Social Security Questions and Answers

Thank you thank you thank you. A million times. Please don't ever leave us!

Linda....have you contacted ACS? Can you talk to the social worker at the hospital? Have you tried for any grants? Habitat for Humanity? The Council for Aging?

Syrmom, same here, filed on line. Quick process, had one very short meeting at social security office. Approved in a few weeks. Checks started about 5 months later. Easy and quick. (and even got a raise this year!)

Thanks for all of your input.  Stephen has advised in the past to apply online; however, recently someone told me that wasn't a good idea that some people "had problems" with the online experience.  I will go forward online.  Does anyone know if there's a way to print off the application first so I can have all the necessary info filled in before I actually enter it online? 

Thanks for all of your help. 

I asked social security which I should do when I applied for my husband, and they said they prefer you to do it online.  I did it for both my husband and BIL and both went very smoothly.

You are wonderful for offering to help.  I am IV stage and trihave applied for disability.  I have breast cancer that mastasized to the bone so stage IV.  I am using an attorney/firm but haven't been able to feel comfortable communicating with them.  I go before the Judicial Law Judge in a couple of months.  Are there things I should know before I go into the ocurtroom.  I haven't worked since Dec 2007 but just hired this firm in April 2011.  Unfortunately I have used all my savings etc trying to keep my head afloat.  What are the odds of being turned down?  From what I have read 20% of us make it past 2 years and I am going on 6.  I am in remission for which I am very grateful but have had friends die that were in the same boat.

I'm sure Stephen will see this soon. SSDI is the disability program. SSI is an income based program. Perhaps you were reading the SSI info.

Hi - I appreciate the goodwill and all your time to explain.  My questions are bulleted at the bottom of post, the editorializing is first, in case you need more info.

Was told I should apply for SSDI and did not know I could.  

Am 54.  Have been self-employed for 15 yrs, joint file with hubby, insured under hubby at his job. I worked 40 - 80 hours a week.  Business I run costs a lot to operate.  Don't earn much but we got back all the taxes he paid during the year and got to spend time together. 

He was to retire in 2013 and collect pension, I was going to begin working then until he would collect SS, earn the rest of my credits so I could get SS when I am older, I don't have enough now, the report says, need 5 or so more.  

I got sick early in 2010, the memory was gone nada scary gone, could not work for months, shows in all my onliine work, it just stopped.  Went to doctors, had many tests here and there but did not get the dx, afraid it was Alzheimer's and did not want to be diagnosed with it, and have it on my insurance info.  Nothing we did helped.

In July 2011, found breast tumor, started using alternatives to treat cancer to get better.  Viola!  The memory came back somewhat, felt better but still could not write or work.

Surgery in November 2011.  Long recovery due to swelling and infection and 'ripping' and now lymphedema issues.  But my mind is sharp again, after the surgery, so much improved. 

Am still having trouble using the computer with the arm like this.  Hand hurts like a boil, fingers stiff, arm swollen and sore.  Perfectionist. I have to make constant corrections, takes forever.  But I never give up, even when could not remember, I was trying to work. Example isss I typppee like this allll the time sinceccannot movefinfers riight, and (stopping now) this IS my work, the writing, storytelling webpages, design, correspondence with clients, etc. Today I contracted a $200 simple website and started research to write it, my arm is killing me, neck, head, side, thumb, fingers.  Thinking it is not going to go well at all.

Also have stage 2 emphysema, you know not a big deal compared to cancer, unless it is cancer and they haven't figured that out - changes showed on two xrays - due to exposure to neighbor's outside wood boiler for the last year.  Get pneumonia and chronic bronchitis often.

Because of the wood boiler, due to health issues and survival, and no agency will help us stop it, we are desperate to move away, so finally after consulting health dept, IDEM, EPA, HEC, attorneys, real estate agents and auctioneers, realized we just had the choice to foreclose though we had never been late on any payments, and to leave, so we filed bankruptcy and foreclosed on this place in November too, right after surgery.  We have been using all our money for treatments for me, though we have insurance, it does not pay for the alternatives or supplements that got me thus far. 

That is the reason I want to collect, so we can afford to keep getting my treatments when we begin to pay a house payment again.  Right now we are down to nubbins from this, even with good insurance, esp w me not working because I was really good at creating cash flow.

