Canada: Fibromyalgia and CPP Disability Benefits
- susiemaggie
- Angie_L
- Angie_L
- leas
- Jausten
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» susiemaggie - applying and fighting for benefits
Since July 1997 I have been battling with Canada Pension for disability benefits. They are telling me I'm capable of light duties and would be able to handle a job as a receptionist or similar. Haha if that were the case then I would still be opertating my own business where I could work at my own pace. I had to give it up because I just realistically couldn't handle it. The good days were becoming less frequent. Who would hire a person who has to take frequent time off or leave their work station to move around to try and get some relief from sitting in one position for too long. The response to my most recent appeal was that they do recognize I have problems but I have to live with it and get on with my life. They denied benefits on that basis. I have had to hire a lawyer to proceed to the next level. This is very discouraging since I paid into CPP since it began and was of the understanding that should I ever become disabled and no long able to work that those benefits would be there for me. and now they have changed the legislation but I'm not sure how it goes. Anyone got any info on this?-- posted by susiemaggie
» Angie_L - CPP Disability Application
My application went in toward the end of Dec '93. The Dr taking care of me knew what needed to be sent to CPP. She sent me to a rheumatologist who knew I was making an application and he sent a report to her. I was sent to a psychologist for an assessment and report. She provided a report and I provided a covering letter detailing how this situation affected my life, not leaving anything out. I buried them in paper and included information on what FM is, how it affects a person's life and how to cope with it. IOW, I presented a very strong case and did not need the help of a lawyer. Very surprised about the lawyer thing. Did CPP advise you to hire a lawyer? As my FM progressed, I sent CPP long updates that showed deterioration and how rehab did not change FM. Send a letter and lay it out for them, on how FM affects every part of your life. FM has been accepted by the feds as a disabling condition and others have laid the groundwork, so it s/b easier, not harder to get CPP! Keep in touch.-- posted by Angie_L
» Angie_L - Forgot to mention
(fibrofog!) I forgot to mention that an assessment from a physiotherapist, and later, a report from a rehab clinic showed diminished capacity, range of movement and endurance. It is so important for you to retain copies of every report submitted, for your files, in case you change doctors. Taking charge of my condition became my job, the only job I was able to do. Each time another expert has come on the scene, there was a report, so there are now thick files in my cabinet. Keep copies of everything, as you won't be able to remember what you wrote, a year ago. CPP doesn't really help you to know what info they are missing. Contact with CPP can put you in a flare. Once on CPP you are eligible for Disability Tax Credit, but the feds don't tell you that, and reports need to go to Revenue Canada, who do not seem to talk to CPP or Human Resources. Make yourself the manager of your case and good luck. Stay with it.-- posted by Angie_L
» leas - Canadian Disability Pension
I was told by my physician to quit work in July of this year and have filed for disablity pension. So far I'm on what I call step two, first application was automatically denied but I think that's just a way for the gov't to discourage us from applying. I sent in everything I can lay my hands on. Last I heard (I actually spoke to a live person) they want to sent me to a psychiatrist to make sure I am not depressed. Now pardon me, but living in constant pain would bring about depression. But I was in a fibrofog that day so maybe I'm not as sane as I think I am.-- posted by leas
» Jausten - CPP
Leas,From what I understand, the first application is assessed by a registered nurse, and generally it is automatically rejected. Being a nurse myself, I don't see the logic of this, but then we are dealing with the government. I was sent to a psychriatrist, and it is this doctor who wrote the letter which actually got me my CPP. She wrote that I was depressed due to my pain and fatigue, and all the life changes that I had to make. She also wrote that I was unable to work at any job at that time. The key words that a doctor must write are that you are unable to work at any job. CPP does require reassessments every year or so, and I get my GP to do them now. He writes that I am unable to work at any job each time, and eventually what he will write is that I am unable to work at any job ever. Depending upon the psychriatrist, they can either help you or make it seem as though you are clinically depressed, which isn't the case with fibromyalgia. We tend to become depressed due to our losses.
Cynthia
-- posted by Jausten
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