social security disability

[Patty H]

I didn't realize I could get SSD until recently. I thought long and hard about it. Then I decided I had paid into it for 30 years and I probably won't be here to draw SS when I am 62. So I talked to my benifit guy about it and hr recommended it. So I just started the paper work a few weeks ago. Patty H

[sarah]

What am I doing wrong? I applied in 2003 for disability and just recently got a request for more paperwork inclucing the original surgery in 1999! I've had 4 more surgeries since then plus......
I feel demoralized and assumed they were waiting for me to die or reach 62 - I'll be 60 in April.
anyway, any advice, help, names of who to contact??? I worked mainly in California.

Help and advice will be greatly appreciated.
sarah

Sarah,

It is the norm for Social Security to decline deserving seriously ill people three or four times before they get accepted--perhaps they are hoping for the poor people to become despondent and commit suicide to save some money!

I had heard in California that they flagged the charts to avoid that happening to breast cancer patients.

A patient with cavernous sinus thrombosis (blood clot of the main venous draining of the brain) was turned down about 4 times over many years for Social Security Disability.
Websites for attorneys who specialize in trying to help people get their social security disabiility, describe multiple declines as the "norm" even in well- deserving cases with excellent justification documented by physicians.

One word of caution, however. Some health insurance policies have in their tiny printing that one becomes ineligible for their insurance if one even becomes eligible for (let alone accepts) Medicare whether because of disability or age!


Medicare doesn't pay for physical therapy and a lot of other things that private health insurance does, so be sure to read all the tiny print and discuss this with knowledgeable persons before proceeding.

Of course you have to do what you have to do. Just do it with your eyes wide open and looking out for yourself-- when it comes to government-run programs, no one else will, unfortunately.

That said, best of luck!

[Lisa]

I, too, am on disability. And I felt sort of funny getting on it. But I did, and I'm so glad. After you apply, you have 6 months to complete the process, or you have to start over. Learned that the hard way. My case, once started anew, was also "flagged" and I started receiving checks within 3 months, I THINK.

On worker tried to get mine grandfathered from my original diagnosis date, which didn't seem right to me. And it was changed to my metastasis date. But everyone was very nice.

After being on it 2 years now, I've qualifed for Medicare. Now THAT feels weird. You have to accept the Hospitalization part, but you can turn down the other part that includes co-pays, etc. I did, because as of 2006, it would have meant $88/month taken out of my Disability check.

Remember this is not a state process, but federal. I can't imagine it being any different in any state. You've worked for years for this money. Don't feel quilty.

Love and light,

Lisa

[StephN]

Whether on line or at your local office, they WILL flag you and prioritize your claim.
I started getting my disability benefit last year. I had to pick a date to say when I became "disabled" and chose Jan.3 since that was the day that my brain MRI showed the two tumors. This was an agreeable day with my oncologist.
I could have said much earlier as I have been stage IV and on continuous treament since Jan 2002, but this seemed fine with me as I had been able to work some in the intervening years.
By the way, you CAN still work to some extent and get your benefit.
It is standard practice to have a review after 5 years - bet most of us will HAVE this review!!

As for the timing, I did not apply until June and I got my first direct deposit the first part of August. It included a couple of back months. They start the payment at 6 months after the date of disability, so watch that as you may be able to get a few more months by using an earlier date.
It IS nice to have this money as I have been paying the medical insurance stoploss, deductible and co-pays for almost 6 years now and this adds up to a few thousand every year (could have had my whole kitchen redone with that amount of $$!). I figure most of the disability benefit will go to pay for those expenses so I can save a little again or have money to travel, improve my surroundings, etc.

[sarah]

Many thanks for all of your helpful advice. I feel more hopeful. Like many of you, I could then use the money for medical costs not covered by insurance or not fully covered. Today my husband and I have been putting together all the paperwork again. When I first received this new request, I was extremely upset and thought of giving up. You are all so encouraging about everything, it's appreciated and after all this is just silly bureaucratic stuff not health related. thanks.
sarah

[Esther]

Sarah, you are living in France and collect SSDI from CA? I didn't know that.