OT: Disability payments

[dclfun]

dj2- since you work and are disabled then you automatically will qualify for assistance under VR. You just need to apply- I'd start with a phone call- and then you will be assigned a counselor who will explore anything necessary for you to be able to continue working. The key is though that you must want to and be able to continue working to get VR assistance. They will purchase a scooter or wheelchair ( a rehab engineer will evaluate your needs) and also help you modify an van with accessiblity features such as an ECV lift or a ramp van, all the way to a van modified with driving controls. Mine ended up costing over 60K for the system I have....way over my budget without some help but it enables me to work fulltime.---Kathy

 

[dj2]

not sure how to contact vocational rehab--is it part of social security, or under another program? thx,
dj

 

[dclfun]

VR isn't part of Social Security. It should be listed in your white pages under "Department of Vocational Rehabilitation" in the state section or you could do a search online for the phone # and address or even a google search for Vocational Rehabilitation and it should pull up a list of each one. There should be a VR in every larger city or you would go to the closest one. Hope that helps!---Kathy

 

[MomPlanner22]

Social Security disability is designed to support people with either a condition that will result in their death OR a condition expected to last 1 or more years.

Approval of Social Security disability also provides for Medicare entitlement. This could be particularly important if your husband were to lose medical insurance benefits at any time. There is a waiting period imposed for Medicare so for that reason alone, I would suggest you apply.

You don't mention how long it has been since you stopped working full-time (I presume due to your MS). However, if it has been two years or less, you may want to check to see if you had Long Term Disability coverage through an employer. There is usually a time limit for you to file a claim and if that is passed, you would not be eligible. Also, by working the few hours a day you have, you may not be able to satisfy the elimination period (number of days you are disabled before they start payments) unless it has a residual provision (the elimination period can be satisfied with either total or partial disability).

SSDI is there for catastrophic situations and a lifelong illness certainly qualifies. Good luck!

 

[schlepsnort]

I have been on SSDI payments for a little over 4 years and as far as people taking 'advantage' of it? I'd love to know how they do it considering how much paperwork I've had to fill out to keep them up to date on my condition!
I talked to one of the workers of SSI when they were reviewing my case this past year and he said that even though they know that with my diagnosis it can only get worse/not better, that they do the reviews to insure that the system is not being abused.
I am grateful for my monthly check, I earned it and it helps our family immensely when it comes time to pay for my monthly meds, dr. bills, etc.
I hope that you apply for it and I highly doubt that you will have any problems getting it and SOME people can take their high and mighty holier than thou opinions and put them somewhere else.

 

[disneygal66]

I have 2 specail needs kids and haven't been able to get SSDI for either of them because we have more than $3000.00 in assets. Just because we have about $1200.00 in 529 plan for each of our 3 boys and 2 probably won't even go to college. I am reapplying again and hopefully we will be approved. the cash assistance isn't nearly as valuable to us as the health benefits to cover all our doctors and therapist who don't take my husband's plan. At this point, I cna't switch drs or therapist as it could set my kids back- What should we do?

 

[Nanajo1]

I just want to offer my support. I don't know about dependent SSDI but am wondering if you have used an attorney to help? My own case was pretty straight forward so I did it myself but if it was more complicated I would have used an attorney.

 

[dclfun]

SSI, vs. SSDI counts income and assets. SSDI is for a person who has worked and earned enough credits to qualify or for children of a disabled adult receiving SSDI or for a dependent whose parent is deceased. Those benefits are not dependent upon other income or assets. If you are trying to get SSI for your children then whether they qualify as disabled is a moot point if you have too much income/assets. The only way to qualify if you have the assets is to spend them before you reapply and have proof that they are spent. For instance if you need a lift van or adaptations to your home for their condition, then use the funds for that and have zero assets.---Kathy

 

[arminnie]

IMO if you don't need the money you should not apply. It is to be a safety net.

Mike

It's not whether you "need" the money. It is whether you are too disabiled to continue to work. A millionaire who becomes incapacitated and is unable to work is entitled to SS disability payments. Assets and earnings of other family members do not count.

But the fact that you do continue to work would probably disqualify you. It is hard to claim that you are unable to work while you continue to work.

 

[SueM in MN]

I have 2 specail needs kids and haven't been able to get SSDI for either of them because we have more than $3000.00 in assets. Just because we have about $1200.00 in 529 plan for each of our 3 boys and 2 probably won't even go to college. I am reapplying again and hopefully we will be approved.

agreeing with what dclfun wrote about this.
Re-applying won't do anything as long as those assets exist. That was one of the reasons why we did not apply for any assistance for our DD until she was over 18.

the cash assistance isn't nearly as valuable to us as the health benefits to cover all our doctors and therapist who don't take my husband's plan. At this point, I cna't switch drs or therapist as it could set my kids back- What should we do?

If you haven't already, you should check with the insurance plan and with the office staff who deal with insurance at the doctor and therapists.

