DISABILITY INFO - long

[Guest guest]

Let's try this again (since the forward did not work).

The following was sent to me by a pre-op in response to my previous

questions. I thought others on this list would also benefit from the

information she provided, so here it is below.

In Charlottesville, VA

____________________________________________________________________

Subj: DISABILITY INFO - long

Date: 8/24/00 12:04:03 AM Eastern Daylight Time

From: bavalon@... (B Avalon)

I cannot post to the list as I am not post-op, but I thought you might

like some info. If you think the info is helpful to others, please feel

free to pass it on.

When a person (employee) gets sick and is unable to work, one must first

use up accrued sick leave and depending on your employer, also

vacation. Some employers lump it all into paid time off, and it must be

used up before you can move to the next step. Be sure also to check

with the employer to see if the employee is covered by any disability

benefits from the employer.

While using up paid time off (or sick leave, etc.), it is very simple to

apply for State Disability. Call your state Disability Office and

request an application. You fill out your part and have your doctor

(can be primary physician or specialist) fill out the rest and mail it

in. State Disability payments are based on how much your employer has

paid into the state system for you based on your salary/wages. They go

back 3 quarters (they skip the past 3 quarters) when checking on how

much you qualify for, hence, one does not have to be currently employed

to receive SDI (State Disability Insurance). When I applied, I had no

paid time off to use, so I got payments right away (mind you, it's not

a lot, but it helps!). You can receive SDI for 12 months. Some docs

fill out the application for you to receive payments for he period of

time they think you will be unable to work. If it seems you will need

more recovery time, the doc can submit an extension. Just be sure to

have forms for them, to make it easier.

If it seems that you will be out of work more than 12 months, you can

apply for Social Security Disability. This takes several months, so

applying early is the best. Call your local SS office and request an

application, or you can go in and pick one up. Social Security

disability is not as easy to get as SDI. You really have to have major

proof that you are really unable to work. SS requests your medical

records from all your docs and hospital stays for the past 10 years.

Unless you fit one of their preconceived categories, you will probably be

denied. Then you can appeal. At this point, many people get a lawyer

who specializes in SS disability.

I have severe asthma, asthmatic bronchitis, adrenal insufficiency, pain

in weight bearing joints and clinical depression. Even tho it is my

respiratory problems that bother me the most, I was granted disability

for my depression (based on my shrink's psych evaluation). Some people

can get disability based on obesity, tho I'm not sure if one has to be

morbidly obese or super morbidly obese -- which I am. But the first

diagnosis that " clicked " into their system was depression.

There are two pools of money that SS disability payments can come out

of. If you have been employed for a certain number of quarters (I don't

know how many) at jobs that pay social security, you will receive funds

from SSA (Social Security Assistance). If you have not been employed or

have not paid into social security, you qualify for SSI (Social

Security/Supplemental Security Income). Now, you have to be pretty poor

to get SSI, as you are not allowed to have more than $2000 in assets --

they do not count your house or car, however.

If you qualify for SSA and SSI, you will get first from SSA. Then SSI

will kick in to bring your total monthly up to about $700 (or some other

maximum amount). If you qualify for SSI, you immediately qualify for

Medicaid (Medical in CA) insurance. You qualify for Medicare after two

years on SSI. So, you could up with both Medicare and Medicaid.

I hope this info is helpful. I am speaking totally from my own

experience with SDI and SSA (I do not currently qualify for SSI). I am

happy to answer any questions as best I can. Please email me directly.

Good luck!

Mama B

(B Avalon)

pre-consultation with Rabkin

Berkeley, CA