Question about SSD

[arminnie]

Maybe it's different in California....here folks seem to go on short term state disability through their employer, then get transfered to long term state disability when they are approved to also get Social Secuirty Disability.

It is different in CA as they have mandatory short-term diasbility. Because the employee is paying the premiums those benefits are not taxable.

I was out on short-term disability in CA for surgery. When I was almost ready to go back to work I had another health problem that made me go over the short-term limit. I was in the hospital and just assumed that the long-term would kick in. How can you not be disabled if you are in the hospital? I had to fight with the long-term disability company to get the benefits - which did not arrive until 11 months later! It was awful - I had to sell my home to have money to live on.

 

[CaliforniaDreamin]

that's really strange because gbm tumors are listed in the ss blue book of disabilities. it is now part of the "fast track" program. she should definitely appeal immediately.

i am disabled also due to terminal brain tumor and was approved within 6 weeks on my first application. i actually got the retroactive check before i received my approval letter.

I was going to mention this too. I think the fast track program is great. Looks like the government finally realized how cruel it was for people with incurable diseases to have to go thru the red tape and lawyers and months and possibly die before being approved.

Yes, encourage your friend to appeal. The fast track program is specifically for people in dire conditions.

 

[barkley]

It can and does happen, not always, but it does. Most of the time, the reason a case is denied that shouldn't have is because someone in the process didn't fully cooperate, ie not submitting pertinant medical evidence is a huge reason.

I work with alot of people that start their own disability claims, however they don't know what to do and get denied and then just start over and over again, because they don't understand the process. We don't recommend someone run out and get an attorney either, because most of them won't do what we do for our clients and our services are free of charge. If the client has to go to a hearing, we do recommend a Rep or Attorney (reputible ones), because we can't attend the hearing.

For those with a terminal illness, request a TERI case. There is also a list of Compassonate Allowance illnesses that can get a quick approval, that list is available on the SS website. If the illness doesn't fit either of those 2 categories, you can request a Presumptive Decision and get a bit of an early decision and begin receiving temporary benefits until a final decision is made, but this category must also meet certain requirements.

i have to agree with this.

for a couple of years i supervised a unit where we carried cases on state medicaid while the person's ss app was pending. i had to review every case that came in and went out so i got familiar with what a successful ss app looked like vs. a non successful. all too often, when it came down to a legitimate claim that definatly met ss's criteria, the basis of initial denial was either caused by an error/incomplete application on the applicant's part, or insufficient documentation on the treating physician's part (or what one treating doc says does'nt mesh with what another says).

of course one of the biggest reasons for a denial was that people failed to wait the mandatory 6 months following the onset of disability to file.

 

[tvguy]

It is different in CA as they have mandatory short-term diasbility. Because the employee is paying the premiums those benefits are not taxable.

I was out on short-term disability in CA for surgery. When I was almost ready to go back to work I had another health problem that made me go over the short-term limit. I was in the hospital and just assumed that the long-term would kick in. How can you not be disabled if you are in the hospital? I had to fight with the long-term disability company to get the benefits - which did not arrive until 11 months later! It was awful - I had to sell my home to have money to live on.

Yeah, insurance can be strange. A guy I know is a Veteran, has medical benefits through the VA. He had a heart attack. They didn't want to pay for the ambulance or emergency room care because he didn't call and get prior authorization for those treatments. He told them he wasn't able to call ahead because the paramedics were doing CPR on him and he couldn't get to the phone!!!

 

[Boston Tea Party]

I have never known anyone with a legitimate claim to get denied on the first try. Just saying............

I have. I have a friend whose daughter has Rett Syndrome. You are welcome to google it if you please. She will never walk, never talk, never sit upright on her own. She will never take care of herself, ever. They were denied and are appealing.

OP, best of luck to you.

 

[jlder72]

I have. I have a friend whose daughter has Rett Syndrome. You are welcome to google it if you please. She will never walk, never talk, never sit upright on her own. She will never take care of herself, ever. They were denied and are appealing.

