Disability...? I WANT A LIFE

[Disney Ontario]

Hi. I was just wandering if anyone else gets money from the government for been disabled?Easy to register?
My problem- I have never worked outside of the home, DD20 and DD16.It has all started basically after DD16 was born. Both hips are repaired, but now its my knees/legs and back. Anyone?

 

[roscoepc1]

If your Dr backs you and is willing to do the forms etc, it's not hard. Your kids should be eligible for some benefits too, as children of a disabled person.

Make sure your Dr knows what the proper "catch words" the Gov't likes are...sometimes it's all in the wording whether you get approved or not.

Don't be afraid to make your situation sound grim....don't lie, but don't talk about all the things you CAN do...don't belittle or minimize your efforts/pain...

Ie, on the form there's lots of stuff about what you can or can't do. If you need help getting out of bed 5 days out of 7, for example, say "yes"....don't say "sometimes" or anything along the lines of "On two days a week, I'm just fine!", kwim?

My Dad is on disability (COPD), and my little sister got benefits too...My son was also disabled, so we personally were involved with the child's applications etc....

HTH!

 

[Ham Ham]

You may entitled to ODSP.

 

[Janice B]

Hi. I was just wandering if anyone else gets money from the government for been disabled?Easy to register?
My problem- I have never worked outside of the home, DD20 and DD16.It has all started basically after DD16 was born. Both hips are repaired, but now its my knees/legs and back. Anyone?

I currently dont get any money from the government. But I was approved about 14 years ago when my son was just 3. Making a long story short. My health improved dramatically right after I got approved so I decided to go back to work and not go on disability. I two have had a hip replacement. (wasnt born with a hip.) Basically what the other poster had said. Get your doctor and specialist to fill out the forms. You will have to fill out a form in your own words (or you use to), describing your life. List everything you need help doing in the house and outside, (it doenst have to be all the time). Examples, needing help getting dressed. getting up from a sitting position, walking with assistance can or help from others. Sitting for a time limit, standing for a time limit (ask your doctor what he recommends you can do) I currently have a 10 min standing limit and a 30 min sitting limit before i have to get up and move around. List the medication you are taking for pain. As the other poster said. Dont lie, but be honest and descriptive. I can totally understand how your feel. I am currently seeing my doctor and have been discussing it with my DH about quiting my job and going on disablity. Since my appoval I have had a second operation on the same hip. And i am currently having back (just diagnosed with scoliosis), nerve, hip (both) and knee (both) problems. If I can be of any help just let me know. Or if you just want to talk just PM.
Also getting disability coverage from the Ontario government will all depend on how much your DH makes. 14 years ago I did not qualify. I never had a problem getting approved from the federal though.

 

[Cdnmom2001]

I hope you qualify. I have a brother on disability for kidney issues and he had a big process to qualify but he did in the end.
My family dr has been wanting to apply for disability for awhile, but I am not sure if or how I would qualify. My circumstances are drastically different but still diabilitating. I have chronic migraines over 200 of them last year. I can't work/function with them and they are over taking my life.

 

[mousy_in_canada]

I had some questions about this too.. I had surgery in April and the doctor totally messed up and now I am in 100% pain 100% of the time, I don't walk, rarely sit up and can't function at all. I have already had one corrective surgery which was a failure and the Doctor said I get to live with the pain. My family doctor said she would fill out the forms for disability. Can I only try for one level of government for this or do I apply to both? What do you get with the federal level in terms of help with my meds and other expenses? Is the Provincial (Ontario) level better overall? HELP What should I do??
Thanks in advance
Mousy

 

[Janice B]

I had some questions about this too.. I had surgery in April and the doctor totally messed up and now I am in 100% pain 100% of the time, I don't walk, rarely sit up and can't function at all. I have already had one corrective surgery which was a failure and the Doctor said I get to live with the pain. My family doctor said she would fill out the forms for disability. Can I only try for one level of government for this or do I apply to both? What do you get with the federal level in terms of help with my meds and other expenses? Is the Provincial (Ontario) level better overall? HELP What should I do??
Thanks in advance
Mousy

You can apply at both levels of govenment. However Ontario is a lot harder to get and depends totally on your family income. My DM was on Disability and she only received a set amount per month from federal. Did not qualify for Ontario. No help with medical expenses. Not sure if that is true about everything. I would get your doctor to fill out the forms and send them in. In regards to the pain. Have you considered seeing a chiropractor. I started about 2 yrs ago because nothing my family dr could give me for pain would help and since seeing one it has helped considerably with the pain. Yes i am still in pain mostly every day but know its more tollerable. Also have you tried a tens machine. This has also helped me deal the with pain. If you need any info about either of these, just let me know.

