Diasability joke

grannyc
grannyc Member Posts: 63
in Colorectal Cancer #1
As some of you know I was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer in Sept 2007, had surgerym chemo, etc....NED for about 6 months with recurranc in ovary, surgergy, chemo, etc.
I have been on and off of disability...dame insurance company same employer since 2007. I always went back to work full time.

ok, so now in Dec 2010 i was diagnosed with mets to the liver, (several small, 2 large tumors) inoperable right now. I am currently on Xeldoa and Avastin and have been since Jan 2011. I work 32 hours a week and get disability for the other 8 hours. Now the disability company wants me to "try" to go back to work one more hour a week and work my way up to being able to work 40 hours a week. What kind of joke is this? I can hardly work 32 hours a week. I don't have energy to clean house, cook, and do all of the dialy home stuff I need to do...all of my energy is spent working at my job.
What's funny is the last few weeks I have been thinking about cutting my hours by 8 a week...wonder what this crap from the disability company will do to thise plans?

I am considering try to get SSDI, any suggestions?

Thanks
GrannyC

Comments

  • BettyJoM
    BettyJoM Member Posts: 82
    #2
    disability
    I have a friend who when she was diagnosed with breast cancer actually applied and was accepted by unemployment. she was a nurse like me and said she could work, but was immunosuppressed and could not be around people, I think they gave it to her rather than figure out what job to give her. she collected for almost a year and in the meantime applied for SSDI. she was refused and had to retain a lawyer and was eventually given it retroactive with a nice lump sum. at this point she was post mastectomy and treatment almost a year but had liver problems and very supportive doctors. we live in Penna

    I was already on SSDI when I got cancer. I have an autoimmune disease called CREST and left work almost 4 years ago from problems due to that. I was awarded it in 5 months. my doctor said its because I have a disease that no one ever heard of so they cant dispute it.

    why not try it. I was always told once they refuse you they seek an attorney

    what state are you in?
  • grannyc
    grannyc Member Posts: 63
    #3
    BettyJoM said:

    disability
    I have a friend who when she was diagnosed with breast cancer actually applied and was accepted by unemployment. she was a nurse like me and said she could work, but was immunosuppressed and could not be around people, I think they gave it to her rather than figure out what job to give her. she collected for almost a year and in the meantime applied for SSDI. she was refused and had to retain a lawyer and was eventually given it retroactive with a nice lump sum. at this point she was post mastectomy and treatment almost a year but had liver problems and very supportive doctors. we live in Penna

    I was already on SSDI when I got cancer. I have an autoimmune disease called CREST and left work almost 4 years ago from problems due to that. I was awarded it in 5 months. my doctor said its because I have a disease that no one ever heard of so they cant dispute it.

    why not try it. I was always told once they refuse you they seek an attorney

    what state are you in?

    thanks for info
    I live in Washington state. I am bleesed to feel good enough to work at least part time, I guess I just find it hard to believe that the disability company would be so knit picky about 8 hours a week....not like I make millions of $$$" s. I am just a lowly AR person who works for a small company and doesn't pay the best wages.

    I am not sure what you mean when you say "once they refuse you they seek an attorney"? who seek the attorney?

    GrannyC
  • herdizziness
    herdizziness Member Posts: 3,624 Member
    #4
    Stage IV
    Stage IV colon cancer is automatic Social Security disability, took about 20 days to get mine after I applied. They don't make you wait, the average after you apply to confirmation is 20 to 30 days (they have a 30 days to decide, not 6 months)and a check usually comes the next month. The breast cancer person SSDI and Colon Cancer Stage IV with mets SSDI is totally different circumstances, so don't worry about it, you won't be refused.
    But you CAN'T be working I think is the catch there with the SSDI, you'd have to stop and then apply if I recall rightly.
    Winter Marie
  • herdizziness
    herdizziness Member Posts: 3,624 Member
    #5
    grannyc said:

    thanks for info
    I live in Washington state. I am bleesed to feel good enough to work at least part time, I guess I just find it hard to believe that the disability company would be so knit picky about 8 hours a week....not like I make millions of $$$" s. I am just a lowly AR person who works for a small company and doesn't pay the best wages.

    I am not sure what you mean when you say "once they refuse you they seek an attorney"? who seek the attorney?

    GrannyC

    .
    .
  • grannyc
    grannyc Member Posts: 63
    #6
    herdizziness said:

    Stage IV
    Stage IV colon cancer is automatic Social Security disability, took about 20 days to get mine after I applied. They don't make you wait, the average after you apply to confirmation is 20 to 30 days (they have a 30 days to decide, not 6 months)and a check usually comes the next month. The breast cancer person SSDI and Colon Cancer Stage IV with mets SSDI is totally different circumstances, so don't worry about it, you won't be refused.
    But you CAN'T be working I think is the catch there with the SSDI, you'd have to stop and then apply if I recall rightly.
    Winter Marie

    so much help thanks
    thst info is very helpful, I thought you have to not be working to apply. The thing that scares me is once I stop working there is no going back if I get turned down by SSDI.

    Is the paperwork, long and scary to fill out like I have heard?

    I havesomeone from SSA that may be able to help me over the bumps of paperwork...hope it is not too hard.

    GrannyC
  • herdizziness
    herdizziness Member Posts: 3,624 Member
    #7
    grannyc said:

    so much help thanks
    thst info is very helpful, I thought you have to not be working to apply. The thing that scares me is once I stop working there is no going back if I get turned down by SSDI.

