I ended up soooo sick i could not work anymore, i had no choice. I always thought i would be doing some kind of work my entire life ( sounds similiar to alot of other people). I still have hopes of getting better and some day being able to return, but i am starting to realize it will be a long road. The long term disability through work did not kick in until i was out of work for six months. I only had long term not short term. Short term might be different. I was lucky because i did have enough sick days to get almost the entire 6 months paid at 80%. During this time i kept my insurance and i was still an employee. It took the disability insurance company a long time to approve my disability, but i think it was because my situation started with vertigo and was slowly escalating over the 6 months and until my lumbar puncture in nov. I did not have a diagnoses. The lumbar puncture results are what made the insurance company decide for the disability. It was a tough process with a ton of paperwork and if the paperwork is not in on time they can drop your claim. They can also make you file with social security once your approved. If social security approves you, the insurance company would subtract what you get from ss. As far as how long the disability insurance lasts, i'm not quite sure. I think maybe a year. I've been so sick some things are slipping through. It's been tough. I never expected this to happen, when i was still pushing myself at work i kept thinking all i need is 2 weeks off to rest, catch up and feel better......boy was i wrong, it's been almost 8 months and i still can not have a day were i would do a normal routine without working. If you think of more questions about disability insurance just ask. Yours might be a little different but yet they are probably somewhat the same. My brother in law was out on disability so i received answers from him. Hopefully you will be able to keep working, but i know that feeling you are facing and one day i couldn't work anymore and nothing mattered because i had no choice (i was too sick to care) and this happened suddenly. My heart goes out to you and i hope you the best.
I know how you feel. I am a retired teacher and receiving state retirement and soc. sec., but my med. expenses are so expensive that I work 20 hrs. a wk. as a companion. If I did not get wkly. Procrit shots for my chronic anemia I would not be able to drive or work. I have Lupus, Sjor. Syn., & narcolepsy and Presidone stopped working but take planequil & metroxtrate......now Benelysta infusions. I volunteer for our Univ. performing arts center and sing in a couple of choirs. I realize I do too much , but one day I am not going to be able to - God 's Will. 22 different pills but one is gratitude for the support system and good medical team. I have disability state retirement due to an injury from an attack while teaching. 7th grader slammed door in my face - 3 herinated disks. Trama & injurty luckily I was near retirement. and SC approved. Good luck with Disab. Soc. Sec. I've heard it takes quiet awhile and sometimes takes 2 tries. I live in the present,,,,,,,,,,and try to live ea. day fully. Take care. Peace, Helena.
Social securiy disability is a process, and you don’t get paid until 5 months after you last worked. I was accepted on the first trybecause I am really sick. I heard it could be hard. A friend found that a local service helps find lawyers, and the first half hour is free. He told me stuff yhat helprd, and it took about. 15 minutes, But he told me he had a current client who had to go to court to get sccepted, and the process can take a year. So the sooner you start, the sooner you’ll get accepted. I get almost no mindy because I paid in very little. I wish I had quit sooner now. It took a lot of energy to work that I may never get back. I was starting to be late every day because the alarm couldn’t wake me up, and still doesn’t, almost 2 years later. But I didlove my job.
I had to quite almost 2 yrs. Ago. It’s been really hard but I am thankful for my mom who is always helping me. I was also able to find assisted living that went off of my income as well as how much I pay for medical. I wwish you the best of luck it is a really hard journey. …
J, I know exactly where you are. When I had to make the decision to stop working I was a basket case. I’ve worked my whole adult life and now I cant. So so so scary. My symptoms kept me out of work for days at a time and nobody has that kind of sick leave package. So that meant working while feeling bad, trying to fake smiles, lying to everyone around you who noticed that you’re not yourself today. Pretending to be well made me a nervous wreck and I wobbled straight to my bed everyday after work. Mentally and physically spent. When you have to let go we will be there to help ease your mind. I’m on disability but I don’t have to pretend anymore. Stress will kill you!! Look into every resource you can find. I know the fear and desperation you feel right now.
That’s it exactly.
I am faking it. I do have to call in sick and/or in late on many days. I’m concerned that work will get tired of me and seriously can’t be without money or insurance!
How are surviving ?
I looked up and checked out every disability ad I could find. And still I shook in my boots to think that I had to voluntarily quit a job that I loved. Well being a Nurse helped because your superiors know or at least have heard of your diagnosis. So I used up all my leave and cried a lot. I called a disability attorneys office off the internet and cried at least 4 times. They were patient with my nervous weepy a__. They always ended the calls with"When you aren't working anymore please call us back". J, I called one day, told them to send me the paperwork. Then I submitted my resignation and called my supervisor. I quit. The paperwork arrived. I signed over all of my miserable medical history. I had to speak with a para legal for a 10 minute questionnaire. I am on disability but I am lucky enough to have a loving husband and my check helps me feel like I'm contributing to our household. None of my doctors had to do anything except send my records, I spoke to no one except the attorneys office. They did it all for me. Do it. Scarey in your corner. Your body will thank you J said:
That's it exactly. I am faking it. I do have to call in sick and/or in late on many days. I'm concerned that work will get tired of me and seriously can't be without money or insurance! How are surviving ?
It is sad isn’t it?
All the hard work put in to have a home, car, some dinners out and now I may lose everything (including insurance) because I decided to stay single after my divorce. Now I’m too tired to think about dating. Lol. Might have to put out an add. Lol
I too stayed single after my divorce. I lost my job due to Lupus. I have lost my home, and now live with family and look for low income housing. It is hard to keep downsizing, and facing more losses, but keep hope, I do believe things will get better. :)
J, Do not quit your job. If I remember correctly you have disability insurance through work. What you should do is double check with your HR dept. how many paid sick days you receive each fiscal year. Than call your benefits dept. and check if your disability insurance is short term or long term. You can have your dr. fill out fmla paperwork for either intermittent leave(to help with you are sick a day here and there or need to be late). This legally protects you, they can not fire you if you have this paperwork. If you do need to stop working your disability insurance will kick in after 6 months if long term, that is after your sick leave begins. You also would need to be out of work 6 months before social security would pay anything if approved and approval can take up to 2 years. But they will pay you back to the day you filed. If you get any sick days at work these can help you until your disability insurance kicks in otherwise you will have to live on your savings for this time and pay your insurance out of pocket. You do not lose your insurance until your disability is approved. At that point your company would retire you and you would need to go on cobra insurance until you are able to receive medicaid. Hope this helps. Good luck.
Very good advise red dog.
I do have short term and long term at work but my concern was they’re watching me. I will talk to my doctor about fmla paperwork so I’m safe. I know doctors don’t like to fill out a lot of papers but I’m too far away from retirement and I must have insurance. I pray that the day never comes that I must leave and go thru my resources. Lol, my heart goes out to you because that’s a fear that keeps me awake at night.
I really appreciate everyone’s feedback and help.