questions about qualifing for benefits

[Tami]

I'm not sure if anyone will see this or if anyone will have any advice. I have read the SS dept website trying to find out who qualifys for benefits and it's not very easy to understand. I still have no idea what the difference is with LTD opposed to SSI etc. and if I could even qualify for anything.

I've read my retirement information and I know what it says about the amount of money I would receive if I were to become disabled but who decides that and how long does it take?? for those of you who have done this what is needed? I have worked throughout my illness. I started my present job just 4 months before I was diagnosed. I was a perfectly "healthy" 30 something year old person with no symptoms. anyway when I became sick that's when I found out that my University has no short term disability and so I was out of luck. I had no time to accumulate sick days and so if I was off work I had no pay. So being single with 3 kids, no family and no other income I had to work whether I felt like it or not. Through the surgerys, chemo and radiation. It was really hard. I had my left lung removed etc. Now it's been two years.. and I'm afraid that because of that length of time I will be turned down. but I just got married in June and I'm hoping that now I could survive the 6-8 months it would take to get everything in place. I'm still having problems with pain, neuropathy etc. I sit at a computer all day and unfortunately my surgeries left me with two displaced ribs that will never heal and they poke me a lot. Sitting to type is making things worse for me... back, shoulder chest pain. I also have some "foggy brain issues" and i forget things etc. i switched positions about two months ago... went down 4 grade levels because I hoped it would be easier for me to function at this level. It's not helping... the pain is getting worse and I can't seem to cope with all the stress and depression.

I can't just quit and then go in and apply and hope for the best. I thought about contact an attorney (Edgar snyder) but I don't want to do that if I can help it and I thought you should wait till your turned down before you go that route. I don't think I can keep this up and yet I don't think I can quit... I'd appreciate any words of wisdom.

[kimblanchard]

Oh, Tami, you have been through a lot. Here is how it was for us. The doctor told Jim to go on disability. I contacted the company. The company sent a form. The doctor had to fill out the form and return it and then short term - and then long term - disability was approved and paid for by the company's insurance company. They will also want you to sign permission slips for them to review your tests and medical history. It pretty much depends on what the doctor puts on the form. Ours put "unable to work for at least three months due to treatment for metastatic lung cancer stage 4" We got no arguements. If you are in serious pain and having brain issues, I bet there is some way he can write that up that will qualify you. For us it took less than a month.

Okay - for Social Security - if you have worked 5 out of the last 10 years, you may qualify for disability - you can apply as soon as you are not working due to a medical condition. Even if you are getting disability or sick pay, that doesn't count against you. There will be forms, and interview, permission to review your records, and their doctors will judge if you are qualified for disability. Even if you are, payments don't start for 5-6 months after you last worked.

Clear as mud? I guess I would say, if you think you are unable to work, try for it. You can talk with your doctor and if he considers you disabled, apply for retirement or whatever with your company. As soon as you are off work, apply for the Social Security.

Margaret

[Frank Lamb]

Tami, I applied at the local ss office.They gave me a form, I fill it out & sent it back.They did a phone interview with me and I waited & waited.You really shouldn't have too much trouble getting benefits.It does require time & you have to be disabled 6 months before you are eligible.

I think you should try it on your own before hiring legal counsel.The SS office will help you undedstand the forms & fill them out.That way if you get approved you don't have to pay atty's out of that much needed income.

[Ry]

I don't know why some people fly through the process and others have problems. I remember that DavidA had to go to a doctor SS picked and be evaluated before his benefits were approved. You can apply online, they will ask to contact all your doctors and get your info and then they will decide from there. Your doctors response will have a lot to do with it I would think.

You don't need an attorney unless you want to appeal I would think.

[luvmydog2]

Check the link below. You will find some good info there.

First of all it is true, there is a 6 month wait period. If you have little or no income right now then you may qualify for SSI. There is no waiting period for that. You still must meet guidlines of being disabled to get SSI. Just because you are through receiving treatments does not have effect

on your claim (or at least I would not think so). It would depend on your medical records. You may be required to take some test at SS expense. You say you have a lot of questions. You can go to and get a lot of info. You can apply on line if you desire. Also we had a discussion that you might find helpful a few days back that you may want to read. I am not sure if removal of one lung auto qualifies you or not. I think it depends on your medical records. I think I read on here once that stage IV was automatic. Perhaps someone else can answer that for you. At any rate I would apply ASAP. All they can do is turn you down at which time you can

appeal. Now as far as the 6 month wait period goes, I was told (also read it online) that you can make 800.00 per month and still be processed. There is a program where you can work if you desire and still get your check. I never really checked it out tho. If I can answer any questions for

you, feel free to PM me. Hopefully others will reply to you also. Good Luck.

Bruce

http://lchelp.com/community/viewtopic.php?t=5477

[carrie]

Hi Tammi,

I just started receiving Social Security, although I did recieve SSI until they approved my Social Security Disability. I just called the SS office and ask them to send me an application which they did. I filled out the paper work and sent it back. I received a phone call (from what I can remember) and they scheduled a telephone interview for a couple of weeks later. During the phone interview the lady said after our conversation she would send me to SSI Dept. and they could take my info to see if I qualify for SSI (which I did and started recieving immediately). During the time they were processing my application I was diagnosed with brain mets, I called them to give them an update and was immediately approved for Social Security. I did not have to do anything else, I never had to go the SS office nor did I have to go to a doctor, I guess my medical records sufficed. I really think you should go ahead and apply it would not hurt anything and with you having a full lung removed I would think you would be approved. Good Luck!

Carrie

[cindi o'h]

Hi Tami.

Try to rummage around on the SSDI site and see if you can find something called the "Blue Book" or doctor's guidelines for diseases that qualify for approval.

I remember running across it. It is thoroughly written. Look under "neoplasms" and find Lung. There are some short papagraphs there that will give their specific criteria for automatic approval.

There will be different pathologies to follow...adeno, bac etc and the extent of the stages. Mine was automatically approved because I had mets beyond the hilar lymph nodes.

Even though you may be denied the first time, continue to reapply until you are satisfied. I don't think that it costs anything to hire an attorney for help with this. I think I did read that somewhere. The SS people at the national level were very good about answering my questions and sending me information and literature on the program.

Good luck to you on this.

By the way, when I was approved, I didn't know whether to celebrate or to cry.

Cindi o'h

[luvmydog2]

Try to rummage around on the SSDI site and see if you can find something called the "Blue Book" or doctor's guidelines for diseases that qualify for approval.

Here is a link to the site. Keep in mind this list is for automatic approval and does not mean if you don't fit in that you are not eligable. you can get approved for other things as well. Good Luck

http://www.ssa.gov/disability/professio ... stings.htm