What I’m talking about is when the insurance you receive from the government pays for things. For instance,someone with a physical disability may be denied therapy (head/shrink) but will get physical therapy paid for them. A physical disability, if it has no cause for mental problems, doesn’t require therapy (mental/emotional), so the state won’t pay for it.

Likewise, a person with a mental disability who has no physical limitation will not be allowed to receive a wheelchair. A person with a physical disability might receive a wheelchair, though the government has cracked down significantly on allowing those with physical disabilities wheelchairs. The rules are VERY stringent and appeal processes are long and drawn out. State insurance will deny you if they think you can even take one step or stand up, even if you can’t walk.

For someone with a progressive muscle disease who isn’t yet fully in a wheelchair, that can mean a lack of independence, because they might need that wheelchair for nearly everything but transfers and the state will deny them that.

I don’t see why those who paralyze themselves intentionally should be allowed to receive a wheelchair because they can’t walk at all anymore, so the state will pay for their wheelchair, while those who are truly disabled suffer.

I know from first hand experience. I had to go through THREE appeals with my last wheelchair. My medicare kept saying I was able to stand and transfer (even though I haven’t been able to in years), so they wouldn’t purchase my wheelchair.

I ended up having to get my state senator involved, get letters from my doctor outlying my condition over and over, show proof I used a Hoyer lift to transfer, and still had to go through three appeals. It was a pain and a travesty that this happens to anyone. At least I finally got my wheelchair. I know some who aren’t so lucky.

What’s funny is that Medicare paid for my last wheelchair, five years earlier, with no problem. It had similar specs to this chair. It’s funny because my disease is progressive so it gets worse not better, and suddenly they have my up and walking again! All I can say is I wish!

Dear Dominick,
I was on government benefits for a while. There is no difference in whether one is physically or mentally disabled: the amount of benefits is identical.
The only difference that exists is between SSI (Supplemental Security Income) and SSDI (Social Security Disability Benefits) — namely, if you were disabled as a child OR have enough work credits as a working adult, you get SSDI, paid regardless of where in the world you live. If you did not work for long enough and become disabled as an adult, you get SSI — tracking and controlling of this benefit is stricter.

By the way, Naomimimi, do I know you from the Disaboom site?

Janelle