Re: disability, where do I start?

[Guest guest]

Hello, Penny! I'm very sorry to hear that it is becoming more difficult for

you to continue working. Here are some links that should help:

http://www.cfids-me.org/disinissues/

http://www.disabilityclaims.com

http://www.mansfieldtanick.com/law_08.htm

[ ] disability, where do I start?

> I always thought I could never afford to go on disability, and live

> off of 60% of my wage. Last week I discovered, duh, that Iam paying

> long term disabilty insurance, which also pays 60 percent. Can

> anyone recommend a web site that explains the whole process? Or if

> someone else has gone from working full time to going on disability,

> where did you start, how long did it take, what are some pitfalls, or

> things you wish you would have known?

> Work is getting harder and harder to manage, and I figure I should

> start putting my ducks in a row.

> Gracias!

> Penny

[Guest guest]

Hi Penny,

Many of us here on the list are on long term disability thru our employers.

I am not aware of a web site that would explain your individual policy,

or a are the experts on that. However, when I applied, my immediate

supervisor and HR department more or less took me thru the steps. Under

normal circumstances, the long term disability should normally flow right

from your short term disability or your FMLA. What it boils down to is

forms, forms and more forms.

Actually, I have found that the long term disability is an easier process

than SSD. At this point, I have not been sent for any IME (independent

medical exams) or psych consults. Whereas, SSD has already sent me for a

psych consult (which was a total joke) and denied me anyway. The only thing

that my LTD company has done has been to send some kind of a representative

to my house to interview me, review my medications and actually see me in

action around the house. At the time, I did find it invasive and a bit

unnerving, but in looking back, it took less than an hour.

Someone on the list and I apologize, I don't remember who, told me to

definitely go ahead and apply for the LTD if I was even contemplating

applying for SSD. I don't see where that has benefited me any right now, but

who knows. Plus this is money that is due you. You have paid your premiums

and if you are unable to do your job, then by all means, apply for these

benefits. My LTD coordinator from the insurance company calls approximately

every 6 weeks or when something changes on my part for an update and then

sends a form out to my rheumy and as she puts it, " Not to say that I am no

longer disabled, just to get an update on my condition " . However, if I ever

do get awarded SSD, all of my back payments are going to be coordinated with

what they have paid out to me and therefore, would be a net of -0-. After

that, my LTD company will make up the difference in what SSD pays and what I

am entitled to from their policy. The only thing that I would receive from

SSD that I am not receiving now, is for 2 of my minor children. Normally,

under this situation, I would have been able to keep my health insurance

benefits until age 62 when the policy runs out, but my company did away with

my position, thus classifying me as a laid-off employee and can only carry

COBRA benefits for 18 months. However, I am currently on my husband's

insurance so I am in better shape than most. Also, without being able to

look for a job, I cannot collect unemployment as one of their requirements is

that a person be " fit to look for gainful employment " .

My advice is to at least apply for the benefits and see what happens from

there. I found it one of the easier things that they make us go thru. Good

luck and let us know how things go. If you have any questions, please let us

know, someone here has probably been there or has a link for you!

Gentle, tender, angel hugs,

Debs in FL

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 6/25/02 4:15:01 PM Central Daylight Time,

paula54@... writes:

> http://www.disabilityclaims.com

great site gina!!! wish they were closer. kathy in il

[Guest guest]

> Hi Penny. sent you links yesterday. Maybe you didn¹t see them.

> Here is a repost:

>

> Hello, Penny! I'm very sorry to hear that it is becoming more difficult for

you to continue working. Here are some links that should help:

http://www.cfids-me.org/disinissues/

http://www.disabilityclaims.com

http://www.mansfieldtanick.com/law_08.htm

>

> I hope these help. I don¹t have any LTD experiences to share with you,

> but others on the list have been through it. Good luck,

> a

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> I always thought I could never afford to go on disability, and live

> off of 60% of my wage. Last week I discovered, duh, that Iam paying

> long term disabilty insurance, which also pays 60 percent. Can

> anyone recommend a web site that explains the whole process? Or if

> someone else has gone from working full time to going on disability,

> where did you start, how long did it take, what are some pitfalls, or

> things you wish you would have known?

> Work is getting harder and harder to manage, and I figure I should

> start putting my ducks in a row.

> Gracias!

> Penny

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I think it's excellent, too, Kathy! Very pretty as well.

Re: [ ] disability, where do I start?

> In a message dated 6/25/02 4:15:01 PM Central Daylight Time,

> paula54@... writes:

>

>

> > http://www.disabilityclaims.com

>

> great site gina!!! wish they were closer. kathy in il