Is anyone on disability? Is it worth it?

A dream of mine is to go on disability and have enough money to pay rent, eat, and live on.

I know, I know, it's probably a dream. But we can dream can't we?

Just curious from those out there on disability.

I would have felt like a failure too. I never considered disability but I did consider going off all meds and let the chips fall as they may. In the end I opted for surgery and since then I have a very full life; both work and play. For me, if it were a choice between disability and surgery; I'd opt for surgery.

Sue

I can't imagine anyone wanting to live on disability. In addition to the income being very low, you're stuck with Medicaid which limits your doctor choices.

My profession was always a big part of my personal self-image and identity. I would have felt completely useless if I hadn't worked, and that would have been intolerable for me. For about a year I though I actually might have to quit working and go on Social Security disability. That would have destroyed me, I think, and it was always my biggest fear.

I'm retired now, but I still do quite a bit of volunteer work and I wouldn't want to give that up, either.

My aunt is on disability due to severe RA and I can tell you it's really not enough to live comfortably on, unless you have someone to support you. She's divorced and lives with my grandparents, because if she didn't, she'd be living in a crappy apartment with barely enough money left over to buy the necessities.

i definitely couldn't afford to do anything if i were living on disability. I was on UE for a short period and that was barely enough to pay rent and eat.

I do see people from other forums frequently discussing their disability claims and awards. I think the problem with UC is that a) it's intermittent, so people generally aren't considered permanently disabled and b) it's considered a curable disease since in most cases a colectomy does cure the problem. So based on that it's probably pretty hard to get approved.

beatUC my life is not miserable. Actually I'm surprised at how all these answers are similar. Very interesting.

I actually WAS on disability for several years back in the 90s and ...it was miserable. LOL I guess I was wondering if anything had changed and it obviously hasn't from these answers.

It's really tough to get, you are always asked questions and have to do reviews, and you feel like a failure for not being able to or wanting to work! Sounds like nothing has changed!!!

Ok...maybe I just want to win the lottery! :)

Why don't you hook-up with someone rich in your hiking club? What do you do for a living? Are you getting burned out doing it? You only have 7 years until you can start collecting social security at 62-1/2, but you'll have to wait until 65 for Medicare.

I remember people used to say, you're going to fall in love with someone, odds are. Might as well fall for a rich one.

The problem with that in my experience is that rich people pretty much hang out with rich people. Since my plan to win hundreds of millions in the lottery never panned out, I had to work until I could retire. I pulled the plug at the end of the month I became eligible!

You have to have UC plus. I would never qualify, even when I was hospitalized. They also consider surgery a cure.

SSA said...
5.06 Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)documented by endoscopy, biopsy, appropriate medically acceptable imaging, or operative findings with:

A. Obstruction of stenotic areas (not adhesions) in the small intestine or colon with proximal dilatation, confirmed by appropriate medically acceptable imaging or in surgery, requiring hospitalization for intestinal decompression or for surgery, and occurring on at least two occasions at least 60 days apart within a consecutive 6-month period.

OR

B. Two of the following despite continuing treatment as prescribed and occurring within the same consecutive 6-month period:

1. Anemia with hemoglobin of less than 10.0 g/dL, present on at least two evaluations at least 60 days apart; or

2. Serum albumin of 3.0 g/dL or less, present on at least two evaluations at least 60 days apart; or

3. Clinically documented tender abdominal mass palpable on physical examination with abdominal pain or cramping that is not completely controlled by prescribed narcotic medication, present on at least two evaluations at least 60 days apart; or

4. Perineal disease with a draining abscess or fistula, with pain that is not completely controlled by prescribed narcotic medication, present on at least two evaluations at least 60 days apart; or

5. Involuntary weight loss of at least 10 percent from baseline, as computed in pounds, kilograms, or BMI, present on at least two evaluations at least 60 days apart; or

6. Need for supplemental daily enteral nutrition via a gastrostomy or daily parenteral nutrition via a central venous catheter.

I am only relaying the SSA's own information from their website. UC and total colectomy require additional complications in order to qualify.

www.ssa.gov/disability/professionals/bluebook/5.00-Digestive-Adult.htm

1. Inflammatory bowel disease (5.06) includes, but is not limited to, Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. These disorders, while distinct entities, share many clinical, laboratory, and imaging findings, as well as similar treatment regimens. Remissions and exacerbations of variable duration are the hallmark of IBD. Crohn’s disease may involve the entire alimentary tract from the mouth to the anus in a segmental, asymmetric fashion. Obstruction, stenosis, fistulization, perineal involvement, and extraintestinal manifestations are common. Crohn’s disease is rarely curable and recurrence may be a lifelong problem, even after surgical resection. In contrast, ulcerative colitis only affects the colon. The inflammatory process may be limited to the rectum, extend proximally to include any contiguous segment, or involve the entire colon. Ulcerative colitis may be cured by total colectomy.

4. Surgical diversion of the intestinal tract, including ileostomy and colostomy, does not preclude gainful activity if you are able to maintain adequate nutrition and function of the stoma. However, if you are not able to maintain adequate nutrition, we will evaluate your impairment under 5.08.

I don't know anyone with a UC social security disability but I know two people that got disabilities for illnesses that do not get you a automatic disability. It requires a lot of work collecting documentation and you are forced to try 3 times. Having a lower paying skilled job(like teachers or machinist) helps. If you aren't really deathly ill and younger than 50, forget about. Self employed..forget it. The SS judges tend to give it to people they feel sorry for. I am sure people with UC have gotten it. People with Lyme disease have gotten it. Some diseases are basically automatic.

As to the comments about not enough money, you get the full SS retirement amount, medicare after 3 years. If you have no retirement funds or assets, you get food stamps, medicaid, supplemental social security...plus all the other welfare stuff. If you have retirement assets, a wife(husband) with a job etc you can still earn a certain amount per year. This is much more income than 40 hours at wally world. You can moved to a depressed(read vacation area) and live quite well. The northwoods is full of them.

Personally the process would annoy me into an early grave.

Maybe there is a compromise, John? Like find a way to cut back on hours some and take life easy?? If I needed to I could cut back and survive, though like a lot of people here I'm pretty driven by my day-to-day work and really desire success.

I've been very inspired by different books on voluntary simplicity though. It advocates cutting back on extravagances in order to really get the most out of your time in life.

Usually where there is a will there is a way, although the end result may not be exactly what you had planned.