u/BugsyBelle

I feel this process is meant to break a person. I finally finished filling out a couple paper forms they sent me by hand. It took me three days of writing in one minute increments because I’m in a terrible flare up. But ok, that part is done. I can move on.

On that form it stated to go to
http://www.socialsecurity.gov/adultdisabilityreport/
To fill out my adult disability report. That’s the functional portion.

That link takes me to the page that gives me the option of starting a new application (which I know I’m not supposed to do) or access my current application. When I put in my Social Security number and my application re-entry number all I get is an error saying “we cannot process your request.” I’ve tried using a different browser and clearing my browsing history, but that hasn’t helped.

I feel like every step is an obstacle and it’s causing me to flareup even more from my condition. The idea of waiting on hold again for 2 hours makes me want to pull my hair out.

How the heck am I supposed to access this form?
And thank you for letting me vent.

There is a section on this form that says please attach all of your self-employment tax returns. And then it gives you two options to check off.

1. I have enclosed my tax returns.
2. I do not have tax returns. For any years that you do not have tax returns, use the chart below to tell us about your total annual gross and net self-employment income.

I DO have my tax return. However, it will be difficult to get somewhere to print and then try to fit it into the tiny envelope they supply us with. Can I still check-mark the first option and put a note in the remarks section that I will be faxing it instead? Is that OK? I’m so scared I’ll do something wrong and get denied from a simple error.

I feel like this is going to be an ongoing issue. They’ll ask me to enclose or send something, but it would be way easier to fax it. How lenient are they with that?

Filling out paperwork has been excruciating too. I have a condition that makes it incredibly painful to try to sit up and write. I’ve had to fill out all of the paperwork in three minute increments. My heart goes out to anybody else who has had to do this in a ton of pain.

After completing my application I saw that even though we list our drs/clinic information SSA still asks us to submit all of our records ourselves. I have a condition called the functional neurological disorder that causes my neck to be locked up in a spasm during a flare up pretty much any time I’m not laying down. I’ve made some progress and I have had ups and downs for a few years, but I’ve been in a flareup and borderline bedridden for about five months now. So I decided it was time for me to actually apply. Unfortunately, it’s not a very well-known condition and it doesn’t show up on tests and MRIs so I’m assuming it will be difficult to be approved for the first time around.

It’s also exacerbated by stress. I feel like putting myself through the mental and physical strain of trying to gather all my medical records and somehow get to someplace where I can send them in, or even sit up at a computer for only three minutes at a time will be incredibly taxing. Almost to the point where it will set back my recovery time even more. I’ve seen 16 providers and have been doing physical therapy biweekly for 2 1/2 years now. So I have a ton of documents.

What would the benefit be of putting myself through the process of sending in all those documents? I’m trying to weigh the pros and cons of it. If I’m going to get denied initially anyway, and have to pay a lawyer to submit all those documents for me, I don’t know if it would be worth putting my body through the strain of it the first time around.