[elmer]

feel the need to work

by elmer on Wed Oct 12, 2011 8:08 pm

na

Last edited by elmer on Sun Nov 13, 2011 10:24 am, edited 1 time in total.

[Wess]

Re: feel the need to work

by Wess on Thu Oct 13, 2011 7:54 pm

My SSD was approved on the day of my transplant, you may not be able to get it otherwise. Plan on it being rejected the first time you apply, also plan on it taking at least 6 mos after the first denile. Just keep calling and follow up on all information requests.

Your Cobra benefit is a blessing, I had nothing, and am very near bankrupsy. Take care.

Wess

[genk]

Re: feel the need to work

by genk on Thu Oct 13, 2011 10:28 pm

You mean you got rejected even though you have this disease? What kind of work did you do? Did you have any broken bones? Back problems etc? I would have thought this would qualify automatically? Did you obtain a lawyer when you first applied?

[kdboca]

Re: feel the need to work

by kdboca on Fri Oct 14, 2011 10:52 am

Almost nothing at SSDI is automatic. My wife has helped many people apply when she volunteered with SHINE. Generally recommend using a lawyer. They will pay retroactively to the time of your disability, but that doesn't help much while you are navigating the rejections. Lawyers usually are paid a flat fee from the proceeds when awarded. Wess is correct. Keep after them.

[Christa's Mom]

Re: feel the need to work

by Christa's Mom on Fri Oct 14, 2011 4:55 pm

Elmer,

I'm so sorry you are feeling so stressed - being worried about finances while you are trying to take care of your health just doesn't seem fair.

You don't say much about where you live, how old you are or what you do for a living, but I hope you have taken advantage of the Family Medical Leave Act. Depending on where you are, this should allow you to take a 3 month leave from your job, without having to give it up. Also, how people react to a SCT is different for everybody. EJ was back to work in 8 weeks after his SCT, and he would have gone sooner if he could have!

Also, I believe the Americans with Disabilities Act offers some protection for people with cancer. Employers are required to make reasonable adjustments to your work to accommodate your condition.

Not sure why your doc is saying you need to be on disability, but maybe there are some other options.

Lyn

[scott homer]

Re: feel the need to work

by scott homer on Fri Oct 14, 2011 10:38 pm

multiple myeloma is a default SSDI diagnosis - i forget where it is but look up qualifying disabilities on SSD website. There may be some qualifying level of proteins or something but if you are going into transplant that should be no problem. Keep in mind that your job right now is to take care of yourself and get thru your treatments and transplant. A mentor of mine told me a couple of things that help me keep focused: 1. You are up to bat and you only get to swing at one pitch at a time - don't worry about the next one; 2. you are no longer the person you used to be - concentrate on who you are now and the things you need to do. In 4 years I have had two Auto Transplants and am waiting for a donor for an Allo TP - don't EVER give up!!!

[texas-tea13]

Re: feel the need to work

by texas-tea13 on Sat Oct 15, 2011 2:17 am

Elmer, i know how you feel. I am living on just SSDI at age 61 and it is terrible! My doctors don't want me working at all. Luckily, my sister can help me out with my bills. For the last two and a half years i have had nothing but Health insurance and Medicaid battles and once no insurance at all for 6 months. But, now my sister and i take it one week at a time and try not to think too far ahead. I am in remission and feeling pretty good. That is number one on my list. After 6 months of chemo i had the transplant and was automatically okayed for SSDI. My case worker at S.S.D.I. told me not to hire a lawyer since transplant is an automatic yes, and it was. Social Security only gave me two months back pay. The Doctor who handled my SSDI case refused to okay me until transplant. There is now a two year waiting period to get on Medicare when you have been on SSDI. I will have medicare in March 2012 and i will see what kind of journey that will be. My smart move while i was working ,i took out cancer and dissability policies and i was reimbursed for many of the tests and the transplant. Also, for travel and apartment for 3 weeks after transplant. Next May i will have my 2 year post transplant evaluation which means lots of tests. Anyway, tell friends and relatives to take out cancer and dissability insurance policies thru their work . It does pay! Cancer policy is good for the rest of my life with no monthly premium. I wish you luck! The transplant itself is very easy. I had some side effects for about 5 days afterwards, and i was released 8 days after transplant and i stayed in an apartment furnished by the hospital for 3 weeks with my sister and i never had a problem during those 3 weeks except being a little bored. I came home to my own apartment and have been alone since with my dog. I just keep away from children, hospitals, sick people, traveling, and do my shopping early in the morning and wipe down shopping carts. In March i will have the last of my immunization shots which i did at the health department for free. I am on a list for section 8 housing, but that can take years to get to my number for help. I live in Arizona and had to travel to Tucson, AZ at UMC Medical Hospital to have my transplant. It is a great Hospital!