Social Security Benefits / Social Security Disability Benefits

[Kruza]

Hello my fellow warriors; I need education on this. Is anyone using either after MBC diagnosis, I am exploring options as I still have to work through my extreme fatigue. HELP Picture with my new hair

[Wintervt]

Hi Kruza,

Love the curls! What info do you need regarding SSDI? I took an early retirement and receive my full pension and SSDI.

Kind regards,

Jade

[Kruza in reply to Wintervt]

Trying to get my ducks in a row. I thought I would be able to work a hybrid schedule at my job but my supervisor doesn't like for people to work from home and this 8 hour schedule is not working well. How did you get to retire and get SSDI?

[Wintervt in reply to Kruza]

I worked for a year after my diagnosis, even with a hybrid schedule and understanding boss it was just too much. I have school aged children and I wanted to spend more time with them and prioritize my health. The first thing I did when I decided to retire was file for long term disability with my HR department, this was super helpful as the application process for SSDI takes a while. In addition, I spoke with the VT state board of education and learned that because I had MBC I was eligible for an early retirement.

[Kruza in reply to Wintervt]

For long term disability should it not be an election in your benefits?

[Wintervt in reply to Kruza]

I’m not sure what you mean by that? In addition to my pension and SSDI I will receive long term disability benefits (this benefit is through my former job) until I am 62.

[Kruza in reply to Wintervt]

Benefits like life insurance, short and long term disability, dental insurance etc. that is how it is set up in Florida I think.

[Wintervt in reply to Kruza]

The benefits I receive through my former job are life insurance and long term disability.

[Wintervt in reply to Kruza]

I forgot to say that any cancer that is Stage IV will automatically qualify a person to receive disability benefits. A very serious cancer diagnosis qualifies for the Compassionate Allowance program, which expedites the claim for disability benefits to start receiving money quickly.

[Kruza]

Oh my goodness, thank you so much. What is Compassionate Allowance Program?

[Wintervt in reply to Kruza]

Here’s a link from SSA describing the program. ssa.gov/compassionateallowa...

[USIrishcolleen in reply to Kruza]

Hello again,

I am on SSDI because I had a very serious case of Guillain-Barre’ Syndrome. I believe I applied for SSDI in Dec., and it took 5 months before I saw any money.

Best,

Colleen

[Hidden]

Hi Kruza! I read the previous responses, but will admit to limited comprehension/retention these days (age? ADD?), so please forgive any repeats.

I was also working when dx'd. I had ST and LT disability through employer benefits, so did ST, then seamlessly transitioned to LT, and applied for SSDI at the same time.

As noted by others, it's a fast-track approval but there is a waiting period before payments begin. I want to say 6 or 12 months. But the LT employer disability providers accommodate this and pay in full during that time.

After the duration of the waiting period, LT disability is reduced by the amount you *would* receive, whether or not you've actually applied for it in time. So if your LT employer disability is, say, 50% of compensation, they will calculate that, and then *subtract* your SSDI benefit...again, whether or not you've applied for it.

Let me also mention this...

When I decided to stop working, I was very concerned about being approved or, even worse, being approved then subsequently denied benefits, if I was doing well. BTW, this is about the employer provided, not SSDI (which is pretty much a given). I phoned several attorneys (you get lots of ads once you start searching for info), never paid any, but did pick up some info along the way.

I learned that this is *not* the time to be stoic...pain, fatigue, headaches, anxiety, etc., should not be excluded from your medical record if you are trying to be strong. I also learned that blood counts alone can qualify for continuation of benefits (again, private/employer based)...so, e.g. my very low ANC (absolute neutrophil counts) qualified me...So I was certain to do labs at a time of month (e.g. with Ibrance, start of the break week) when labs would show their true depth. I learned that the single most important factor is to make sure that your doc understands that you cannot work. They sign off on it, typically every 6 months. So, again, don't hold back.

I've been receiving both SSDI and company LT disability for over 7 years. Life changing. I can rest when I'm tired, deal with bad weeks of lots of tests/procedures/etc., without worrying about a paycheck.

