To discuss applying for social security disability, it may be helpful to know a bit about my background. I am fairly intelligent, have 2 years of college, am pretty quick to pick things up, and love doing research— and yet despite all this, had trouble understanding and applying for SS Disability. It is a complicated and confusing process. The fact I have Parkinson’s Disease (PD) didn’t make it any easier.

Resources I used

To understand the application process, I made use of many resources, including:
1 State Vocational Rehab Office
2 Regional Social Security office and
3 The free email newsletter from disabilitydigest.com

Disability Digest (DD) is a very useful resource. Specifically, the information I got from them helped me make sense of the byzantine application process. In addition, they provided many free resources (such as workshops and interviews) to help me deal with the disability itself.

Because the application process is so complicated, many are overwhelmed by it. Although I was able to apply for SSD on my own, DD offers a free consultation with an attorney on your claim. This can be very helpful to understand what Social Security needs and expects from you when you apply, which can simplify the process and increase your chances of having your claim approved quickly.

Their newsletter is free, and even though my claim was approved almost two years ago, I still subscribe to it- it is that helpful. I highly encourage you to subscribe by visiting:

In brief, the more medical documentation you have on the effect your disability has on your ability (or lack of) to work, the more favorably your claim will be viewed. A free consultation with an attorney specializing in disability claims can help to organize your claim, and give you an objective view of your chances of success.

The Application Process

When I applied online on the Social Security website, a phone interview was scheduled with a Social Security representative, despite the fact I live only five minutes from the regional office. Much to my surprise, he was kind, empathetic and very helpful, and explained what the next steps of the process were.

Once this interview determined my eligibility, a Minnesota State reviewer determined my actual medical status, based on examinations by doctors arranged and paid by Social Security.

Since I had done very little doctoring for my disability, there was little or no paper trail in my medical file indicating visits to a psychologist for depression, or even much for the Parkinson’s itself. Not having much in the way of medical insurance at the time, I had the diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease confirmed by a movement disorders specialist. (paid for out of pocket)

Because I listed depression on my SS application, I was assigned an appointment with a psychologist, in addition to an exam with a Social Security arranged MD. The MD verified I did have Parkinson’s, and the psychologist that I had mild depression.

The psychologist started by asking me why I thought I shouldn’t have to work. I told him I wanted to work, and was actively looking & training for it, but didn’t think I could work more than part time at best, due to the limitations of PD.

My best advice is to be totally honest, and draw a careful distinction in your answers between how you feel when your medications are working… and how you feel when they aren’t. In other words, don’t answer based on …”here’s how I am when the medications are ON,” but rather, “here’s how I feel when the medications are Off,” which is a more accurate read of your true condition.

You may also want to explain what % of the time your medications are OFF, or not working.

While it is natural to want to explain how your disability makes you feel, concentrate instead on reporting what you are unable to do physically, mentally & emotionally AND what you NEED in a work situation, such as being unable to sit or stand for extended periods of time, needing a quiet work environment, etc—in other words, how the disability actually impacts your availability to work.

My claim is approved

I began the application process in late August 2008 and was approved in February 2009, starting with a check for January 2009. I have to confess that I anxiously walked to the mailbox mail every day, hoping I would receive my approval letter. It was one of the most stressful times of my life, and anything you can do to speed up your application approval is worth considering.

In addition to the two exams, my State Rehab counselor sent a professional letter detailing the impact of my disability on my availability to work. He helped me determine what I was and was not able to do. He also helped me realize working in an office in my home was a definite advantage because it is quiet, I can stand or sit when I like and use the restroom as needed. I highly recommend that you ask your Rehab counselor to write a similar brief letter to SS.

If I had it to do all over again, I would have taken advantage of the free consultation with a disability attorney, as this would have helped me understand the process better and provide the medical evidence Social Security is looking for. As it was, my claim was approved pretty quickly, but many of those stressful walks to the mailbox to look for my approval letter would have been avoided, if it hadn’t taken me a month or two to understand the process and what they are looking for.

Again, I highly recommend signing up for Disability Digest’s very helpful free newsletter below.