Here are some ducks to put in your row.

1) Have a good paper trail. The more different doctors who can write a statement saying you can no longer work, the better. I had five, including a psychiatrist who wrote that he was surprised I was applying for disability because I was so determined to keep working.

2) Have a boss who is threatening to fire you because of your increasing inability to perform all the duties of your position. They are asked to fill out a form about you when you apply as to how well or poorly you are doing at your job due to your increasing problems.

3) Be in the middle of an exacerbation and have the SS worker fill out the application for you...over the phone. (this is what happened to me)

When I was awarded SSD on the first attempt, I was depressed. I didn't think I was that bad off. I thought a person had to be practically bedridden to get approved.

Denial is not a river in Egypt. LOL

Here is a great link to start your research.

http://www.socialsecurity.gov/pgm/disability.htm

You can find out any and all requirements on the SS website.....ms is a for sure thing. I couldn't get it until I quite my job, thus leaving me without ANY money for 7 months. GOOD LUCK!

I was approved the first time when I was 53. I was secondary progressive and using a power chair full time. I was working only part-time, but was extremely fatigued afterward. I asked my neuro if she thought I would be approved,, and she told me I would have most likely qualified several year earlier. I wasn't ready then, but was definitly ready when I applied. Although I miss the interaction with people, I don't miss getting ready each morning to go to work or coming home completely wiped out. Make sure your docs agree with you, and take time filling out the application to make sure your answers are complete and explanative. Good luck!

I was denied 3 times because I HAD to keep working while I was filing for disability. I kept getting denied because I was working but how could I live if I didn't work. Rent had to be paid and I had to eat. So finally I got fired again because of too many dr appointments and they wrote a letter stating that. And I hired a lawyer. I finally won but didn't get any back pay. I still have all those medical bills ruining my credit.

SS looks at the mri's of spine, neck and brain, they decide from there, if you can't do your current job than you are disabled, You have to be not working for 6 mos , the money is retroactive to the day you go out