This is too long, but I know I dealt with a lot of anxiousness when making the decision.

If you decide that you'd prefer to keep working, the wonderful ADA (Americans with Disability Act) guarantees you certain rights re: accommodations of schedule, etc.

My very best to you, btw, you're *gorgeous*, thanks for posting a pic!

Take care,

Lynn

[Kruza in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Lynn, this helps

[kokopelli2017]

hi Kruza.

beautiful pic....hair is looking great!

my situation a bit different than others. i was NOT working (so unable to apply for employer based LT disability...obviously) when I applied for govt disability....SSDI. so my experience was pretty straight forward as far as SSDI goes.

I applied in Jan 2019. filled out my application on-line and forwarded any medical records requested. since I have MBC....they fast tracked my application and was approved within weeks. there is a 5 month wait period between approval and first payment....and they run a month behind....so it is actually 6 months before you receive your first payment.

and btw, once you are receiving disability (SSDI), you qualify for medicare benefits two years later.

not sure if this was helpful at all but hope so.

best wishes with lining up your ducks🦆🦆🦆. smart woman😉.

carole XO

[Nocillo in reply to kokopelli2017]

I was told I couldn’t get disability if I had not been working. But you say it is possible?

[kokopelli2017 in reply to Nocillo]

hmmm. well let me clarify. I had not been working for the past four years previous to when I applied for disability. but previous to that, I had worked since I was sixteen. the amount of disability you receive is based on your prior work history of earned income.

if you have never worked.....then perhaps you don't qualify. I am not 100% sure on that but possible. but if you have worked throughout your life, then I am confused. who is the 'they' that told you that you could not get disability?? I would call SS to get the straight scoop. or maybe you did. sorry not more helpful.

good luck. I will be curious for the answer as well.

carole XO

[Nocillo in reply to kokopelli2017]

I had worked as well and I forgot to tell the person I spoke with that I actually had started one week of an online job which I quit when I received my diagnosis. I may give them a call again. Thanks for the info.

[kokopelli2017 in reply to Nocillo]

hi again. good idea...call again and hopefully get better info this time around...fingers crossed. don't want you to miss out on any funds that are available to you!

good luck,

carole XO

[kearnan in reply to Nocillo]

If you had not worked in the past say 10 years, you cannot get SSDI benefits, but then you would get SSI which is alot less than what people get if they had been working during those past 10 years. Also, if you had started a job and quit after a week, they will not count that towards your SSDI. I was in between jobs when I was diagnosed. I had attempted to try and continue to work (bc of finances) but only lasted at the new job for three months. SS did not count those jobs bc I was only at them for less than six months. So when I was approved for SSDI (which is automatic but still with a five month unpaid waiting period) I was shocked and happily surprised when I applied that they gave me $25,000 in back pay. Because my diagnosis was almost two years prior and the one job I attempted to work at I only lasted three months so they stated that "it was a failed attempt on my part to try and work." So even with the five months unpaid waiting period, they gave me backpay for all that time I was getting treatment and not collecting.

If I had lasted six months or more at that new job, then my starting date would not start from the time of my diagnosis, it would have started from the last day of that job that I worked six months at, and I would not have received back pay. It is a maze of confusion. If you had not worked say for the past 10 years (or had worked at a place where the employer did not put into ss), then you would not qualify for SSDI benefits, but then would get SSI benefits which is alot less money.

[Kruza in reply to kearnan]

Thank you so much

[kearnan in reply to Kruza]

If you treatment center has social workers, mine did ask about a pooled trust. I live in NYC and now after two years on SSDI I was then forced onto Medicare.

My pooled trust is handled by the Center for Disability Rights in rochester, NY. They only charge a $20 fee every month. They take out the amount that is over the limit for me to qualify for Medicaid. So they take that money out, but they pay my bills with it. They automatically send my LL her rent every month, and I scan them my verizon and Discover credit card bills and tell them how much to pay on that.

So Medicaid approves it, thus now I qualify for NYC Medicaid bc my over the limit money goes into the fund The point is to try and use as much of it every month as you can (I never have more than $20 in it before they take it out again. It is not a savings plan and if one dies, CDR gets to keep the money in it.

