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Need advice: Should I go out on disability...............
Hello all, I am so foggy headed I cannot deceide what to do. I am on 4 weeks short term disability at this time. (at 68% of my wages) After that I would have to wait another 90 days (without pay) to get on long term disability. I have been offered to work from home because I cannot afford to live on 68% of my income. But what if I cannot work 40 hours a week from home? I have terrible sides and am anemic. I am 1B, 49 year old female and only on shot 10/52 this Friday. I live at home alone (own my own home)and have no other income. I live paycheck to paycheck, but happen to have about $3000 in my savings to get by the 90 days w/o pay and the fact that I only have 68% of my income. I cannot borrow against my home as I am topped off at $500 a month house payment. What should I do? How many hours do I need to work a week to make up 68% of my income? Any help would really be appreicated as I just can't seem to think straight. Thanks, Kathe
I go for a disability hearing on April 8th. Any tips?
I was turned down in regular tries, so I retained an attorney, he will get 25% of the initial monies if I get it.
Does anyone know anything about this?
I was turned down in regular tries, so I retained an attorney, he will get 25% of the initial monies if I get it.
Does anyone know anything about this?
Hi, sorry to hear you are having problems. I will pray for you. I had to go on disability about wk 9. I am 48 yr old f, geno1a. I did 48/48 and I haven't rec'd results of my blood work yet, after finishing tx. Thank goodness I am married, or I really don't know how I would have made it. I get 1,149.00 a month on disablity. I really don't know when I will be able to go back to work. My pain specialist says I have tissue dammage from the tx. I go Tues to pain spec. and he is going to start me on a 12 hour pill/patch. If we can get my pain under control, I think I'll be able to work again.
If I were you, I would contact all of my debtors and explain the situation...also power co., phone co anybody I owe or will owe money to, ask them for any info that they have to help ppl., who aren't able to work. I for one could kick myself, because I didn't take out the insrance on my car, when I bought it, they would have been making my car payments!!!! I will PRAY hard for you. My income did pay my medical expenses, and I had enough left to pay our car insurance, my med. insurance and my car pymt. Anything I had left went to care for my 19yr old g.daughter, who I now have custody of.
This is a hard disease...with the tx...which is hard enough..all the doctor visits...all the blood test...and then you have to worry about money. I haven't "bought" myself any clothes or anything in almost 2 yrs now. Well, I did buy 2 new pairs of PJ's when I started tx. I hope you will find ppl that can help you....I don't know about bankrupcy (spelling?) But I know when my best friend had no money she had to do that. I'm not sure how it works. Again my prayers are with you Kathe, and I wish you the best! Much love, Cindee
If I were you, I would contact all of my debtors and explain the situation...also power co., phone co anybody I owe or will owe money to, ask them for any info that they have to help ppl., who aren't able to work. I for one could kick myself, because I didn't take out the insrance on my car, when I bought it, they would have been making my car payments!!!! I will PRAY hard for you. My income did pay my medical expenses, and I had enough left to pay our car insurance, my med. insurance and my car pymt. Anything I had left went to care for my 19yr old g.daughter, who I now have custody of.
This is a hard disease...with the tx...which is hard enough..all the doctor visits...all the blood test...and then you have to worry about money. I haven't "bought" myself any clothes or anything in almost 2 yrs now. Well, I did buy 2 new pairs of PJ's when I started tx. I hope you will find ppl that can help you....I don't know about bankrupcy (spelling?) But I know when my best friend had no money she had to do that. I'm not sure how it works. Again my prayers are with you Kathe, and I wish you the best! Much love, Cindee
The 12-week 2-log is an indicator, and only one indicator, of treatment success. There are other reasons to treat and some people take longer to respond that 12 weeks. Hang in there.
Can you get an extension on the short term disability? Do you have any flex time that is due to you? You could incorporate that with the disability to increase the percentage pay.
I am currently working 1/2 time and on medical disability 1/2 time. My work is covering 75% of wages and I'm covering the rest with my flex time. I work 6 hours/day on Mon, Wed, Fri in the office and 1 hour/day on Tue and Thur from home. It's hard to get into the office, but once there it's not bad because I'm sitting at a desk. Definately tired at the end of the shift. I also live alone and do most of my own shopping, laundry, etc. My daughter helps with some chores and I have a person clean once a month.
I designed a work schedule that I thought would be doable for me and then talked to my doc about it. He was in total agreement and work had no problem with it either. I hope you can get the time you need to take care or yourself. caruu
I am currently working 1/2 time and on medical disability 1/2 time. My work is covering 75% of wages and I'm covering the rest with my flex time. I work 6 hours/day on Mon, Wed, Fri in the office and 1 hour/day on Tue and Thur from home. It's hard to get into the office, but once there it's not bad because I'm sitting at a desk. Definately tired at the end of the shift. I also live alone and do most of my own shopping, laundry, etc. My daughter helps with some chores and I have a person clean once a month.
