When I was 2 years old, my mother has been diagnosed with lyme. She got very sick at times, and my father couldn't handle it all and..... left. My mother was pregnant at the time with my little brother. I haven't seen my father since, and he never saw his other son.

As a single mother, usually very ill, she did her best to bring us up as she could. She couldn't hold a steady job and only worked for months at a time. She tried to find a partner a few times, but nobody wanted such a sick woman, with 2 kids and so many problems.

So she's alone now. She's all we got. She struggled immensely. We didn't get any financial aid from nowhere, never. We didn't know where to turn to, she didn't have medical insurance so she didn't have a solid medical record.

Now she's 54, very ill, not on any medication, completely unable to work, with no income whatsoever. Me and my brother are barely able to support her.

She was never on SSI, we never got any assistance from welfare.

She can't retire, she barely worked, and mostly illegaly.

Is she entitled to anything, can she file a disability claim? She is disabled, she bears a very serious and debilitating illness.

Can anybody advise? We really don't know where to start.

Thanks to everybody in advance.

i've looked into disablitliy, but I am too young, haven't got enough "credits" to get it...would have to work 4 more years to even be able to apply....then who knows.

I just want to tell you I will say a prayer for your family. I know this is so hard. your mother is a strong person, raising 2 kids on her own, feeling the way she does.

Best of luck,

~STS~

http://www.socialsecurity.gov/ssi/index.htm

http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/11011.html

Post edited by: StrictlyTopSecret, at: 07/12/2007 09:01

Apply as soon as you can. Disability will not kick in until you have been found to be disabled for 5 months from when you have applied.

If it takes longer than the 5 months, for approval, your Mother, will get retro pay for every month of waiting for approval, after the 5 months.

Mine took 14 months, so I got, a heck of a retro check!

While you are waiting approval, apply for county help. MA, EBT and Cash Assistance. Also check within your community resources, for all kinds of help.

Pull up your Dept of Health and Human Resources, through your state, and you will find even more help.

Take care,

Leslie

Also try United Way- First Call for Help

took me 5 years of hell and 3 out of 4 drawer file cabinet full of medical files and duplicated paperwork over and over for SS!

This site really is why I got approved the first time I applied. The cognitive functioning test was the key. You have to PROVE you are disabled according to social security guidelines. The two doctors letters and positive Lyme test were not enough.

http://www.cfids-me.org/socsec.html

Jessica

Can you elaborate a little more about your disability process. I am waiting on my hearing. Not just for the Lyme, but also CMT. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks, Teri, PA

The symptoms with Lupus would be if you could show that you have organ damage. If you need help with simple tasks like are you able to do any house work or prepare meals. If you prepare meals what kind of meals do you make. These are all helpful things to include.