Re: unemployment and disability

[Guest guest]

No. To file unemployment claims you must *be able to work * and *able to look

for work*

To file for SSDI you must be *unable to work * (at all) and meet the other

qualifications for benefits. Yes, it takes a long time for some, not so long for

others, if you're organized, have current medical records, complete an online

application (very lengthy) and more.

http://www.socialsecurity.gov/dibplan/dqualify5.htm

I suggest you plan on living very frugally during the disability process, and

before you quit your job, consider another job you *can do* then try it. Voc Reb

may even retrain you for another job. Or is it possible you could continue your

present job if modifications were made?

Gretchen

[Guest guest]

Hi Tamara,

 

Typically, unemployment is only for people who are able to work but can't find a

job.  However, you should check with your local unemployment office to see if

they have any benefits for your situation.  Some states do cover illness.

I don't recall what you do for work, but assuming you had short and long term

disability coverage with your employer, it could help you financially, in

addition to the Social Security Disability and any unemployment benefits that

may apply in your case.  Here's an example of how short/long term disability

could help in some cases:

1. Sick leave - When you can no longer work, you utilize your sick days. (don't

just quit)

2.Short Term Disability - If after your sick leave days are exhaused, you are

not feeling well enough to come back, then you go to the doctor and if the

doctor agrees you are no longer capable of working, then he/she will put you out

on short term disability for a period of time.  After that time expires, if you

aren't better, then the doctor will extend the period you are to be out. This

process may continue throughout the short term disabilty timeframe.

3. Long Term Disability - After a set number of days, the short term disability

will end, i.e. usually 90 to 180 days depending on the policy.  If you are still

not well enough to come back to work, then the doctor will fill out the

insurance form for your long term disability coverage, explaining that you are

not able to come back to work.

The qualification criteria and benefits available under Short Term and Long Term

disability plans, vary by contract.  You could check with your employer for

details to see if this may be something that could help you.

Many states also have Short Term disability insurance, so you (or your doctor)

could apply for that as well if it's available in your area.  Your employer's

plan would coordinate with your state plan, to make sure you receive the full

benefit but nothing in excess of it.

To get short term and long term disability benefits, if you are eligible, you

need to be under a doctor's care and he/she needs to agree you can no longer do

any kind of work and he/she also needs to be willing to complete the forms for

your insurance company and the state, if applicable.

In addition to these benefits, you would also apply for Social Security

disability, as you are already aware.

If you don't have any coverage through an individual plan, your employer, or

your state, then Social Security Disability may be your only option.  To make

sure that this benefit is approved and starts sooner rather than later, you may

want to review the advice given on this site in the archives.

[Guest guest]

All good advice, but I have heard of situations where someone left Job A they

could no longer perform and while they were looking for Job B that they could

perform they applied for both Unemployment and SSDI.

The important thing is to tell each agency the whole situation including the

other application. Some of these people were told by each agency it was fine and

whatever situation played out would apply. You might get unemployment and then

SSDI but OTOH if SS decides your abilities are up to SGA you may be denied SSDI.

OF course then if your condition worsens you may apply for SSDI

As mentioned many states have mandatory disability insurance, but that usually

replaces unemployment for the short term until the worker either recovers and

returns to work of is approved SSDI