Re: How do you live before SSDI kicks in?

[Guest guest]

I cashed in my retirement and prayed that I would get approved right away

and I did.

Jen

In a message dated 8/23/2009 11:35:58 A.M. Central Daylight Time,

tamara_pl@... writes:

So how does a single woman make it without any help if she needs to get on

SSDI. How do I live and pay bills until I get it?

Tamara

[Guest guest]

tamara

try to sign up for ssi you can do that right on line. it is not ssdi. then you

can sign up for ssdi. do you have any one you can live with? or getting a room

mate, or moving in with some one?

tina

cmt1a

michigan

From: tamara_pl@...

Date: Sun, 23 Aug 2009 06:13:29 +0000

Subject: How do you live before SSDI kicks in?

So how does a single woman make it without any help if she needs to get on SSDI.

How do I live and pay bills until I get it?

Tamara

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[Guest guest]

Hi Tamara,

 

If you work for an employer who has short term and long term disability

insurance, this insurance can help you get through until Social Security

Disability kicks in.

 

If your employer doesn't have this type of insurance, as most restaurants don't,

perhaps your state has a short term disability policy that can help. 

California, for example, has this type of insurance and all employers pay into

it.  You can research this in your state.

 

You can also call your county agencies to see about welfare and Medicaid

benefits.

 

Once you get Social Security Disability you can also apply for SSI, which is an

additional benefit for low income people.

 

Medicare will kick in 24 months, so you won't have to worry about insurance.. 

You can combine this with a Medicaid benefit for more complete coverage.

 

You may not have to wait a full 12 months for SSDI to start.  It depends on the

circumstances.  In my case, the Social Security Disability was approved just six

months after I stopped working.

 

Hope that helps.

 

 

[Guest guest]

Quite frankly any way you can.  There is emergency assistance available but I've

never qualified for it. Contact your state dept of social services (or whatever

they call it where you live) for assistance. The six month rule probably kills

more people, and that's probably what fiscal conservatives had in mind. Living

on the wrong side of rugged individualism sucks greatly.

From: tamara_pl@... <tamara_pl@...>

Subject: How do you live before SSDI kicks in?

Date: Sunday, August 23, 2009, 2:13 AM

 

So how does a single woman make it without any help if she

needs to get on SSDI. How do I live and pay bills until I get it?

Tamara

[Guest guest]

,

Looks like I will just work until I drop dead form exhaustion. Nobody to live

with. No welfare. I have bills that have to be paid.I will just pray that things

will turn around. I just hate that my quality of life isn't looking so great.

Employer provides me with great medical ins. but no disability. With everything

I have disability is too costly for me to purchase.I have to work at least 20

hours a week to keep ins. but then I will make more that 900 per month.

Frustrating.

Tamara

>

[Guest guest]

Tamara,

Welcome to my world. I too am single and loosing use of my legs/feet fast. I am

46 years old, alone and wondering how I can live if I don't keep working.

In January my son (who has CMT much worse than me) found himself divorced and

unable to work. I got so frustrated with SSI red tape/ welfare dept. etc, I got

a camera & took pictures of his severly deformed feet & ankles and sent it to

our Senator here in Indy and asked him what in the world SSI didn't understand

about " progressive " " incurable " disease. he can barley walk, and it aint gonna

get better.

I don't know what he did, but about 2 weeks later my son got a letter in the

mail saying he was approved.

I would do the same thing for myself, but even a week without pay, I would never

recover. What to do?

Donna in Indy.

>

[Guest guest]

Jen,

How long did it take? Do you get penalized for using your 401 for medical.

Tamtat

>

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>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Typically, an initial decision from SS takes between 90-120 days. If it is a

denial and you have to appeal, it can take 2 or more years to have a hearing.

If you mean SSDI, you do not get penalized for using any assets you have

including 401(k). You can have $1,000,000 in the bank and SS doesn't care. It

can become a problem if you work even less than the SGA while waiting.

> >

[Guest guest]

If you have $1 million in the bank, you won't get SSDI. :- } O

Re: How do you live before SSDI kicks in?

Typically, an initial decision from SS takes between 90-120 days. If it is a

denial and you have to appeal, it can take 2 or more years to have a

hearing.

If you mean SSDI, you do not get penalized for using any assets you have

including 401(k). You can have $1,000,000 in the bank and SS doesn't care.

It can become a problem if you work even less than the SGA while waiting.

> >

[Guest guest]

If I had that much money I wouldn't worry about too much of anything....SSDI is

kind of for diabled poor people I feel this is unreal!

Geri

> >

[Guest guest]

To clarify SSDI/SSI/VA pension:

An applicant' savings and investments have no legal bearing whether you get SSDI

or not; it does have a bearing on SSI (and VA pension, but that's another area).

While I say " legal bearing " , one could float an argument whether it would be

morally or ethically correct for a wealthy person to apply for SSDI benefits

even though they were 'legally' entitled. However, we're not here for arguments.