 

[mousy_in_canada]

You can apply at both levels of govenment. However Ontario is a lot harder to get and depends totally on your family income. My DM was on Disability and she only received a set amount per month from federal. Did not qualify for Ontario. No help with medical expenses. Not sure if that is true about everything. I would get your doctor to fill out the forms and send them in. In regards to the pain. Have you considered seeing a chiropractor. I started about 2 yrs ago because nothing my family dr could give me for pain would help and since seeing one it has helped considerably with the pain. Yes i am still in pain mostly every day but know its more tollerable. Also have you tried a tens machine. This has also helped me deal the with pain. If you need any info about either of these, just let me know.

Thanks for your post, I will be sure to apply for both but I doubt I will get the Ontario one.
I too love my chiro but he can not help in this case. A doctor cut a nerve during surgery and I am unable to walk for more than 10 minutes. I really don't think that a chiro will help. I wish it would be I really don't think it will in this case. At least the set amount will help cover my drugs which are a lot, trust me!

This is hard on me but even harder since I really want to take a cruise and go to Disney for our 20th but I just don't think that is possible anymore! I was really looking forward to it!

 

[Disney Ontario]

Hi again. Now its knee pain. I got a call today for a date change fore a knee scope. From Oct.8 to Sept 22. PANIC. After two hip surgeries(moved my sockets over) and surgery scares me. After my last hip surgery(around 14 years ago0 The Dr said he could of done better. Then he packed his things and moved to a rich place in Africa for his job. Now of course pain.
I will see about my pain level after the 22.

 

[LSmith]

Just wanted to say GOOD LUCK. Don't give up! Hopefully medicine has come far since your last surgery.

 

[3GIRLSMOM]

Wishing you pixie dust for your upcoming surgery Disney Ontario
Best Wishes
Cathy

 

[Janice B]

Thanks for your post, I will be sure to apply for both but I doubt I will get the Ontario one.
I too love my chiro but he can not help in this case. A doctor cut a nerve during surgery and I am unable to walk for more than 10 minutes. I really don't think that a chiro will help. I wish it would be I really don't think it will in this case. At least the set amount will help cover my drugs which are a lot, trust me!

This is hard on me but even harder since I really want to take a cruise and go to Disney for our 20th but I just don't think that is possible anymore! I was really looking forward to it!

Not sure where the nerve was cut. However I had a degenerative disc in my back that is pinching a nerve, Pain medication does not help with the pain. At times its so bad I can even lift my arm. However I do find that when I am in pain from the nerve, my tens machine does help relieves the pain more than the medicaiton does. Ask your doctor to see if this might be an option.

 

[Janice B]

Hi again. Now its knee pain. I got a call today for a date change fore a knee scope. From Oct.8 to Sept 22. PANIC. After two hip surgeries(moved my sockets over) and surgery scares me. After my last hip surgery(around 14 years ago0 The Dr said he could of done better. Then he packed his things and moved to a rich place in Africa for his job. Now of course pain.
I will see about my pain level after the 22.

Good luck with your scope. I hope it helps releive some of your pain.

 

[Susan2771]

If I am reading your original post correctly, you have never contributed to Canada Pension Plan, or CPP through employment deductions? One of the qualifiers to receive CPP long term monthly disability payments is you must have contributed to the Canada Pension Plan for a miniumum number of years. Your disability must also be long term and servere, not allowing you to be able to do any type of work. But if you have not contributed in the last few years, then this would be a problem. Canada Pension Plan benefits are based on your contributions. It takes about 4 months for the application process as long as you and the doctors and specialists get all the forms and reports in a timely manner.

 

[amberg@eastlink.ca]

cpp disabilty is you have to work 4 of the last 6 years. but if you have kids they will make an allowance, as they get 200$ each per month, which would come off your total maximum of 1200$, if you qualify. from what i've heard and watching my friend go through it they almost always say no first, same with the military. then you have to appeal and it would normally go to a tribunal, with three members reperestenting the community, govt and one other.. then the cpp people have a person there as well to question the stuff you present etc. then they take it back and its four months from that date they have to decide if you receive it or not.

in a word no its not easy....and you have to have all your steps in place, what you've tried, chiro, opperations, meds etc. good luck.

