Disability.....questions

stayingstrongfortoday
stayingstrongfortoday Member Posts: 116
in Breast Cancer #1
I am a SPED teacher, out for summer...weehoo. Through all this I have worked full time, protected myself through FMLA, have great insurance (health/life) and my intent is to return to work in August, although requested to go to a part time position and was denied. I could take a short term disability upon returning if the trials/drugs are really getting to me (but I am hopeful that I will be doing well)......

ANYWAY....everyone I know says "apply for SS disability" stop working, take care of yourself. It doesn't mean you will die, it means you will get a break. I've looked at it a little and it seems risky....ok so even if you get a check (which is no where near what I make), what about tests, scans, medicaid? I think I read it takes 2 years to get medicaid so what no drugs, limited care?? I'd lose my life insurance which my family could need anytime not just anytime soon. Anyone know how it works? I don't want to start a ball rolling on something that in the end will put me into more stress about finances.

Also "off" work for summer but will collect a paycheck until our new contracts are signed in August. I don't feel disabled, sure part time would be a dream (my 3 year old would love to spend 1/2 day with mama and I with him but I've maintained 3 school years with cancer and love my job).

Any feedback....... all those "great" relatives of mine say I will qualify for sure but I disagree.

Comments

  • MAJW
    MAJW Member Posts: 2,510 Member
    #2
    Be Careful...
    Once you are termed "disabled" if you qualified, which I doubt you would be, it is extremely difficult to return to your previous employment...It also requires unbelievable documentation...and it takes a long time...also what you would receive couldn't match the benefits you now have...It takes more than a few physicians to deem you " disabled"..even with cancer...

    One of my sister in laws had ovarian cancer, which had spread, is also a teacher....she had numerous surgeries, months and months of chemo then radiation...this all started for her last year in Feb....she took a medical leave of absence..completed her treatment and returned to teaching last Sept...all without losing any benefits...

    If you are physically able to continue working it would be in your best interest to continue so as not to lose your benefits, which again couldn't be matched by SS disability...also keep in mind that if you were to go on disability, you may be very limited as to what doctors would treat you...many, many physicians today will not take Medicaid patients...sad but true..

    Personally, if it were me, I wouldn't risk it and would work as long as physically able...

    Wishing you the best....enjoy your summer with your little one! :)
  • stayingstrongfortoday
    stayingstrongfortoday Member Posts: 116
    #3
    MAJW said:

    Be Careful...
    Once you are termed "disabled" if you qualified, which I doubt you would be, it is extremely difficult to return to your previous employment...It also requires unbelievable documentation...and it takes a long time...also what you would receive couldn't match the benefits you now have...It takes more than a few physicians to deem you " disabled"..even with cancer...

    One of my sister in laws had ovarian cancer, which had spread, is also a teacher....she had numerous surgeries, months and months of chemo then radiation...this all started for her last year in Feb....she took a medical leave of absence..completed her treatment and returned to teaching last Sept...all without losing any benefits...

    If you are physically able to continue working it would be in your best interest to continue so as not to lose your benefits, which again couldn't be matched by SS disability...also keep in mind that if you were to go on disability, you may be very limited as to what doctors would treat you...many, many physicians today will not take Medicaid patients...sad but true..

    Personally, if it were me, I wouldn't risk it and would work as long as physically able...

    Wishing you the best....enjoy your summer with your little one! :)

    I agree
    The more I look into in the more annoyed I get at people telling me what to do. I started the past school year on new drugs that made me tired and so my oncologist wrote a note that I could take 1/2 days when necessary. FMLA protected me and I took my sick days but felt control if I needed an afternoon off. I also don't think it does a person good to not work and sit around worrying and no $ can be more stressful than cancer thoughts! Plus I am tentured and in a high needs teaching job so I know they don't want to let me go....not that I think could.....my principal told me to plan to come back and if I need to take any short time disablility for travel she would support me. I think my mind is made up I am not applying.

    Thanks for the advice, I appreciate it!! :)
  • Gabe N Abby Mom
    Gabe N Abby Mom Member Posts: 2,413
    #4
    I'm not sure I agree...I
    I'm not sure I agree...I went on medical leave shortly after dx, used up all my FMLA, then transferred to long term disability (I have the insurance through my job). At that time, my employer required that I apply for social security disability, and they referred me to an attorney who would complete the application. I had to sign some forms giving them authority...about a month later I got a call from SS and was approved for disability. My children were also approved for benefits, based on my disability. The attorney fees were only $450, the max SS will allow the attorney to collect.

    I am actually receiving more money monthly now than I was when on FMLA. But I should note that I am still on leave at work, so my medical insurance is still covered through them. And since my surgery was in Jan, I have already met my annual out of pocket minimum.

    I should also note that I live in CA, and labor laws here are different than in most other states. I'm not sure this helps, but thought I would share my story.

