Disability & VA benefits?

[telophase]

Anybody here have experience with qualifying for disability and applying for health & disability VA benefits? (er, in the USA, if that wasn't dead obvious) Got a friend who's looking for info - yeah, they're not just looking on LJ and will probably end up getting a lawyer to help 'em navigate through the mess, but if anyone has any experiences they're willing to share, I can put you in touch.

Comments

[mscongeniality.livejournal.com]

What type of disability? If it's SSA/Medicare, my mother works in CMS and may be able to help answer some questions.

[telophase.livejournal.com]

Er ... not sure. The condition involved is Crohn's disease.

[mscongeniality.livejournal.com]

I was more wondering which agency they're trying to get disability payments through. CMS is part of Health and Human Services along with SSA. If they're trying to go through the VA, that's a separate system with different guidelines.

[telophase.livejournal.com]

Hellifino. :) I've passed the info along and they'll let me know if they want to be put in touch. :D Thanks.

[mscongeniality.livejournal.com]

Okee :) Just let me know.

[telophase.livejournal.com]

Do you have an email address my friend can contact you at? (Feel free to post and immediately delete it if you don't want it public - it'll come to my inbox).

[espion.livejournal.com]

I don't actually know exactly who to go to, but I do know that it can be a long and arduous process. If there is a VA nearby, I would suggest that he/she goes there first, because they will eventually have to determine how "service-connected" they are (this is expressed as a percentage, based on many variables). A lawyer would probably be helpful and eventually necessary.

Here are the VA fact sheets (http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/Milsvc/benfacts.htm), which may prove useful.

[telophase.livejournal.com]

Ah, thank you. :)

[espion.livejournal.com]

I just read that the reason is Crohn's disease. I can honestly say that they're going to have a hard time. I've seen Vietnam Veterans who are still fighting for health and disability pensions. That, and they'll most likely need to be supported by colonoscopy and biopsy. Although I'm sure that they've already gone through those terrible indignities.

[telophase.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I think they know it's going to be an uphill battle, which is why they're gathering info on it first. The person in question is a driver and has had it and managed it for a while, but now the condition is so bad now that it's incapacitating and renders him unable to do his job, from what I understand.

[llamameeljueves.livejournal.com]

I worked at The Employment Support Institute (ESI), which is IMO the best place to find information regarding disability benefits (and incentives). Incentives and benefits interact in a complex way and everything depends on each State's disabilty's laws.
ESI people developed a software (Called Workworld) where you can input information and determine your best scenario for income while combining the complexities of Employment + Benefits + Incentives. ESI headquarter is VA, so for that state, they have everything well covered for that state. The "Help" feature of the software is SUPERB!!!! If you know little about disability laws and regulations, that's the best way to get clear and update information. The software used to be Free, but Social Security Administration cut the funding to ESI, so they had to charge for the software. You (or your friend) can find info about it at www.workworld.org
Good luck. ;)

[llamameeljueves.livejournal.com]

People from VA can get the software for FREE!!!

[telophase.livejournal.com]

Cool, thanks. I'll pass it on. :D

[ninja-tech.livejournal.com]

I have health benes through the VA, so I might be able to help a bit, though I don't have disability, I have benefits because I'm a veteran.

[telophase.livejournal.com]

OK, thanks. I'll forward the mesage on.