Social Security Disability Question?

LOPSIDED · 10-15-2006, 05:10 PM

I'M NOT RECEIVING SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY AT THIS TIME BUT I WAS WONDERING WHEN YOU APPLY FOR IT, IS THERE A LIMIT TO HOW MUCH MONEY YOU CAN HAVE IN A BANK ACCOUNT OR 401K TO QUALIFY FOR DISABILITY.

fcrcm · 10-15-2006, 06:07 PM

Hey lopsided. Social Security Disability has nothing to do with how much money you have. A millionaire can receive benefits. You have been paying toward your disability insurance thru your salary deductions as long as you have been working. The issue will be whether or not "they" think you are disabled....and that is a crap shoot. I don't know your Stages or diagnosis or treatment plan, etc., but if you are in Stage III or IV, chances are good. If you are receiving "standard chemo" and in Stages I or II, SSD might argue that lots of women work during these treatments. It so depends on who you get on the other end of the phone, and how much your doctor supports your claim. Good luck!
love, fcrcm
PS I was on SSD after a bone marrow transplant 1992-1996 (bone mets only), and now am again after my CA progressed to liver.

tousled1 · 10-15-2006, 06:16 PM

I'm on social security disability since July 2005, not for my breast cancer but for a different problem I have. It has nothing to do with how much money you have in the bank, whether you own a home, etc. The only thing that matters is that when you apply you must have your doctor backing your claim up. The forms aren't that difficult to fill out and social security will contact each of the doctors that you list and get copies of your medical records. Social security makes the final determination. If they deny you then you always have the option of an appeal. Good luck to you.

Sheila · 10-16-2006, 10:10 AM

I am also on SSD, and I had no problem qualifying for it...after you are on it 1 year, you also qualify for medicare Part A and B, and if you chose to take Part B which covers hospital etc, then they deduct about 140.00 a month off your SSD payment. I don't know if the amount varies state to state or if it takes into account your earnings. SSD is taxable though, and you can either have taxes taken out up front or pay at the end of the year.

Sandy H · 10-16-2006, 10:12 AM

I went on it in 2001, had no problem getting it as I am IBC and stage 111b. Being in and out of chemo and having other medicals problems has kept me on it. It has nothing to do with income or assets. You worked for this and deserve it. Be sure to list all your problems and be specific with what your limitations are. You doctor does not make the final determination they do. You can go on the internet and find a list of diagnoses that qualify you for disability. There use to be an application for you to look at don't know if there still is. I have had friends that got an attorney to help them get it. Of course, they take a percentage of the amount retoactive back to a year (if you have been out of work and disabled all this time) or I believe its from the first month's check. For some that is worth it. If you can do it on your own its better because we don't get that much and there is a cap limit on how much you can get. My husband gets the limit he had a good paying job and I get half as I did what I enjoyed and not by how much it paid. Wrong thing to do!!! Wishing you well, hugs, Sandy

dede10 · 10-16-2006, 04:15 PM

When I was dx'ed at satge 4, I was told to apply by a friend of ours. I did, & within a month I was approved. I had to wait 5 mos for my first check, though. I sent a copy of my diagnosis, and initial labs, tests, and all I could get my hands on. My doc has backed me up, too.

Sheila · 10-16-2006, 04:20 PM

When I went from Stage 1 to Stage !V, I was on short term disability with my company as I had just had resonstruction surgery and thought I'd be going back to work...then everything changed, as I became Stage IV, lots of tretments, scans treatments scans....my company started paying me Long Term Disability, and required that I applied for Social Security Disability, which benefits the company as they can deduct what SSD pays you from the amount they were paying. Well Social Security considered me permanently disabled,...HOWEVER, 1 year later, the company quit paying me my disability as they said they no longer felt I was unable to work...so i went from a 3000.00 a month income with disability & SSD to a 1300.00 a month income with SSD...and got terminated from the company to boot as my Dr. would not release me to work....BIG COMPANIES ARE SOOOO SYMPATHETIC....I am greatful that I get the SSD, and I would give anything if I could only go back to work and feel normal again....I guess that will probably never happen.

tousled1 · 10-16-2006, 04:48 PM

Sheila,

The same thing happened to me with the company I worked for. I had been on short term disability and then went to long term disability. One of the requirements was that once you were on long term for 90 days you had to apply for social security disability. I applied and I was fortunate that I was approved for social security disability. Upon that, I then had to pay back some money to the insurance carrier that my employer had for long term disability. I then went on disability retirement and I now get my social security disability and my retirement benefit. One thing with social security disability is that you don't get paid for the first 6 months that you are disabled. I don't know why but you don't -- sort of like a waiting period I guess.

Sheila · 10-16-2006, 05:50 PM

I cant get my retirement benefit until I am 62 from my company...or at least thats what they said....I paid alot of money over the years to get supplemental disability, in which they had to pay you 2/3 of your income....alot of good that did me....not like I wanted to get mets so I couldn't work...I've tested the waters about working, although some days I am too tired...as soon as a place finds out I go for treatments and have a 5# lifting restriction with my left arm...they suddenly don't have any openings/ we get slammed from all angles with this damn disease! I am just going to enjoy my time being at home!

tousled1 · 10-16-2006, 11:18 PM

Sheila,

Wouldn't you be able to get disability retirement from your company? That's what I ended up doing. I know that it's less than what I would've got had I waited until 62. I'm just grateful that I worked for a company that had retirement benefits - especially since I never had to pay into it.

Sheila · 10-17-2006, 04:52 AM

Kate

We had to put our own money into a Trust and Thrift Plan...That is our retirement. I could take it out I guess since I am on SSD and not pay the penalty, but I would have to take a lump sum then be taxed...they get you coming and going!/

tousled1 · 10-17-2006, 05:02 AM

Guess I should be double thankful for the retirement plan that I had when I was working. I didn't have to pay into it and was able to take the disability retirement option. My retirement benefit if lower than if I would have stayed until actual retirement age. My disability retirement was based on my years of service and a multiplier factor and since I was only with the company eleven years I feel blessed to have any retirement benefit.