Stage 4: Just denied disability today...
I guess I'm wrong, but I had been told by several that stage 4 cancer was like an automatic approval for social security disability....
However, the case worker said today that it doesn't matter what my ailment is because if I make over a thousand dollars a month income I don't qualify...
After my 30th chemo on Friday was done, now it's been recommended that I stay on some kind of chemo for the rest of my life....
It's been very difficult for me, (and I know many of you try as well) to do an eight hour a day job during chemo...
So I tried to see what my options were today at the social security office and was told what I said above...."It doesn't matter what ailment you have......"
Pissed me off.....
Your friend in Penn
Comments
-
Dear Jim,
I am so sorry you
Dear Jim,
I am so sorry you are not being given disability. I don't understand. I can't imagine trying to work an eight hour job going through what you're going through. I can sure understand you being upset. It just doesn't seem fair. I don't know that much about disability, but maybe someone else will have some ideas that could help. Maybe a lawyer could help.
(hugs)
April0 -
Have you already applied for
Have you already applied for disability and been turned down?
My husband is stage 4 & he applied about 2 weeks ago.
We hope to find out our answer within the next month or so.
I know of a person that was stage 4 for about 2 years before she applied.
She was approved. She received 2 years back pay even tho she had not applied for disability during that time. They said she was diabled at the time she was dx as stage 4.
La.Grammy0 -
SSD:
Unfortunately, it is my understanding, you cannot work full time and get Social Security Disability. If you quit working, then a Stage IV is pretty automatic. Yep, unfair especially when you pay into a system.
If you have disability at work go on that and reapply for SSD, you should be able to collect on both.
Take care - Tina0 -
I actually work part time....La.Grammy said:Have you already applied for
Have you already applied for disability and been turned down?
My husband is stage 4 & he applied about 2 weeks ago.
We hope to find out our answer within the next month or so.
I know of a person that was stage 4 for about 2 years before she applied.
She was approved. She received 2 years back pay even tho she had not applied for disability during that time. They said she was diabled at the time she was dx as stage 4.
La.Grammy
So what I was hoping was to fill the gap with ssd...
But again, at part time I make over a thousand gross a month so the guy says it doesn't matter my ailment... I don't qualify....
I took with me a file on my health issues: 30 chemos, 28 radiaions, colon, liver and lung resections, and he would'nt even look at them when I asked him to....
It was like there was no way I was going to be approved because I work at all...
So there's supposedly a SSD program that allows you to work for nine months and collect SSD to encouarage you to try to work....HELLOOOOOOOOOOOOO I want this....
I have been employed where am now for 25 years...I told the guy it wasn't like I have a bad cold and want to collect disability....
Still pisses me off.....
Friend in Pennsylvania0 -
Hey FriendFriendinpenn said:I actually work part time....
So what I was hoping was to fill the gap with ssd...
But again, at part time I make over a thousand gross a month so the guy says it doesn't matter my ailment... I don't qualify....
I took with me a file on my health issues: 30 chemos, 28 radiaions, colon, liver and lung resections, and he would'nt even look at them when I asked him to....
It was like there was no way I was going to be approved because I work at all...
So there's supposedly a SSD program that allows you to work for nine months and collect SSD to encouarage you to try to work....HELLOOOOOOOOOOOOO I want this....
I have been employed where am now for 25 years...I told the guy it wasn't like I have a bad cold and want to collect disability....
Still pisses me off.....
Friend in Pennsylvania
I totally understand your anger and frustration. I've spent months since dx trying to apply for things and have fallen through the cracks each time. Either, I have too much (which isn't the case anymore) or I made too much, or I was too young or too old or had the wrong cancer. It can be so frustrating. My understanding is that SSD does let you work but, someone I know works only parttime and makes less than $1000/month in order to continue to qualify.
