Social Security Questions and Answers

Sandyv:  Technically, you should not be able to collect unemployment as well as disability because in order to qualify for unemployment, you must say you are able to work.  In reality, you could apply for unemployment and see what happens.  However, if you go forward with an SSDI claim, it takes away from your credibility if you now allege you were disabled during a period when you said, for unemployment purposes, that you were able to work.

(I am a retired SSA employee.  In my working life, I wrote disability decisions for SSA administrative law judges.) 

Here's hoping all is good with Steve and he's just taking a break. I'm concerned for him and his wife.

Update. I last posed here a little over a month ago, after I had talked to the Social Security office about my on-line app.

I applied on-line on I believe March 5th or so, and received my first check yesterday.

No meetings or office visits other than the one phone convo. I just had to send them a form so they could get my medical records. 

I thought it would be harder or take longer. This is such a relief. We wont have to go on an extended "camping trip" after all! lol

i was diag with breast cancer last feb 2011, i was fired from my job in 2009 i never stopped looking for work every employer told me that they needed someone in their office every day as iam a medical biller for over 25 yrs. and with all the doctors and surgeries i would not be there every day and also the fact that iam going to be 62 in sept. so my doctors told me to apply for ssi.which i did and have been denied twice iam  appealing for the third time with the help of my senator.i think that our breast cancer has a right to get disabilty the same as a person with a mental disease or a person on drugs or drinking. in fact i don't feel that the goverment can tell us weather our cancer is life threating or not only the physcians can do that.they don't know what we go thru day after day. am i right or wrong.  dollyjf 

which i did and have been denied twice so 

I am exploring whether or not to apply for SSDI - I have a question for anyone with kids under 18 that was approved for benefits - do you receive additional money for them and/or your spouse?  I am actually looking at that Social Security statement they send you out around your birthday LOL I always keep them but never thought I would actually need to use it for any reason 

Amy 

Stephen I just got here, but read many of the pages. You are priceless. Thank you so much for your help! I hope things are ok with you and your wife. Please let us know how you are both doing.

Rather than writing all my stuff here I have decided to fill out that "free evaluation" which I know goes to a lawyer. However, that is what I'm looking for then I'll look up their information and see if they are who I want to go with. I hope they have someone who is local to Tucson rather than in Phoenix. I don't know if it matters, but it would make me more comfortable.

Dear Steven,

I just got an alarming call from CT State SSDI office about my Federal SSDI Benefits after receiving all notes and test info from my Oncologist. I had received paperwork to fill out as well as the MD about 6 weeks ago and they had to be returned within 2 weeks which I did and My MD's office had also taken care of too. This person states that my case will be  "Reviewed". I have been receiving SSDI for 6.5 years. I guess since I'm still "Alive", they have to "Kill me with stress and paperwork". Sorry for digressing!!!  My Last few Pet Scans are NED (no evidence of current disease) so this young person said that I needed to have an Independent Physical and Mental Health Evaluation about my "current condition". I thought once Stage IV, always Stage IV and I'm only NED due to Weekly Herceptin Chemo, Daily Aromasin pills and Quarterly Lupron injections. What a way to add "stress" to my Life!!! Thanks for Listening!!! Pat

Can I get your Feedback on possibility of losing my Current SSDI Benefits??? Also, is it mandatory to submit to these Independent Exams??

Amy,

I'm on SSDI for stage IV and divorced with 15 year old son.  I also get a check for him as well, I believe until he is 18.

Terri

ibcmets,

Both my girls were covered until Month before 18th Birthday and both off to College!!! I wish they were covered while in College too but no luck. They are only covered after 18 if not finished High School!!! Best of Luck!!!  Pat

sharont68,

You should get the approval in 2-4 weeks but you still have to wait for 1st payment for 5 Months from DX Date (Mar?). Check with you LWOP policy if you have to pay back any crossover (duplicate) payments after 5 mos waiting period. Best of Luck!!!  Pat

Chickadee,

I was reading this post because my son  (he's 19) has SSI because of his disability. I have never been told what the amounts are for what he can actually make. It's always been my hope that he can work somewhere, even if it's part time to occupy his day and contribute to society. Thanks for letting everyone know what that amount it.

I'm sorry to throw  a bummer bone in hree , but i have been on SSD for other heralth issues in the past ( Work FT now) and they DID overpay me and took me 2 yrs to pay back.  Wish I had known about the waiver.

I cannot help but be sickened by this thread because I know Sooooo  many children who have behavioral issues ( some ADHD and some ' not really') whose moms collect for yrs and yrs , though this costs them NO money whatsover.

I was a teacher... I know.  I had LOTS of kids who had nothing at all wrong with them ....nada .  One fool said they were hyper and they were on for yrs.

Systems sucks!  OK, I'm off the soapbox.  Fight for what you rightfully dseserve!

Thanks everyone....just waiting on the surgery for my chemo port Thursday then chemo again next week......

I hope everyone has a Blessed Day!

Hi - am reposting this question / though edited.  Posted back in March.   Chickadee responded ----- thank you!!!! ----- with a link for some info I could use, but the basics are not enough for my dilemna.  I think I need to go to a disability attorney upfront, before even getting info into the system.

If anyone has experiences with what I am asking, please share. 

To make it worse, the bankruptcy we had to file and the foreclosure we willingly issued on our home in order to save my life..... well, now the bankruptcy (BR) trustee has decided to keep the $3400 tax return to pay the estate bills.  Basically there were none.  The vehicle we gave back sold for what was needed.  The medical biills, we kept for us to pay even though it will take forever.  We were not behind in house payments.  That $3400 could pay for my alternative treatments for two months, perhaps save my life.  I am contesting this decision, of course, but don't think my BR attorney will be very thrilled with me.  But I just don't think the trustee knows why we did the foreclosure and bankruptcy and that we did not file on the medical bills at all though we could have.

I just moved and do not know how we did it, Hubby can barely walk from knees and hips.  I am so exhaused that when I sit down and still I am out like the light.  Now I have to go back to work as self-employed and digging through this office to find my work again.  I think I can do it, but only because I will be able to take breaks as needed, no one breathing down my neck.  

But we have lost pretty much two years from my working first with the memory loss, the exhaustion, the cancer finally found, the recovery so to speak.

This is in part what I asked back in March.........

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 credits.

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 which will keep me from working at computer for too long in a day, know that already. But my mind is sharp again, after the surgery, so much improved.

..........We have been using all our money for treatments for me, because 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 --- as we are now paying 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?

I know Steven is gone for the time being.  If anyone has experience with this part, please share.  If I stand a chance to collect when not having all the credits, even if under Hubby, I am going to do it because I need to continue treatments.

I had applied for SSDi a few weeks back.  Today I received a Function Report to fill out.  Is that typical?  I recall I had to fill out something similar when I was on LTD when I had my first cancer.  Before I thought their questions were stupid but now I get it.  They also sent one to Hubby to fill out.  That should be interesting because whenever he has form to fill out, he just gives it to me, because of his severe dyslexia.   

Amy