There are different types. You can still own a home or a car, and join a different pooled trust. It is a godsend bc as we now, cancer is expensive.

Before that, I was on a special NYC Medicaid for people with stage iv so I had no copayments. I was clueless that Medicare you had to pay for. Long story shorter, ask and see if you qualify to join a pooled trust fund. The volunteer attorney helped me do all the paperwork. She said she goes to various cancer centers and does about 500 of these in a month. I own nothing.

So basically I get dual coverage of Medicare and full NYC Medicaid plus Medicaid pays to Medicare my $170 monthly fee (or whatever it is now plus my $40 for my rx plan) so I have no money taken out of my SSDI for Medicare and what Medicare does not pay for (which is alot), Medicaid does.

It is a blessing and I know it bc I have no deductibles, no co-pays, plus I get free car service to and from all doctors appointments, not just cancer-related. For the first three months, Medicare was taking the money out of my SSDI and then when NYC Medicaid approved my pooled trust, I got a check back for what they had previously taken out.

[Kruza in reply to kearnan]

Wow, very good information, thank you so much.

[Zoe61]

After I was diagnosed. The social worker at the cancer center I go to helped me fill out the paperwork, then they took care of the rest ie dx and all pertinent paperwork. Automatically accepted. Had to wait a few months for $'s, then 2 yrs for medicare.

[Lw50007 in reply to Zoe61]

What do you get with Medicare?

[USIrishcolleen]

Hello Kruza!

“You look MARVELOUS!” I cannot answer your question, I’m sorry to say! Stay well!

Best,

Colleen

[Kruza in reply to USIrishcolleen]

Thank you Collen

[Kruza in reply to USIrishcolleen]

Thank you

[PJBinMI]

I'm a long timer with MBC (since March 2004) and it took me a bit of time to realize that I really couldn't keep working. I "retired" late that year, at age 58. At that time, we had to have stopped working to apply for Social Security Disability, so on my first day of retirement, I phoned to make a appt to apply for Social Security Disability. I also had vested (meaning I had worked long enough for retirement income to be secure) retirement from two different employers and started receiving those right away. I don't know what the current wait time is to receive Social Security. I am married and having my husband's income (now retirement) means we have adequate income and can still save some every month. We were each single parents for quite awhile and pinching pennies comes naturally to us and we probably spend less that most people at our income level, We are debt free and that makes it alot easier than if we were having to make mortgage, car and credit card payments every month. I always found the SS people I spoke with on the phone to be very helpful and knowledgeable. I don't know if that is still true with the backlogs that SS has, but I agree with others here who've said that our stage IV cancer diagnosis does pretty much guarantee that we will qualify for SSDI. Those payments get sent directly to our bank accts, and mine has been on time every month. I hope you will get the information you need to be at peace with your decisions and that your income and medical insurance will be enough for you to live comfortably.

[Kruza]

Oh my goodness my fellow warriors, thank you all so much for all the contributions. This is very helpful and I hope others are learning too not just me.

[Suzie-Wong24]

Your hair is beautiful!

[ClarenceO]

Kruza,

Congrats on the hair growth. It's so nice when that happens! I applied for disability several months after my diagnosis and received approval very quickly. The process was simple and required only a few forms and written proof of the diagnosis from the doctor/hospital. Financially, it was a lifesaver for me helping prevent the draining of my retirement IRA.

Suzanne

[Kruza in reply to ClarenceO]

Thank you. All these answers are so helpful. Nobody ever just comes out and tells you all this is available. Why? This information should be available right after diagnosis. SMH

[Hidden]

Lovely Lady ...Hair looks Good I can not answer your question

Hugs

Smiles

[Missmaddie615]

You look absolutely beautiful -thanks for sharing your picture! Thank you so much for asking this question as I have been wondering about it myself. And, Thank you to all the lovely ladies for all your responses- it is extremely helpful!

[Kruza in reply to Missmaddie615]

Thanks for the compliment and yes, thanks to all the warrior friends for providing helpful information.