Social Security Disability

JimboC

I've been meaning to post this for some time but keep forgetting (probably due to chemo brain). I think something that all newly diagnosed EC patients should do is apply for Social Security Disability. Esophageal Cancer is on the list of conditions that requires a speedy decision and is usually favorable. Even if you are doing alright, even if you are still working, as we've seen on here too many times, that can change. There's a six month waiting period until you start receiving payments if you are approved. If you wait until you're very sick and can't work to apply, there's a long wait.

The paperwork was typical US government BS paperwork but not too bad. When I did get to speak with someone, I was treated very kindly and compassionately. I even told the guy that I had every hope and intention of beating this and returning to work. He said if I do, we just terminate the case.

The downside is medical care... Although there is a fast decision, medical insurance (Medicare) requires a 24 month wait. There are some state programs and even SSI that can help with that if your income permits but that's another reason to get the clock ticking.

Personally, I waited until I wasn't working to apply only because I didn't know any better. My six months will be up about the time I return to work which is a shame because my short term disability from work only covers 2/3 of my normal income. I do thank God for that 2/3 though because I have talked with cancer patients with no coverage of income while they were off.

Sorry if this is redundant but I hadn't seen this topic mentioned in the six months I've been here and thought it might help someone. I'm no expert on this stuff so others may be able to fill in the blanks.

chemosmoker

Great post Jim!
Jim,
Great post. I know it appears once in a while but it cannot be found easily when people don't search so you are doing many a favor!

Michelle (being the good manager) signed me up EARLY when we were still under works insurance and am I ever glad she did. The one overlapped the other just as time ran out for the primary private care.
It will be January before Social Security comes in, but thankfully SSI fills in the gap with some help. It is tough for sure especially when EATING is the most important thing we can keep doing and that is expensive with all the needed food and beverages.
The Medicare will be okay after the end of the year, but the TennCare they have here is terrible! So far, they have DENIED every single drug that my team has prescribed, or made us wait for WEEKS just to be denied and start over with prescriptions, either because they simply do not approve them (without any sense or reason despite a terminal diagnosis!) or because they want you to take something inferior. It is a JOKE and not funny. I would say they wanted a "different" drug, but so far their options have been inferior or impractical.

If you have ANY way to pay for COBRA or keep working or have insurance from your spouse, KEEP IT for as long as you can. State care is below sub-par so far and Government care is just that, as you noted. BS. But the people ARE nice!

If you can continue to work, that is ideal but not always possible.
Your advice to get started before you get staged is a very very good suggestion and I am glad you posted this!

-Eric

sandy1943

I was surprised it was so
I was surprised it was so easy to start ss disability. I had been on short term disability at work for six months. In order to get long term, they made me apply for the disability first. I thought it would be denied and I didn't feel well enough to fight the process. Of course, I was excepted and it started immediately. Because of my age it turned into regular ss with the same benefit when I reached ss retirement age.
Like Jimbo said, don't wait-go ahead and apply if you need the added help.
Sandra

birdiequeen

Very good information.
Very good information. Thank you. Hope we will never need it but my husband did use up all his leave just as he was able to return to work. Any further "bumps" in the road could be difficult, this is good to know.

TerryV

From the Social Security Web site
http://www.ssa.gov/disability/professionals/bluebook/13.00-NeoplasticDiseases-Malignant-Adult.htm#13_02

H. How long do we consider your impairment to be disabling?

1. In some listings, we specify that we will consider your impairment to be disabling until a particular point in time (for example, at least 18 months from the date of diagnosis). We may consider your impairment to be disabling beyond this point when the medical and other evidence justifies it.

2. When a listing does not contain such a specification, we will consider an impairment(s) that meets or medically equals a listing in this body system to be disabling until at least 3 years after onset of complete remission. When the impairment(s) has been in complete remission for at least 3 years, that is, the original tumor or a recurrence (or relapse) and any metastases have not been evident for at least 3 years, the impairment(s) will no longer meet or medically equal the criteria of a listing in this body system.

3. Following the appropriate period, we will consider any residuals, including residuals of the malignancy or therapy (see 13.00G), in determining whether you are disabled. If you have a recurrence or relapse of your malignancy, your impairment may meet or medically equal one of the listings in this body system again

13.16 Esophagus or stomach.

A. Carcinoma or sarcoma of the esophagus.

OR

B. Carcinoma or sarcoma of the stomach, as described in 1 or 2:

1. Inoperable, unresectable, extending to surrounding structures, or recurrent.

2. With metastases to or beyond the regional lymph nodes.

mruble

Surprisingly easy
With all the disability attorney commercials you see on TV, I expected the process to be difficult but it wasn't - at all. The paperwork took some time, and it probably would have been challenging for my husband to complete when he wasn't feeling well, but I didn't have any issues. He was approved immediately and the payments started coming six months after he stopped working.