 

[mousy_in_canada]

cpp disabilty is you have to work 4 of the last 6 years. but if you have kids they will make an allowance, as they get 200$ each per month, which would come off your total maximum of 1200$, if you qualify. from what i've heard and watching my friend go through it they almost always say no first, same with the military. then you have to appeal and it would normally go to a tribunal, with three members reperestenting the community, govt and one other.. then the cpp people have a person there as well to question the stuff you present etc. then they take it back and its four months from that date they have to decide if you receive it or not.

in a word no its not easy....and you have to have all your steps in place, what you've tried, chiro, opperations, meds etc. good luck.

ok I am a bit confused, I have not worked the last 4 of 6, but I have 4 kids under the age of 12, how does that work? Thanks so much for your help. The web site is a bit confusing to me,and it seems like you know what you are talking about. Thanks so much! if you prefer you can PM me or send me an email. Thanks!

 

[amberg@eastlink.ca]

ok I am a bit confused, I have not worked the last 4 of 6, but I have 4 kids under the age of 12, how does that work? Thanks so much for your help. The web site is a bit confusing to me,and it seems like you know what you are talking about. Thanks so much! if you prefer you can PM me or send me an email. Thanks!

haha, that's okay it is not an easy process. they have a claus for your kids to receive a portion of it if you haven't worked in the last 4 of 6 i believe. i called to try to get it myself...dd's delivery left her with cp and me unable to walk/stand/ sit normally. so i called them to get the info- as the website isnt clear at all, and you can't print it yourself you have to call them for the copies of it. when i called and asked about it he pulled up my employment info showing that i hadn't been employed since '06 and stated to me i wouldn't be able to apply...that being said i didn't say to him my disability occured while i was still employed...however he heard my kids in the background fightng and said to me do you have kids? then he said well they will qualify for some. theres an entire separate form for your doc to fill out for them. each kid under the age of 25 is entitled to 200 a month providing they are in school(unless not school aged, they get it automatically)...this comes off your maximum which would be based on what you were earing a month before your disability. so say you are entitled to 1200 a month, then you as you said have four kids, they would get 200 a month, so 200x 4 =800, youd get i believe 5 deposits, one of the 400 remaining, and one each at 200 or it maybe one at 800 and one at 400.

the best advice i can give is to call and ask for the forms and once you give them your sin, they can pull up all your info and say yea or nay rite there.

 

[Susan2771]

The child rearing drop out applies for the first 7 years of a child's life, since they understand that many, many parents stay home from the time a child is born until they are around 7, when they start school, or they go to work part-time so they don't make as a large a contribution as when a parent is working full-time. Those small or no contributions effect the amount of pension or disability a person gets, so if a person submits the paperwork then this helps to increase the amount a pesron can get since they will take away those years of zero contributions or small contributions to boost your amount.

Have you made contributions to CPP at all in the last 10 years by being employeed or self-employment? A person needs to have contributed to the plan to get back from the plan, even if you have children and you haven't contributed to the plan, then there is nothing there. If you aren't sure if you have made any contributions, call them to send you your Statement of Contributions. An applicant needs to only have made 1 contribution in their working lifetime to receive a retirement pension from CPP (of course it is going to be tiny), but that isn't the case for CPP Disability. The $200 each child gets doesn't come off from a person's disability payments. It's a benefit each child gets if they are in school and the parent qualifies for the disability or passes away, but it doesn't reduce the amount the disabled applicant gets. You should check out this website and get a copy of your Statement by calling the 1-800 # for CPP. You will need your SIN # for them to find your file. Actually everyone should get a copy of their Statement of Contributions and look it over to make sure that it is all in order with their contributions since this is what your CPP pension is based on.

Good luck!

http://www.rhdcc-hrsdc.gc.ca/eng/isp/cpp/cpptoc.shtml

I wanted to add that CPP does not almost always say NO the first time a person applies. Many times, doctors or applicants do not send in the proper documentation, test results for the medical professionals that work at CPP to determine if the person fits the definition of disabled for CPP purposes. You have to make sure that the doctors and specialists do submit that paperwork. Your disability also has to meet the requirements of being considered disabled so be sure your doctors and medical professionals submit that paperwork and documents. The people at CPP can only make that determination on what is submitted, and if your disability isn't long-term or servere but is short-term, then a person should consider applying for EI short-term disability.

 

[mousy_in_canada]

I am just seeing if the OP is willing to update on your process is coming. I sent in my stuff and I will hear back around December. How is your application coming?