Seems you're like me and stuck in the damn cracks that people fall through. I've spent nearly everything I've had and had to let go of assets and spend assets just to get ready to qualify for things in the future. It's really so sad that in this great country, if you're hit with a serious illness, you have to go nearly bankrupt before you can get help. At one point in my son's illness I was paying $45,000/month for his Rx. This went on for nearly a year before I finally won approval from the insurance companies to have the medications covered for his particular dx. And these were meds that he would have died without. I just thanked God everyday that I was fortunate enough to cover the costs at that time. Sometimes our system seems so unfair. You have my sympathies. HUGS0 -
Pennsy -
On the bright side, they're telling you they expect you to live
a long time, making a big bunch of cash!
Listen, this "problem" is just an obstacle to work around:
------
Social Security work incentives at a glance
Trial work period—
The trial work period allows you to test your ability to work for
at least nine months. During your trial work period, you will
receive your full Social Security benefits regardless of how much
you are earning as long as you report your work activity and you
continue to have a disabling impairment. In 2011, a trial work month
is any month in which your total earnings are over $720, or if you are
self-employed, you earn more than $720 (after expenses) or spend
more than 80 hours in your own business. The trial work period
continues until you have worked nine months within a 60-month period.
Extended period of eligibility—
After your trial work period, you have 36 months during which you
can work and still receive benefits for any month your earnings
are not “substantial.” In 2011, earnings over $1,000 ($1,640 if
you are blind) are considered substantial. No new application or
disability decision is needed for you to receive a Social Security
disability benefit during this period.
------
You just have to fit into that initial requirement, and maintain that
status fairly closely.
More info here: Working While Disabled—How We Can Help0 -
Hey JohnJohn23 said:Pennsy -
On the bright side, they're telling you they expect you to live
a long time, making a big bunch of cash!
Listen, this "problem" is just an obstacle to work around:
------
Social Security work incentives at a glance
Trial work period—
The trial work period allows you to test your ability to work for
at least nine months. During your trial work period, you will
receive your full Social Security benefits regardless of how much
you are earning as long as you report your work activity and you
continue to have a disabling impairment. In 2011, a trial work month
is any month in which your total earnings are over $720, or if you are
self-employed, you earn more than $720 (after expenses) or spend
more than 80 hours in your own business. The trial work period
continues until you have worked nine months within a 60-month period.
Extended period of eligibility—
After your trial work period, you have 36 months during which you
can work and still receive benefits for any month your earnings
are not “substantial.” In 2011, earnings over $1,000 ($1,640 if
you are blind) are considered substantial. No new application or
disability decision is needed for you to receive a Social Security
disability benefit during this period.
------
You just have to fit into that initial requirement, and maintain that
status fairly closely.
More info here: Working While Disabled—How We Can Help
My understanding of the trial work period is that you first have to be qualified and receiving benefits when you apply for the trial work period. Jim i s not yet qualified or receiving. Correct me if I am wrong0 -
It just amazes me...Lori-S said:Hey John
My understanding of the trial work period is that you first have to be qualified and receiving benefits when you apply for the trial work period. Jim i s not yet qualified or receiving. Correct me if I am wrong
The reason I'm part time now is because of the continuing cancer I seem to get once a year ....To keep my medical benefits I have to turn my time sheet in to show 30 hours...so every time I go to chemo or have a bad day I have to use paid time off...OK I have to, but that is down to zero...so I lose my benefits... and I just want to fill the gap with SSD....a guy across the road from me gets disability for a bad shoulder, but he goes archery hunting ....takes the boat out fishing and has a hell of a good time off on disability....stage 4 cancer for some reason doesn't count...because I decide to try to work at all
I'm still pissed off.....(Hey Lori-S... thanks for your comments...and I wish you well)
Friend0 -
Lawyer..plain and simpleFriendinpenn said:It just amazes me...