Dan

[Guest guest]

Medicare and Social Security are insurance programs that aren't based on

income.  These are benefits enjoyed by the masses of people in our country, rich

and poor, who paid into the system.  Right now millions of people, with

substantial money in the bank, collect Social Security benefits.  It's been part

of retirement planning for decades.  Younger generations are already being told

not to view it that way, since things are likely going to have to change in the

future.

 

To all those who are still working, I encourage you to try to get short term and

long term disability coverage.  Many employers provide these benefits.  If not,

you may be eligible to purchase the coverage individually.  Check with an

insurance agent for assistance.

 

There are programs like SSI, Medicaid, and a myriad of State & County welfare

programs, that are designed to help low income seniors and those who are

disabled.

 

Geri, would any of these additional programs help you?  I was thinking about

your PT copay yesterday and wondering if you have applied for Medicaid in your

State.  Would Medicaid help you?

 

[Guest guest]

SSDI is not predicated on the wealth around you. SSI is, however.

But I feel it is absolutely not immoral in any way for a person who qualifies

for SSDI to apply for and get it. Medicare, too.

People much smarter than you and I, the Congresses of the USA, have decided that

SSDI is available to disabled people.

To disqualify alleged rich people would be pretty classist, and one must

remember that rich people,or even people who just make between 100 and

200,000/yr pay in huge quantities of taxes, far more than would be needed to

simply care for the CMT patient in style.

So unless one feels those who pay in a lot should not get government services

that are not predicated by law on income or resources or both, such as SSDI,

there is no real moral issue here. Rich or poor, if you are disabled and unable

to work, you should get SSDI. I feel it should be paid at rates closer to what

an average person with the education and experience of the CMT sufferer.

For example, with my age, education, training, skills and work experience, even

though I am now unable to work due to fatigue, I should be paid $90,000 dollars

per year in SSDI, as determined by internet sites developed for job seekers to

see what is a good salary to seek when looking for or being offered a job, in

place of the nine thousand ($9,000) I actually get.

The government expects handicapped people to live on 9000 + Medicare.

This is enough to live in a slum and eat spaghettio's, as it is cheaper than dog

food.

And you better not leave the country for any reason whatsoever (assuming you

could afford to do so,) for your Medicare is invalid, and if you stay more than

32 days, you could loose your SSDI.

It is best to report as little information to them as possible, for each piece

of possibly positive information or circumstances they know about will cost you

dearly in your payment.

Don't assume that SSDI is going to allow you to live a real life. Family members

and friends will have to help you for the rest of your life.

How do I know all this? I have had SSDI since 1985.

Oh, and don't try working if you have SSI, even though they will encourage you

to do so.

They will " overpay, " you, and your payments will be cut until the deficit is

repaid, unless you can satisfy SSI's demand to repay immediately the amount you

were overpaid.

Problem is, they will say you were overpaid by 3x what you reported to them that

you earned, and this will be the amount they want back from you.

Have people pay for things in place of getting money from someone to pay for

something yourself. These things you don't have to report.

Remember... Social Security is a jobs program for the people who run it, not a

philanthropic arm of the US Government. They give you money only because they

have to to keep the charade going, but you only receive a pittance compared to

what you actually need.

24 years on SSDI and on and off of SSI

[Guest guest]

Geri,

 

You mentioned last week that you live in Minnesota, correct? 

 

I have a family member preparing to move there and we were discussing health

plans in that area a few months ago. She told me she has family members in MN

who are on the Medica Prime Basic plan and they are very happy with it.  This

plan only has a $10 copay for PT. 

 

Perhaps there is another health plan in your area with lower PT copays that you

could switch to an open enrollment?  Just brainstorming.

 

[Guest guest]

I would like to add that SSDI is not charity. It is insurance that we pay for

out of every paycheck.

[Guest guest]

Still don't know the difference between ssi and ssdi. I am 51 so which one would

I get if any?

Tamara

> > >

[Guest guest]

This sight is so informative!

Tamara

[Guest guest]

Tamara,

Depending on ones work history, all medical records, education, and income level

some persons may be eligible for both SSDI and SSI. Or you will receive only

one. When an application is made for SSDI, it is also cross-checked to see if a

person is eligible for SSI.

OK, your 51, and working as a waitress. If there is some other kind of work that

you can do, like sitting down, answering phones, computers, etc, then resign

from your current job and get one sitting down. Or start your own business. Then

if you can no longer do a sitting down type job, apply for SSDI.

Step 1 - get the Adult Disability Starter Kit - it has all the information you

need to know to proceed if you choose to file an application now.

http://www.socialsecurity.gov/applyfordisability/adult.htm

http://www.socialsecurity.gov/disability/disability_starter_kits_adult_eng.htm

Also, search through our Archives for past posts on SSDI and SSI. They may be

helpful to you.

Gretchen

Gretchen