Disability Income for Bipolar

[elwoodsf]

Has anyone ever been through the process of receiving payments, SSI or LTD, for their BP? When I was first diagnosed, 30 years ago, I moved along fairly well. In the past ten years I have not been able to hold down a job for more than a year or so, I have been hospitalized and I continue to have suicidal thoughts on a monthly basis - no attempts, well, only one when I went to the hospital. I'm tired of fighting the fight to stay at work or finding a job. My disability is starting to limit me more and more over the years.

Any takers out there?

Thanks ~ El

[irishwriter]

i am assuming you are in us? i do know that my sister has been receiving some payment since losing her job (perhaps from job insurance payments) and medicaid so tht she gets her meds at a v. small payment. good luck with it. we also have a citizens advice bureau here so maybe you have the equivalent there? also i think there's a group called NAMI who can give you advice if you are in us. best of luck with it.

[ILADVOCATE]

Well you may have read the link in my journal entry but it is a good potential you might be denied and need to appeal it. That's very common but at each level of appeal the percentage of people who win becomes greater. I have direct information on this but as for in an person consultation you can find out more information at your local independent living center. There's one in every county of every state.
http://www.ilru.org/html/publications/directory/index.html

[misterhamtastic]

I have been receiving ssdi for almost a year.  It took a year to get it, but it seems to be ok.  It's not much in comparison to what I was making when working, but it's getting me through.  Good luck.

[elwoodsf]

Wow. Thank you for putting in the time to break me in on this process. I don't forsee any of the information that needs to be presented as incriminating for me. I need to get busy. Thank you Em.

[edmfender]

I'll bite but let me clarify that this is not to be construed as legal/insurance advise.
I have been receiving Short Term Disability since Jan 2001 to August 2001,  LTD since August 2001 to present date.  Also, worked in the insurance industry for 20 years, 10 years as a Manager which included supervision of 120 employees so dealt with some Human Resource issues over the years.
1.  Contact your Human Resources Department and get a copy of the coverage available.  What coverage is available to you with your existing employer.  Do you qualify for either short term or long term coverage? Short term coverage is usually for a perior of 3/6/12 months and is a percentage of your current salary.  The policy usually states that you must be employed full time for 3 months(or some time limit) before coverage is effective and that you must be working the day that coverage becomes effective. Some employers pay the full premium for short term disability benefits or the cost of premium is split between the employer/employee. Some employees pay the full amount for Long Term Disability. This becomes important for tax purposes later.
2.  Documentation:  Is the cornerstone whether you will qualify for benefits or not.  The insurer will rely on medical documentation/work documentation to determine whether
- you are unable to work at your current job in your current capacity
- you are unable to work at your current job with job modification (reduced hours etc.)
- you are unable to work at any job
-what specifically is impeding your ability to work (medications, concentration, mood, coordination, physical condition etc)
-when you might be expected to return to work
-what retraining/modifications/medications/rehab might be required
-whether the condition is as a result of addiction & whether rehab is required
-whether patient is compliant with treatment (psychotherapy, meds, rehab)
-what other specialists you see
-what daily routines you have
-what has changed in circumstance to put you on STD/LTD
-what other benefits are available to reduce amount of benefit payable (for instance if government program available, LTD may be reduced by this amount)
Your doctors (all of them) will have to be onside with going on STD/LTD and be willing to complete the plethera of forms.
3.  Most likely the insurer will request an Independant Medical Examination (IME) meaning they will ask THEIR doctor to examine you and write a report supporting or declining your request for disability.  He/she will have access to your medical records prior to the examination.
4.  Most likely (although not absolute) the insurer will undertake a financial background and survellience to see what you're up to and confirm what you say is what you do. If you have nothing to hide, nothing to worry about.
5. LTD- usually a percentage of gross earning, tax free if you paid the premium on coverage less any government proceeds payable.  There is usually an ongoing coverage by the employer with a waiver of premium for all other coverage (dental, medical, life etc) while you are on LTD.  If the employer paid the premium on LTD, then benefits ae subject to tax.  Caution: this is subject to jurisdiction and you should check tax/labour/disability laws in the State/Province that you live as they are not universal.
The first step is to get a copy of your benefits policy.  The second is to talk to your doctors and determine whether it is their opinion whether you should be off work as a result of your medical condition.  After that, it's all a paper trail.  If you need some help along the yellow paper brick road....let me know.