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Discussion about insurance, treatment costs, and patient assistance programs

Re: Social Security Disability filing - online or in person?

by Beacon Staff on Thu Oct 16, 2014 8:38 am

George,

Thank you for getting back to everyone to describe what you finally decided to do and how things went. It's great when people here in the forum do that, because it provides additional information that may be useful to current and future forum participants.

We hope all goes well with your application.

Beacon Staff

Re: Social Security Disability filing - online or in person?

by Castaway on Sun Oct 19, 2014 5:06 pm

Just an update:

I called the local Social Security office to make an appointment and they had me leave a voice mail for their online contact. First i thought that I would be just put off for weeks until someone called me back. Well, to my surprise, he called back the same day. I found out that they are very understaffed and he alone has 500 cases. And they had their hours cut. He was very under­standing and, due to the fact that my bone survey shows several issues, he said that I have more that one issue to receive disability due to my work demands.

He said I didn't need an appointment to come in and he took care of everything over the phone. He looked at what I had filed online and helped clarify a few things and add a few things that I didn't know exactly how to answer. He thought that I should have an answer about disability in about 4 to 6 weeks.

Not so sure about that 4 to 6 week time frame, but at least I have a good contact now at our local Disability office.

Castaway

Castaway
Name: George
Who do you know with myeloma?: just myself
When were you/they diagnosed?: 1/24/14
Age at diagnosis: 62

Re: Social Security Disability filing - online or in person?

by Castaway on Wed Oct 29, 2014 11:08 am

Just wanted to give my latest on Social Security disability filing.

I am in shock! I received a call from my local SS office yesterday, and my contact there said that SS had made a favorable decision. He told me to finalize the decision I would need to fax him my current state disability information. He said I will continue to receive my state disability until it runs out, but that I will also receive SS disability at an adjusted amount. The adjusted amount would be my SS full monthly disability amount minus the current monthly state disability that I am receiving. When the state disability runs out, the SS disability will then be the full amount.

There is also back pay from SS that started in January when I was first diagnosed, minus 6 months. That was also an adjusted amount due to my state disability income.

I have learned a lot from this experience. I was sure that I would be rejected. I am with mixed feelings. I am grateful to receive the decision so fast, but it also leaves me now knowing that I really will not be going back to my work.

I want to thank everyone that gave their input here on the Beacon.

Castaway

Castaway
Name: George
Who do you know with myeloma?: just myself
When were you/they diagnosed?: 1/24/14
Age at diagnosis: 62

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