Social Security Disability vs. LTD

[SJL]

Has anyone been on Long Term Disability when Social Security Disability has been approved?

[SJL]

Just got back from the Holidays and I hope that you all that responded catch this. I was on LTD for 16 mths., and have just found out that I have been approved for SSD. I was not notified by SSD or by LTD & the only way I knew it was that a sum of money was directly deposited into my bank account. Sounds like the government doesn't it? I should not be complaining or anything but I have made the calls to find out what was up? I was told by whomever answered the phone at SSD, that I was approved from 1/20/2005. I now have to get LTD to answer me as to how much that I must pay back. I have no idea what they used medically other than Hep C., although I have been diagnosed with a multiple list of side effects from therapy, such as: Neuropathy,Lumbar stenosis, Cryoglobulin, Spondyliolisthesis, carpal tunnel and I have just recently showed a tumor marker on my labs. I did 2 rds. of therapy, 48 wks. peg-intron/riba, 52 wks. infergen/riba and 24 wks. of maintainence pegasys therapy. My body just will not accept the interferons. I guess what I am getting at is to keep copies of all Doctor appts., lab results, and anything which can help to aid you in fighting this disease. I have been very blessed as I worked for a Hospital which provided LTD and LTD in turn, took over my case to SSD. They aquired all records, etc., which was needed by SSD for consideration, without any cost to me. I know that when we are ill it is very hard to think correctly and then try to apply our thoughts. But the dismay & ultimate excitement when I found out that I was approved, without being notified, is still mystifying to me.
I had never checked the web-site amd expected that I would personally hear from someone rather good or bad? So, if anyone has applied for anything, please make phone calls & try to stay ontop of things. Had I known about my approval, alot of stress would have been eliminated. I am now going to Shands Hospital in Gainesville, Fl., where a team of Doctors are working with me, instead of the same Specialists, but in all different locations. At this point I have graduated from a walker occassionally to a cane. Like I said, I have been very blessed along the way & if I can be of any help to anyone, please, I am here. My wish for everyone for the year 2007, is that a new miracle drug will be introduced and not be as invasive as what is available now, and that everyone has access to these & can reach SVR. God Bless All,
Sandy

[susan400]

I'm on SSDI in the state of Florida.  It's very hard to get here, that's true.  I got it based on more than just the Hep C.  I got turned down 3 times and finally got it with the help of a SSD attorney.  They do give you back pay, but the attorney takes a chunk of that for his payment.  In my case, I could not handle working anymore.  It's not just the treatments.  I'm off of treatment, and I still am barely functional in a work capacity.

Susan

[chcnme]

I don't know anything about LTD.  You can get SSDI, though, but I don't know how LTD will play into it.  Like NYgirl said - the Hep C won't get it  (not at all.)  It took me over three years to get SSDI.  I didn't have LTD.  I applied for SSDI in Jan 1999.  I had been under the care of shrink for chronic depression for about two years already.  Had taken FLMA two years in a row with one hospitalization in there. I wasn't feeling any better (was feeling worse), and one day I just said "screw this", and I applied for SSDI, and I never went back to work. Threw my career away. I didn't care WHO was pissed off that I had applied.  I thought I was dieing.  I got an attorney, and from there - it took another three years.  I got SSDI in Feb 2002 based on chronic depression.  I was diagnosed with Hep C in May 2003  (and I'm sure all those symptoms I was having was Hep-related.)  

If you think you are at a point where you cannot work any longer, or... you are looking 5 years ahead and are wondering how you're going to make it (if you are feeling that bad now),  go ahead and apply now, but understand that you won't get it on a diagnosis of Hep C (no matter HOW sick you are from the hep, most likely.) You can have Hep C and get it, but - you will need a  better diagnosis than Hep C.  If you're going to apply, I think you need to get under the care of a shrink before you apply.  The shrink will have to be behind you 100%.  Once you apply, you can't stop the SSDI process, or -- put it this way - you can't just jump up one day and say "i'm going back to work" and expect a favorable ruling.  You can't even work part-time.  SSDI pamphlets and their case workers might tell you you can, but trust me - you cannot and get benefits. If you apply now for SSDI, you need to be prepared to see the entire process through to very end.  If you are not successful the first time (it can take three years to get a favorable ruling or the last denial), the chances of EVER getting SSDI go down to about zero  (if you have to apply again.)  

I remember being relieved when I was diagnosed Hep C. I thought "good! it was not depression!"  (whew, I learned pretty quick the lesser of the two evils.)

Best of luck.

[NYgirl]

It's almost impossible to get approved and takes quite a while.  It can take years. If you go for it you need really good documentation and a doctor willing to go to back for you.

I had a broken back and a dent in my brain that was causing documented serious problems after a car accident - and they wouldn't give it to me for the broken back...I got lucky with the psych. doctor and my memory loss problems. Still it took like a year.

They DONT want to give it to you and our disease really isn't that disabiling in most cases.

It if was = I sure wouldn't be working every day through 72 weeks.