Obesity and disability

Hi there,  I was wondering if you can get disability if you are obese? I have been told by a few family members that you can but I have never checked into it. I have no insurance and could use the medical part of being disabled however my husband makes about $2000 to$2500 a monhs just depends on overtime  so we probably  wouldn't qualify. I have not been able to work in 7 years.  It is just to hard on me physically and I have not been able to find a job where I wasn't asked if I was sure I could handle the work or just looked at in disguest. Most places dont want to hire a severly obese person.  I have no co-morbidities just problems with my leg. . Thanks for any advise in advance. }Dedee

Hi Dedee, In reading one of your earlier posts I was wondering that.  I am on disability, and between Medicare and Medi-Cal (the California version of state Medicaid) I didn't pay one cent for my surgery.  But there might be some probelms for you.  I think to be considered disabled it depends on what kind of work you did before.  I was a secretary, and my obesity didn't prevent me from sitting at my desk typing and making calls.  But I also have bipolar disorder, which I had done very well with until I was responsible for an auto accident where someone was killed.  The guilt, the despair, the depression, to say nothing of the legal repercussions . . .   It's a long story.   That put me on disability.  Anyway, if your obesity prevents you from doing the kind of work you have always done, you might have a case.  But the other problems are these:  you generally have to be on state disability for two years before you are eligible for social security disability, and therefore for Medicare.  So you would have to wait the two years.  And state Medicaid is usually need based, so unless you want to divorce your husband, that probably wouldn't work. My family pushed me to consider WLS while I was still working, but I was turned down by my HMO (of course).  For me, that turned out to be good; I wasn't ready.  By the time the financial support was ready for me, my emotional healing was well underway and I made my decision to have surgery.  Today my bipoar disorder is under control, my health is greatly improved, and I am going to slowly  ( just one class - math -eek!) go back to school this fall.  I still struggle with food issues every day, and have 130 pounds to go to my first goal.  But if I never lose another pound it will still have been worth it!   So keep up the fight!  It's only money, and your life is more important than money.  Think of all the silly stulff people throw money away on.  This is an investment in you - the most valuable investment you can make.  Keep your chin up, sweetie!

There are attorney's that specialize in getting social security diasability for people.  They normally have no consultation fee, and don't get paid unless you get social security.   The main issue would probably be the fact that you have not worked in 7 years, I think social security is based on your last 3 or 4 years of work history.  The fact that you have not worked might be an issue, but then again thats what a free consultation with an attorney can tell you.   Scott PS social security is not based on your husbands income, only medicaid.  Social security diability insurance is based on your medical condition and inablility to work .

I'm on SSDI (Social Security Disability) and it's not an easy process.  You don't just sign up for it and start getting checks.   In order to qualify for SSDI, you have to have enough work credits (and if you haven't worked in 7 years, you probably don't have enough credits to qualify; if memory serves, you need 40 credits in the last five years prior to disability).  People who do not have enough credits to qualify for SSDI can apply for SSI, but SSI is a needs-based program and your husband's income would put you over the limit for SSI.  Also, you need to know that when someone is granted SSDI, Medicare doesn't kick in until two years and six months after your date of disability (so if Social Security determined you were disabled as of 5/07, you would not be eligible for Medicare until 11/09). Additionally, SSDI is based on how your disability affects your ability to do any job, not just the job you had prior to becoming disabled.  You also have to document in great detail how your disability affects your ability to perform ADLs (activities of daily living).  You also need to have medical documentation of your disability (it's not just a note from your doctor saying "She's disabled."  It is detailed documentation and the questions involved some very odd exercises and things like, "How often do you carry items that weigh less than 10 lbs?").  Even if you have your own doctor submit medical records, you will most likely have to be evaluated by a Social Security doctor.  The one I saw was really an odd duck, but he did a fair evaluation of my condition and I was awarded SSDI on my first try (which is unusual, it takes most people several tries). When I applied for SSDI, I had many comorbidities in addition to my super morbid obesity. Even though I have lost a great deal of weight, not all of my health problems have resolved yet.   If obesity is your only disability, it might be tricky, but not impossible.  Your first step is to call Social Security and see if you have enough credits for SSDI.  If you don't, perhaps you need to talk to the Vocational Rehab folks in your state to see if they have any options to offer you with regard to finding work as a differently abled individual. Best of luck, Kix

Thank you all for the advise.  I had no ideal how disability worked. I have a few relatives on it and there the ones who have made suggestions towards me trying to file for it. Thanks for the tip on Vocational Rehab about possible finding work I never thought about that. I did meet a lady on the OH forum who had V.R. pay for her WLS but OKlahoma doesn't offer it. It is looking more and more like I will have to elf pay. I expected to have to do that anyway so we have been saving and I do have help. I was just hoping to find a alternative.  yall have a good day