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Posted 2/1/2014 10:52 PM (GMT 0)
I am struggling with a decision regarding applying for SS disability. I am approximately 20 months out from full retirement age and could take the almost 20% hit by going through normal application. I was recently confirmed as having soft tissue metastasis and understand this is a "compassionate approval" of disability. I would really like to go back to work at least part time but feel it would be unethical to present myself as a healthy employee. I think most potential employers would close the door once they heard of my cancer. I also think the treatments going forward may interfere with working. I feel pretty good right now but....

So, has anyone faced this situation and what did you do? I don't need details just the gist of your sitution. Thanks in advance for any replies.

Don

Posted 2/2/2014 12:59 AM (GMT 0)
Don, absolutely apply for Social Security disability benefits. You will not be eligible for benefits for the first 5 months after you were found disabled and it will take 2 years for Medicare to kick in so get the application in as soon as possible. Remember without disability, Medicare will not kick in until you are 65, and for many, that is much more important than the monthly check. Sorry to hear about the progression of your cancer, I wish you the best.
Posted 2/2/2014 1:00 AM (GMT 0)
If you are truly totally disabled, then file for SS. If you want to work, then go for it. Do not tell any potential employer about your cancer. Rather, find out from them their experience with cancer. If you find one that is empathetic then maybe you open up. Could be a positive. Bottom line is that work is work, nothing personal. If what you offer is desired, then you will be hired and paid.

May I ask, in what way is your PCa and soft tissue mets affecting your ability to perform your work? If we met in the mall would I walk away saying, that guy is in pretty bad shape? What treatments are planned that will debilitate you? Social security disability is very difficult to get. You will need good attorneys that specialize to assist you.
Posted 2/2/2014 1:15 AM (GMT 0)
JNF, I respectfully disagree. My understanding is that Don is not working at present and has been paying medical costs out of pocket and while I don't claim to know his financial situation, his ability to afford medical care could most certainly affect his survival. It isn't as if he would be quitting a job to get on disability.

Also as far as getting approved, he should meet a listing and therefore should be approved on the initial application without an attorney. See Social Security blue book, listing 13.24.
Posted 2/2/2014 1:30 AM (GMT 0)
I say if you want to work, go for it with no disclosures about health unless your trying to get health benefits. It's nobody's business where your at right now.Do you really think at our age an employer is wondering what longevity we will have on the job? They are looking at how we can perform now an over the next 3,6,12 months based on how qualified we are, what fires they think we can help put out. Regards Inkhorn
Posted 2/2/2014 1:34 AM (GMT 0)
Woodysgirl,

I will be eligible for medicare in a 8 months and have insurance through the ACA program, thankfully. I recently had a heart attack and the bill is eye popping.

JNF,

That is my dilemma. My personal ethic says either path in wrong. I do not want to be a dead beat in the first case nor a liar in the second. I just cannot convince myself that going to work for an employer and then coming in a month from now and saying that I will be losing 18 weeks for chemo is the right thing to do. If you ran into me at the mall you would not know that there is anything wrong with me... at least physically. :) Technically I qualify for the disability but would rather work.

Thanks to both of you for your comments. It helps to hear opinions other than one's own.

Don

Posted 2/2/2014 1:37 AM (GMT 0)
Inkhorn,

Your words have a ring of truth. I once advised a mill manager to hire a machine tender of advanced age with the same argument. We hired the gentleman and he did a stellar job with starting the new machine and mentoring the new crew. He left after three years.

Don
Posted 2/2/2014 1:59 AM (GMT 0)
Don
You sound like the type of employee ANY company would like.
Posted 2/2/2014 2:06 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Don,

If you were defrauding Disability with fake medical records, it would be immoral.

But since you actually ARE suffering from PC, you are very much entitled to whatever benefits you can receive.

I went on Disability at the age of 62 due to an extreme amount of arthritis from head to toe. As probably with you, I have been in the work force since I was a teen and long ago "paid my dues."

Good luck in succeeding in receiving Disability and further good luck in finding a job (you CAN work while on disability to a limited degree) that will fit in with your benefits and any medical treatments you must deal with.

