SSDI?

Options
indenial
indenial Member Posts: 504
edited May 2016 in Stage IV/Metastatic Breast Cancer ONLY

I'm a bit confused about disability. It sounds like stage IV is an automatic qualifier? Does this mean you don't have to have documented symptoms for them to approve?

For some reason I've always struggled to communicate my symptoms to my doctors. They seem to think I'm pretty healthy. I do manage to do quite a lot actually. But I have long periods of time where I'm completely non-functional, too much fatigue and pain to get off the couch, or I might be able to take my kid out for a few hours but then I collapse for the rest of the day. My doctors do not know this (or don't quite understand the extent, as I only get to the docs when I feel OK.)

I haven't worked a normal job in 4 years. I did take on about 10hrs of work a week from home, for a year or two, but had to quit even that.

So am I eligible for SSDI, now that I have confirmed mets? Even though my docs don't understand and I look perfectly healthy and sometimes even feel OK for days or weeks here and there? Would I backdate it to 4 years ago when I stopped traditional work, or just til this year when I quit the 10hr/wk job, or just til last month when the biopsy confirmed mets?

I certainly don't want to cheat the system or take money from those more in need, but we are barely making ends meet and I really can't work.

· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • cive
    cive Member Posts: 709
    edited May 2016

    It depends on how old you are, what year you last worked the minimum number of hours (which I don't know exactly what that is). I would suggest you go to the governments web site which will not only let you apply explain the rules better. If you are over 65, you likely are not eligible.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Kandy
    Kandy Member Posts: 1,461
    edited May 2016

    I would definitely apply for SSDI. You can do it on the Internet and it is really simple. As far as what your date of disability began, I think I would go with the date your biopsy confirmed mets. I would also speak to your oncologist that you are applying. Most have no issues with you getting that. There is a 5 month wait period from the date of disability. I would advise you that going forward you should express to your Dr any symptoms that you are having. Best of luck to you.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • 3-16-2011
    3-16-2011 Member Posts: 559
    edited May 2016

    Hi Indenial

    So sorry for your confusion. If you look up compassionate allowance, you will see metastatic breast cancer is on the list of presumtive conditions. I applied and received ssdi 12/2014. It took about 3 weeks and the social security staff could not have been nicer. I provided a list of all the doctors I had seen. This included ER physicans and radiologist who read my mri and pet scans.

    Symptoms were not an issue. And honestly there are days I feel I could return to work but also days I could not. I know I could not work dependably which would be a big deal in my work as a social worker.

    I think to work or not is a very individual situation. I certinly bring in less money for my family then when employed. But I have no regrets and the change in stress in my life has been worth it.

    I hope this is not too much info. Please feel free to PM me if there are specific questions you have.

    Peace

    Mary

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Longtermsurvivor
    Longtermsurvivor Member Posts: 1,438
    edited May 2016

    Hi indenial,

    Definitely back-date your disability date - to time of mets confirmation or suspicion based on imaging exam.

    You may want to try for the date you went out with other health limitations, that will be harder to prove, but since you didn't earn much income, they may allow it.

    Here's a good bco thread to bookmark:

    https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/8/topics/...

    Most of the folks at Social Security are very sympathetic, but you'll likely get different answers from different folks. So, keep trying and write down every conversation, date, time, agent, information, etc.

    Good luck indenial, Stephanie


    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Lauriesh
    Lauriesh Member Posts: 692
    edited May 2016

    I would call ss or go on the website. You can find out if you have enough work credits to see if you qualify. ( you essentially need to work 5 of the last 10 years to have enough credits). They can also tell you what your monthly payment will be.

    In order to get back pay, you will have to prove ( through medical records since you weren't stage 4) that you were unable to work because of you health issues.


    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • indenial
    indenial Member Posts: 504
    edited May 2016

    Thank you, very helpful! Now I just have to get over the emotional aspect, as applying for disability really feels like a big deal and a level of acceptance I'm not sure I have just yet!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • singlemom1
    singlemom1 Member Posts: 434
    edited May 2016

    Indenial

    I recently applied for Ssdi. I am a little confused as I was told automatic if stage iv by some people and concerned that SE not strong enough by others. I am currently waiting to hear. Good luck!!!!


    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • susan_02143
    susan_02143 Member Posts: 7,209
    edited May 2016

    Metastatic disease is not an automatically approval. It is a fast-track for review. Two different things.

    *susan*

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories