Follow
Share

My mother in law and I each recieved a copy of the adult function report to fill out. She filled out that she was still able to do everything, even though she can't. I'm not sure what to do. She needs the disability, especially the insurance, but I'm afraid that they won't give it to her because she marked that she was fully capable. She didn't answer any of the explanations sensibly, though. On one, she wrote "help me with assist me for". Will they take that into consideration when they look at her checkboxes? I had to walk through the whole packet with her, read it to her and explain it to her. I didn't answer any questions for her, though. I noted that on her form, but am still unsure. Any advice? She really does believe she is capable, but can't even get herself place settings anymore. Physically, she is mostly fine, but cognitively she just can't anymore.

This question has been closed for answers. Ask a New Question.
Alazrielle,
Are both forms for your mil? Or are you disabled also?

Some people photocopy the blank form in case they make a mistake.

If you are her POA, or Representative Payee for SSDI, or SSD, you would be filling out the form for her, indicating at the signature you are Rep Payee for
(your mil's name). Keep a copy. In this case, only one form may be needed,
filled out by you.

If mil is going to fill out her own form, make sure you sign at the bottom also indicating you are the person assisting her to fill out the form. If she is way off base about her abilities, and reports "I am fine", this can be called "confabulation" or something else the medical professionals call it. Anosognia?

You say she has a loss of cognitive function. Focus on that.
I sent you a link to a website that may help you. I have not verified it's accuracy.

It is not unusual to have a case worker come to your home and make an assessment of her needs. This person can assist with filling out the form.

You can call the person requesting the form, get an extension of time, saying you need help to fill out the form; and it is causing you too much stress, making you sick just now. You can say you do not have any idea what ADL's are, for example. If you call, you need to be honest, no need to fake hoarseness, weakness, or whatever to prove you are having a difficult time. Behave as normal as possible.

Some people have an invisible disability, and look perfectly fine most of the time. But the public can judge disabled persons if they do not limp from their car, for example. There is no shame being disabled!

The doctors will explain that they need to put down how the patient is when at their worst. There are social workers at Senior Centers (Supportive Services Dept.) that can help you with the form. The unsuspecting disabled person has no idea. There needs to be an ongoing journal consistently, detailing the symptoms, inability to fully function, over a period of time. It will say what you had described to her doctors when you were explaining the disability. Do not depend upon pulling out these details in a rush at the last minute, from memory.

Do a little each day until the form is complete, and mail it in within the time allotted. Everyone experiences some kind of dread filling these things out for the government.

I leave you with this:
What can be done with paper, can be undone with more paper!

Try your best, then if necessary, there are appeals. (More paper).
Helpful Answer (0)
Report

Is this her first application, or a follow up report?

What is her age, and disability?

You may need a doctor or specialist to document the report.
Helpful Answer (0)
Report

You can say that she threw the report away. That speaks volumes about her cognitive function. Then send in your report.
Helpful Answer (0)
Report

For the Social Security Disability or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) application you can submit other paperwork besides the official forms. Of course there will be the medical reports but you can give them more. For my husband's application I hand wrote 10 pages comparing what he could no longer do to how he previously functioned. My mother, who had worked in a hiring position at a Fortune 500 company, wrote about how his functioning was such that he was unemployable. He got disability right away. I advise people to write as part of their disability application what they go thru in a 24 hour day and how the disability affects every part of it. Humanize and individualize the circumstances and take it beyond the usually dry medical diagnosis. I work in public welfare and a woman who took my advice came back to tell me she got her SSDI in four.months on the first try. For the MIL, go ahead and explain in what you write about her how her being unable to identify her issues gets in the way of functioning properly, such as filling out her SS paperwork and even recognizing she is disabled (because that's what she's applying for).
Helpful Answer (0)
Report

I just did this for my nephew and I filled out the form. I signed it as his POA (SSA doesn't recognize POAs but I signed that way anyway) can't remember if he signed it but I think he did. The caseworker called me for nephews neurologists phone number. Said he just needed a report from him. Told him I have a problem with nephew getting his mail out of the complexes mailboxes he has to walk to. So caseworker put down I was to receive a duplicate of what is sent to nephew. Is this why you received a copy too.

I would not send in what MIL did. I would fill it out as her representative.
If any problem, then they will call you. Keep a copy.
Helpful Answer (0)
Report

This question has been closed for answers. Ask a New Question.
Ask a Question
Subscribe to
Our Newsletter