33 msfocusmagazine.org In some cases, an individual may be eligible for both SSI and SSDI. When to Apply AccordingtotheSocialSecurityAdministration, it can take three to five months foryour initial applicationtobeprocessed.However,applications from people disabled by chronic illnesses like MS are frequently denied, only to later be approved after an appeal. Some applications maygo through several appeals, taking months or even years. For this reason, it is recommended that a person who has a disability that leaves them unable to work, which is expected to last morethanoneyear,shouldfiletheirapplication with the SSA as soon as possible after the onset of disability. When approved for SSDI, payments begin with the sixth month after the established onset of disability. If it took longer than that to get approved, payments are retroactive. What Does SSA Examine? SSA will examine your medical and work history. They will seek to establish how your condition limits your ability to work and when those limitations began. In orderto do so, theywill examinewhich medical professionals you have seen, what symptoms you discussed with your doctor(s), the results of any tests your doctor(s) ordered, the treatments you have used or are using, and yourwork history. While your medical records are a key factor indeterminingyourqualifications,SSAconsiders several questions to determine whether you qualifyfordisabilitybenefits.Thesemayinclude: • Does your condition limit your work? To qualify, a condition must substantially limit your ability to perform basic activities associated with your employment, such as standing, sitting, walking, lifting, or remembering. • Can you do other work? Your disability may have left you unable to work in your chosen field, but is there other work for which you are qualified or have experience? • Is your condition lasting? There must be valid reason to believe that your disability is not a temporary condition as a result of a relapse or injury, from which will recover in a year or less. • Is your condition manageable? Are there treatments or accommodations that would allow you to keep working? A qualifying condition must cause substantial limitations even when treatment and reasonable accommodation are utilized. How Do I Apply? Applicationsaretakeninpersonatyourlocal SSA office, online at www.ssa.gov, or over the phone by calling 800-772-1213. To learn more, visit www.ssa.gov/disability. Be Proactive If MS symptoms are interfering with yourwork, don’t wait until it becomes unmanageable to discuss it with your doctor. A record of troublesome symptoms and history of seeking solutions will be helpful to your case in the event that those symptoms become disabling in the future. This is particularly true for the symptoms that are harder to quantify, such as fatigue and cognitive impairment. These are two of the most common reasons for individuals with MS leaving the workforce, yet some of the most difficult to document.