First of all, you should be able to get the visits covered 'out of network' (which would mean a higher co-pay to you). Out of network means that those providers are not part of the group that the insurance company has set up contracts with. That doesn't mean they can't provide care or you can't visit them in most cases, just that the insurance company puts some 'roadblocks' there so that you will use the network that they have set up. It may be more expensive for you to use them, but you still should be able to.

Second, if there are no other providers in network under your DH's plan who can meet your children's needs, the insurance may be willing to let your children see those out of network providers as if they were in network. We have done this in the past. It involved doing some research about which providers were in network and then a few letters about why those providers could not meet my DD's needs. The end result was that we continued to see the same providers, but we paid the lower 'in network' copay and had to meet a lower minimum.

Third, check with the staff who deal with insurance at the doctor and therapist's office. Sometimes the issue with the insurance company is that the provider has not applied to them to be 'in network.' Sometimes that is a very easy process and the clinic hasn't done it because no one asked before.
The other provider issue might just be a paperwork issue. They may not submit bills to your DH's insurance company. Again, that might be something that no one has asked them to do, so they might not know that it's a problem for you. They might be able to do that if you ask. If they don't want to/can't do that, you could get forms from the insurance company and submit the bills to the insurance company yourself. Even if they don't pay all of them, the amounts would count toward your minimum amounts.

 

[RNMOM]

Sue, great advice. Also want to add that some states require insurance companies to provide services within 50 miles. This meant for us that we were able to get coverage for our son's doctor who was the only peds neurologist/psychiatrist we could find. It might be helpful to check your states' insurance board or give them a call. I have found the benefits people at my husband's company have also been willing to go to bat for us at times.

If you are racking up a lot of out of pocket charges, many hospitals have programs to assist people. I would suggest speaking with them also.

Good luck to all who need the help.

 

[arlenesp]

You need to investigate every which way to see if there is any assistance.
When my first grandson was born, he was very ill with a congenital condition. My daughter had nooo insurance.he was hospitalized for over 2 weeks and needed specialists and many tests.He also needed corrective surgery.
She sat down with the hospital staff which was a large childrens hospital and was told a benifactor had paid her bills etc. They just asked her to donate any thing she could whenever she needed visits.Many cities have specialized departments and will help with the bills.
Insurance co will allow you to see other drs out of network if there isn't anyone suitable in your area.Speak with the social workers in the hospitals etc. They are a wealth of info.
My husband is on disability and it took 5 years of trying to get it approved. A malignant brain tumor was the deciding factor. SS could no longer send him to see their doctors to disqualify him as he was diagnosed with stage 3 cancer. the social worker at the hospital gave us all the paperwork to forward on.(Our problem was we did go to an attorney and that actually held up the process.All the paperwork had to go thru them.)
I want to add also, that all thru the years of trying to get his disability approved, I kept hearing about this one and that one who were collecting and were not really in need.I too questioned how they were able to get thru the system when those who need it have to jump thru so many hoops to prove themselves.
That used to really get me and still does.It seems a shame we now have to resort to paying an attorney to fill out the paperwork and get it thru the cracks in the system when the ss administration should be helping to do this.

 

[meglovesbelle]

Dear OP I also have MS and no longer work but that was my choice because I have a DD(2) and could not physically take care of her, the house and work. My neurologist has never told me to apply for Disability, what type of MS do you have, I have Relapsing-Remitting MS. Luckily I have not had any exacerbations since 1999. I am using Avonex and was off while pregnant. My MRI shows no changes since 1999, so I feel very lucky. The hard part is that outwardly I look fine, but the fatigue and pain are sometimes overwhelming. I do worry that if something were to happen to my husband how would I make it raising my DD. We have life insurance, I cannot get anymore since my MS, high prices. I have paid into social security for 25 years, so I feel I should get some back, but I also feel bad that right now we are OK and I do not want to take away from someone else who really needs it, like my BIL who has CP and recieves SSI. Have you made your decision ??

 

[dj2]

Dear OP ... Have you made your decision ??

sorry to have made things confusing. i posted on this old thread just to let people know i'd been successful in receiving SSDI. my original question was half a year ago, but in april i applied and in july was approved. from other's posts and a few pm's i've since received, i see i've caused some confusion. sorry about that.

I have paid into social security for 25 years, so I feel I should get some back, but I also feel bad that right now we are OK and I do not want to take away from someone else who really needs it

ssdi is not needs based, and other than being time consuming/exhausting to apply, it didn't cost anything. i checked with my neurologist first, since my research showed that although they say they'll send you to their own doctor, in reality it is often the case that their decision is largely based on your existing medical records and what your own doctors have documented and think. my dr told me he supported me, so i applied.

i have progressed from R&R to secondary progressive--but i took an mri a few days ago because the doc wanted to confirm that there aren't anymore active areas and am waiting on the results.

super congrats about no more episodes since 1999!!!

please tell me how the avonex is going. i'm scared that dr is going to push for it again if the mri shows current activity. i'm so terrified about that drug from lots of "war stories" i've heard, and from the reactions i had to a similar drug--rebif.

-dj