For those of you with kids still in elementary or high school, they are eligible for benefits as well. Getting them approved required an interview, which I did over the phone in about five minutes.

Mary

Joel C

mruble said:

Surprisingly easy
With all the disability attorney commercials you see on TV, I expected the process to be difficult but it wasn't - at all. The paperwork took some time, and it probably would have been challenging for my husband to complete when he wasn't feeling well, but I didn't have any issues. He was approved immediately and the payments started coming six months after he stopped working.

For those of you with kids still in elementary or high school, they are eligible for benefits as well. Getting them approved required an interview, which I did over the phone in about five minutes.

Mary

LTD Vs Social Security?
I have LTD thru work, is it possible to collect Social Security at the same time as LTD? Or is the LTD payment reduced when Social Security kicks in? I was out on disability for eight months collecting 2/3 of my salary. I wonder if I would have been better off collecting Social Security during that time. I’ll likely be going out again soon so I’ll need to look into this. Not exactly the retirement I was looking forward to.

Joel

mruble

Joel C said:

LTD Vs Social Security?
I have LTD thru work, is it possible to collect Social Security at the same time as LTD? Or is the LTD payment reduced when Social Security kicks in? I was out on disability for eight months collecting 2/3 of my salary. I wonder if I would have been better off collecting Social Security during that time. I’ll likely be going out again soon so I’ll need to look into this. Not exactly the retirement I was looking forward to.

Joel

My husband's LTD thru work
My husband's LTD thru work decreased significantly when SSD kicked in. They subtracted what he received through SSD from his LTD. The terms of his LTD required that they pay no less than $100/month regardless of the SSD amount. The kids received half the amount he received from SSD so we definitely came out ahead with SSD. We also had a personal LTD policy and that payout was not affected by SSD.

Mary

swagner

social security disability
Thanks Jim for this post on medical disability. I recently lost my job - I'm 64 and have worked 14 months and it just got harder and harder to work. Making more mistakes - just not the same woman I was before surgery. My oncologist offered me a medical disability while I was still working but I live alone and have little income. I'm so grateful you posted this information. I have to have my cat scans next month and then will meet with my oncologist. I guess its time perhaps to look into this now. Thanks again Jim.

Sue

cher76

chemosmoker said:

Great post Jim!
Jim,
Great post. I know it appears once in a while but it cannot be found easily when people don't search so you are doing many a favor!

Michelle (being the good manager) signed me up EARLY when we were still under works insurance and am I ever glad she did. The one overlapped the other just as time ran out for the primary private care.
It will be January before Social Security comes in, but thankfully SSI fills in the gap with some help. It is tough for sure especially when EATING is the most important thing we can keep doing and that is expensive with all the needed food and beverages.
The Medicare will be okay after the end of the year, but the TennCare they have here is terrible! So far, they have DENIED every single drug that my team has prescribed, or made us wait for WEEKS just to be denied and start over with prescriptions, either because they simply do not approve them (without any sense or reason despite a terminal diagnosis!) or because they want you to take something inferior. It is a JOKE and not funny. I would say they wanted a "different" drug, but so far their options have been inferior or impractical.

If you have ANY way to pay for COBRA or keep working or have insurance from your spouse, KEEP IT for as long as you can. State care is below sub-par so far and Government care is just that, as you noted. BS. But the people ARE nice!

If you can continue to work, that is ideal but not always possible.
Your advice to get started before you get staged is a very very good suggestion and I am glad you posted this!

-Eric

SSI
Once someone goes on SSI do they automatically go on Medicare? Rickie is insured through my retirement insurance, that we pay for. It has been wonderful and has approved drugs that I know medicare will not approve. I would not want to have to file under medicare. This is something we have not really discussed. Since I am a retired teacher, I will never collect any of his social security, due to a nasty little provision called the Windfall Profit Act. (As if adding his social security to my teacher retirement would be a windfall!!) Teachers associations have been trying to get this changed for several years now to no avail. So part of me feels like he should at least get some of what he put into it after working for 40 years, but I certainly don't want to mess up the insurance we have now. Any one have any suggestions?
Cheryl
Wife of Rickie Stage IV EC dx Oct. 2010

jim2011

thanks for the info
This is something that needs to be discussed. Even medicare doesn't kick in till 24 months after the SSD so a person needs to get on it and apply before you figure out that you cant work as you used to. I have been a real estate agent for years and my dear wife works for the school district. She has the benefits of health care for us for now but we really miss my independant contractor income and SSD helps a ton. Everyones situation is different. The help is available for you but you need to go out a find it.