Has anyone put in for disablity retirement?
Thank you
Greg Matthews
Forums
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greg matthews - Name: Greg Matthews
- Who do you know with myeloma?: myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 12-28-2010
- Age at diagnosis: 48
Re: Working with multiple myeloma & disability
Hi Greg~
My husband was diagnosed on January 1, 2012. Our oncologist advised us to file for social security disability right away as there is a mandatory 6 month wait/review period that the Social Security Administration enforces.
We talked to an attorney that specialized in Social Security disability claims (yeah, like the ones that advertise on daytime TV) and he advised us that "everyone" is turned down the first time and that we would eventually need to hire an attorney in order to receive benefits.
We researched the paperwork involved and my husband made a visit to our local Social Security office and met with a case worker. We completed the reams of paperwork required, answered all of the questionnaires honestly, and we were awarded short term disability. "Short term" meaning that Social Security will review his case again 18 months following his stem cell transplant. We did not hire an attorney nor was the process of filing particularly painful...annoying, yes but not painful.
Just as an aside: he had been laid off in November and was receiving a severance package from his former employer. When the severance was up mid February, he applied for unemployment as the SS disability would not start until July 1st. He was initially denied unemployment because, under the Employment Security Commission's rules: you are not considered "employable" if you have filed a disability claim. We appealed the decision and he told his story honestly during a telephone appeal. The judge ruled in his favor and he was awarded unemployment payments until the disability payments started.
We live in North Carolina and I'm not sure if rules/procedures vary by state. This is just our experience and I hope it helps you.
My husband was diagnosed on January 1, 2012. Our oncologist advised us to file for social security disability right away as there is a mandatory 6 month wait/review period that the Social Security Administration enforces.
We talked to an attorney that specialized in Social Security disability claims (yeah, like the ones that advertise on daytime TV) and he advised us that "everyone" is turned down the first time and that we would eventually need to hire an attorney in order to receive benefits.
We researched the paperwork involved and my husband made a visit to our local Social Security office and met with a case worker. We completed the reams of paperwork required, answered all of the questionnaires honestly, and we were awarded short term disability. "Short term" meaning that Social Security will review his case again 18 months following his stem cell transplant. We did not hire an attorney nor was the process of filing particularly painful...annoying, yes but not painful.
Just as an aside: he had been laid off in November and was receiving a severance package from his former employer. When the severance was up mid February, he applied for unemployment as the SS disability would not start until July 1st. He was initially denied unemployment because, under the Employment Security Commission's rules: you are not considered "employable" if you have filed a disability claim. We appealed the decision and he told his story honestly during a telephone appeal. The judge ruled in his favor and he was awarded unemployment payments until the disability payments started.
We live in North Carolina and I'm not sure if rules/procedures vary by state. This is just our experience and I hope it helps you.
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rav4fan - Who do you know with myeloma?: Husband
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 1/1/2012
- Age at diagnosis: 56
Re: Working with multiple myeloma & disability
Well I had my stem cell in 2011 may. I was out only 10 weeks. I am just looking. My big issues is i feel like time is slipping away from me. I dont believe they would let me retire any way. I work for the post office and I am a boss. I worry about the stress and what it is doing to me.
Thanks for the info
Greg
Thanks for the info
Greg
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greg matthews - Name: Greg Matthews
- Who do you know with myeloma?: myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 12-28-2010
- Age at diagnosis: 48
Re: Working with multiple myeloma & disability
I could not work after my stem cell transplant (SCT), so the social worker at my doctor encouraged me to apply for SS disability. It was approved in a matter of days, not weeks. I will be up for review after 1 year , but have My doubts about being able to return. The constant fatigue with the Velcade and low whites heave my immune system at a all time low.
Re: Working with multiple myeloma & disability
I doubt mine will get approved, I only took 10 weeks off after stem cell transplant. I have been back to work since August 2011 Stem cell was in May 2011.
I am not on Velcade or Revlimid. I went off February 2012. I have been in remission since July 2011. I am headed back to the doctors July 24 to see were I am at.
I am not on Velcade or Revlimid. I went off February 2012. I have been in remission since July 2011. I am headed back to the doctors July 24 to see were I am at.
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greg matthews - Name: Greg Matthews
- Who do you know with myeloma?: myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 12-28-2010
- Age at diagnosis: 48
Re: Working with multiple myeloma & disability
I have been on the NIH's carfilzomib (Kyprolis) / Revlimid / dex trial for newly diagnosed multiple myeloma since May 2012 when my disease became active. I am a public interest attorney with a full case load and I go to court three days a week. I am still able to work. At first, it was difficult due to fatigue, but it is easier now that my treatment has chopped down the myeloma quickly and my blood counts have trended to the normal ranges. The first week of May, my hemoglobin was only 8.7. It is now 13.0. That helps a lot, physically and mentally, in putting in a day's work ... just hope it lasts!
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terryl1 - Name: Terry
- Who do you know with myeloma?: self
- When were you/they diagnosed?: August 10, 2011
- Age at diagnosis: 49
Re: Working with multiple myeloma & disability
Greg,
Having been in the social work profession for over 30+ years and helping many others file for social security disability, as well as my own, your social security disability claim will be approved without any problems as multiple myeloma is an incurable cancer. When submitting your claim, make sure you attach a physician's letter stating what your diagnosis is and that it is an incurable cancer. The social security administration still requires a 6month waiting period before they will start your first check. An exception to this is for those individuals who are terminally ill and have 6 months or less to live. This requires a physician's letter. Benefits are normally approved in less than 6 weeks.