OP, best of luck to you.

While I feel bad for this child, no one has ever paid in to social security for her. Why should society be financially responsible for this child? The family should take care of her.

 

[minkydog]

While I feel bad for this child, no one has ever paid in to social security for her. Why should society be financially responsible for this child? The family should take care of her.

Not. Going. There.

 

[tvguy]

While I feel bad for this child, no one has ever paid in to social security for her. Why should society be financially responsible for this child? The family should take care of her.

Well, technically, Social Security was never designed to be more than a SUPPLEMENT to your retirement savings that you could collect at age 65.
Anyone who has recevied survivors benefits like me, or ANY benefit before age 65 got benefits the plan was never designed to pay.
But Congress changed that, often without increasing the premiums we pay to cover the additional payout.

And the biggest issue seems to be is folks think of Social Security as their retirement. It isn't, it is supposed to be a little extra for you on TOP of what you have saved over your lifetime.

 

[SkyDancer59]

I know one person who was approved the first go round. I have no clue what she has, but she looks great and will meet friends in the city for dinner even a decade later. But I don't know what she goes through the rest of the day. She looks and acts like a very healthy person - but obviously there was something to trigger her immediate approval. None of my business what her invisible disability is.

I was a workaholic before I became disabled - it's just the way our family is wired. I was denied right out the gate, but approved once my lawyer got his act in gear.

Once I had SSD income, I researched a lot of different homeopathic treatments and finally felt like I could manage working again. Social Security had a program to help people get back to work, so I took advantage of it. It took two months for my body to start rebelling and in six my condition was twice as bad as it was when I originally filed for disability. I also got fired from the job due to memory issues, which was part of my disability. (I would have sued the company, but I was in such bad condition I didn't know what day of the week it was. By the time I was coherent again, they had gone bankrupt.)

The ability to be social has nothing to do with the physical problems that keep you from being employable. I caused more damage to my body by trying to go back to work and now I am in constant pain.

If you are approved through a hearing, consider this word of advice - if the judge reviews your file and finds you disabled, he probably has a good reason. Don't make the rest of your life unlivable by trying to prove to the world you can do it just because someone thought you "looked good." I'd give anything to take that period of employment back - at least I'd still be able to clean my own house.

 

[minkydog]

The ability to be social has nothing to do with the physical problems that keep you from being employable. I caused more damage to my body by trying to go back to work and now I am in constant pain.

Good point. My DH "looks good" and most people don't realize what it costs him. They don't see the shortness of breath, the terrible fatigue. THey don't see the muscle wasting.They don't see him dragging himself up the stairs to bed becuase he exhausted himself doing some laundry or washing up the dishes. He puts on a good face and out he goes. Like you, he tried to keep working. He'd work for 2 weeks, get really sick, go to the hospital, be out for 3-4 weeks, go back to work for 2 weeks, get really sick, go to the hospital, be out for another 3-4 weeks... Since going on disability his health has relatively stabilized so he's only circling the drain twice a year now. Even so, he's losing ground a little at a time. I firmly believe that stopping work has added time to his life.

 

[jlder72]

Once again, if you have never contributed to social security why are you entitleted to receive benefits?

 

[curious3069]

Well, if this child is legally qualified for the benefits, then she's entitled to them. Doesn't really seem that difficult to understand.

 

[We_Love_Disney]

Once again, if you have never contributed to social security why are you entitleted to receive benefits?

If you are a child, suffering from a debilitating illness, a citizen of the country, why should you not be entitled? Obviously, you would have not had an opportunity to contribute.

 

[HelenePA]

Once again, if you have never contributed to social security why are you entitleted to receive benefits?

what about the parents of this child who HAVE contributed? gosh... I hope you never have a child who is disabled

 

[minkydog]

what about the parents of this child who HAVE contributed? gosh... I hope you never have a child who is disabled

Isn't that the truth!

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

what about the parents of this child who HAVE contributed? gosh... I hope you never have a child who is disabled

That was the exact same thing I was going to say.

Suzanne