Has anyone had any dealings with regard to filing Ifighting) for social securtity disability because of this disease? How did it go? Denied - appealed? What were your limitations at the time of filing?
Julie
Hi Julie,
You have to be disabled for six months before you can apply, I am stage IV which automatically qualified me for benefits, I found it very easy and quick when I applied. I was approved without a couple of weeks. The bad part is you have to be on SS disability for two years before you are eligible for Medicare Health Insurance. I hope things go well for you.
Good luck,
Tina
you can apply now, however you will not recieve your first check for 6 months, you can apply on line social security online.com
Thanks for the info. My onc told me they didnt stage sclc in numbers. It is either limited or extended. This insurance part really sucks!
Hi Julie,
It is relatively simple. I did not apply, because I was clueless that I was eligible, until after my 6 mo waiting period with the disease. I did a telephone interview for most of it. Most questions seemed lame and really didn't seem applicable to my situation, but the rep. kept telling me not to worry about how much physical exertion or lifting, etc. I needed to do my job. I then went down to our local SS office and handed them a file with all my records, scans, and a very simple letter from Onc. stating I had stage 111B nsmlc. I was told it would be expedited, and, lo and behold, within 5 wks there was a rectroactive check in my bank acct. I couldn't believe it. I was told there are certain diagnoses which are automatically approved and lung cancer seems to be one of those. (It must go to show that the gov't believes we are a lost cause.) It actually has been the easiest part of any of this battle, and the extra $$ is always appreciated. It is true that there then is a 2 yr waiting period before medicare kicks in.
Go for it.
Gweena
Sorry about the misinformation, I thought you had to be out of work six months before you were eligible to apply. Glad someone else with from knowledge picked up on that, but I will agree with Gweena it has been the easiest part of this battle so far, which is kinda bittersweet.
Good Luck,
Tina
My husband went on short term disability through his company the end of January. I was concerned about when to file for federal disability and contact the company who was paying short term disability. They told me to file right away (April 2008) and they would receive a credit of the amount paid when we received payments for federal disability. My husband is Stage IV and was approved for federal disability WITHIN A WEEK of our filing.
Peace, Love & HOPE,
Tina
Simply stated.
If you have added income such as disability payments, pensions, stock,investments etc, contact your accountant or financial advisor 1st. Done properly it will NOT effect your max payments.
You will be helped, get back money, You SHOULD get max. SS checks same as if you were 65 or 67. It will be fast and they will help. Use online and phone for your local SS office. You WILL receieve SS disability max,
Payments until age 65 and then it becomes max. payments for SS reg. you will see no change other than gov. increases.
I was medically retired from the Air Force in October 2007, applied for social security disability that same month - when I told her that I had been diagnosed in Feb 2006 she fold me they can only give me back pay for one year - In December 2007 I got my first check and a years back pay - I did not work once I was diagnosed they had me on medical leave with the Air Force so I was told them I was being paid to be while I was being treated and they said that didn't matter - so I was fortunate that they processed my case very quickly.
Pamee
I was under the impression when I filed for SS Disability that I would be eligible for the medical insurance (have to pay the premium of course) as soon as I no longer was eligible for any other health insurance. I am covered through my husband's job so I have not had to use the medicare medical, but I just wanted to say that SS did not lead me to believe there was any waiting period for the medical coverage. Maybe you are speaking of Medicaid and not Medicare. Medicaid very well may have a waiting period, I am not familiar with it. So maybe ask specifically about Medicare versus Medicaid. Also agree with others about approval, initial approval for SS Disability with a lung cancer diagnosis is pretty much automatic. You have to be disabled for a full five months and can receive your first payment in the sixth month. You can apply anytime but you still will not receive your first payment until the sixth month. I would, if I were you, apply early and get it over with.
Good Luck and God Bless
Deb K
Talk about timing! I am actually going to social security this morning. I helped my mother apply online but they need her in the office to sign papers. We have to be there by 9 since she has radiation at 10:30. Had to send the kids to their other grandma's house last night so we can get out of here early today. As far as the Medicaid thing, We have been told by the caseworker at job and family that it will be 6-9 months after she applies until she can get the medicaid. since she is under 60 and has no minor children. Wish us luck!
Can you get full disability when your employer gives you long term disability. Geroge get 60% of his pay, he can barely get by on that, should he apply for diability.
Thanks Janet
I'm 47 and have NSCLC. I have worked through everything because I was under the impression that unless it was termimal I couldn't apply for SS. I am a 3 year survivor with one lung and have had 2 major surgeries since then. Does anyone have any info?
Good Luck and God Bless All Us Survivors!!!! Sharon
Actually, it can effect your disability payments. I was drawing LTD (long term disability) from my company, at 60% of my salary - when SS disability was approved, they reduced my LTD in the same amount. I think that is unfair. They contract to pay you a certain amount and then you find out they can wiggle out of it. But SS was easy to get approved.
I also received Long Term Disability (LTD) from my company. When my SS came through my LTD was reduced by that amount, however it has never been reduced since and I have received SS yearly raises. My LTD has stayed the same. Hey any money is better than no money. I can certainly relate to the lack of funds. Not only did we lose my income, we have medical bills on top of all the other bills we already had. It is a roller coaster for sure but I am still here to ride it so God Bless that.
Deb K
janetm
ALWAYS apply for everything, it could surprise you...For me personally I receieve pensions from past companies, long term disabilty through the company, other country pensions, and much more. I was under 60 and still received MAX SS disability which is nothing more than your SS at max. amount. Once I turned 65 It changed to standard MAX. SS without disability attached (Everything stayed the same just changed the name) and allows me to work if I wish WITHOUT any deductions or penalties from my SS. I do not work for $$ only to help lung cancer.
As I say each person is different and I think how you present it could (may not) make a difference...
Hey DebK (and others),
Medicare has a two year waiting period from the time you become eligible for SSDI benefits. You can get SSDI pretty quickly, but Medicare is definitely a wait. If you can apply for COBRA while on current benefits, do so. That will help with the gap in coverage time. COBRA covers 18 months.
Amy
Tina1967, be careful ref short term disability. If the company paid for all of it then all you get will be taxable. If he pays for some of it then it is proportionable. Jus wanted you to know and not get blind sided next year when they send ya a w-2 showing taxable income. My company paid for a base amount and I paid extra for more coverage. What I paid for was not taxable. Also, that does not effect your SS Disability
Thank you Amy, I was unaware of that.
Deb K
Can you tell me a little about COBRA. Have a website link? My biggest concern about going on disability is the medical coverage. thanks Julie
My husband was on California State Disability for one year. After six months he was also eligible to receive Social Security. However, his SS benefit was reduced until the state disability discontinued. I believe the rule is they cannot make more than 80% of what the working wage was with the two benefits combined. When the state went away, his federal SS doubled. However, it was still quite a bit less than what he was getting on state. It was easy to get though. We went for an interview and a few weeks later got word that he was eligible and would receive benefits. We too took doctor's reports and CT scan results and they never questioned a thing.
He cannot get medicare until he has been on Social Security Disability for two years. Fortunately he has good insurance through his pension plan that will cover him in the meantime.
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