Filing for disability while living in Thailand

[mrwebb8825]

My questions are pretty much what the topic says. I hope this is the correct place to ask. Most of my "injuries" were sustained while in the military but that was several years ago when they just cut you loose without benefits or evaluation. Ruptured eardrum resulting in hearing lose and tinnitus (which developed after discharge), bulging discs which were treated with light duty and pain meds. Later cracked 3 vertebra, crushed 1 disc and herniated 2 others. Was a civilian but my then wife was in the USAF. The doctors then said I was too young for surgery, plates and screws as it would cause accelerated arthritis and lose of motion (which it did anyway) and I would never be able to lift more than 10lbs again.

Things have gotten to the point that I must adjust my position between sitting, standing and lying down every 30 minutes or so or my right leg "burns" inside and I lose all feeling to the touch as well as chronic back aches and occasional migraines.

I've already retrained myself 3 times to be able to continue working as I never thought about asking for government help in any form. The last 2-3 yrs have been really tough and it keeps getting worse. I haven't got the 1st clue about what I need to do to apply for assistance other than contacting the US government offices in Manila.

I got an auto-reply that I need to wait 10 days for a reply. That was 2 weeks ago. I don't have my original medical records anymore due to divorce and relocation so I was wondering if anyone here has been down this road and could offer some advice on how to proceed.

This kind of goes hand-in-hand with my other medical post on dizzy spells and vision interference. I know I need to bite the bullet and go see a good doctor for a complete physical evaluation and tests but I have no clue as to paperwork.

Any help pointing me in the right direction and/or contacts to get that started would be greatly appreciated. I've been trying to wait until I can claim SS so I have insurance through medi-care but that's a couple more yrs away.

Thanks in advance.

[Sheryl]

I assume you mean US Social Security disability benefits.

 

You can apply online. Go to www.ssa.gov. The application will eventually be forwarded to the Manila office at which point they will contact you for a phone interview but best to initiate the process online first.

 

For the medical certificate etc you will need to support your application it is best to see a US physician as Thai doctors will not be familiar witb the forms and may be hesitant to deal with it.

 

There is an excellent US internist practicing in Thailand, Dr. Nick Walters at Mission Hospital. He would also not be a bad place to start for evaluation if your recent episode of visual disturbance and dizziness though he will likely refer you to some specialists in the process.

 

It would greatly help to get hold of your old records. Contact the last hospital or doctor which treated you and have them forward these to you.

 

I am not familiar with all the intracacies of VA benefits. If the origin of your problems is service related there may also be some entitlements there. Suggest you research online and perhaps also some of our members who are ex US military could advise.

 

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[mrwebb8825]

5 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

It would greatly help to get hold of your old records. Contact the last hospital or doctor which treated you and have them forward these to you.

That may prove to be difficult as it was onboard the USS Ranger which was decommissioned in 1993, stored in Bremerton, WA until 2015 then scrapped in Brownsville in 2017.

[TerryLH]

Those records should be archived somewhere.

[Sheryl]

Those records should be archived somewhere.

Agree.

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[mrwebb8825]

I agree too. Possibly on fichetape for the paper items but not the xrays. Plus, I wouldn't even know where to begin to search or even if those types of records would kept.

[Doc50]

I see where you said your waiting until you can apply for SS then receive Medicare. Please remember that Medicare cannot be used in Thailand. SS payments you can get, but no medicare payments to Doctors in Thailand. You can apply VA disability and the Drs. Exam in Thailand will be paid by VA through the Embassy I seem to remember. It has been awhile since I did this.

Doc50

[GlenCer]

If you are referring to VA benefits you can contact me,  I am a disabled vet and have applied while living in Thai

[Neocon]

Veterans’ Service Records (National Archives):  https://www.archives.gov/veterans

 

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI):  https://www.ssa.gov/disability/

 

Getting Medicare if you have a disability:  https://www.medicare.gov/information-for-my-situation/getting-medicare-if-you-have-a-disability

 

My SSDI application was approved in just under two months (your mileage will vary).

 

Here’s what I did:

 

1.  I started the online SSDI application (to lock in a claim date) and electronically submitted it just before the six-month submission deadline.

 

2.  During that time I compiled and organized my treatment records, wrote a three-page personal statement detailing my disabilities and how they impaired my ability to obtain and maintain gainful employment, completed SSA-3368-BK (Disability Report - Adult) and completed SSA-827 (Authorization to Disclose Information to SSA).

 

3.  I mailed to Social Security Manila a small box containing my associated service and private treatment records (organized by medical condition), my completed SSA-3368-BK and SSA-827, and my personal statement.

 

After FBU Manila reviewed what I had sent them I received a phone call asking me if I had any additional evidence to provide.  I didn’t.

