Social Security Questions and Answers

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  • Debi1956
    Debi1956 Member Posts: 27
    edited October 2012

    I have 6mo.-to 1 yr. life expectancy. Of course thats only a guess, but my dr. has discontinued any treatments. I have made it through two yrs of treatments. My last chemo was Gemzar. I had terrible side effects. My dr. says its down to quality and quanity. The company I work for has less than 50 employees, so cobra is not an option. I cannot get major medical on my own if I go on disabilty and I do not qualify for 2 yrs. to get medicare. I do not qualify for any state programs until I have gone through what little retirement money we have. I have thoughly researched and my employer has also been trying to help me research. I have talked to many insurance companies. They have make suggestions when they could not help me. I followed up on their suggestions to only find a dead end. I guess I have to work till I die. Please someone tell me I have missed something.

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  • DEAK95
    DEAK95 Member Posts: 121
    edited October 2012

    I have heard through research on the web that SSA can use Return to Work status against us as saying that we were able to do it , albeit a lesser amount of time. Be Careful!!! It's such a double-edged sword with the Gov't. They see any activity and they clamp down... Sorry to be a bummer. Good luck with your tests coming up!!! Happy thoughts and Hugs sent your way!!!

    Pat :)

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  • Chickadee
    Chickadee Member Posts: 4,467
    edited October 2012

    It's a risk, I'm sure.  My ace in the hole(if you can call it that) is probably that I may be experiencing progression.  Won't know until the scans confirm or don't, the blood test results showing my liver markers elevated enough to cause concern.  I put that in the paperwork for them to read.

    I suspect if I tried to work again, it definitely would become a question mark to their investigators.  I don't plan on it.

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  • Golden01
    Golden01 Member Posts: 916
    edited December 2012

    Very detailed article in this morning's Arizona Repubic on the challenges faced by people applying for Social Secuirty Disability. I was dismayed to see a woman with BC Stage IV featured in the article who had been denied for SSD with no mention of BC being on the Compassionate Allowances List. While the article focuses on applicants from Arizona, I think there are probably a lot of similarities for patients in all states.

    Here's the link to the article:
    http://www.azcentral...bility-pay.html

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  • Chickadee
    Chickadee Member Posts: 4,467
    edited December 2012

    Link didn't work,but I found the article by going to today's paper. You are correct, the writer should have pointed out that Ms Howard, being Stage IV should have been received expedited review under the compassionate allowance provision. I would have been more likely to deny her sons ADHD then Stage IV cancer.



    http://www.azcentral.com/business/news/articles/20121114disability-pay-backlogged.html?nclick_check=1



    Maybe another shot at pasting the link will help.

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  • Golden01
    Golden01 Member Posts: 916
    edited December 2012

    Thanks for updating the link!

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  • NMM
    NMM Member Posts: 138
    edited December 2012

    I saw that article too and agree that at Stage IV should have been a grant.

    LAtest PET in.  Lung tumors are 12mm (up from 6mm in Sept) and Spine tumor also up form 6mm to 12mm.  Liver celss holding steady in number but contiue to grow on outside with center mass necrotic but edges growing.

    So going off xeloda and trying tamaxofin.  Hoping it helps.

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  • Bondgirl
    Bondgirl Member Posts: 140
    edited December 2012

    I have some general questions about social security disability benefits. I thought I would post my questions here before trying to deal directly with social security. I am 35 Stage IV married with a minor child.  I have applied for long term disability through my employer and expect it will be granted without issue. I am also concurrently applying for social security disability benefits per requirement of LTD.  I filled out the application for social security disability online . I am a little confused about the difference between this and SSI. Is SSI for low income only? My husband makes a good living so I'm thinking we may not qualify for this benefit.  Can anyone confirm? Also, is my child entitled to benefits while I am disabled regardless of household income?

    Thanks to anyone who may be able to answer these questions.

    Tera

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  • NMM
    NMM Member Posts: 138
    edited December 2012

    Tera

    Most of your questions are answered on the previous pages so I will just give you quick response.

    Title II DIB vs. Title XVI SSI

    Title II has a work/FICA contribution requirement both in total for a lifetime (40 quarters) and also recently (20 quarters in the last 40 quarters). 

    Title II is easiest to think of as the SS retirement benefit early because of disability.

    There is no income disqualification and one may receive a payment for dependant minor children.

    Title XVI has no work requirement and is a pure welfare benefit.

    Title XVI is easiest to think of as simply a policy choice to provide a minimum benefit to the disabled who would otherwise be destitute/homeless/etc.

    As a pure welfare benefit there is an income test to receive SSI and there is no benefit for dependant children.