You can work with social security disability benefits, but your monthly cannot exceed approximately $920.00/month (give or take a few dollars). If you start receiving social security disability benefits while working, simply advise your local social security office so they can stop your benefits. Do not cash the check(s). They will need to be returned to the social security office to avoid any undue stress.
Should you experience any problems with the approval of your social security disability benefits, I encourage you to immediately contact your congressman's office. You can find out who your congressman is at "www.congress.org". Once they contact your local social security office, they have 24 hours to respond to your congressman. I have used this method for many men and women over the years with good results. Keep dates, names, phone numbers and what was discussed when speaking with anyone in the social security office. This information will be of great help to your congressman's office.
Sorry about being long winded. Hope this offers some assistance.
Best of luck with your claim and your myeloma treatment.
Stable after 5 years,
Russ Martineau
Having been in the social work profession for over 30+ years and helping many others file for social security disability, as well as my own, your social security disability claim will be approved without any problems as multiple myeloma is an incurable cancer. When submitting your claim, make sure you attach a physician's letter stating what your diagnosis is and that it is an incurable cancer. The social security administration still requires a 6month waiting period before they will start your first check. An exception to this is for those individuals who are terminally ill and have 6 months or less to live. This requires a physician's letter. Benefits are normally approved in less than 6 weeks.
You can work with social security disability benefits, but your monthly cannot exceed approximately $920.00/month (give or take a few dollars). If you start receiving social security disability benefits while working, simply advise your local social security office so they can stop your benefits. Do not cash the check(s). They will need to be returned to the social security office to avoid any undue stress.
Should you experience any problems with the approval of your social security disability benefits, I encourage you to immediately contact your congressman's office. You can find out who your congressman is at "www.congress.org". Once they contact your local social security office, they have 24 hours to respond to your congressman. I have used this method for many men and women over the years with good results. Keep dates, names, phone numbers and what was discussed when speaking with anyone in the social security office. This information will be of great help to your congressman's office.
Sorry about being long winded. Hope this offers some assistance.
Best of luck with your claim and your myeloma treatment.
Stable after 5 years,
Russ Martineau
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Russ Martineau
Re: Working with multiple myeloma & disability
Thanks for the post and the summary Russ. I just wanted to clarify that the $920 figure is the most you can make in addition to social security disability or is $920 the combined figure including disability and the outside income? Thanks.
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indy mike - Name: Mike Mathias
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Self
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Jan 2011
- Age at diagnosis: 51
Re: Working with multiple myeloma & disability
This Thursday will be my third time ingesting 500 mg cyclophosphamide and 40 mg dexamethasone and being subcutaneously injected with 2.6 mg bortezomib (Velcade). The first Friday, I was infused with 4 mg Zometa .
I'm working as a high school teacher at a non-profit organization and they have been wonderful. What I'm now very concerned about is when my paid FMLA runs out. I will have to get SS disability benefits, if I can not come back to work for a time. I am still considering the autologous stem cell transplant and that will have me out of Anchorage and down to Seattle for 10 weeks.
The question is $920?? That doesn't even cover my rent.
I'm working as a high school teacher at a non-profit organization and they have been wonderful. What I'm now very concerned about is when my paid FMLA runs out. I will have to get SS disability benefits, if I can not come back to work for a time. I am still considering the autologous stem cell transplant and that will have me out of Anchorage and down to Seattle for 10 weeks.
The question is $920?? That doesn't even cover my rent.
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alaskanmeg - Name: alaskanmeg
- Who do you know with myeloma?: me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 15 June 12
- Age at diagnosis: 49
Re: Working with multiple myeloma & disability
Hello, I am a Canadian so have no clue on the American system. Actually no clue on most things but blessed with healthy denial in that regard! I'm 58 and have young adopted daughters and still have a trace of the M protein but my oncologist assures me I'm in the myeloma version of remission.
I was diagnosed winter/2011 and received the SCT in late Sept.. I am an oilfield salesman and worked through the whole treatment from chemo to SCT and now Revlimid maintenance. This includes field sales into the Canadian backcountry. I should add that I work from my home and am a partner in my company with the finest partners a man can have.
I am blessed with a high tolerance to the drugs but did wrestle with fatigue and still do. I felt the stress of unemployment and a complete upset of my family was not worth the option of not working if at all possible. Seeing Daddy go to work was the stability my daughters needed in hindsight. Again, in my case it required fierce determination and tolerance for risk but it was doable. Many folks do get horribly beat up by cancer and its treatment and it would not be doable.
I was diagnosed winter/2011 and received the SCT in late Sept.. I am an oilfield salesman and worked through the whole treatment from chemo to SCT and now Revlimid maintenance. This includes field sales into the Canadian backcountry. I should add that I work from my home and am a partner in my company with the finest partners a man can have.
I am blessed with a high tolerance to the drugs but did wrestle with fatigue and still do. I felt the stress of unemployment and a complete upset of my family was not worth the option of not working if at all possible. Seeing Daddy go to work was the stability my daughters needed in hindsight. Again, in my case it required fierce determination and tolerance for risk but it was doable. Many folks do get horribly beat up by cancer and its treatment and it would not be doable.
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Canuck Bob - Name: Bob
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Feb. 2011
- Age at diagnosis: 57
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