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SSDI - mistreated - 07-11-2008 11:09 PM
My husband has his SSDI Hearing this month. The letter from Social Security says there will be a Vocational Expert will be at the Hearing. OK-what is that? And what are they there for?
RE: SSDI - lfoster21 - 07-11-2008 11:19 PM
The expert is there to tell the Judge, if he believes he could find you a job. (Not that he will be the person to find you a job, just in his opinion...are you hireable). The Judge will refer to this specialist, to help determine if you are elegible for SS, being that SS is only for those who can not work anymore.
When I went to my hearing, for SSDI, there was the judge, my lawyer, a voc. expert and myself. 1st, my lawyer gave a brief over all of my situation. Then he asked me specific questions about my health and restrictions. Then the Judge asked me specific questions and finally, the judge asked the voc. specialist, if after hearing the evidence...did he have any questions for me. After all questions were answered, the Judge asked the expert if after hearing all my answers and the evidence, did he think he could find me any type of job and if so...what were his suggestions for me to go back to work.
If you have other specific questions, please feel free to ask me.
RE: SSDI - mistreated - 07-12-2008 11:30 AM
Sorry for all the questions but we have waited 2 years for this Hearing and we are both really nervous. My husband has Spinal Stenosis and DDD. He had neck (Hardware added) in Sept. 07 The surgery helped, but now he is unable to move his neck, like to drive or anything. Also this month after is Hearing it is already scheduled his Ortho/Neuro. is fusing his L3-L4. This is to help (hopefully) with pain and the left side movement. My husband is in chronic pain management and takes Morphine Sulfate ER every day and also LoraTabs@4hrs, and Flexeril. This does not stop the pain and so he lives in around a 6-7 all the time. The last denial from SSDI from the appeal before this one said the disease qualify but because he can still move his arms and legs he didn't qualify. This was 13 months ago and now he has been put on a walker every day and we have a wheel chair as needed. Also he has braces on both arms now because after the neck surgery the Ortho ordered a nerve conduction test and is showed he has dead nerves in his arms and carpal tunnel in both hands. The morphine keeps him confused I mean he couldn't count change as a cashier even due to this. He drove long haul for 15 years, has no other training. No formal education. He has not worked since 07-06 when the Dr. put him off work. We are just worried what they will say that he can do. Thank you for your kindness and help.
RE: SSDI - Bad Boy Bad Boy - 07-12-2008 12:37 PM
Had neck (Cervical) surgery in which areas?
Also, one that lives in pain, will get the brain stuck. What that means is this. Pain every day for so long, so even if the pain ever became less, the person would not know it, because the brain wants to think they should be in pain. When that happens, getting of the morphine and reducing to a lower pain med would be the start. Then Anti-depression medication is then used to now alter the brain, and let it start working normal again. I had to perform this, for I was living in pain everyday. I have had a 3 level cervical fusion, then that was removed and now have a 6 level fusion, with rods going from C3 to T1. But I can turn my head and neck, not as good as before but it does turn.
RE: SSDI - mistreated - 07-12-2008 01:57 PM
His neck was C4 C5 fusion. He can turn but not well enough to drive, can't look back over shoulder well. He was on 60 mg Kadian, and have been off of it for 6 weeks. He didn't like the way it made hime feel-had been on it for 2 years. He is only been back on the morphine sulfate er for about 2 weeks. PM Dr tried to control the pain on Flexeril and Neurontin with Hydro codones. But when his pain is bad his blood pressure is out of control. His blood pressure was out of control. So they are now trying the Morphine.
RE: SSDI - Bad Boy Bad Boy - 07-12-2008 02:44 PM
The fix for the medication as I was told is this. Ask him to see what the PM doctor says.
I was Occupation doctor's. Tried differt meds. They said the ones that will work are a combo. It's 2 tylenol#3 and 1 5mg valium. Take all 3 at the same time. The rear effect is once combined it then give off a morpine affect. But if you think about it, your getting three working agent, a lower dosing, getting relaxed and pain control all in one.
