I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and Myofascial Pain Disorder late last year. What that means is that “everything hurts and I’m dying.” Basically fibromyalgia is pain of the bones and joints, and myofascial pain disorder is pain of the muscles and connective tissues. So literally everything hurts. So at the encouragement of my husband, I decided to apply for disability to supplement my income, as I cannot work a full 40 hours a week of work. In fact I can’t even really keep up with the 20 hours that is considered part time.
I did what any millennial would do in my situation. I Googled it. It wasn’t long before I would the site I needed along with another site run by lawyers offering help to applicants. I filled out all the necessary forms that were available to me online. I was shortly after contacted by phone by the lawyer assigned to my case. And she sent me more paperwork in the mail that would help move this process along faster. I was excited that this was all seemingly running smoothly. I quickly filled out that paperwork as well as some different paperwork sent to me by the Social Security Administration, and sent all that back in as well. And with everything completed I thought everything was good to go and I would hear soon that I was approved.
That however was not the case. Not long after the mandatory shut down in the U.S., I received a letter stating that my case was no longer under review until further notice, because of the pandemic. So basically they stopped my case in it’s tracks because there is a pandemic. This is so extremely frustrating. I know that I am not the only one this has happened to. I had hoped that the lawyer helping me with my case would reach out to touch base, and that I would be able to update her on the situation. In spite of her previously being super attentive at the beginning of the case, she has not reached out. I will be reaching out to her soon, just to see what I can do, if anything. No idea how this normally goes, but this sucks!
It was hard for me mentally to break down and agree to apply in the first place, because I’m young, I can work a little bit most days. I am invincible, right? Wrong! I’m not! I’m also not able to contribute near as much income to my household as I once was. This is all so very frustrating, and nerve racking! I’m sure I’m not the only one who is going through this now, either! I couldn’t help my diagnosis date any more than I could help the on-set of a freakin’ pandemic! Shouldn’t that make it more urgent to review cases like mine? I’ll update in the future, should there be anything to update!
Stay safe, stay rad, and wash your DANG hands!
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