Disability

[Guest guest]

Has anyone heard of someone getting put on any form of disability for CML?

[Guest guest]

I've been on S.S.Disability for six years now. I was on California disability

but it only lasts twelve months. I have also been drawing on a private policy I

paid into for thirty years. Next year I go onto regular Social Security.

It really depends on how the disease and treatment affect you and what kind of

work you do. I was a CPA, but I have been anemic from the beginning. I don't

nearly have enough energy and stamina to continue like I was when I was working.

>

> Has anyone heard of someone getting put on any form of disability for CML?

>

[Guest guest]

I worked for the Social Security Adm. as a claims representative for ten years.

 Granted, this was twenty years ago, but contact with friends who still work

there confirms that what I am going to say is still so.  SSA disability

benefits are difficult to obtain. Basically and generally it is only given for

permanent total disabilities.  Some disabilities are a no-brainer.  You have

terminal cancer; you get.  You have Chronic renal failure.  You get.  But, if

you don't mean the clear listing, then that means the disability examiner will

use his judgment in determining whether your disability is such that you cannot

engaged in substantial gainful activity, and for years not the presumption has

always been to decide against the applicant if there is doubt.  The tie does

not go to the runner (old baseball saying).  Especially, if the disability

rests on subjective complaints.

Social Security is a federal program, and thus pretty insulated from politics,

but I still suggest you contact your federal representatives (congress man and

senators).  They can help you make your case better.  Also, get an attorney.

 It makes a big difference, especially in the appeals process.

Good luck:

Ted

From: mindyfacey <mindy@...>

Subject: [ ] Disability

Date: Tuesday, January 12, 2010, 2:50 PM

 

I've been a member here for some time, but I've only quietly watched from

the sidelines as I am not good at speaking up very well. However, I just

received some news about my disability benefits and I have some questions and

don't know where else to turn right now.

I was on my way to my second back surgery in Oct 2008 when I was diagnosed with

CML at age 35. I was heavily drugged for back pain until Feb 2009 when they did

my surgery and then spent a rough 3 months coming off all the pain meds. I

fortunately had a disability policy and started with benefits at that time.

During this time, we lost our business and insurance and I had to move to Texas

and work for my sister (a little of this and that) to re-establish insurance.

My disability benefits continued as I still had a loss of income and in Aug

2009, I returned home with insurance through state continuation until Feb 2010.

I have continued looking for a job, but I don't think physically I could handle

much right now. My back is still touchy, flaring regularly and sending me to

bed at least 1 day a week and I can't manage a " normal " day as far as sitting -

the muscles are still so weak, the nerves are still healing, and I have

cramping, pain, etc. The last info reported to disability was that I could

return to work with restrictions if my back was stable, but it wasn't

consistantly stable now.

Also, I am EXHAUSTED most of the time. I joke that I have about 4 good hours a

day, but it's not far from the truth. My oncologist told me when we discussed

in November that I would have to slow down to accomodate this - that I had

cancer and was being treated with strong meds that would also slow me down, but

he sent a statement to the disability company that I could return to work with

no restrictions with regards to my CML.

Disability called today and said that as far as they are concerned, based on

doctor statements, I can return to work and they are about to close my case.

When I explained that I didn't think I could find a job that would give me a day

or more a week to stay in bed because my back was flaring, he suggested that I

go back to the doctors for updated, more detailed health statements.

I'm at a complete loss right now. I have (at least I thought quite clearly)

communicated my limitations to my doctors, and I don't feel at all capable of

returning to work, except maybe part time as my back will tolerate. Has anyone

had any experience with disability and if so, do you have any advice for me?

Mindy

[Guest guest]

Why, oh why did he say that?!

I would suggest finding a different doc, or at least an additional doc. I

have a lawyer friend who handles disability cases all over the country. She

does not bill patients, but gets paid by the various entities at the state

and federal level. Would you be interested in her contact info?

On Tue, Jan 12, 2010 at 12:50 PM, mindyfacey <mindy@...> wrote:

>

>

> I've been a member here for some time, but I've only quietly watched from

> the sidelines as I am not good at speaking up very well. However, I just

> received some news about my disability benefits and I have some questions

> and don't know where else to turn right now.

>

> I was on my way to my second back surgery in Oct 2008 when I was diagnosed

> with CML at age 35. I was heavily drugged for back pain until Feb 2009 when

> they did my surgery and then spent a rough 3 months coming off all the pain

> meds. I fortunately had a disability policy and started with benefits at

> that time.

>

> During this time, we lost our business and insurance and I had to move to

> Texas and work for my sister (a little of this and that) to re-establish

> insurance. My disability benefits continued as I still had a loss of income

> and in Aug 2009, I returned home with insurance through state continuation

> until Feb 2010.

>

> I have continued looking for a job, but I don't think physically I could

> handle much right now. My back is still touchy, flaring regularly and

> sending me to bed at least 1 day a week and I can't manage a " normal " day as

> far as sitting - the muscles are still so weak, the nerves are still

> healing, and I have cramping, pain, etc. The last info reported to

> disability was that I could return to work with restrictions if my back was

> stable, but it wasn't consistantly stable now.

>

> Also, I am EXHAUSTED most of the time. I joke that I have about 4 good

> hours a day, but it's not far from the truth. My oncologist told me when we

> discussed in November that I would have to slow down to accomodate this -

> that I had cancer and was being treated with strong meds that would also

> slow me down, but he sent a statement to the disability company that I could

> return to work with no restrictions with regards to my CML.

>

> Disability called today and said that as far as they are concerned, based

> on doctor statements, I can return to work and they are about to close my

> case. When I explained that I didn't think I could find a job that would

> give me a day or more a week to stay in bed because my back was flaring, he

> suggested that I go back to the doctors for updated, more detailed health

> statements.

>

> I'm at a complete loss right now. I have (at least I thought quite clearly)

> communicated my limitations to my doctors, and I don't feel at all capable

> of returning to work, except maybe part time as my back will tolerate. Has

> anyone had any experience with disability and if so, do you have any advice

> for me?

>

> Mindy

>

>

>