The reason I'm part time now is because of the continuing cancer I seem to get once a year ....To keep my medical benefits I have to turn my time sheet in to show 30 hours...so every time I go to chemo or have a bad day I have to use paid time off...OK I have to, but that is down to zero...so I lose my benefits... and I just want to fill the gap with SSD....a guy across the road from me gets disability for a bad shoulder, but he goes archery hunting ....takes the boat out fishing and has a hell of a good time off on disability....stage 4 cancer for some reason doesn't count...because I decide to try to work at all
I'm still pissed off.....(Hey Lori-S... thanks for your comments...and I wish you well)
Friend
A SSD Lawyer will get you what you are entitled to in a hurry. If not don't you have State Representatives that you can contact ? I would be ringing phones and calling people....0 -
$45,000/month??Lori-S said:Hey Friend
I totally understand your anger and frustration. I've spent months since dx trying to apply for things and have fallen through the cracks each time. Either, I have too much (which isn't the case anymore) or I made too much, or I was too young or too old or had the wrong cancer. It can be so frustrating. My understanding is that SSD does let you work but, someone I know works only parttime and makes less than $1000/month in order to continue to qualify.
Seems you're like me and stuck in the damn cracks that people fall through. I've spent nearly everything I've had and had to let go of assets and spend assets just to get ready to qualify for things in the future. It's really so sad that in this great country, if you're hit with a serious illness, you have to go nearly bankrupt before you can get help. At one point in my son's illness I was paying $45,000/month for his Rx. This went on for nearly a year before I finally won approval from the insurance companies to have the medications covered for his particular dx. And these were meds that he would have died without. I just thanked God everyday that I was fortunate enough to cover the costs at that time. Sometimes our system seems so unfair. You have my sympathies. HUGS
OMG Lori... this post of yours made my jaw physically drop to my chest!! Short of being a billionaire (and I'm not trying to poke into your private affairs), how does ANYONE afford $45,000/month??? That is over half a million for the 12 months! Seriously, it's not even a matter of how wrong it is that anyone would have to fork over half a million dollars and not get help, but I don't think I know anyone (ok, can I claim I know you? ) that could even begin to afford that kind of money for prescriptions of any kind.
I'm going to walk over to my little apartment kitchenette to make some dinner... totally in shock over this!
Cheryl0 -
You're right BuzzardBuzzard said:Lawyer..plain and simple
A SSD Lawyer will get you what you are entitled to in a hurry. If not don't you have State Representatives that you can contact ? I would be ringing phones and calling people....
Thanks...It probably will have to go to this...
On a side note to you...I read all of your posts and you have a great way of expressing yourself and things I need to read...you make alot of sense...
Your a good man and I wish you well...
Friend In Penn0 -
CherylCherylHutch said:$45,000/month??
OMG Lori... this post of yours made my jaw physically drop to my chest!! Short of being a billionaire (and I'm not trying to poke into your private affairs), how does ANYONE afford $45,000/month??? That is over half a million for the 12 months! Seriously, it's not even a matter of how wrong it is that anyone would have to fork over half a million dollars and not get help, but I don't think I know anyone (ok, can I claim I know you? ) that could even begin to afford that kind of money for prescriptions of any kind.
I'm going to walk over to my little apartment kitchenette to make some dinner... totally in shock over this!
Cheryl
If it's any consolation those were the "good old days". And My cancer dx has really hit my bank account so I'm no where near anything close to that now. I owned 2 businesses at the time and work 24/7 all because I needed to to keep my son going. I guess that was my motivation.0 -
Disability InsuranceFriendinpenn said:It just amazes me...
The reason I'm part time now is because of the continuing cancer I seem to get once a year ....To keep my medical benefits I have to turn my time sheet in to show 30 hours...so every time I go to chemo or have a bad day I have to use paid time off...OK I have to, but that is down to zero...so I lose my benefits... and I just want to fill the gap with SSD....a guy across the road from me gets disability for a bad shoulder, but he goes archery hunting ....takes the boat out fishing and has a hell of a good time off on disability....stage 4 cancer for some reason doesn't count...because I decide to try to work at all
I'm still pissed off.....(Hey Lori-S... thanks for your comments...and I wish you well)
Friend
Hey Jim,
Just trying to relate this to how I understand it since it appears government disability insurance works very much the same in both countries (US and Canada).