[Neocon]

VA Disability Compensation:  https://www.va.gov/disability/

 

If you’re contemplating filing for VA disability comp, you can submit VA Form 21-0966 (Intent to File a Claim) (aka ITF) to establish a potential earlier claim effective date.  VAF 21-0966 gives you one year to finalize your claim:  https://www.va.gov/vaforms/form_detail.asp?FormNo=21-0966.  If you later on decide not to finalize your claim you may simply let the ITF expire unconsumed.

 

Mailing Address for VA Disability Compensation Claims (including ITFs):  https://www.benefits.va.gov/COMPENSATION/mailingaddresses.asp.  You may instead use eBenefits:  https://www.ebenefits.va.gov/ebenefits/homepage.  (For accuracy reasons, I personally despise eBenefits.  That, plus eBenefits' days are numbered anyway--it's going to be replaced.)

 

Accredited Representatives:  https://www.benefits.va.gov/vso/index.asp

 

I myself am VA-rated 100% Permanent.  My accredited rep is the DAV.  The DAV isn't infallible but they have the reputation for being best of breed at the Pittsburgh VA Regional Office.

[Lefty]

STRONGLY RECOMMEND YOU JOIN THE LOCAL CHAPTER OF THE VFW,THEY HAVE THE EXPERTISE TO HELP WITH YR ISSUES.-sorry for caps

Lefty

[poka513]

VFW in Thailand:

https://vfwpacificdist5.org/di/vfw/v2/default.asp

 

American Legion in Thailand:

https://www.facebook.com/americanlegionthailandpostth01/

 

[Tony125]

1 hour ago, poka513 said:

VFW in Thailand:

https://vfwpacificdist5.org/di/vfw/v2/default.asp

 

American Legion in Thailand:

https://www.facebook.com/americanlegionthailandpostth01/

 

I agree contact the organizations listed above. Can't believe you think that your records would only be on an active ship or even active unit you were in.  Even if units were disbanded the VA keeps health and persoal records of evey person who has served. If Honorably Discharged if you have no other health insurance you could still be serviced by a VA hospital if in the US. Contact the VA and ask for a copy of your DD214 (discharge papers) with military ID number and any other records you might need.

[WhatupThailand]

I am VA-rated 100% Permanent, retired in Thailand,
after years of fighting for my benefits,
I got both a VA LAWYER, and SS LAWYER, Best decision I ever made.
They know all the ropes , and will save you much headache dealing with the red tape.
Here are the two best Lawyers for the job, also a site with much info from other Vets.

VA LAWYER
Joe Moore
http://www.vetlawyers.com/
[email protected]

SS LAWYER
Bernard M. Raiche
https://www.lawyers.com/rockville/maryland/bernard-marcel-raiche-628299-a/
[email protected]

VA Disability Claims Discussion Forums
https://community.hadit.com/

Hope this helps Brother.
 

[mrwebb8825]

On 9/25/2019 at 8:17 AM, Sheryl said:

You can apply online. Go to www.ssa.gov.

ran into an immediate snag. No US address=No "My Social Security Account" online=No online application possible. Before suggesting family in the states, look in the dictionary under "Family" and mine is none of that. They're more "Me First and Only" than a benz owner here. (we'll leave it at that)

I know from Manila that this doesn't affect my claiming SS at 62 but that's still 2 yrs away.

Did get contacted by a couple of exmilitary members so thank you (and them) for that. Will see how the VA side plays out.

[Sheryl]

You indeed cannot establish a "My Social Security" account without a US address, but you CAN apply for benefits, both regular SS and SSDI,  without such an account. That is actually about the only thing people living abroad can do online.

 

Go to  https://www.ssa.gov/applyfordisability/

 

Note that to apply for disability you must be   unable to work . From your other thread, you are still currently working. Your disability would be considered to start as of the date you become unable to work, and you eligibility for benefits would be 6 months after that, i.e. you receive no benefits from SSDI for the first 5 months of nto working. You should apply sooner than that, of course, but you need to apply ata point where your are no longer able to work.

 

You are going to need recent medical evaluations etc; it sounds rather like your spinal condition  has not been evaluated for many years now.  Spinal treatments have advanced considerably since then and, of course, you are older now. Your spine will have changed significantly and so may the possibility of benefiting from some sort of intervention.  Even if you cannot benefit from a spinal intervention there are measures that can be taken to reduce or eliminate pain, e.g. nerve ablation etc.

 

I suggest you see this  spinal specialist in Bangkok who is excellent for a thorough evaluation and recommendations as to what, if anything, can be done to reduce your pain and possibly improve function. Even if the answer proves to be nothing to both, it will be useful to have had this evaluation and a report of it which you can then take to Dr. Walters for completion of the medical report. But I think there is a good chance something can be done to at least lessen your pain.