Now I can't turn my head over my shoulder, this is where your husband Truck driving time, and mine come into play, we don't need to turn around we use mirrors to see behind us... They will know that a SSDI. Don't use can't turn head over shoulders for an excuse. Careful...
I also have Nerve damge in my right arm, I can't feel heat or money with my hand, if I touch a lit BBQ grill I won't know it's hot till I smell skin burning. But one can retrain their brain, to focus on the hand and arm, and with pratice it will work for him.
It's just going to take every bit of his will power. He needs to catch up to his now new body and functions. If not, put him in bed and leave him there, for that in time will be all he will want to do. He has to move and also keep doing the neck PT at home for life, I'm sure they told him that also...But 1 Cervical fusion is crippling to him. He will function if he wants to, but not till then.
RE: SSDI - mistreated - 07-12-2008 05:30 PM
OK but the original question was any idea what the Voc. person can recommend for work for my husband?
RE: SSDI - Bad Boy Bad Boy - 07-12-2008 05:37 PM
Yes, any kind of work not related to driving a truck sounds like it would be on his list. He can do dispact and things like that. He may not have a lot of other work experence in other fields, but they could find him workable. I hope you are using a social security attorney to help him with that. You just may need one.
RE: SSDI - lfoster21 - 07-12-2008 07:43 PM
I agree with needing a lawyer that specializes in SS. I know that it will take away from a bit of your winnings, but it is so difficult to win, that it is worth every penny (& they don't charge you anything unless you win).
For me, I was found to have a "fully favorable" award. When I got the letter about the hearing, it said that if you were unable to drive to the location, to send back the form and they could make it closer to where I lived. I did that, since I can not drive, and the Judge called me and it was obvious that he did not believe me to not be able to drive and he would not change the location. So, in the hearing, one of the questions was how I got to the hearing. I could honestly tell him that I took a bus to the train, the train to the next state over, and a taxi cab from there. I tell you that, because they will try to catch you exagerating things. When I said that my Dr. has me on a 5 lb. weight restriction, the Judge asked me how much I thought my purse weighed and the expert leaned over to pick it up...they were suprised again, when I explained that I had to go to a small bag that goes over my shoulder like a back pack...so that I don't lift it. So, just listen carefully to the questions, as some are meant to get you to say things that go against what your Dr. has said.
The 2 things that got me approved, because I see a therapist and I have bladder dysfunctions. Both things were extrememly embarassing to have to talk about, but had I not mentioned them...I would not have won the case. This is where the lawyer came in handy, he knew I would be embarassed, so he asked me the questions, so that I would just have to answer him instead of havingto explain the entire problem to the Judge. If your husband has ever seen a therapist...make sure you bring that up. Most cases that get accepted, have had therapy somewhere a long the line. If he hasn't, he may want to, prior to your hearing. Anyone who suffers with chronic pain, will understandably have some sort of depression, anxiety etc.
As for a job, if there is any limb that works, they often say you can get a job. My brother was in a wheel chair, becasue he has a bone deteriation disease, and he was denied, saying that many people work, while in a wheel chair. So, if your husband uses a walker now, he is more likly to get SS, if they do not think that he will end up in a wheel chair. It is harder to find a job, when your arms are needed for a cane or walker.
Good luck and let us know how it works out.
RE: SSDI - AQA - 07-12-2008 08:06 PM
An attorney handling a SS claim can only charge 25% of back pay, up to $5300.00.
As far as the initial question. What kind of work can he do????? Voc rehab would be involved with training for the job.
With that being said, I can move both my legs and arms. quess what??? I qualified for SSDI. As I am am typing this, I am also reading the form that my treating dr (neuro-surgeon) filled out and I sent to SSA. The issue of whether or not I was employable was based on the issue of standing and sitting. I can not do either for an extended period of time.
I did not have to have a hearing to get approved. If I were you, I would be very pro-active in the situtation. I would contact the treating dr. and get some type of report and response to the question. Does he/she think your husban should apply for SSDI. I woudls also submit that info at the hearing.
Take Care