I am still working full time at a Doctors office . No plans to leave in the next couple weeks but wanted to see who applied for disability after working was getting to much .
I have no idea on how to even get the ball rolling in case my treatment will get more intense in the future ( hopefully not anytime soon ) .
Trying to be proactive and prepared because thoughts have crossed my mind on cutting hours because I’m just tired .
MBC is automatically considered a disability. Contact Social Security and set up an appointment.
Hi Anitafazz,
The first thing you should do is check in with your HR department, as to whether they carry short and long term disability. Most long term disability pays 60% of your current salary and is helpful when waiting for SSDI. Most LTD plans have a person that helps apply for SSDI. If your employer does not have long or short term disability plans contact SSDI directly.
I worked for two years after my diagnosis but as soon as my first treatment stopped working I applied for long term disability through my employer. I currently receive long term disability, SSDI and my pension, even though I far from retirement age.
Best,
Jade
So you are collecting your retirement already ? I was thinking about looking into that myself after working for last 20 years . Just want to get all my ducks in a row because i really just want to enjoy my family a little more and I'm just more tired then before . I am able to get short and long term disability thru my employer . If i could get all 3 that would be awesome i wouldn't have to worry at all . How long before you left did you start this process ?
I was a teacher and school administrator for 19 years. The state of Vermont Teacher’s pension has what is called disability retirement, I qualified due to MBC. I collect my pension but chose not to collect from my private retirement account. With LTD, SSDI and my pension I am fine financially. I also collect SSDI benefits for my girls, as the are both under the age of 18.
I started the LTD process when I decided to go on leave from my job, it was very straight forward. When I started to receive LTD, then I started the process for SSDI. I would be happy to talk you through the process if you would like to talk via phone or ZOOM.
Best,
Jade
I agree it is worth checking out LTD.
As a retired employment lawyer, I first encourage you to consider whether there are reasonable accommodations that will allow you to remain, if that is what you want.
The ADA requires employers to engage in good faith dialogue about accommodations. More than 90% of accommodations do not require a capital outlay. Most are things like flex time, time to attend appointments, and even work from home.
An excellent site for identifying accommodations that work for you is askjan.org. It is sponsored by the US Department of Labor. The site explains the straightforward process of asking for an accommodation. It lays potential accommodations for various disabilities.
It is illegal to retaliate against an employee who requests reasonable accommodations under the ADA.
Here is their link. askjan.org
If you pursue SSDI, here is the link. ssa.gov/disability/disabili...
Good luck.
I actually work for SSA...you can't work over the Substantial Gainful Activity Amount in the month in which you apply. So stop working on 31st of month and apply on 1st of next month. There is a 5 full month waiting period regardless of dx. For example....you stop working today May through September is waiting period...... first month of eligibility is October and we always pay month behind so you won't get first check until November. Keep this is mind if you decide to apply....get STD or LTD to get you through these months with no pay.
So i can collect LTD while i apply and have to wait all that time ? and one more question .... i am not a American citizen i have a green card does that make a difference ?
You are protected under the ADA even though you’re not an American citizen.
I’m unsure about the LTD question you raise. I didn’t focus on LTD in my practice
I found this with a Google search about LTD and SSDI
I thought you cannot not collect SSDI and Long Term Disability at the same time. I was told that you have to notify LT when SSDI is approved. I am on Short Term Disability now for 3 more month thru my employer and then I will go on LT thru employer and file for SSDI at the same time since that takes time for approval. I know someone wh was collecting both but then LT garnered the SSDI to get payed back.
Those are LTD rules not SSA. The only offset for SSA is workers comp.
So am I correct?
As far as SSA is concerned you can collect LTD at the same time it does not affect SSA benefits but you would have to check with your long term disability insurance to see how much they offset and if you have to pay them back. I cannot speak to the rules for LTD since I don't work for them. Most people apply or SSDI while on LTD since they have 5 mo waiting period. It's rare that the benefits would overlap for more than a few months given the compassionate allowance for MBC/ required waiting period Your LTD insurance will REQUIRE you to file for SSDI. They would rather SSA pay you than them.
It is true you cannot double dip. My LTD deducted the amount I was paid thru SSDI. I got a check from LTD and a check from SSDI but they totaled the amount I was due on LTD. My employer's LTD was 70% of my salary with them. After my employer's LTD ceased (4 years for my employer) I only received SSDI. When I turned 65 it switched to regular SS for same amount that I received on SSDI.
You are a blessing !!!! I've read all the posts and the gal - bless you ! - who works for SSA is spot on. I applied for SSDI in October was immediately approved and will start garnishing checks. There is a 5 month waiting period. My understanding is 2 years thereafter, I can qualify for Medicare. I'm only 57. However because my husband owns his own business, it was smart for me not to go back to a high powered executive job because I would not qualify for the company's medical plan with a pre-existing condition. So, I've enjoyed my waiting period ! Blessings and YES if you can, it's amazing. I'll be paid as if I was 67 which is a nice chunk of change that finally the government is supporting me at ! xo Julia
I applied for disability and was approved in 2 weeks which is a miracle. With stage 4 mbc it is an automatic disability.
so how fast can you collect after you get approved
It took about 3 months for me to get my first check however they will back pay you depending on when you get approved and how long it takes to receive your first check
SSDI won't let you apply until you are no longer working. Benefits don't start for 5 months. MBC moves your app up to the front.
If you are of age to collect Soc security you may collect your regular monthly benefit for your age now. Then once SSDi is approved and after the 5 month waiting period it will transfer to the larger amount.
