A Helping Hand

Until December 2005, life was running smoothly for Richard Rigg. Now 59, he's a Montana native, a 1970 graduate of Montana State University, happily married and the father of three children.
Mr. Rigg's post-college years led him to Worland, an isolated town of fewer than 5,000 residents nestled snugly in the northern region of Wyoming. It was here that he accepted the position of field engineer with an interstate pipeline company. Eventually, the company restructured and Mr. Rigg was promoted to district manager for a subsidiary.

Despite his professional achievements, however, Mr. Rigg had to battle physical problems. Diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis nearly 30 years ago, Mr. Rigg struggled to fulfill his professional obligations. His responsibilities included overseeing the construction of pipeline sand compressors as well as operation and maintenance of the same.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a disease of the immune system. It occurs when the immune system mistakes the body's own cells for "foreign invaders" and begins to launch an attack. In rheumatoid arthritis, the object of the attack is the lining of the joints. The disease persists, damaging joints more and more over time, and it continues to progress. As the arthritis advances, the damage to the joints becomes very severe. Long-term joint damage as well as pain and fatigue are characteristic of the disease.

"Arthritis had always interfered with my work," Mr. Rigg explained. "But toward the end of my career, it got much worse." When his downward spiral began, "It seemed to happen all of a sudden," Mr. Rigg described, as he recalled the onset of events. "One morning when I awakened I noticed that I could hardly bend my wrists."
As his condition worsened, it began to pose restraints on most physical activity. Determined to continue working, however, Mr. Rigg attempted to balance his career with his family life, which became increasingly difficult. Making matters worse was that his town's isolated location made it difficult to receive the necessary medical care. Other than the town's family physician, medical treatments required regular three-hour drives to Billings, Montana.

Ultimately, the struggle became overwhelming and, in December 2005, Mr. Rigg left the company that he had served for 36 years. He filed for long-term disability benefits through his company, which was approved for two years. The provider then referred Mr. Rigg to Allsup Inc.
Established in 1984, Allsup was the first private company to assist people in filing for their Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), nationwide. Since then, Allsup has helped tens of thousands people with disabilities receive their SSDI benefits.

After working for 36 years, Mr. Rigg was reluctant to leave his company. Like many people with a long work history, a certain void accompanied him after leaving. He experienced a sense of loss and, to some degree, identity, once he was no longer able to continue working.

Dedicated to his job, Mr. Rigg especially enjoyed the personal interaction at work and making a positive difference. He said that he would especially miss the personal interaction at work. "I enjoyed being in a role of leadership," he explained, "but what I enjoyed most was working with the people."
Obtaining SSDI can be a difficult and lengthy process. In fact, two out of three applicants are initially denied. Aware of this challenge, Allsup claimant representative Mychelle Lester stepped in with a helping hand to guide Mr. Rigg through the bureaucratic maze. After gathering medical evidence and conducting a telephone interview, she helped him file the initial claim.

Although it's not unusual for an SSDI claim to languish in the government system for a year or more, it was only a month before SSA notified him that it had approved his benefits. By SSA standards, this was an exceptionally quick decision, even for such a deserving claimant as Mr. Rigg.

Mr. Rigg is thankful for Allsup's assistance with his case, and he credits the company's customer service with the rapid award process. "Relief and excitement were my initial reactions. Mychelle Lester was so helpful during the process. She answered all my questions and did much of the work for me," he added.
Ms. Lester said she was also surprised at the quick response. "Mr. Rigg helped us tremendously because he was so easy and pleasant to work with," she said. "But I've never seen a quicker award to someone not suffering from a terminal condition."

Ms. Lester added that she spent a lot of time on the telephone helping Mr. Rigg complete the various complex government forms. One of the most important was a questionnaire that asks the claimant about his or her daily activities.

"This is a crucial element of the process," Ms. Lester said. "It's a seven-to 10-page form that goes into detail about the claimant's lifestyle. Can you take care of personal needs like taking a shower? Can you shop? It's common for a claimant to minimize their limitations by answering "yes," even though they need help getting in and out of the shower and have to use a chair. They may respond that they can do their own shopping, but they neglect to mention that someone has to drive them to the market and they need to use a motorized cart when they get there."

Ms. Lester continued. "That's where a professional representative is so valuable. "Everything must be answered truthfully, but the manner in which the claimant answers may prove the difference between an award and a denial."

Today, Mr. Rigg is nurturing himself through daily physical therapy. He has had multiple surgeries because of his arthritis, including four on his right ankle. He wears a leg brace, but he's gradually healing. His ankle may take several months to improve, but he believes the surgeries have been beneficial.

"I want to thank Allsup for helping me through these times," Mr. Rigg pointed out. "I have already recommended a friend to Allsup."

The Montana native says he often experiences pain early in the morning, but he is diligent when it comes to remembering his medications. Wellness programs at his hospital assist him with the appropriate exercises and stretching routines. In addition to physical therapy and medication, Mr. Rigg finds that the support of friends and family has been immensely therapeutic. He's recently taken up oil painting, which has also helps diminish stress.

Mr. Rigg added that his faith has helped him through his recent hardships. "Through all these trials, God has always been there for me. He has helped me get better, and I want to let others going through the same thing know that God is there for you. All you have to do is lean on Him."
Although his working days are behind him, Mr. Rigg believes that it may be for the best. "I worked 36 years of my life, and it was always difficult to balance work with my home life. Now, although I'd certainly rather be healthy, I'm able to dedicate more time to myself and to my family."
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