    Steven

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  • Frapp
    Frapp Member Posts: 1,987
    edited December 2012

    Steven, I was recently wondering how thing are going for you. Glad to see you but sorry to hear of your wife's progression. With her being Er/pr+ there's a good chance the tamaxofin or one of the other ai's will work for her. I've got my fingers crossed.

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  • scuttlers
    scuttlers Member Posts: 1,658
    edited December 2012

    Thanks so much Steven for the update. Sorry to hear about the progression. May the tamoxifin work quickly and efficiently. With few side effects. (never taken it so can't offer anything helpful, other than my caring).



    THANK YOU also for taking the time to come in and advise here, even with your other trials going on. You are so appreciated!

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  • SuperFoob
    SuperFoob Member Posts: 505
    edited December 2012

    Thinking of you and your wife, Steven.



    I applied for SSA online about a week ago. I stated on my app to please process as a Compassionate Allowance and I said that my illness is terminal.

    I also faxed in my medical records (Surg report, PET/CT, etc...) with my doctors form (that I received a couple of days after my online appliation from SSA).



    Today, I received forms to fill out about my job(s) for the last fifteen years and another about my living activities.



    Does everyone get these forms to fill out, even if Stage IV?

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  • Bondgirl
    Bondgirl Member Posts: 140
    edited December 2012

    Thank you Steven for your quick response. I also hope that your wife's new treatment will work for her. 

    I filled out my online application with Social Security yesterday afternoon and they already called me this morning confirming they had received the same and were sending to the main office in Atlanta. The woman I spoke with was very nice and said they move things along in cases like mine (Stage IV) on a compassionate basis. She also confirmed that my minor child would be entitled to benefits once my application is approved.  I was really impressed with their quick response given it's the government but we will see how further processing goes.

    Good luck to everyone.

    Tera

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  • Chickadee
    Chickadee Member Posts: 4,467
    edited December 2012

    Superfoob, those forms are indeed part of the process. Fill them out with care and accuracy.



    Bondgirl and Superfoob, now your states disability determination board will take over for the actual decision, so it's good to have their number handy to follow up if you find yourself waiting.



    Steven so glad you still check in but so sorry vitamin X quit working on the beast. It is still holding me stable for now. I hope tamoxifen can bring the stable boy back in the house.

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  • SuperFoob
    SuperFoob Member Posts: 505
    edited December 2012

    Thanks, Chickadee.

    I'm so nervous I'm going to screw something up.

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  • Chickadee
    Chickadee Member Posts: 4,467
    edited December 2012

    Stay focused on the fact that your disabling conditions prevent you from working and will for 12 months or more. Let that guide your answers. Keep your answers concise and on point. I had just experienced progression to the liver when I applied and the future was scary.



    I wish success for you both and less stress worrying about this process.

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  • vacationbound
    vacationbound Member Posts: 171
    edited December 2012

    Hello all-I am really nervous, not sure what to do. Some folks tell me to file on my own some tell me to get a lawyer first. First off I am still technically stage 3C with 11+ nodes BUT I had an MRI and CT to confirm mets to lumbar but they were so small Onc said he will not stage me yet as A. Will affect treatment options and 2. They are too small to treat-insurance will not pay. I was diagnosed last year Aug 2011 and stopped working Nov 1 2012. Do I file for compassionate allowance or not? Get a lawyer first?

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  • Chickadee
    Chickadee Member Posts: 4,467
    edited December 2012

    Lawyers only come into play after an initial denial. Compassionate allowance requires a diagnosis that will eventually be terminal and that would be stage IV.



    What you say your Dr told you doesn't make any sense. Too small to treat??? thats nonsense. If you have verifiable metastasis to your bones (lumbar) then you are Stage IV and that makes all the difference to being approved for SSDI. It makes all the difference in the world to your treatment. My stage IV was identified with a tiny almost imperceptible met on my should bone. It was verified by biopsy to have breast cancer cells in it and completely changed my treatment strategy. This was at MD Anderson, I self referred myself because I didn't have confidence in the Dr I saw here.



    If you didn't misunderstand what that Dr said, he or she would be one I would RUN away from and fly to a second opinion. Definitely obtain copies of your path reports and learn how to read them. You will have to submit them to SSA. However, with the Stage III diagnosis your approval becomes more nebulous. I would get the stage IV verified first then apply.

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  • LuvRVing
    LuvRVing Member Posts: 4,516
    edited December 2012

    VacationBound - I was approved while still staged at 3B and I think it was done as a compassionate allowance, considering I got the deposit in about 7 weeks..  I would apply if I were you.