When I was first diagnosed (Stage III) in December 2006, I was in pain and not feeling well so went on short term sickness from my job, which was an employee benefit. Short Term illness applied to being off work up to 6 weeks. It became apparent once we knew what we were dealing with and the surgery that I had to have, I was going to be off work longer than six weeks, so my employer advised me to apply for our employee benefit of Long Term Disability (ok, I admit I was lucky that I worked where we had this benefit... so many don't have it and I don't know how people survive cancer if they don't have it). So, I was approved right away for LTD, but as part of their conditions for granting it, I had to apply for any other insurance I was eligible for, so that it would lower the LTD payouts. IE: I was entitled to 70% of my current wage, but if I was eligible for other insurance, then I still would only get 70% between the two monthly payouts. So, I had to apply for Canada Pension (equivalent of your SSD) Disability. I got it right away... starting the month I applied for it. It didn't make any difference to the amount I'd receive every month... I was entitled to 70% of my wage, whether LTD paid the whole thing, or the two benefits shared the cost. Ok... so I was on my monthly LTD/Disability for basically 3 years... until this past February when I hit the magical age of 55. That is the earliest one can retire and collect the company pension where I worked. I had my 35 years with them (well, actually 36 but whose counting since I couldn't retire until I was 55), so I was eligible to retire and collect my company pension. I had to decide whether to stay on LTD/Disability where I was also getting my healthcare insurance monthly premiums paid for, or retire from my employment and collect my pension plan. I was getting 70% of my wage on LTD/Disability and I would get 70% of my wage from my company pension but would have to pay my own healthcare insurance monthly premiums. Can you guess what I chose?
Hehe... probably a wrong guess. I chose to retire. Why would I do that? Because with LTD/Disability combined, I was getting 70% of my monthly salary. By retiring, I got 70% of my monthly salary from my pension PLUS I would continue to get the Canada Pension Plan Disability ($1100/month), which gave me $1100 more a month than if I stayed on LTD/Disability. As for paying my own healthcare insurance monthly premiums... that didn't even enter the equation (which I'm sure it would for many of my American friends). As a retiree benefit, my monthly medical premiums are $18/month... I figure I can afford that since I'm getting the extra $1100/month... and that means all my medical expenses are covered (except for prescriptions, but 80% of them are covered from an Extended Health Care plan I have).
Now... what's not to like above? Well, don't get me wrong... I LOVE being retired. Wouldn't change it for a thing! BUT, it means I can't take on a paying job. Our restrictions for the Disability are even more stringent than yours. If I make more than $5000 in a calendar year, then I will be cut off from the disability. $5000/year means you aren't disabled??? HELLOOOO?? It works ok in my situation because I love not having to work ... and that $1100/month is extra money that I wasn't getting before, so I'm just putting it away. I will get it until I reach the age of 65, in which case the disability pension stops and the Canada Pension/Old Age Security starts.... meanwhile, I've had 10 years of $1100/month that I can use or save or do whatever I want with. But if I WANT to work, then I forefeit that.
Soooo, for me to forfeit it, I would need to be offered a job that pays way more than $1100/month for it to be worth my while.... but at the moment, there is nothing that is worth me having to be stressed out about going to work every day if I'm not feeling well, or missing work because of treatments. When I've got energy (which, knock on wood, I've had a fair amount of even while going through treatments), then I'm more content to volunteer my time to something I LOVE doing and not because I expect or want to be paid. "I'm in a unique position where I CAN'T be paid, will you hire me anyways??"
Of course, that doesn't help you out because you do need to work and part time wages aren't quite enough. So that really sucks... but it looks like it's the same in both countries. Not that that's a lot of consolation, other than at least you can take some comfort in knowing they aren't picking on you personally.
