SS Disability and return to work

[Guest guest]

Now that my doctor has cleared me to return to work, I'm not sure where

I stand with regards to Social Security. I talked to my private

disability insurance company (Liberty) and they were very clear that as

soon as my doctor said I could work all benefits ceased. At first

glance, Social Security looked the same. For instance their website

says " Generally, cash benefits would be stopped only if the evidence

shows that your medical condition has improved and that you can work on

a regular basis " .

I called them to confirm this though, and the very nice lady I talked to

started giving me info about trial work periods, how long I could keep

receiving benefits while working and how much I could earn before losing

benefits etc. At some point she mentioned that all this was " as long as

the disability continues " , so I asked her specifically whether my

transplant and the subsequent change in my health would affect my

disability status. Her response-- " you don't have to worry about that " .

Now hopefully she's right, and I can continue my benefits while I look

for a job and even for a few months after. What I'm worried about is

that maybe I misunderstood her, or she misunderstood me, and I'll get in

trouble for drawing benefits when they don't consider me disabled. I

guess that even though my PSC is gone, there are potential pitfalls post

transplant that could end up leaving me unable to work too, so letting

me have the trial work period isn't unreasonable. I just want to be

sure that they agree with me!

If anyone has gone through this process, or knows more about it than I

do, I appreciate any input!

athan

[Guest guest]

>

> I guess that even though my PSC is gone, there are potential

pitfalls

> post transplant that could end up leaving me unable to work too,

> so letting me have the trial work period isn't unreasonable.

Liver tx recipients are presumed to be disabled for 12 months post-

tx.

http://www.ssa.gov/disability/professionals/bluebook/5.00-Digestive-

Adult.htm

From the 2006 SSA red book:

http://www.socialsecurity.gov/redbook/eng/ssdisupports.htm

Trial Work Period (TWP) - The TWP allows you to test your ability

to work for at least 9 months. During your TWP, you will receive

full SSDI benefits regardless of how high your earnings might be so

long as your work activity has been reported and you have a

disabling impairment.

[Guest guest]

> >

> > I guess that even though my PSC is gone, there are potential

> pitfalls

> > post transplant that could end up leaving me unable to work too,

> > so letting me have the trial work period isn't unreasonable.

>

> Liver tx recipients are presumed to be disabled for 12 months post-

> tx.

>

> http://www.ssa.gov/disability/professionals/bluebook/5.00-

Digestive-

> Adult.htm

>

> From the 2006 SSA red book:

> http://www.socialsecurity.gov/redbook/eng/ssdisupports.htm

>

> Trial Work Period (TWP) - The TWP allows you to test your ability

> to work for at least 9 months. During your TWP, you will receive

> full SSDI benefits regardless of how high your earnings might be

so

> long as your work activity has been reported and you have a

> disabling impairment.

>

What happens after the 9 month period and you can not get a job that

paid you the same as you were use to getting? How would my husband

be able to pay for his very expensive meds. He is post liver

transplant and has seizures..this is expensive. This is what we

worry about. Plus the lapse in his meds could kill him if they

stopped disability when he needed a refill.

Carolyn

[Guest guest]

athon, did you not meet with the back to work person at Vandy? She

really set our mind at ease. You can go back to work and as long as

you make less that $900 a month, nothing changes, you still get your

disability. Should you make more than that you go into a trial

period. I forget the actually months, seems like a year, you have

where you can go right back on disability with no problems and then

after that I think you have 5 years or something like that where if you

should need to go back on disability there will be no waiting period.

Call Vanderbilt and ask to speak to someone in the back to work

program. I will look around here and try to find the paper work that

better explains things.

wife of

[Guest guest]

http://www.disabilitybenefits101.org/ca/situations/reentry/faq2.htm

See if this will take you to the correct place to read about trial work

period.

[Guest guest]

Liver tx recipients are presumed to be disabled for 12 months post-

tx.

I never realized this about the 12 months. Does this mean could

lose his disability even though he is unable to work? He isn't able to

return to work and we are quickly approaching the 12 month mark. I'm

freaking out here.

wife of

UC & PSC 2000 J pouch 2004 Tx 11-18-06

[Guest guest]

Peace wrote:

> athon, did you not meet with the back to work person at Vandy? She

> really set our mind at ease. You can go back to work and as long as

> you make less that $900 a month, nothing changes, you still get your

> disability.

I've been trying to find her phone #. She called and left a message a

while back, but I lost it. I guess I'll just call the nurses and ask

them for it...

athan

[Guest guest]

Peace wrote:

> I never realized this about the 12 months. Does this mean could

> lose his disability even though he is unable to work? He isn't able to

> return to work and we are quickly approaching the 12 month mark. I'm

> freaking out here.

>

>

My guess is that it's presumed for 12 months, after that it goes case by

case. I doubt it automatically cuts off, but you may have to get your

doctors to verify that he still can't work. That's just a guess

though. I had the same question, and will ask Vandy when I talk to them.

athan

[Guest guest]

Gene A. wrote:

> Liver tx recipients are presumed to be disabled for 12 months post-

> tx.

>

>

Thanks, thats helpful! I wish the SS lady had told me that, rather than

just saying not to worry about it!

athan

[Guest guest]

athon,

Her name is Joanne Ball

joanne.ball@...

