Hello all. I just got some great advice that I should ask you all how to go about getting disability for DH without him knowing. As far as he's concerned he's just fine but he is FTD. Neuro said it but wants DH to get more tests, which DH refuses. We have a 6 year old daughter so I need to keep peace in the family but also need disability. He's lost three jobs now, the first of which was his 28 year career. We are in Montana. Any advice? Thanks!
I know that we have some SSD experts out there. Is there anyone who can help Marise get started? She is in Montana and her DH is 52. As she states, "there is nothing wrong with him" in his opinion. He is not currently on Unemployment and is not able to hold a job. A neuro has told them that he has FTD. It looks to me like he should be able to quality for SSD pretty easy but I have no experience in this.
Marise really need some solid advice and pretty quickly it sounds like. I suggested to her that I remember one member who had done her own forms on the internet how might be able to help her get started.
We all know how it is to be in this situation. Knowing that we need to do something but having no idea how to get started.
I applied for SSD for my husband, answered all the questions & everything. However, even after all medical records were submitted, he still had to go for a medical & psychological testing before he was approved. My husband also has FTD, he 58 years old. Starting receiving SSD about a 1 1/2 years ago. You could start the process, however, I am sure he will need to be involved at sometime.
My husband has FTD but I didn't have to deal with his denial of the problem. He knows there is something wrong with him, but not the seriousness of it.
I filled out all of the forms online but you might have to go in to the Social Security office at some point. The forms online are pretty straightforward but time consuming to do. You will also be told which documents from you they require. I filled them out myself but did have to ask my husband a few questions regarding his work for some of the disability application questions. We did go into the Social Security Office to drop off his birth certificate, a copy of his discharge papers from the service and copies of all medical records I had in my possession. I had also typed up a letter asking about the compassionate allowances fast-track of his claim due to FTD being on the list of diseases and also enclosed copies from the SS website regarding FTD. You might be able to do this through the mail. My Social Security office is close by to we went in plus I don't have the problem of denial like you do. He was approved in 2 months and paid from 5 months after the date of his disability.
If you husband's doctor believes he has FTD and would state this in the paperwork for Social Security, you should be able to get the Disability approved pretty easily--as long as he has enough credits to be eligible. I also believe the results of neuropsych testing would be very good too. I was interviewed on the phone by a nurse for the state regarding what he could and could not do--they never asked to speak to my husband.
Once he was approved we did have to go into the office as Social Security insisted that I be his representative payee for his checks.
I'm not sure I have helped you any, but if you have any questions, you can email me at deb112958@gmail.com.
It's hard to do this without him helping. Maybe you could tell him it would be very helpful for the family as I believe since you have a little one, she would get a monthly check too until she is 18.
Since SSD also covers some disabilities which do eventually resolve (i.e.--some back injuries), perhaps he could be pursuade to go along with applying so there'd be income until "he's better" and the child would have support too. If the SSA does want a Dr. to see him, they cover the costs. When we went throught this for my hubby when he had his Mental Breakdown, I just told him the Dr. visit and any testing he did were just the paperwork hoops they require. Played that down against playing up the guaranteed income. Plaed up the idea that the pressure to "get back to work" would be off so he could concentrate on getting well. Fiblets work well sometimes.
Hmmm, I don't remember ever running into this exact problem when I worked for SSA. I would suggest you call the toll free number and ask them to have a claims representative from your local office call you. You do not want to try to get a straight answer from the toll free number; these are service representatives, some with very little actually experience. Tell them you want to talk to the local CR about filing, even make an appointment to file. Then when the local CR contacts you tell them the entire situation and ask them if there is ANY way to file. Most of the CR's will bend over backwards to try to help all they can. For a few years I worked in the Billings MT office and know they were very caring helpful individuals. Again, don't repend on anything they tell you at the toll free (or teleservice center) number. Just insist that you need to have an appt w/ a CR at your local office. (Also doesn't hurt when the CR calls for the appt to "spread it on". Tell them that you have heard so many reports about how helpful and caring they are in that office...LOL...but it does usually help them want to help you more.)
I used an attorney to help me. If denied the first time you will have to wait 2 yrs to re-apply. They do not automatically award SS benefits based on diagnosis but the functionality of the person. My husband signed the medical releases which gave our attorney authorization to get all of his medical records. He gathered all his medical records and started the process. I applied online for my husband as he could not read or write sentences. Paperwork was sent to us for both of us to complete. - I asked my husband the questions and completed my husbands portion of the paperwork. SS office said this was ok as long as I noted it on the form. SS sent my husband to one of their docs for an evaluation and then had to go in person to SS where I was assigned his representative payee. I would suggest that you talk with his physician if you husband is not accepting his condition. There are resources to help. Good luck. I know you this is tough situation and can be overwhelming but you can do it. You may also consider speaking to an elder attorney for Power of attorney, advance directives and a will if you don't have this already. Take care.
If you are denied the first time you apply DO NOT reapply from the beginning. Go through all of the appeal stages. If/When your loved one is approved you will get benefits from the date of your first application. Also with regard to FTD, this disease is one of the compassionate allowances diseases as of Oct, 2008. This allows for a fast-tracking of the application. Information on compassionate allowances can be found at
I was told that my husband was approved because of the fast-tracking of his disease through the compassionate allowances. He can do all his ADLs but cognitively he is not able to work, drive, take care of finances. His doctors were all on board when I applied. I also made a point of giving them the information regarding compassionate allowances as not all of the employees are really up to date on everything. The DDS (Disability Determination Service) for your state does the actual approval/denial--not the local office.
Also, I noticed that there is a Compassionate Allowance Outreach Hearing on Early Onset Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias in Chicago on July 29, 2009. I couldn't find any detailed information about it though.
It seems the problem here isn't filing or being approved but getting the application filed w/out his knowlede/permission. SSA doesn't recognize power of attorney (which we that worked with the public always thought was plain dumb) so you will need to complete as much of the paperwork yourself and then either convince him to sign once all the apps and forms are completed or find some way to get it done without his signature. Talking to an elder law atty or elder services in your community might help. They may have run across this particular problem before and be able to help you through it. If he were further along in the process you could file for legal guardianship (SSA does recognize guardianship). (We used to call it "presumptive disability" rather than compassionate allowance. In the presumptive disability the payments would start almost imediately, and if later the person was determined not to e disabled they did not have to repay any of the benefits paid during the presumptive disability time.)
Marise, I was wondering if you have gotten a chance to look into SS benefits. I have Friday off for the 4th holiday so I am looking forward to a 3-day weekend. I hope that the full moon doesn't put a damper on things.