I wanted to update my disability status. I was approved in two months. I read a ton of responses about disability from this site and I fully expected to be denied. The only thing that may have worked in my favor was my age and the fact that my MRI on 7-1-14 showed a new lesion and continuing demyelination. I did want all of you filing to know that I followed the info. provided by the MS Society. It is a big booklet that walks you through the entire process. I did everything they said and also wrote about 8 pages of a personal narrative, being brutally honest about my daily life and what I could not do as a teacher. I also had my therapist, primary care dr., and sister write letters. I am extremely grateful for this decision and thank God every day.

Is your Dr. on board? Anyone who gets upset because you can't work because of MS - is pretty stupid! Who the hell would rather have forced retirement with MS over being able to continue to live your life and work disease free!!!! Remember - we usually "look good!" They have NO IDEA what an MS life is really like :)

I started teaching at age 45. I went to college, worked part time and got my degree and license. Two years later I was diagnosed. Only taught 9 years total. I never EVER thought it would force me to retire. I had a bad relapse in 2012 and it put me out for almost two months. My MS attacks my vision. I noticed I was experiencing severe cognitive issues, more fatigue, depression and muscle weakness. Leaving was the hardest thing I've ever done in my life. I am single, no children, just two dogs, and I put everything into my job because I loved it. I made it through the year, but I had a wonderful sister who helped me on the weekends. I lost almost 40 pounds because I was too tired to eat when I got home or I was in bed at 5:30. I worked with people who were my family and leaving them seemed impossible. My life was horrible enough while working that I was relieved when it was over. Unfortunately, I paid a high price after wearing myself down and being under so much stress getting the stuff together for SSDI. One day in August I called my therapist, someone who I had been seeing for about 5 years and who had written a strong letter to SSDI on my behalf. She had died and I didn't know. They were trying to get in touch with her patients. That threw me over the edge and I went into a deep depression. Stayed in bed for five days and one day I got up, called a new therapist and a psychiatrist. I knew I had something more than MS depression going on. With the help of meds, therapy, my sister and my friends, I am on my way to dealing with this new life. The MOST important thing I can tell you is be prepared. Retiring is hard enough when it is time - but retiring when you are not ready is much harder. Give yourself time to re-do your life. Let yourself grieve. Don't push hard to move onto something else until you feel ready. Pick up the phone and stay in touch with your friends from work, make lunch/dinner dates. My boss was great - his sister has MS. I have taken this time to become a stronger person spiritually, learn how to relax, do little jobs on my house that I have neglected, and research some mentoring programs for volunteer work. I was blessed to receive disability retirement and SS disability. It is much less than my working income, but I can live on it. I strongly believe that I would rather deal with this depression about leaving my job and friends than to deal with the question of financially supporting myself. I am still able to be in my home and I can't do a lot of things I used to, but maybe that's a good thing. I have worked like a crazy person my entire adult life and maybe now it is meant for me to slow down and enjoy all the simple things that I love. Don't worry, I'm not at all healed or this optimistic every single day - but I know it will work out - no reason for it not to!! Please stay in touch - want this to work out for you :)

I started with the county and retirement/disability. Just filled out their forms notifying that I was retiring. The retirement amounts change depending on whether you are eventually approved for SSDI. I set up an appt. with Social Security for July. That gave me plenty of time to get everything together for them. I chose not to file on-line because I have difficulty with computer work sometimes. I used a booklet that the MS Society has on filing for disability. I wrote the personal narratives they recommended and explained everything in detail - from how I felt the minute I got up, through my day, and into sleeping. I was brutally honest about how I did not function at work and the hours I spent every weekend to try and catch up - even though that proved impossible too. Check out that booklet - you can download it. Let me know if I can answer any questions - happy to help, if I can.

@A MyMSTeam Member not true they do not get a monthly cut,it is a % of the lump sum you receive from back dues. Did you apply and receive it?

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