I have searched the forum for answers but not really turning up what I need. I would like to know what questions the SSDI judge asked you and how you may have responded to any of the tricky ones.
I am quite concerned about going to the hearing because the stress of it will reactivate my EBV latent virus (the little sumbitches who are wrecking my life) and I am going to be very ill that night with flu-like symptoms and freezing and burning up, and I am going to go into a crash for days/weeks/longer?
Any advice is appreciated.
I went through this and obtained disability on appeal. It took several years.
First, know that you must have a MD or DO (no NPs/PAs allowed) who has been seeing you for at least 6 months.
You also need to have a disability lawyer, it will make a huge difference in boosting your chances.
Here is the SSA instructions on CFS:
https://www.ssa.gov/disability/professionals/documents/64-063.pdf
The bottom line is that CFS, despite the fact that 75% of people are totally disabled by it, is not an automatically qualifying condition. So you have to prove that you aren't able to work. This is much harder than having
a qualifying condition. Proving you aren't able to work means that you have to document your pain, fatigue, exercise ability and inability to work using a diary. You need to have letters of support from people who can observe you (ie. His room is very messy (supports not having enough energy to clean), he had to give up his pet, he sleeps all day...
I recommend you sign up with this website and follow her instructions.
http://disabilitykey.com/
This free site is excellent:
https://www.meaction.net/2017/04/17/the-sleepy-girl-guide-to-social-security-disability-u-s/
It says to check your RFC forms for mistakes.
If you tell the judge anything contradictory or if he sees anything contradictory he will deem you not credible and ignore your evidence. This can include.
- Listing a hobby that contradicts your stated work capacity. Ie. My hand is crippled but I can bowl or I can't walk a mile but I like to go birdwatching.
- Saying you can't sit for more than 20 minutes but then sitting in the room for 30 minutes.
- Are you saying you have photophobia but aren't wearing sunglasses in the hearing room?
If you have chronic pain I strongly recommend you see a neuropsychologist who can test and diagnose you. Chronic pain without a medically verifiable cause will qualify you automatically under Somatoform Disorders. Be sure to tell them all about the diseases you think you have, possible causes, infections, etc. They will think you are crazy and give you this diagnosis which is an automatic win.
Disability wants to deny you. They will try every trick in the book to do it.
Here's the mentality you're up against.
http://www.wbrz.com/news/stage-4-cancer-patient-denied-disability-insurance/
and
Here's a website where you can look up the areas and judges:
https://www.disabilityjudges.com/state
Oh and plan for a long appeals process. Get into public housing to save money, etc. Write off medical bills and mileage against your budget, etc. One trick to get a speedier appeal is to write a letter to the judge (have your lawyer read it first) stating that you are suicidal and/or under financial crisis due to (homelessness, etc). They have to speed it up. Don't lie, be able to support everything you say. Remember, make a strong case and don't contradict yourself.