Is UC a disability???

Here is some information from the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America regarding disability:
http://www.ccfa.org/living/disability/?LMI=1.6

Also, do you have a short or long term disability policy through work? Check with your HR person and see what the details are. It might be you could use that.

I would certainly say it is, but it's hard to have to prove. There's so much doctors and people don't know about this disease, but for those of us who suffer from it know that it's disabling. For those who don't have to deal with being sick it's almost impossible for them to ever understand just what we have to go through on a daily basis.

Sorry for the long post but I figured the more info I can give you in one post the fewer questions you may have.

I am on short term disability for the second time since diagnosis (Nov 07). The first time was immediately following my diagnosis and lasted for over a month. The second started Jan 23 09. My company's rule is if you are out (or know that you're going to be out) for 5 days or more you need to call the company that manages benefits and go on STD. I am lucky that my company pays for STD coverage for everyone and I get 100% pay for something like 60 or 90 days of STD and then it drops down from there to 60 or 70%. My boss is very good about working w/ me when this has happened and it makes life easier for him and I to a certain extent because we both know that the days that I'm out on STD (w/ FMLA!!!) he can't count against me as sick days. When annual review time comes along if I had a bunch of sick days they would count against me during my review. I also have the option of taking a day here and there as an STD relapse day if I come off of STD and end up with a really bad day. The only downside is that I have to have 90 days of no STD claim for UC before I can go on STD for UC again and be covered with the days starting at day 1 w/ 100% pay again but so far that hasn't been a problem. I did take a relapse day last year when I came off of STD too early and had a day where I was just in horrible shape - living in the bathroom - all from UC so I filed for a relapse day and got it. My doctor has not had any problems doing the paperwork for this for me.

One MAJOR note: If you go on STD - MAKE SURE YOU TAKE FMLA at the same time. STD is what pays you, FMLA protects your job. I found this out the from some HR folks when I came back from STD last time and I hadn't done FMLA at the same time. Basically - my job wasn't protected while I was out on STD because I didn't have FMLA at the same time. This time around I made sure that I have both so my job is protected (as much as it can be - they don't have to hold your job - but they have to give you a job I think is how it works). There are time limits to FMLA and they run for a 12 month period.

I find that it's easiest for me to go on STD if I'm really sick (last time I was barely able to make it from bed to the bathroom and back - this time I've been in the hospital twice already) and take the time to get healthy rather than trying to work an 8 hour day (I have a job that requires me to lift and carry and move around the floors of the building). It also means that my boss isn't dealing with me calling in sick a day or more a week and not being very useful when I'm in the office. I'm sure that the fact that I get 100% pay while I'm out and my boss and co-worker being VERY understanding about me being out whether he likes it or not makes the decision to be out easier (although I'll admit that I'm going stir crazy and can't wait to get back to work - yes - I really said that). If you need to - talk to your HR department and they can fill you in on your STD options. Sometimes this is easier to do when you work for a larger corporation as they tend to have people that can back up your job while you're out as you are not allowed to work when on STD.

Let me know if you have any questions - I'm guessing that I'm not the only one that has gone on STD and FMLA for this.

I think UC is a disability for me when I'm flaring, and not when I'm not flaring.

I have often thought about having a handicapped parking sticker for those times when I was flaring badly. I remember looking up on the Internet about it and reading some posts by people who were upset with seeing 20 year olds with handicap stickers, parking near the mall entrance, getting out of their car, and running into the mall. I wanted to write that maybe those 20 year olds have Colitis and needed to get to the bathroom ASAP. However, the forum was locked. Oh well. The misconception continues... You are expected to have trouble walking in order for people to accept the fact that you have a handicapped sticker. People might make rude comments if you don't walk slowly to the bathroom, which sort of defeats the purpose of having a handicapped sticker to begin with. Hmm...

Thanks to the new law passed last year by Bush, Uc is now recognized among the ADA (Americans with Disability Act). I am not sure how that applies with getting disability pay but I just wanted to make you aware of this new Act.

I worked for a furniture store, and had to be there by 8am. I had to quit due to mornings being impossible for me to leave the house before noon, no matter how early I got up.

I now only look for evening work.

festeris101 said...
I'm on permanent disability and have been on it for over 4 years now thanks to UC and Arthritis issues. I used to earn $1,500 a week at my job and now through SSI recieve $1,004 a month. [img]/community/emoticons/shakehead.gif[/img] I was turned down originally for SSI even with my Doctors notes etc. but got a great lawyer and in 3 months I got it. If anyone is from MA. and would like my lawyers name send me an email and I'll forward it to you.

I also have the disabilty placard as well.

I really don't know how people survive. A one bedroom apartment rents for $1,000 where I live.

There is another poster on here who got perm disability but it sounded like he was exceptionally lucky and his company was exceptionally understanding.

I was told by a disability lawyer that it is VERY hard to get disability for UC, because social security disability bureaucracy sees that there is s cure: get your colon removed.

A few things to add:
The Social Security Administration has amended the rules for qualifying for disability. In general they have actually made it potentially easier to qualify, by finally acknowledging problems related to IBD being a chronic condition. Contact AdvocacyForPatients.org for more information on this important update.

"As of January 1, 2009, you are considered disabled even if your IBD is controlled by medication, surgery, or other ameliorating measures. For example, an ostomy cannot be construed as a solution to your disease unless it means you will no longer have flares or other symptoms. Likewise, a so–called ameliorating measure that leaves you with a new set of symptoms will not be found to eliminate your disability."

"The FMLA is your best protection against being fired if your issue is absenteeism. However, the ADA will protect you if you require other types of accommodations. The ADA Amendments of 2008, which went into effect on January 1, 2009, represent a huge advancement for patients with IBD, and should make it far easier for IBD patients to obtain reasonable accommodations. Note that individual states have added certain restrictions on both the ADA and the FMLA, which may give you additional rights depending on where you live."

My boss was going to put me on a professional development plan because I was late a lot in the morning due to my UC (even though I was only late between 1 and 5 minutes). He knew I had this disease but I guess because he didn't know what the disease is like, he didn't count that into his decision to put me on the plan. I refused to sign it and I ended up getting my doctor to sign off on the Family Medical Leave Act. He specifically stated on there that my disease may cause me to be delayed to work or have to leave work early in addition to having random sick days when I am flaring. Since then, my boss has not mentioned a word of the professional develpment plan to me!

You should absolutely be able to get at least a short term disability through the Family Medical Leave Act. The FMLA is really easy to fill out. Just get your doctor to fill out the section and send it to your human resources and your boss once he has.

an update:
I am back to work (flaring badly) much sooner than i should be because of the endless harassment by LTD insurance company (Unumprovident).
MY GI doc is upset that I'm working, but with bills to pay, I have no choice.
Unfortunately, this happens often and now if I lose my job because of my UC, I don't have the option of LTD because of a pre existing condition.
UCers beware, this is how the game is played and the cards are stacked against us all!