Frustrating

Galsal
Galsal Member Posts: 1,886
edited October 2014 in Employment, Insurance, and Other Financial Issues

My coworker and I are trying to be forced out at work.  Saying I'm not technically able for the job I do (IT support), yet am in the top 15 of all IT support personnel globally in terms of ticket volume I complete.  Same for her.  

For me, cognitive isn't always there since the whole BC journey began.  Have had five surgeries, about to have another, along with Tamoxifen then Lupon and AI.  Boss thinks no one should need to ask the same question more than once, learn it and know it.  Well HELLO...my brain is not all there and I often have to ask the same question.  Doesn't matter if I've written it down, won't remember right away I did that.

Supposed to get the skills assessment test done again at work in 90 days and if not markedly improved, any thing up to termination.

Let me tell you...this Disabled Veteran, as well as BC Survivor still undergoing surgeries and hormone treatment, knows how to speak up.  Maybe it's a blessing in disguise - maybe it's time for me to pursue SSD and VA for other medical/physical things.  For many years I force myself to keep going merely to retain a good job.

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  • farmerlucy
    farmerlucy Member Posts: 3,985
    edited May 2014

    Galsal - It really sucks! Age discrimination is alive and well. We could run circles around most of the young ones. So little value is placed on experience and wisdom. Talk about loss of intellectual property! I hear you sister.

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  • edwards750
    edwards750 Member Posts: 3,761
    edited May 2014

    What a crock Galsal - one of the ladies on this forum is going through the same thing. She is constantly being bullied by her bosses. Several of us told her to be sure and document everything. If you work in a right to work state from what I understand they can fire you if they don't like the color of your hair. Not fair but the law unfortunately. Whatever happens try and make sure it's on your terms if you can. As if we all haven't had enough to deal with. Keep us posted. Diane 

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  • Galsal
    Galsal Member Posts: 1,886
    edited May 2014

    Yes, right to work state.  Nothing like changing the job description within the past few weeks and only showing it to you when doing a counseling statement.  WTF  Thanks, yes...experience and wisdom isn't valued the same any more.

    Have to decide if it's worth it to stay in the environment to get unemployment and Cobra or to cut my losses and leave so it's not a termination for poor performance.  See, I'm at $0 out of pocket for health insurance and am concerned that I'll have to start all over again with that.

    Btw, I'll be 55 this year.

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  • ibcmets
    ibcmets Member Posts: 4,286
    edited May 2014

    Galsal,

    Would you be able to retire with them & still get health benefits?  You could take LTD & get 70% of pay & SSDI with stage IV.  I believe they would still cover your medical on LTD.  At 55, I was able to collect a small pension with a company I had worked with years ago.  IT's not much but something.  I'm technically retired with my company & went on LTD & SSDI although due to the money I was makikng, SSDI paid more than I would get with LTD so I collect only from SSDI, but my company is still insuring me.

    Hope you can get this resolved.  I believe the stress & pressure of work could be too much for us at stage IV.

    Terri

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  • Galsal
    Galsal Member Posts: 1,886
    edited May 2014

    I'm Stage 1, most blessedly.  Thanks for the thoughts, ibcmets...I'd not thought of that.  I'm meeting with several of my doctors over the next week or two and will be discussing things.  

    Sure, I work full-time and write/type.  Sadly, after writing a few sentences and working the mouse a bit I must stop and massage my hand.  That's partially from nerve root impingement in the next, partially from carpal tunnel which was partially caused by rheumatoid. There's still a few other conditions that I've been fighting on all of them to keep going and working as I have been.  Several of my physicians know this so we'll see how things go.  I'm redoing my VA claim as well for an increase and to add additional conditions that I finally have documentation about and statements regarding it being part of my military service.

    Waiting to hear back for scheduling an attorney consultation to see how things look overall.  I believe in planning ahead, not jumping off the bridge if there's no life raft below.

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  • Galsal
    Galsal Member Posts: 1,886
    edited October 2014

    OMG...applied for SSD Aug 1st and received a Notice of Award letter dated Oct 20th!!  It says that the approval was based on the information I provided to them.  Oddly, I know for a fact that not every current Physician of mine had yet submitted the paperwork from SSA they'd received about my claim.  For that matter, I wasn't required to see an SSA Physician.  All of this is shocking to me.  

    The letter also states that in September 2015 my case will be reviewed, since the Physicians and "trained personnel" who approved my claim expect my health to improve.

    So in February I will receive the first payment which is for the month of January 2015.  

    I was let go from work within 24 hours of my Physician saying I wouldn't be returning without certain conditions.  This was while I was  on Short-Term Disability, which is supposed to automatically put me into the LTD category.  The paperwork from the Physician's office wasn't completed until this past week though.  So far, I've received nothing 

    I'd have to imagine the LTD would be due me from the date the employer let me go until the date of the first SSD payment.  That makes more sense than LTD only until the date SSD was approved.  Any one know?

    One thing I'll need to determine is if the surviving spouse pension payments I receive monthly get added with the SSD for total income purposes.  If so, I'll need to pay taxes on the SSD since the total is over 25k annually.  I'm fortunate that between the two sources of sources, I'll be making about what I'd made while working full-time.  I'm hopeful the two sources don't get added together about income level for tax purposes!  

    I would note that SSD isn't about BC.  As my signature block shows, mine was Stage 1.  Instead, it's due to several other conditions.  

    Sorry for writing a book.  Thanks for any feedback!

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