    Hugs,

    Linda
  • DianeBC
    DianeBC Member Posts: 3,881 Member
    #5
    stayingstrongfortoday said:

    I agree
    The more I look into in the more annoyed I get at people telling me what to do. I started the past school year on new drugs that made me tired and so my oncologist wrote a note that I could take 1/2 days when necessary. FMLA protected me and I took my sick days but felt control if I needed an afternoon off. I also don't think it does a person good to not work and sit around worrying and no $ can be more stressful than cancer thoughts! Plus I am tentured and in a high needs teaching job so I know they don't want to let me go....not that I think could.....my principal told me to plan to come back and if I need to take any short time disablility for travel she would support me. I think my mind is made up I am not applying.

    Thanks for the advice, I appreciate it!! :)

    I don't really know anything
    I don't really know anything about this, but, wanted to wish you good luck.


    Hugs, Diane
  • sweetvickid
    sweetvickid Member Posts: 459 Member
    #6
    It can be a long process to
    It can be a long process to get approved for SS disability unles you are classed a stage 4. I was diagnosed Nov 09 filed for disability was denied although they agreed I was diabled? WTF? Had to hire a lawyer and should finally get a hearing before the end of this summer. Lawyer is quite confident that I will get my disability.
  • sweetvickid
    sweetvickid Member Posts: 459 Member
    #7
    sweetvickid said:

    It can be a long process to
    It can be a long process to get approved for SS disability unles you are classed a stage 4. I was diagnosed Nov 09 filed for disability was denied although they agreed I was diabled? WTF? Had to hire a lawyer and should finally get a hearing before the end of this summer. Lawyer is quite confident that I will get my disability.

    BTW I am in Missouri and CA
    BTW I am in Missouri and CA is much more lenient and faster than MO
  • smilingdeb
    smilingdeb Member Posts: 50
    #8
    sweetvickid said:

    BTW I am in Missouri and CA
    BTW I am in Missouri and CA is much more lenient and faster than MO

    This is what I did and yes I did apply for SS disability
    My ex left me for another woman so I cut off of everything. Money, health insurance and etc. Got a job which now days is hard to find one and when I did and work 2 months I was diagnose with my breast cancer and sadly they let me go. I have applied for SS disability and they are in the process of working on my case. When I went to apply I had all the medical documents with me so they could fax it to Austin, TX with the application. I think that has help speed up the process. I also got medicaid within 7 days after applying also faxing all my medical information to Austin and I am very thankful that I got approved. The only thing that sucks is you are only allowed 3 prescriptions a month. So I had Walgreens print out all my medication that I have to have and have medicaid pay for the most expensive ones on the list. Bless my family they are helping me with the other cheaper ones. I also have food stamps and thankful for that too. If SS does not accept me I will get an attorney to fight for me and not only do I have cancer I have a disk stuck in my spinal cord and I am also totally deaf in high pitch. Did I apply for disability on those two things before my cancer, yes I did and they turn me down. Now I feel that I have a good fight on my hands and I will if they turn me down again. Heck, lol, I didn't work 20 plus years for a company when I was younger for nothing. Just an FYI, got hit with the down sizing and moved back home to Texas. So I have on my pink boxing gloves fighting this cancer and I will fight anything else that gets in my way.

    Hugs always,
    Deb
  • stayingstrongfortoday
    stayingstrongfortoday Member Posts: 116
    #9
    smilingdeb said:

    This is what I did and yes I did apply for SS disability
    My ex left me for another woman so I cut off of everything. Money, health insurance and etc. Got a job which now days is hard to find one and when I did and work 2 months I was diagnose with my breast cancer and sadly they let me go. I have applied for SS disability and they are in the process of working on my case. When I went to apply I had all the medical documents with me so they could fax it to Austin, TX with the application. I think that has help speed up the process. I also got medicaid within 7 days after applying also faxing all my medical information to Austin and I am very thankful that I got approved. The only thing that sucks is you are only allowed 3 prescriptions a month. So I had Walgreens print out all my medication that I have to have and have medicaid pay for the most expensive ones on the list. Bless my family they are helping me with the other cheaper ones. I also have food stamps and thankful for that too. If SS does not accept me I will get an attorney to fight for me and not only do I have cancer I have a disk stuck in my spinal cord and I am also totally deaf in high pitch. Did I apply for disability on those two things before my cancer, yes I did and they turn me down. Now I feel that I have a good fight on my hands and I will if they turn me down again. Heck, lol, I didn't work 20 plus years for a company when I was younger for nothing. Just an FYI, got hit with the down sizing and moved back home to Texas. So I have on my pink boxing gloves fighting this cancer and I will fight anything else that gets in my way.

    Hugs always,
    Deb

    wow!
    Sounds like quite a journey, I wondered if you get medicaid right away, I read somewhere 24 months! I am starting a clinical trial next month and I don't know if my insurance pays for that or if it's part of the study but I worry that Medicaid wouldn't pay for things like that and my insurance claims are usually 30K a month with all my drugs. I am holding off for now applying.

    Good luck moving back to Texas. Sounds like you are a fighter and you will kick some major ****. Thanks for sharing!!

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