Social Security Benefits

2»

Comments

  • bdee
    bdee Member Posts: 304
    #22
    idlehunters said:

    NO PROBLEMS GETTING DISABILITY
    wow... I was blowed away. I went online last nite. Completed about 10 pages of info and when it asked if I was terminal (I am stage IV) so technically yes... It said "stop here and report to your local SS office asap"...okay. I was going to call them the next day but by 9:15am THEY called me and left a message on my recorder saying to come in and they would process me immediately. We were on our way in about an hour later and they called again to make sure I was coming. They just couldn't wait to "show me the money"!!! They took me in immediately... no waiting.... filled out all within 15 min. and said I would be approved within a week. Man.... I still can't believe how easy it was.

    Jennie

    Social Security
    My husband filled out all of mine online and he put yes to terminal too. What state do you live in? My state agency called me the next day but they just wanted me to fax in the page where I say they can look at my records. My case worker never said anything about coming right in. She just said we would hear in a month.
  • kimby
    kimby Member Posts: 797
    #23
    bdee said:

    Social Security
    My husband filled out all of mine online and he put yes to terminal too. What state do you live in? My state agency called me the next day but they just wanted me to fax in the page where I say they can look at my records. My case worker never said anything about coming right in. She just said we would hear in a month.

    SSDI
    I'm in a rural area and when SSDI called me the next morning, they got everything else they needed by phone and I faxed them some. I didn't go in, I think because the office that services my area isn't in my county. (Like I said, rural LOL) They were very nice, the process was quick and easy (well, lots of paperwork) and it didn't take long for approval.

    Getting a lawyer is certainly not neccessary if you are stage IV. The stage III folks may have a harder time. "Terminal" is the key word - ick! I NEVER use that stupid word! Well, unless they send me money. $$) Then all bets are off!

    Kimby
  • confused1
    confused1 Member Posts: 50
    #24
    Bennifits
    I did my interview over the phone and got it with in 1 month . No problems with them at all. I think I received mine so quickly because I am in stage 4. Not sure but I didn't have any problem's getting it at all. Good Luck to UU.
  • Shayenne
    Shayenne Member Posts: 2,342
    #25
    confused1 said:

    Bennifits
    I did my interview over the phone and got it with in 1 month . No problems with them at all. I think I received mine so quickly because I am in stage 4. Not sure but I didn't have any problem's getting it at all. Good Luck to UU.

    Yes...
    ...I live in a really rural area as well, and they tried to get me the money real quick as well, I just wish they didn't count my 5 months of income plus hubbys unemployment, but oh well, it's still not like we made enough to live on, with 4 kids, but they did give me like 68 bucks a month, and now hubby just has to show each month what he makes since he went back to work, to pro-rate it to what he is now making or something....it's strange.
  • bdee
    bdee Member Posts: 304
    #26
    scouty said:

    Easy just took awhile
    I signed up as part of a requirement for my long term disability plan with my employer 4 years ago. The key is having your doctor on board with the reasons why you can't work, specifics things really seemed to help mine.

    I applied on line first then did a phone interview and filled out a form they mailed to me. I took a copy of forms to my oncologist and we discussed what to say (he completely supported me) so we were in sync. He then filled out his forms and sent them in. I applied the first week of August 2005 and was told it would take about 3 months. The first week of October I got a letter in the mail telling me I had been approved and they backdated the payments to the first of the years (even when I was getting short term disability pay from my employer). I had gone out on short term disability a year earlier and that lasted 52 weeks. I was in a pressure cooker of a job having to lay people off and still get the work done. Chemo brain killed my ability to keep up with IMs and the 200 plus emails I got daily while the neuropathy in the hands made typing on a keyboard (my lifeline) very difficult. I decided I needed to concentrate on ME for the first time in my life.

    It was actually easier then what I had to do for my employer!!! Don't let the stupid commercials on TV scare you, my experience was very easy and straightforward. I was so surprised I called my oncologist and asked if he was hiding something from me!!!

    FYI, luckily I had never had to take unemployement or any other payments and had been paying into the "pot" since I was 16 (I was 50 at the time and stage IV). I'm not sure that had anything to do with it but thought I should mention it.

    Let me know if I can help in any way.

    Lisa P.

    5 month wait
    Has anyone heard about a five month wait? My husband found there is a five month wait on the disability check. Anyone else have to wait? How long have any of you been getting disability?

    Thanks again,
    Debbie
  • kimby
    kimby Member Posts: 797
    #27
    bdee said:

    5 month wait
    Has anyone heard about a five month wait? My husband found there is a five month wait on the disability check. Anyone else have to wait? How long have any of you been getting disability?

    Thanks again,
    Debbie

    Debbie
    It is a 6 month wait from the date of disability. Are they saying that your husband has been disabled for 1 month? That would mean benefits kick in in 5 months. It sucks....what are you supposed to do in the meantime? At least he made it through the process.