Now, if you get a lawyer, the lawyer might be able to convince them it's better for your health that you don't quit your part time job to be eligible for disability help... but if that's what it takes, you will. Of course, the Disability amount won't be enough for you to live on, so then they will have to pay you SSD as well... maybe they will see the logic in letting you work part time and get some help with Disability payments.
Do keep us posted!
Cheryl0 -
Lori -Lori-S said:Hey John
My understanding of the trial work period is that you first have to be qualified and receiving benefits when you apply for the trial work period. Jim i s not yet qualified or receiving. Correct me if I am wrong
All the info is available here:
Disability Benefits
Keep in mind, that there's a difference between Social Security Disability,
and other disability benefits.
How we make the decision
We use a five-step process to decide if you are disabled.
1.Are you working?
If you are working and your earnings average more than a certain amount each month, we generally will not consider you disabled. The amount changes each year. For the current figure, see the annual Update (Publication No. 05-10003).
If you are not working, or your monthly earnings average the current amount or less, the state agency then looks at your medical condition.
2.Is your medical condition “severe”?
For the state agency to decide that you are disabled, your medical condition must significantly limit your ability to do basic work activities—such as walking, sitting and remembering—for at least one year. If your medical condition is not that severe, the state agency will not consider you disabled. If your condition is that severe, the state agency goes on to step three.
3.Is your medical condition on the List of Impairments?
The state agency has a List of Impairments that describes medical conditions that are considered so severe that they automatically mean that you are disabled as defined by law. If your condition (or combination of medical conditions) is not on this list, the state agency looks to see if your condition is as severe as a condition that is on the list. If the severity of your medical condition meets or equals that of a listed impairment, the state agency will decide that you are disabled. If it does not, the state agency goes on to step four.
4.Can you do the work you did before?
At this step, the state agency decides if your medical condition prevents you from being able to do the work you did before. If it does not, the state agency will decide that you are not disabled. If it does, the state agency goes on to step five.
5.Can you do any other type of work?
If you cannot do the work you did in the past, the state agency looks to see if you would be able to do other work. It evaluates your medical condition, your age, education, past work experience and any skills you may have that could be used to do other work. If you cannot do other work, the state agency will decide that you are disabled. If you can do other work, the state agency will decide that you are not disabled.
There has to be a criteria and cut-off points; I don't think it's
possible to have a functioning system without that. It seems
unfair, but we should realize that the system is there for an
"emergency", or radical situation, and not for the average
individual that can work and make money. All our situations
vary, and it's hard, if not impossible to devise a system that
will suit every need.
In Pennsy's case, he's between the cracks, and it's tough. He's
limited, but not limited quite enough.... what the hell is "enough"?
Good grief.
I already collect SS, but not as a disability (unless you count age
as a disability), and a lot of people told me that I can claim a
disability (cancer) and get more. Uhh... no, I can't. And if I could
possibly work it out, I would leave myself subject to all the paperwork
and "investigations" that come with a disability claim. It's no picnic.
But... as a retiree, I expected worse than I have seen so far, so
I won't complain.
If I were in Pennsy's shoes, I'd try to work it out with my boss to
get the pay to under $750 on the books, and take the rest in
some sort of a "perk", that doesn't have to be recorded as "income".
It's not "cheating", if it's worked out right. Like Income tax, if
you know the limits and keep to those limits, it works out fine!
Best hopes for good health!
John0 -
Sad
So sorry to hear of your situation. I'm not sure about anything to do with SS, but if you're working they guess they assume that you don't really have a disability. Glad the others chimed in and gave you some advice. Hope you reapply again. Good luck.
Kim0 -
Man this sucks.
There really
Man this sucks.
There really ought to be a way for some one in your situation have access to their social security savings early. You are not asking for some sort of charity. You just need some of that money now. When you turn 76 (yes I am anticipating an age increase) you can figure the rest out. Maybe some of the others' suggestions will help.
It sure is rough to hear "chemo for life." I got that line the first time I met my onc.
Hang in there.
Roger - your friend in NC0
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