for it. Because by the time they approve you, you will really need it. This is exactly what my dr. told me and he could not have been more right. It took 4 years and 3 months to get it and by the time I got it I did need it. Let me just tell you the steps to go thru:

1.    Get a good lawyer  -  with this I mean a real good lawyer. One that will sit down with you and do it on a contengency basis. That way he gets paid when you get paid. You can let him handle the stress and the million and one questions that SS is gonna ask. 

2.    Don't do it   --   don't try to do this by yourself, I speak from experience. You will be a mess from all the questions. With a lawyer, they will talk to him an you don't have to worry about this.He is gonna take care of it.

3.    Court   --   If you have to go to court, such as I. It's really not as bad as it seems. They have a lady that is there to ask you questions, the judge will ask you some questions, very direct. Your attorney will be there with you and he will ask you questions. It is all very formal, but is over quickly.

4.    Don't lie   --  When you go into court, don't lie about your condition. Tell them the truth, no matter what. Your attorney can explain the truth, he can't explain a blatant lie. If all you can pick up is a jug of milk then the judge that is all you can pick up.

5.     Dress   --   I know this is a no brainer, but don't go in there looking like somthing that just hopped off the street. Wear what you might wear to a nice party or to church. You only have this one chance and very little time to make an impression on the judge.

6.     Pray   --   This is the only way your gonna withstand all the is pressure. I can sit and tell you don't worry about it. But it will not do any good. You need to pray that God will go before and make a way for you. He will but you have to pray and have faith.

I hope that this has helped someone in some way. I wish that someone would have helped me a long the way somewhere. I have been there and done this and yeah, it really sucks to have to sit and wait on a decision, but that is simply the way it is. I know if you live in Mississippi, they have called judges in from out of state to listen to cases because their back up was so bad. I wish the best of luck to you all.