Update on disability application....approved in 15 days

I applied for disability on Aug 4th and completed the second phase of questions about doctors, tests, etc on Aug 10. I did everything online and have yet to meet with a live person except to hand over the signed consent forms so they could get medical info. I got a call yesterday, Aug 20, from the local office telling me I had been approved and would be getting the official letter in a day or two. They used the last date I worked, March 3 instead of the date of diagnosis, Feb 5, I only worked about half the days scheduled that month so the rep told me to file a reconsideration of the start date once I start getting a check. It will start in Sept but the Sept check won't come until the third week of Oct. The date the check is sent out is based on your birthday and mine is the 20th. As soon as I got off the phone I had a little pity party....I know it sounds crazy but for a system that many people fight desperately to get approved, to get expedited to this degree was a bit depressing. I know they don't determine my outcome and I quickly got over the pity party. Still, it was a shocker to get approved so quickly but I am grateful for the help.

By SusanL1
Posted August 21, 2008 at 9:14 pm
Report post

Is this through an insurance company or through Social Security? My social security disability was approved in less than two weeks also. I was shocked. I thought it would take months. I think when you have lung cancer, they expedite for you. It was a little sad for me to, but I have to tell myself it is what it is, so might as well get the money now so at least we have paychecks coming in. We did pay into this after all, but I was kind of hoping I wouldn't get it until I voluntarily retired years from now.

Susan

By janiegirl
Posted August 21, 2008 at 9:24 pm
Report post

It was SS disability, I don't have any private insurance of that type. I hadn't even thought of applying until a doc at Duke suggested it. I went there for a second opinion after my initial treatment with chemo and radiation to see if they thought surgery might be an option at that point. My docs at UNC concurred with the Duke doc regarding disability. I guess we had been so caught up in the treatments no one had even thought of it. Glad you got yours quickly too. I'm just going to be grateful to have it and not look at it as an indication of the outcome. Jane

By SusanL1
Posted August 21, 2008 at 9:31 pm
Report post

I didn't know either, but my HR department at work applied for Long Term Disability for me through our corporate insurance. Once I received that, the LTD company told me I had to apply for SS disability, because they were going to subtract the amount I would receive or was entitled to from SS from what they were paying me whether I applied or not.
Susan

By gonehiking
Posted August 21, 2008 at 10:20 pm
Report post

Jane,

After being diagnosed with NSCLC, my husband sent in his applications to receive his Canada Pension Plan early (they will begin making benefit payments if you are diagnosed with some illness that is likely to make you permanently disabled). A few days after he mailed his applications, someone from CPP actually called to let him know everything was approved and that they would be sending all the confirmation papers in the mail. We both thought their very rapid response was just a little depressing too.

bev

By Bette_Tx
Posted August 21, 2008 at 11:11 pm
Report post

Is this for Social Security Disability? I think cancer, especially lung cancer, is seriously considered for disability. They get your medical records and decide upon what your doctors and the reports say. I applied for disability in 1994 due to lupus and other health problems. Since they were considered 'treatable' diseases, I wasn't approved until after 2 appeals .. took about 18 months. I even had to see one of their social security doctors who thought I had severe MS instead of Lupus. Yet I was turned down after his report was submitted. When it was approved, It was retroactive to the day I applied.

I am glad that Social Security is not taking as long to approve applications for disability like they did in 1994.

Best wishes,

Bette

By janiegirl
Posted August 21, 2008 at 11:40 pm
Report post

Bette, It was for SS disability. The info I got said it would take a minimum of 120 days so I was truly shocked it went so quickly. I wouldn't even have thought my doc and the hospital would have responded by then. I'm thankful it went quickly but I'm still overwhelmed by how seriously the gov takes this disease. If it's so bad they approve you instantly, where's the funding to help change the general outcome of LC?

By dands
Posted August 22, 2008 at 7:43 am
Report post

Well now, Enquiring minds want to know, my husband pays for long term disability as part of his insurance plan at work, Correct? So, if that is something he pays for , how can his insurance company deduct ss disability from the amount they should be paying? Does not seem right to me.

By dwolfe
Posted August 22, 2008 at 10:42 am
Report post

Instead of looking at this as a bit depressing, we thought it was great! My husband could focus on getting better instead of trying to get the bills paid. I see it as a good sign that SS Disability takes this so serious. I can't imagine having to fight this as well as the cancer.

Getting the SS made our lives much easier. We can pay our bills, and still have a decent lifestyle. My husband paid into the system for over 35 years. If you can get it for being an alcoholic, I thing you should be able to get it for LC.

Enjoy the blessing you just received! God (with a little assistance from the Government) just gave you the ability to focus on GETTING BETTER! We need remember that LC is NOT a death sentence!

Dana

By janiegirl
Posted August 22, 2008 at 11:03 am
Report post

I have stage 3A NSCLC...they were unable to clearly determine whether it is squamous or adeno, it had features of both. They did rule out a metastasis from my previous adeno breast cancer. My slides from the core biopsy are being reviewed at Duke right now so it will be interesting to see what they come up with. Hopefully, since I've finished the initial treatments and seemed to have responded well, the report will concur with UNC.

By deannagraham
Posted May 3, 2009 at 12:18 pm
Report post

Janiegirl:
I love the way you use interestingly and hopeful. I think these are earmarks of a survivor. Thanks for the info on how they determined your backpay and how they determined when the money would come in. I just got approved and quickly discovered that, just like when they are considering your ap, they won't actually give you info on the time frame or logistics. Hm, must be more of their hoodoo voodoo. I have scleroderma and though I look great and healthy my hands are little scrabbly claws. I survived the stem cell transplant, and plan to survive the disease.
God bless, thanks again. Deanna

Welcome to Inspire!

Explore topics in this journal entry and replies:

13 replies

Add to the discussion

You