Good luck, my friend!
Chuck

Resident of Highland, Indiana just outside of Chicago, IL.
July 2011 local PSA lab reading 6.41 (from 4.1 in 2009). Mayo Clinic PSA Sept. 2011 was 5.7.
Local urologist DRE revealed significant BPH, but no lumps.
PCa Dx Aug. 2011 at age of 61.
Biopsy revealed adenocarcinoma in 3 of 20 cores (one 5%, two 20%). T2C.
Gleason score 3+3=6.
CT of abdomen, bone scan both negative.
DaVinci prostatectomy 11/1/11 at Mayo Clinic (Rochester, MN), nerve sparing, age 62.
My surgeon was Dr. Matthew Tollefson, who I highly recommend.
Final pathology shows tumor confined to prostate.
5 lymph nodes, seminal vesicles, extraprostatic soft tissue all negative.
1.0 x 0.6 x 0.6 cm mass involving right posterior inferior,
right posterior apex & left mid posterior prostate.
Right posterior apex margin involved by tumor over a 0.2 cm length, doctor says this is insignificant.
Pathology showed Gleason 3 + 3, pT2c, N0, MX, R1
adenocarcinoma of the prostate.
Prostate 98.3 grams, tumor 2 grams. Prostate size 5.0 x 4.7 x 4.5 cm.
Abdominal drain removed the morning after surgery.
Catheter out in 7 days. No incontinence, occasional minor dripping.
Post-op exams 2/13/12, 9/10/12, 9/9/13 PSA <0.1. PSA tests now annual.
Firm erections now briefly happening in early mornings, 2 years post-op.
Posted 2/2/2014 2:12 AM (GMT 0)
Woodysgirl,

Getting on Social Security disability will not provide insurance to pay medical bills. Don goes on Medicare at 65, in 20 months. I believe you must be on ss disability for at least one year before you qualify for Medicare unless you meet the renal failure definition. Unfortunately, for most applicants it would be a stretch to get on ss disability in 20 months. I have several clients that have been fighting to get ss disability for three years or more, one so ill she is on the liver transplant registry, but has been unable to get ss disability. In actual experience very few people actually get the benefits without legal assistance. SS routinely denies the first application and then usually denies the first appeal in many cases. This can take many months, sometimes years.

The Compassionate Allowance purports to fast track applicants on the list which for us appears to be limited to hormone refractory PCa with visceral mets. While we have many men on the forum that are hormone refractory and with bone mets, I remember very few with visceral mets (lung, liver, etc.). Thus it seems few of our members qualify for the Compassionate Allowance provision.

From Don's statements he related he didn't know if he should file for ss disability or go to work. As I indicated, I think he should decide and go for what he wants to do. I am absolutely supportive of people applying for the ss benefits that they are entitled to. I certainly will do so. But, if as he said, he may want to continue to work, I thought I was encouraging him to not let the PCa get in the way. Unfortunately, as Don relates, it is not practical to represent oneself as totally disabled to apply for benefits and also look for employment assuring the employer that one is able to work.

Based on your comments and a reading of the Compassionate Allowance information, if Don qualifies, I agree he should apply. According to the social security website, the mets must be visceral such as lung or liver. It excludes bone mets. Don refers to "soft tissue mets", but doesn't say where the mets are. First step in my opinion is that Don needs to determine whether he truly qualifies for the Compassionate Allowance. If so, then apply for the benefit.
Posted 2/2/2014 7:36 AM (GMT 0)
Dilemma, a choice between 2 options , neither of which will ever fit our comfort zone. Kinda like personal perfection. It drives most of us towards it, but we will never reach it through our efforts. Yin Yang, binary system, positive /negative. It is the mechanics of the…gosh... you tell me…. !??! PS rely not on rationalizations, choose and turn the corner.
Posted 2/2/2014 12:50 PM (GMT 0)
Lotsahope,
Thanks for the stroke.

Chuck and JNF,
I feel like I have "paid my dues" as well. I have always been well compensated in my profession and paid the max into SS for the past 30 years. As you say I would not be defrauding the program as I meet the criteria for the "compassionate disability" owing to hormone refractory and lung mets confirmed by biopsy. Even so, I still have misgivings about it. Through out the progression of this disease I have not once been "brought to my knees" by it. The only time I was a bit set back was the second year of my second round... extreme fatigue and weakness. Otherwise no one would suspect I have cancer. I have felt the brain fog a bit more on this round of HT. Just need to think on things longer.

