Disability, anyone?

Hi +Lyme!
Some states will issue "Temporary Disability", but since that is a state to state thing, a person would have to look up this info for their own state.

This link will take you to the area SSD calls "How much work do You need?"
Here is a quote from that page
"The number of work credits you need to qualify for disability benefits depends on your age when you become disabled. Generally, you need 40 credits, 20 of which were earned in the last 10 years ending with the year you become disabled. However, younger workers may qualify with fewer credits.

www.ssa.gov/dibplan/dqualify2.htm

This link will take you to SSD's benefit calculators:

www.ssa.gov/planners/benefitcalculators.htm

I don't know about any certain state disability, but I do know with SS Disability you will be denied at least once, unless your life is in imminent danger. Realized that this is NOT saying they don't believe you, it's that they need to get those people who they don't believe have a very good chance of living much longer on the payroll. Most lawyers who deal with disability cases won't even take your case until you have been turned down 2 or 3 times. Just keep those appeals going!!

I would suggest that you look into the state disability first. I think most of the time they only pay for short-term disabilities. What about unemployment?? If you could talk with your boss, maybe he would agree to lay you off???? That would kind of kill two birds with one stone.

If your state doesn't offer state-sponsored disability, then you might be forced to work until either you move or until you get qualified, if so be sure to document how you got through all of this (by giving things up, not going places simply because you couldn't function, ect.) and what you had to do in order to keep working ( a note from your doc would help also).

Of course if you chose to quit your job, you will have to explain that & just how you managed to get by. Beware though, if you rely on your parents for anything, you will find yourself explaining to SS why that situation can't continue. It is actually very hard to get past this point if you rely on anyone (other than state programs, food stamps & such) - be cautious what you do.

Hope this helps some +Lyme!!

I don't have enough left tonite to do a good write up, so a few notes:

do you have short or long term disailbity thru your work?

there's some fine print but if you're working and making much you won't be eligible for SSDI

every year SSA sends out a summary that has your retirement and disaiblity info on it - maybe you can find it?

there is a 5 mo. waiting period for SSDI since it's for long term problems, - so you'll have to be out of work for 5 mo. before benefits can start;  Medicare would kick in I think 2 yrs after your disaiblity date

you'll need support from your Drs. and psychologist or psychiatrist;  if you move you'll have coordination problems since you'll need their support for your application and appeals if necessary;  it'd be difficult to go to a new provider and get them onboard for disability right away

it's important to list all your medical conditions since SSA tries to give "partial credit" for each one;  if there's not support. med info for each condition, they'll have to send you for an exam;  it's all about documentation

you're not disabled by your diagnoses, but by how they limit your ability to work

education makes it more difficult to get ssdi since you're more adaptable, age makes you less adaptable

if you have severe conditions, at 57 either you'll have to entry lvl skills for a sedentary job or be able to do something very similar to what you've been doing for the last 15 yrs. or you're disabled

hope I don't find too many mistakes when I review this tomorrow

 

Thank you, everybody, for all your knowledgable responses! 

Between your responses and what I have found online, I have learned that I cannot do this. I just don't have the means. I can't afford to go a week w/o my paycheck, let alone months.  Maybe I will eventually find a way to get some money saved and see what kind of spot I"m in then.

I also don't know any way I could survive on the DA income -- I don't know how people do this. That barely pays the rent some places!

Yes, I CAN work, but it's really difficult. And at least I'm getting by on my income.  I guess I will just keep trucking along as best I can.  

There's a lot of ways that I can (and should) do to help my health and budget.  And I need to get in to an ortho specialist to see what can be done about my back. I can't handle any kind of surgery right now, but am hoping there may be some kind of brace or something to hold it up and prevent a collapse of my spine, which the chiro feared could be a possibility eventually.

Thank you again everyone! You have all been so helpful and I deeply appreciate you sharing your stories and information! I also hope this thread is a help to others out there who are wondering these things!