I designed a work schedule that I thought would be doable for me and then talked to my doc about it. He was in total agreement and work had no problem with it either. I hope you can get the time you need to take care or yourself. caruu
You are fortunate to have the short-term disability and the leeway to work at home. The 90 day wait for long-term disability can be real difficult. SSI looks at your assets (but not your house or auto). SSDI is different from SSI, in that SSDI is for workers who have paid sufficiently into the system (SSI is essentially Federal Welfare and available to disabled and others, whether you ever worked or not). I would suggest applying soon for anything you think applies, (SSI, SSDI, LTD after 90 days) so you will not be delayed due to paperwork. The Social Security website and the local SS office are real helpful.
I had to use Long-term disability and they often have specialists who assist with the appeals for SSDI free of charge (they want thier $$ back from SSDI). Most people get turned down by SSDI the first time around but many are approved after an appeal.
People who are late responders (clear or significant drop after 12 wks), as Revenire pointed out, do not need to stop tx. Recent studies show greatly increased odds for late responders with extended Peg-interferon.
Hope you are able to carry on. Working at home may permit you to rest when you need to and work when you can.
Dave
I had to use Long-term disability and they often have specialists who assist with the appeals for SSDI free of charge (they want thier $$ back from SSDI). Most people get turned down by SSDI the first time around but many are approved after an appeal.
People who are late responders (clear or significant drop after 12 wks), as Revenire pointed out, do not need to stop tx. Recent studies show greatly increased odds for late responders with extended Peg-interferon.
Hope you are able to carry on. Working at home may permit you to rest when you need to and work when you can.
Dave
t is unlikely that SSDI (Social Security for workers) would be helpful in your circumstances.
First, it will take much longer to apply and receive a decision than the 90 days you will have to suffer through in order to qualify for long term disability. The amount you would qualify for would likely be far less than the 68% of salary you are now receiving. So, in the end, you would not be further ahead financially.
My suggestion to you is this: get to the 12 week mark on treatment and see whether you are considered a responder or not.
If not likely to respond, then you could discontinue treatment per the manufacturer's recommendations for a genotype one and wait for a better treatment to come along. Your biopsy report should be given serious consideration in this decisionmaking process, so talk with your doctor about that key piece of information. The greater the damage to your liver, the more seriously you need to consider the benefits of the treatment if you can tolerate it.
If you realize an undetected result or a 2 log drop at 12 weeks, I would encourage you to bite the bullet and continue therapy if you can tolerate it.
The greater the damage to your liver, the more seriously you need to consider the benefits of the treatment.
In the meantime, look into any programs that you might qualify for to help you out during those 90 days. Check out programs through your state and local agencies. You might also call a debt agency even though you are not in distress at this time and discuss the possibility of negotiating your payments, even house payment with your lender. They may defer part of payment amount for 3 months until you are in a better financial position. Nere hurts to try.
I hope this helps,
thanbey
First, it will take much longer to apply and receive a decision than the 90 days you will have to suffer through in order to qualify for long term disability. The amount you would qualify for would likely be far less than the 68% of salary you are now receiving. So, in the end, you would not be further ahead financially.
My suggestion to you is this: get to the 12 week mark on treatment and see whether you are considered a responder or not.
If not likely to respond, then you could discontinue treatment per the manufacturer's recommendations for a genotype one and wait for a better treatment to come along. Your biopsy report should be given serious consideration in this decisionmaking process, so talk with your doctor about that key piece of information. The greater the damage to your liver, the more seriously you need to consider the benefits of the treatment if you can tolerate it.
If you realize an undetected result or a 2 log drop at 12 weeks, I would encourage you to bite the bullet and continue therapy if you can tolerate it.
The greater the damage to your liver, the more seriously you need to consider the benefits of the treatment.
In the meantime, look into any programs that you might qualify for to help you out during those 90 days. Check out programs through your state and local agencies. You might also call a debt agency even though you are not in distress at this time and discuss the possibility of negotiating your payments, even house payment with your lender. They may defer part of payment amount for 3 months until you are in a better financial position. Nere hurts to try.
I hope this helps,
thanbey
Wacky, good luck. Nolee has excellent advise. Asking for help is a good start, and I am sure you will get much input here. My prayers to you.
If you qualify for total disability through the Social Security Disability criteria, then your company will have to follow SSI's conclusion. Do a search for the SS website and look for the Disability area to see if you qualify. It takes some time but if your physically or mentally unable to perform your job duties, you might have the chance for Disability. Usually cronic illness qualifies but you better make sure. As long as your not drawing full pay you can apply and hopefully get it. You can always become un-diabled in the future and go back to work. Good luck~Neal~
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