Logo,
Yes that is the definition of a dilemma. Neither choice leaves me at peace with it.

Thank you all for your thoughtful comments and advice.
Don
Posted 2/2/2014 12:54 PM (GMT 0)
I'm one of the most ethical people you'll ever meet.
I don't see a problem applying for disability if you feel you're disabled. You paid SS your entire working life. That what it's there for. I don't see any immorality about it.
Posted 2/3/2014 9:49 AM (GMT 0)
A potential employer can ask you if you have any physical disabilities that will prevent you from doing the work as described.

Not being there for 18 weeks would probably fall into that category.
Posted 2/3/2014 12:37 PM (GMT 0)
Stay+,
This is part of my angst that I do not feel disabled in the least.

Steve,
You have hit the nail on the head. I would feel compelled to tell any prospective employer that I have a condition that would create problems should things not go my way. Asked or not.

Don
Posted 2/3/2014 3:01 PM (GMT 0)
I need to remind you that ss disability is difficult to get and can take a long time.   The Compassionate Allowance does not relax the disability requirements.   It merely says that if you meet the CA guidelines they will respond to your claim in a matter "of weeks rather than months or years" according to the ss disability website.

Don, your saying you don't feel disabled tells me that you probably won't qualify.  I'm not being pesimistic, just realistic based on my experience with several clientts who have filed.    Again my advice is to seek out a very experienced attorney that specializes in ss disability.   They will tell you right up front what your chances are.   It should not cost you anything for a consultation and assessment.   Getting more clarity will be beneficial for you.

Regarding what to tell a future employer, if you need accomodation on the job the ADA law requires such accomodtion and dissallows disability based descrimination.   You do not need to disclose diseases and health conditions.   BUt, you may find employers that are very accomodating for people with problems.   There are a lot of business owners and hiring managers that have been personally touched by cancer and are very understanding.

Regarding 18 weeks of chemotherapy, talk to others and see what the reality of daily life is.   How many infusuions will you have?   I am guessing six infusiuons, one every three weeks is pretty common for Taxotere.   A lot of people continue to work and pursue fairly normal activities while on chemo.   My wife did chemo twice for breast cancer.   The second time was over a course of 16 weeks and included Taxotere and two other drugs.   She was running her own retail business and worked throughout the period.   She didn't always feel good, but she was able to work.   She timed her infusions for Friday afternoon so she had the weekend to rest and recover.   During the period she only missed the Friday afternoon and the next Saturday of work.   So she only missed 10 half days.      I'm not saying this will work for you, but a good knowledge about what the chemo will do is in your best interest.   I have met many people who have worked through chemo, some by choice, and it can be done.

Again, get to a good attorney that can properly asses your situation and determine whether you file for ss disability.   Also if you want to work, go make it happen.   My opinion is that the limbo you are in is unhealthy and should be resolved.

Best wishes,

Jack

 

Posted 2/4/2014 1:58 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Jack,

Good advice. Yes I am aware of the battle to get SS disability especially if you do not look like you need it. I really do not want to get into a protracted legal battle either. I am 22 months away from normal retirement age. Probably get approved about the time I did not need to. :) I suppose my real concern is the uncertainty and timing of future treatments. That is why I would prefer a part time or temporary position. Pay is usually good and ability to turn loose of the job is better as the employer is not looking for permanent employee anyway.

My neighbor went through two rounds of chemo for breast cancer. She was a trooper and continued to work as a school admistrator the whole time. She was given a good bit of leeway by the state.

If I understood my oncologist correctly there would be one infusion every three weeks over a period of eighteen weeks. He said people reacted differently to the medication. Some were more weakend by the treatment than others. Based on my treatments so far and how my body has handled them I would think I would have a good chance of lesser impact. I am in pretty good health for the most part. I usually tell my doctor I feel pretty good for a man in my condition. :)

Thanks for your input it helps.
Don
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