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  • vacationbound
    vacationbound Member Posts: 171
    edited December 2012

    Hi there-Thank you for responding, did you use an attorney or do it online by yourself?

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  • vacationbound
    vacationbound Member Posts: 171
    edited December 2012

    Chikadee-Yes, he is a young doctor and only focused on giving me chemo but I did not misunderstand him and I have all my reports and I do understand them, he stated that he could not explain why my test results for Arthritis came back as negative but my MRI and CT show massive deterioration in small thresholds of the L1 and L4 and the fact that my bone scan showed that for people my age to have OA was 0.9 so unless he did a lumbar puncture he could not confirm and insurance would not pay for this test as it was not validated with the info from prior scans. So I guess this means I have no mets technically but how does this explain my 24/7 excruciating pain in my back-I just want to know how to file and if it is succesful then great and if not then off to a clinical trial I will go as I am sure they will find me stgae IV to fit there needs and so there you go....

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  • LuvRVing
    LuvRVing Member Posts: 4,516
    edited December 2012

    Vacationbound - I did it online, there is no need for an attorney unless you submit the application and you are denied.  It wasn't that hard - just make sure you have a list of all your doctors and their contact information, and be prepared to submit copies of your reports (biopsies, surgical report, etc).

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  • Chickadee
    Chickadee Member Posts: 4,467
    edited December 2012

    Are you able to go to the breast care center at MD Anderson? Second opinion?



    As said, the lawyers who practice SS step in when there is a denial. They are entitled to a percentage of your back pay if they are successful and will carefully consider your documentation to see if they believe it will be successful.



    Stage III isn't impossible just more of an uphill battle. Gather your documentation and go ahead and apply. You have nothing to lose by trying.

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  • vacationbound
    vacationbound Member Posts: 171
    edited December 2012

    Thank you both for replying-I have no insurance coverage as I could not afford the Cobra, I will be applying for County Assistance and hopefully by next year I will be able to pick up my care-right now I am rationing pain pills and hoarding my Celebrex. Thank you for your input, I shall get started ASAP but how should I file? I was told that Stage 3C with 10+ nodes (I have 11 positive) is considered under the compassionate allowance so if I file this way, if it gets kicked back, will they make me re-file a new application?

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  • SuperFoob
    SuperFoob Member Posts: 505
    edited December 2012

    I finished filling out the job history form and the exertion questionnaire. Sheesh. I got a little tiny cord back in my arm from all of the writing.



    15 years of job history! Really??? I can barely remember what I did yesterday. I used my résumé. Basically copied it and then noted at the end that I did so and I hope that's ok because I can't remember.



    The exertion questionnaire... Chickadee, I kept your advise in mind and stick to what my worst day is like. I tried to add a little "human-ess" to it. Like at the very end, when asked if there was anything else I wanted to add, I ended it with; "It totally sucks." And a frowny face.



    That's just me. And I wanted to "be me."

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  • LuvRVing
    LuvRVing Member Posts: 4,516
    edited December 2012

    Vacationbound - I don't believe you'll be denied.  You have mets, even if they are not being treated at the moment.  Just refer to compassionate allowance because of.... and then state your diagnosis.  And oh, you might want to switch from Celebrex to Meloxicam (mobic) - it's on WalMart's and other pharmacies "cheap" drug list.  You can get a 90 day supply for $10 at WalMart.  I have osteoarthritis and I'm allergic to Celebrex so I've been on it for a long time - 15 mg a day.

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  • vacationbound
    vacationbound Member Posts: 171
    edited December 2012

    Thank you LuvRing, I wrote it down and will ask for it on the 27th which is my Onc appt which I will pay out of pocket for-I went to go pick up the Celebrex script the other day and they wanted $89.00 so I had to pass on it. I had Reloxifen at one time but it didnt work, I've heard some women on the Inspire website talk about Mobic before so I will give it a try at your suggestion, thank you very much!

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  • SandeeAR
    SandeeAR Member Posts: 29
    edited December 2012

    Vacation,  You should contact the manufacture

    Celebrex is manufactured by:

    Pfizer Inc,

    235 East 42nd Street

    New York, NY 10017

    Contact Details Phone: (212) 733-2323

    Website:www.pfizer.com/home/

    Patient Assistance Program:www.pfizerhelpfulanswers.com/

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  • vacationbound
    vacationbound Member Posts: 171
    edited December 2012

    Oh Gosh, didn't even think about that-Thank you!

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  • proudtospin
    proudtospin Member Posts: 5,972
    edited December 2012

    it is worth asking the pharm companies, one of my weight watcher pals got her aromasin for free for years from pfizer, her income was very lo but sure worth the try

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