 

https://www.bnhhospital.com/find-doctor/search-result/?dname=wicharn

 

https://www.bch.in.th/find-doctor/doctor-profile/?smid=4555

 

(same doctor, different hospitals. BCH costs less but his hours there are only once a week. If you go to BCH, come very early to register and get in the queue.)

 

You will certainly need an XRay(s) and may (not definite) also need an MRI. If MRI is recommended you can save on the cost by doing it outside of hospital here:

http://www.mrithailand.com/en/

 

You will likely not want to have any complex treatment done by this doctor due to cost, but the evaluation will let you know what if anything might help and you can then set about looking for more affordable ways to get it i.e. Thai government hospital or back in USA at VA hospital.

 

Consultation will cost maybe 1500 - 2000 baht (depending on which hospital), Xray will cost another 1-2,000.

[mrwebb8825]

Finally got a reply back from the Manila off but don't understand it. Maybe someone can break it down into non-government language for me. I don't understand the gap but 2002 is when I moved to Thailand.

I first need to determine if you are insured for disability before your medical conditions can be reviewed.

 

For disability you need to meet two things first:

·         have at least 40 quarters of coverage

·         20 quarters of this 40 should have been earned within a 10 year period prior onset or you must have work/contributions for 5 years within a 10 year period prior onset

 

Records show that you have contributions from 1975-1988 and 1990-2002. So, if your onset date is within 2003—2007, then you are insured for disability.

 

 

Regards

[Sheryl]

What they seem to be saying is that you have enough quarters under SS but you did not pay into Social Security after 2002 in which case you would not be covered for a disability that occurred any later than 2007.

 

Since up to now you are still working you would be hard pressed to prove you met disability criteria since then

 

If that is inaccurate, i.e. if you did pay into SS after 2002 then you need to inform them.

 

I suspect that what may be the case is that after 2002 you were employed but in Thailand and thus not paying US SS.

 

I am not sure if there is any special provision for the circumstance of having been employed outside the US and thus exempt from SS but had paid into SS previously and is now no longer able to work. Probably not but worth looking into.

 

I doubt Manila would know. Might be worth trying to contact SS in the US but this is expensive as you'll be on hold for a long time.

 

This all pertains to SSDI. VA disability is a different matter and might be worth looking into. I believe the key issue would be showing that your present disability is related to your previous active duty.

 

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[Lefty]

On 9/26/2019 at 8:26 AM, mrwebb8825 said:

ran into an immediate snag. No US address=No "My Social Security Account" online=No online application possible. Before suggesting family in the states, look in the dictionary under "Family" and mine is none of that. They're more "Me First and Only" than a benz owner here. (we'll leave it at that)

I know from Manila that this doesn't affect my claiming SS at 62 but that's still 2 yrs away.

Did get contacted by a couple of exmilitary members so thank you (and them) for that. Will see how the VA side plays out.

Google US mail forwarding cos.

Lefty

[mrwebb8825]

17 hours ago, Sheryl said:

What they seem to be saying is that you have enough quarters under SS but you did not pay into Social Security after 2002 in which case you would not be covered for a disability that occurred any later than 2007.

 

Since up to now you are still working you would be hard pressed to prove you met disability criteria since then

 

If that is inaccurate, i.e. if you did pay into SS after 2002 then you need to inform them.

 

I suspect that what may be the case is that after 2002 you were employed but in Thailand and thus not paying US SS.

 

I am not sure if there is any special provision for the circumstance of having been employed outside the US and thus exempt from SS but had paid into SS previously and is now no longer able to work. Probably not but worth looking into.

 

I doubt Manila would know. Might be worth trying to contact SS in the US but this is expensive as you'll be on hold for a long time.

 

This all pertains to SSDI. VA disability is a different matter and might be worth looking into. I believe the key issue would be showing that your present disability is related to your previous active duty.

 

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So, because the original injury occurred in 1981 (or there about while in the USN) and the re-injury due to no medical treatment for the original injury occurred in 1991 (as a dependant to a military wife), again, mostly untreated (6 months of heavy meds and spinal injections of antibiotic-steroids which only got me walking again), I may be ineligible? God I dislike the government.

Thank you Sheryl

[Sheryl]

If you had been disabled then you'd be covered. But as the disability is just occurring now, more than 10 years since you last paid into SS, to my understanding you are not probably not eligible for SS disability.

 

VA disability I can't say, that's a totally different system but I think linkage of the underlying injury to active duty may be required. If you can make that case then definitely worth pursuing

 

 

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