Questions are -

• Can I collect SSDI if I do not have enough credits?
• If not, then, since my husband has paid into the system for all these years, could I collect under him.....  like the person told me, he said his wife is (heart attack and anxiety issues) and she did not have enough credits. 
• Does it even seem I have a case for collecting?

Thank you for considering.

 First, thank you from the bottom of my heart for the compassionate and caring information posted by Steven and others. It has been read, re-read, and has provided much needed help in gaining some understanding of the Social Security Disability system.

 Well, after much soul searching, I applied for SSDI in December of 2011.

 In Jan of 2010 I had a bilateral mastectomy. Next followed 29 weekly chemo treatments of Adrimyacin, Cytoxan and Taxol from Feb or March 2010 ending in late Sept 2010. Finally I had six weeks of radiation. Because my cancer was Stage III, with 4 positive lymph nodes and Grade 3 my treatment was aggressive.

I have not one complaint regarding my treatment. I am grateful for how aggressively my cancer was treated and humbly thankful to be disease free at this time.

BUT, I experienced just about every side effect and complication of chemotherapy possible! The most severe involved heart damage, hand and foot syndrome (skin blisters and loss of nails/skin), fevers, neuropathy in feet and hands, and significant chemo related memory problems and trouble with verbal recall. I was found to have lung scarring following radiation. Then months later I was diagnosed with Trigeninal Neuralgia, a very painful neurological condition treated with anti-seizure medication. Some of these complications remain and I often feel like a full-time patient seeing doctor after doctor.

 Well this past week I received a denial letter from Social Security. It stated that "we did not find you to be disabled at any time during this period" and went on to explain that they thought I was able to perform my past work as a graphic designer, apparently throughout my treatment.

 I am so very upset by the denial! It has really thrown me into an emotional depression. I can't stop crying, which is not typical for me. It's as if someone looked at my medical records and did not find my condition to be all that bad. I am not one to complain but I was too weak to do most anything, and had to have blood transfusions. I could have understood if they said I have recovered enough and now I can work, although I disagree, but to say I did not have any time where I should not have worked is just so discouraging when others are awarded for seeminly lesser conditions.

Sorry for the long message. I simply needed to tell someone who would understand what we have been through. Thanks for listening.

Charlotte, I agree you need to get an attorney to appeal this.  I think Soc Sec, all insurance companies, and most anyone who is supposed to help those who need it have a "knee-jerk" response of saying "no" and then if you are persistent enough, you can get what you need.  It's OK to cry in frustration - cry until you can't cry anymore, rest a bit, then make a phone call or two to get some help. 

Dear Steven,

Thank you for helping so many women here! And now I have a question for you.

I was diagnosed at Stage 3 with positive nodes, so like Charlotte, I received very aggressive treatment which prevented me from performing my very physical job as a self-employed horse trainer/farm manager. Then, I had a stroke, which was even more disabling and my doctors have told me it is impossible for me to perform my job at this time, not sure what the future holds. 

HOWEVER, my farm, although it is 3K miles away from where I am getting treatment, is still bringing in a very small gross income. I was just told by SS that this income exceeds the amount ($1,100 gross/month) under which I would be eligible for disability. The net income on the farm is currently negative. Do I have any hope of being approved, or would it make more sense to shut down the farm so there is no gross income coming from that?

Thank you again!

Hello.  I was just diagnosed with a bone met.  Just the one.  I understand that makes me a Stage IV.  I currently work full time - and actually more than full time.  I have STD for 6 mos, and LTD until I am 67, if I am reading the plan benefits correctly.  Honestly, I would love to stop working. I am tired.  All the time. I can never catch up.  Maybe that's why my cancer came back, I'm not sure.  My job is pure stress, though.  Could be another factor.  I am unsure of what I need to do.  Just keep working until I can't work anymore and then apply for benefits?  I understand there is a 5 month waiting period.  I am not even sure if they will consider my one little bone met enough of a reason to consider me disabled.  Plus the thought of having my income greatly reduced (LTD pays 66 1/3%) is a little scary.  I also don't want to miss any window I may have for applying for any benefits.  So basically, I'm plain confused as to what I should be doing.  Any advice is appreciated.

Amy 

Steve hoping things are stable in your world. We miss you.