I am in Virginia and worked for a Fortune 500 company. I went out on short term disability for 6 months. Then I started drawing LTD. While drawing LTD my employer had me apply for SSDI. Once I received SSDI that amount was deducted from LTD. You cannot double dip but I still received the full amount from both LTD and SSDI that equal the original LTD amount (70% of my salary). My HR dept had an outside company that assisted employees applying for SSDI. It took about a week to be approved. Once I turned 65 it switched from SSDI to regular SS and the amount that I received did not change. I missed the amount from LTD. It was 70% of my previous salary. I held off drawing from my retirement plan because I want it to last. If you take Ibrance you need to watch your income limits to quality for co-pay ssistance. My Medicare part D co-pay for Ibrance in January is $2,900. The rest of the year it's around $700. I would not be able to afford without co-pay assistance.
The Ibrance costs me zero right now because I use the copay card. I can still use it while on Short Term Disability and I’ll use while on LTD in 3 months from now but next year I turn 65 in March. Copay cards are not allowed when on Medicare D. The only assistance would be from the manufacturer Pfizer. To qualify, you have to be almost destitute. They include your income and your spouses income. I will be able to get on my husband’s insurance and use his as secondary I believe once I have SSDI or Medicare & Medicare D.
I phoned the nearest Social Security office as soon as I thought "retiring early" might be what I needed to do. I've needed to phone them several other times and always found them very helpful. I applied in 2004 before it was possible to apply on line. I think there are a couple of advantages to applying in person. I was able to deliver copies of the pathology and scan reports that documented that I have mbc.. It's also helpful to meet them and see them face to face. I was told I could not schedule an appt until I had stopped working, so I phoned the day after my last day of work and was given an appt for first thing the next morning! When I got there, there were alot of people milling around near the front door so I got out and joined them and heard them talking about how long they had been waiting for their appts! 3-6 months. I kept my mouth shut! LOL Social Security treats us differently as we are considered "terminal" and they don't want any of us to die while waiting for our benefits. I had to phone them a few weeks later and learned I had been approved though the formal notification didn't come for awhile. There is a five month wait for benefits that actually can stretch to closer to seven months. As Aimee explained the five month wait stretches to six as Social Security Disability payments are made in the month following the month they are for. And when they are made depends on our birthdates. I was born on the 26th so my SSD arrives on the fourth Wednesday of the month. It's important when you first contact SS to let them know that you have stage IV metastatic terminal bc. In the years that I have been on SSD, there has never been a problem with the checks getting into my credit union account via direct deposit. We even changed banks once and that transition was fine. I was going to tell you how long it takes for Medicare to kick in, too, but now my brain is doing its stupid fuzzy thing and I don't remember that. Once you do get on Medicare, I have heard only good things about the Medicare supplement insurance that AARP offers. I hope your process thru this will be as smooth as mine has been.
Hi Anitafazz! I went out on STD with my first bc diagnosis in 2013. Fortunately my employer had a great plan. I was able to receive 100% of my pay for 6 months (used for weekly chemo for 51/2 months. I came back for 2 months then out again for several months to recover from bilateral mastectomy and then again for reconstruction surgeries. Does your employer offer this benefit? If not, you may request leave under FMLA if you qualify or Social Security disability. I have heard approval is easier with an MBC diagnosis for SS benefits. Definitely research all your options. Your employer may just be willing to convert you to PT hours considering your situation. Best to you...
PJB touched on another important point. After being on Social Security disability for two years, if you're under retirement age, you qualify for Medicare. That can be a tremendous benefit and something to think about.
Not sure if anyone posted this but Congress just passed the “Metastatic Breast Cancer Access to Care Act“ which I believe reduces the SSDI wait time.
Can anyone confirm this?
Lynn
I knew they were working on it but its good to hear it was passed! I don' t think it has gone into affect just yet but hopefully soon. I was self-employed having just started my priviate practice only 5 months prior to dx and didn't have any STD or LTD to fall back on while waiting for my first SSDI check. I was lucky enough to file and get unemployment especially due to Covid and lived off of that barely until my first SSDI check came 5 months later. Happy to hear that wait won't happen for folks in the near future.
I've read all the posts and the gal - bless you ! - who works for SSA is spot on. I applied for SSDI in October was immediately approved and will start garnishing checks. There is a 5 month waiting period. My understanding is 2 years thereafter, I can qualify for Medicare. I'm only 57. However because my husband owns his own business, it was smart for me not to go back to a high powered executive job because I would not qualify for the company's medical plan with a pre-existing condition. So, I've enjoyed my waiting period ! Blessings and YES if you can, it's amazing. I'll be paid as if I was 67 which is a nice chunk of change that finally the government is supporting me at ! xo Julia
That’s great !!!!
My social worker at onc office made me aware of a program which if you MBC you can get on Medicare as long as you receive any kind of treatment which i did so health insurance is taking care off
That is amazing! I was told by the Social Security Disability folks that once I'm on SSDI, I'm eligible for Medicare 2 years later. Again I'm 57 so I don't know if that makes a difference Can you share how to get Medicare earlier? Appreciate the info !
I hope this is helpful, im on ssdi, and with mbc you can qualify for discharge of any student loans that have your name on them. If your dr certifies that you have a terminal diagnosis on a form they have at the ed dept. Ill try to post the website here. I had an 11,000 loan i took out for my sons college and it was discharged.
Wow that is great news . I do have my name on some of my daughters student loans . So how do i go about that ? If i could get that squared away would deff take some burden off my shoulders . And thanks for all the replies to my question . I got a enough info to get the ball rolling here in the next couple month . You guys Rock !!!!
Disability questions
medical insurance while on long term disability (US). 
Social Security Benefits / Social Security Disability Benefits
Working during treatment 
Eribulin (Halaven )stopped working 
