SSDI

KarenNYC
KarenNYC Member Posts: 12
in Head and Neck Cancer #1

My husband was diagnosed 6 months ago recurrent Nasoparengyl Carinoma.  He finished Gamma Knife and Chemo a couple of weeks ago.   He has been out of work for 6 months now and does not want to go back he is so sure that he will get SSDI.  His last paycheck is going to be Nov 22, and he will lose his health insurance on Dec 22.   The oncologist said he may need 3 more treatments that would involve him staying in the hospital for 3 days at a time he would plantium plus another drug an infusion.  He feels like he's too sick to go back to work, he's 50 years old but he manages to still drink and smoke everyday but too sick to work.    All he does is yell and scream at me and does not want to discuss anything.  He says he doesn't feel well and he's nauseas everyday. 

 

We don't have any children but we have a house and a mortgage and alot of other bills. He doesn't get the SSDI we might just lose everything.

 

Has anyone here gotten SSDI for having Cancer I know Social Security has a compassiionate allowances list and head and neck cancers is on the list my husbands cancer has not Metastasis.  I don't what to do anymore and he won't talk to anyone.

Comments

  • longtermsurvivor
    longtermsurvivor Member Posts: 1,842 Member
    #2
    I am on SSDI

    as are some others on the site.  Mine was based on qualifying for it one step at a time.  Including denial and appeal.  I have significant  disability as a result of my treatments, dramatically effecting speech.  In my occupation speech, and a lot of it, is required.  It took me almost two years to qualify, but that was quite a while ago, and there certainly have been some changes in the law since then.  Your husband sounds depressed.   If you go to the next page of threads, there is an article about H and N cancer and depression that might shed some insight.  Best to you.

     

    Pat

  • Ruben and Jude
    Ruben and Jude Member Posts: 155
    #3
    SSDI

    Ruben was granted SSDI 3 months after starting treatment, but he hadn't worked 6 months before that, which is part of the criteria for qualifying in Calif.  After he was granted SSDI, they paid retro-actively from the day he applied. We had been scaling down on our overhead long before "c" came into our life. I believe we first applied on line and then had a phone interview.  Look on line for qualifying for SSDI, that's where I found out if he qualified, and then just kept moving forward.

    Best wishes my dear.

    Jude

     

     

  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #4
    Hi Karen

    I too had Nasoparengyl Carcinoma NPC; sorry to hear you and your husband are going through this. Click on my name and you can read a lot about me, I had NPC come back 3 times and I worked through all 3 treatments and I am still working. Not everyone can do it, it takes a very strong will every morning to get up out of bed and force myself to come to work. I am only 58 years old and hope I can continue working till at lease 65. A lot of people tell me I need to retire and just take it easy, sit back and enjoy what life I have left, but I tell them I am enjoying it and I love what I do. I hope things work out for you and he can get on SSDI, maybe someday for me but not right now.

     

    Take care

    Hondo

  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #5
    A Few Things

    First, sorry for your situation.....

    Now for the tough love...

    At 50 years old, he is younger than most here... We have all went through this, and survived..., he can also.

    But, expecting finanical assistance is something I wouldn't depend on, especially in todays economic climate. None of us feel like working after our ordeal, unfortunately we have to..., that's the fact.., or at least most of us have to if we expect to support ourself and family.

    Obviously you are annoyed, or sound like it about the smoking and drinking..., I would be as well... There's no sense in going through all of that treatment and lessen your success by behavior and habits that jeopardize recovery.... After a long period of successful scans and results, a beer or two occasionally could be in order depending on what his MD's say... I don't think any would give the go ahead for smoking though.

    As mentioned, perhaps depression is a cause of some of this, but it doesn't sound like it's going to get any better in the immediate future, might be a good time to address it while he still has insurance.

    My best advice is to address as many of the issues you mention and have concern with while you are still covered...

    And actively pursue getting something in-place without having a lapse in family income, insurance and anything else that is needed....

    Best,

    John

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