    Is the paperwork, long and scary to fill out like I have heard?

    I havesomeone from SSA that may be able to help me over the bumps of paperwork...hope it is not too hard.

    GrannyC

    Computer
    You can do it on the computer and send it to the SSA that way, then you go down and give them your signature. It's very easy if you make an appointment and have them fill it out on the computer for you. Not scary at all, I went down and they filled mine all out on computer, they sent to Oncologists to get paperwork etc. All you have to have is your Dr.'s name, address, phone number, your info, don't bring in all your medical work, they get what they want from the doctor. I spent 1/2 hour at SSA and then 20 days later had my disability approved. Like I stated above I'm not sure if you have to be not working, I think that is a requirement, but stage IV colon cancer is an automatic SSDI.
    Winter Marie
  • bspangler47
    bspangler47 Member Posts: 145
    #8
    SSI disability
    I went to the office in the town we live in last year and applied. Within in a month I was approved for disability along as my children too. Which helps me out alot since I was retired from active duty Army in April for the colorectal cancer. I would apply its less stress if you dont have to work. Think about your health.

    Barbara
  • luvmylife
    luvmylife Member Posts: 76
    #9
    Jimmy applied last month for
    Jimmy applied last month for disability, we live in NY. He was eligable right away because of the stage IV dx. He has been out of work and on unemplyment & SSI since 11/10 so they told him there was a 5 mos waiting period so he was eligable as of May but hasn't gotten anything yet. He is still getting unemployment & SSI but that will stop once he gets the disability. He will be getting less $ with just the disability.

    Jan
  • mukamom
    mukamom Member Posts: 402
    #10
    luvmylife said:

    Jimmy applied last month for
    Jimmy applied last month for disability, we live in NY. He was eligable right away because of the stage IV dx. He has been out of work and on unemplyment & SSI since 11/10 so they told him there was a 5 mos waiting period so he was eligable as of May but hasn't gotten anything yet. He is still getting unemployment & SSI but that will stop once he gets the disability. He will be getting less $ with just the disability.

    Jan

    We have been talking
    about Robert applying. He's 2.5 years into his stagr iv dx and has worked all the way through except for FMLA when he has had surgery. We asked onc about it, since he will be starting a new chemo mix June 3, and he thought he should still be able to work thru his treatments. I am not sure about all that.....we will see. The folfri made him pretty sick. Don't know how he will react to Erbitux. But it is good to know that he can get it quickly if he needs to.

    Angela
  • Nana b
    Nana b Member Posts: 3,030 Member
    #11
    mukamom said:

    We have been talking
    about Robert applying. He's 2.5 years into his stagr iv dx and has worked all the way through except for FMLA when he has had surgery. We asked onc about it, since he will be starting a new chemo mix June 3, and he thought he should still be able to work thru his treatments. I am not sure about all that.....we will see. The folfri made him pretty sick. Don't know how he will react to Erbitux. But it is good to know that he can get it quickly if he needs to.

    Angela

    Do you have Company STD and
    Do you have Company STD and LTD, long term disability? Maybe you need to just go out on FMLA and and go on that disability? Apply for Social Security too. If you go out on FMLA, you have time to look into Social Security, while your job is protected.

    Remember, the disability folks just want you back to work full time so I would just tell tell them no.
  • plh4gail
    plh4gail Member Posts: 1,238 Member
    #12
    Dear GrannyC...I don't know
    Dear GrannyC...I don't know how you do it. I went off work on dissability the whole time. I did pay the price of losing my position the the hospital but will hopefully have another one I can go to when I go back. The did keep me on staff as on leave of absence. I don't think I could have worked through it. You are my hero.

    Love, Gail
  • Buckwirth
    Buckwirth Member Posts: 1,258 Member
    #13
    Just say no
    And talk with HR to get their take. SSDI is not an option if you want to keep working.
  • grannyc
    grannyc Member Posts: 63
    #14
    Buckwirth said:

    Just say no
    And talk with HR to get their take. SSDI is not an option if you want to keep working.

    thanks to all for your input
    I always seem to feel better once I vent my frustration here and you are all so great on giving good info and wonderful food for thought.

    thanks to all
    GraanyC
  • jjaj133
    jjaj133 Member Posts: 867 Member
    #15
    grannyc said:

    thanks to all for your input
    I always seem to feel better once I vent my frustration here and you are all so great on giving good info and wonderful food for thought.

    thanks to all
    GraanyC

    Hi, Just a sugestion, ave
    Hi, Just a sugestion, ave your dr. send a letter stating you are able to work X amt. of hours if any.
    Good Luck,
    Judy
  • tanker sgv
    tanker sgv Member Posts: 124
    #16
    grannyc said:

    thanks to all for your input
    I always seem to feel better once I vent my frustration here and you are all so great on giving good info and wonderful food for thought.

    thanks to all
    GraanyC

    It all depends on what state
    It all depends on what state u live in and there rules for eligability. I know my mother was denied while on hospice, but we chose not to contest and struggle through it for Quality of Life reasons and not haveing added stress of political bs. What I. Would suggest is to contact the pallative care department and and to leave a mmessage with the medical social worker. Often they can handle most the paperwork at the hospital and also inform you of all qualifying services. That was the eaisest way I found to bypass going through county and hospital bs, plus you don't have to be a paitient of pallitive care to leave a message for someone.....this is the reason we need to start demanding that hospitals hire a cancer paitient advocate and medical social worker to every oncology department....too much hoops to jump through while fighting for your life!

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