I found the chart I was talking about, but it basically tells the same

thing that the link to Social Security does.

wife of

[Guest guest]

I had my tx 5 years ago. I went on disability 5 months before then and am still collecting it. Every summer I work for 8 weeks and send in my pay stub to the SS office. For the first nine months, I was able to make as much money as possible, that took five years. This past summer I still worked for 8 weeks, and I was told that I could make up to $900.00 a month and still receive full benefits.

When I became legally disabled I was going to school and only worked part time, with no benefits. I didn't own anything except an old car, so I also qualified for medicaid. Medicare paid for my transplant so they will continue to cover my immunosuppresents for as long as I qualify for medicare. There are many reasons why working full time may not be possible. To begin with--what company would want to hire a new employee with compromised health and will certainly be making major claims on health insurance? There are also considerations for exposure to people who are sick or who are exposed to kids who get sick. There is also the fact that many people with transplants have limited endurance, maybe not all, but I sure do.

Perhaps if I had a company that I worked for previous to my tx, they might have been able to give me another position based on past work experience. I was told that If I wanted to try for a full time job with benefits, to look to companies with lots of employees, like Walmart.

I have found that the Social Security Office has treated me very well. They are not the big bad boogie man that many people think. The trick is to go to the office and talk to someone and ask the questions and get answers. I found that their procedures are all standard and rules are rules. We all have a legitimate claim if we have a work history, and PSC and liver transplants allow you to qualify for benefits.See what's new at AOL.com and Make AOL Your Homepage.

[Guest guest]

My son went on disability in high school because I was afraid that once in graduated from school he would be too sick for college so he would fall off my health insurance. The Medicare pays for his meds and since he has had his tx is feeling much better and is in college. He would like a part time job but I am afraid that they will cut his disabilty. The only reason he got Medicare was because he was on SSI. He would rather work and not get the SSI but I can't take the chance. Marticmp12305@... wrote: I had my tx 5 years ago. I went on disability 5 months before then and am still collecting it. Every summer I work for 8 weeks and send in my pay stub to the SS office. For the first nine months, I was able to make as much money as possible, that took five years. This past summer I still worked for 8 weeks, and I was told that I could make up to $900.00 a month and still receive full benefits. When I became legally disabled I was going to school and only worked part time, with no benefits. I didn't own anything except an old car, so I also qualified for medicaid. Medicare paid for my transplant so they will continue to cover my immunosuppresents for as long as I qualify for medicare. There are many reasons why working full time may not be possible. To begin with--what company would want to hire a new employee with compromised health and will certainly

be making major claims on health insurance? There are also considerations for exposure to people who are sick or who are exposed to kids who get sick. There is also the fact that many people with transplants have limited endurance, maybe not all, but I sure do. Perhaps if I had a company that I worked for previous to my tx, they might have been able to give me another position based on past work experience. I was told that If I wanted to try for a full time job with benefits, to look to companies with lots of employees, like Walmart. I have found that the Social Security Office has treated me very well. They are not the big bad boogie man that many people think. The trick is to go to the office and talk to someone and ask the questions and get answers. I found that their procedures are all standard and rules are rules. We all have a legitimate claim if we

have a work history, and PSC and liver transplants allow you to qualify for benefits. See what's new at AOL.com and Make AOL Your Homepage. __________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

has been on disability for 6 months preop and 2 nad 1/2 yrs post and they never have said anything about him coming off. Martiathan wrote: Peace wrote:> I never realized this about the 12 months. Does this mean could > lose his disability even though he is unable to work? He isn't able to > return to work and we are quickly approaching the 12 month mark. I'm > freaking out here.>> My guess is that it's presumed for 12 months,

after that it goes case by case. I doubt it automatically cuts off, but you may have to get your doctors to verify that he still can't work. That's just a guess though. I had the same question, and will ask Vandy when I talk to them.athan __________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Thank you for your post. You have really helped put my worried mind at

ease about the SS disability. says I have to have something to

fret about in order to feel normal. That's probably because normal for

the past 7 years has been to worry about something.

wife of

UC & PSC 2000 J pouch 2004 Tx 11-18-06

>

> I had my tx 5 years ago. I went on disability 5 months before then

and am

> still collecting it.

[Guest guest]

Any info out there for disability for children. Tyler (4th grade)is able to attend school but missed 70 plus days last year. We want to file for SSI for him as we are going broke taking time off work to care for him when he is ill or getting his Remicade infusions and so on. I filled out the pprwork for SS but our appointment is not until 11-19. We want to request medicaid too.. I am just afraid they will deny us because he does attend school and is very bright that even with missing soo much has received good grades. But, the doctors reports and letters our doctors wrote indicate this disease greatly affects his ability to function normally. any suggestions before we go our meeting.

Barb has sent some interesting info re: Social Security and anything else anyone else has for children please let us know.

Ostos..

[Guest guest]

,

I very much like 's, statement. Because that what

my family also keep telling me. And it is very true!

The best of luck to .

PSC/UC

--- Peace wrote:

> says I have to

> have something to

> fret about in order to feel normal.

>

>

__________________________________________________