    Good Luck,

    Kimby
  • idlehunters
    idlehunters Member Posts: 1,787 Member
    #28
    Shayenne said:

    Yes...
    ...I live in a really rural area as well, and they tried to get me the money real quick as well, I just wish they didn't count my 5 months of income plus hubbys unemployment, but oh well, it's still not like we made enough to live on, with 4 kids, but they did give me like 68 bucks a month, and now hubby just has to show each month what he makes since he went back to work, to pro-rate it to what he is now making or something....it's strange.

    Waiting Period
    I live in Illinois. They said I would be approved within 1 week but there is a 5 month waiting period from the day you were disabled. My monthly amount was determined on my previous years wages. I will be getting $1165.00 monthly. Not a lot but WAY better than nothing. Good luck

    Jennie
  • bdee
    bdee Member Posts: 304
    #29
    idlehunters said:

    Waiting Period
    I live in Illinois. They said I would be approved within 1 week but there is a 5 month waiting period from the day you were disabled. My monthly amount was determined on my previous years wages. I will be getting $1165.00 monthly. Not a lot but WAY better than nothing. Good luck

    Jennie

    Waiting period
    Jennie,

    Was that this year? How long ago did you put the claim in?

    Thanks, Debbie
  • amcp
    amcp Member Posts: 251 Member
    #30
    5 months waiting
    My husband had his cancer diagnosed in 8/06 surgery 9/06 chemo started 11/06..on short term disability from work. In March of 2007 they (the company) said that he had to apply for Social Security Disability. We also did it on line. Called next day by SSD office went in took a few minutes...said there was a 5 month waiting period in Tennessee. Because of the way my husband was paid etc we were told he had already done the 5 month waiting period and that we would be receiving a check in May for April and that they would be holding the March check..for a while. Finally the end of 2007 we got the March check. But we were approved in less than 2 weeks later. Starting receiving monthly checks in May 2007 and continue to receive them. We have a % taken out for taxes even though not all of the total you receive is taxable. We did not have to get a lawyer. It was a quick and easy process of course our doctor said he was terminal Stage 4 but he is still here and in two months it will be 3 yrs from diagnosis.

    Hugs,
    Anna
  • idlehunters
    idlehunters Member Posts: 1,787 Member
    #31
    amcp said:

    5 months waiting
    My husband had his cancer diagnosed in 8/06 surgery 9/06 chemo started 11/06..on short term disability from work. In March of 2007 they (the company) said that he had to apply for Social Security Disability. We also did it on line. Called next day by SSD office went in took a few minutes...said there was a 5 month waiting period in Tennessee. Because of the way my husband was paid etc we were told he had already done the 5 month waiting period and that we would be receiving a check in May for April and that they would be holding the March check..for a while. Finally the end of 2007 we got the March check. But we were approved in less than 2 weeks later. Starting receiving monthly checks in May 2007 and continue to receive them. We have a % taken out for taxes even though not all of the total you receive is taxable. We did not have to get a lawyer. It was a quick and easy process of course our doctor said he was terminal Stage 4 but he is still here and in two months it will be 3 yrs from diagnosis.

    Hugs,
    Anna

    Benefits
    Debbie,

    They put my file date as Feb. 3rd. Approved me in less than a week... and said after 5 month waiting period would get first check 1st of September.

    Jennie
  • bdee
    bdee Member Posts: 304
    #32
    kimby said:

    Debbie
    It is a 6 month wait from the date of disability. Are they saying that your husband has been disabled for 1 month? That would mean benefits kick in in 5 months. It sucks....what are you supposed to do in the meantime? At least he made it through the process.

    Good Luck,

    Kimby

    Kimby
    It has been six months already from the date of disability. It is me that is disabled, my husband just does the searches on the internet. I called SS yesterday and was told about the five month waiting period. Why isn't that information on the website you use to file a claim online? And when my case worker called, she told me the claim would be looked at in a couple of weeks. Why didn't she tell me?

    I had my surgery on January 23, started chemo February 23 and my last day of part time work was March 20, 2009. So how do they pick what date for the five month waiting period.

    Thank goodness my husband had a good job with good pay and we can make it until I start getting my disability. Just no taking the kids out to eat (which I so enjoyed).

    Thanks, Debbie
  • bdee
    bdee Member Posts: 304
    #33
    PamPam2 said:

    social security
    As soon as found out the colon cancer had metastized, they approved it. I was able to do it all over the phone, they had sent me the thickest packet of paperwork to fill out, I contacted SS, they assigned me a caseworker, went there, she filled it out for me, then another caseworker did same over phone when found out there were mets and was approved quite quickly. Hope it goes as easily for you.
    Pam

    Social Security
    If you approved quickly, did you still have to wait the five months to receive your first check? Did your fist check come with any back pay? What state do you live in?
  • effiehope
    effiehope Member Posts: 4
    #34
    idlehunters said:

    Benefits
    Debbie,

    They put my file date as Feb. 3rd. Approved me in less than a week... and said after 5 month waiting period would get first check 1st of September.

    Jennie

    ssid benefits
    Hi. I am new here.In april 2006 I was diagnosed with stage IV rectal cancer I applied for benefits and was denied it took two years before it would go in front of a judge by that time I was through with my treatments and back to a new job. I am now a 3 year survivor with a clean bill of health. Good luck and prayers to all here. Effie

Discussion Boards