Long Term Disability question

[DavRed]

I know this is a motorcycle forum. But I don’t have access to a bunch of older guys other then you guys.
Whether we like it or not. We are an older group.
I may be looking at Long Term Disability in the coming year and have no clue what to expect.
So any info that may be helpful for me to navigate this gig is appreciated.
A little about me. I am 57 years old, and 4 heart attacks into this gig. Seems the old ticker is just not up to climbing up ladders and hauling blocks to the roofs to put up Satellite dishes anymore. I mostly do IT work now. But running and jumping is just not in my cards anymore….But if I tell the company I can no longer do outside work they will force me on to Disability. Over the years I have seen a few that were told if you can’t do the whole job then we can’t have you doing part of the job. ( Union shop) I have worked at this same job for the past 28 years. (Big Company. Good Benefits) I LOVE IT!!!!
I have always had a job. We at least from the paper route at 12. Not working scares the crap out of me!!!!!!!
Here is my question…
What pitfalls am I looking at if this is the route I have to take?
Hopefully some will have navigated these water already and can offer some incite.
Feel free to PM or email me.
Thanks in advance… David

[BF]

I've no insight for you , but if they have to cut me open one more time I'll probably be looking at long term also.  I'll be watching this thread hoping to gain some valuable info.

[Michvalk]

Do you have disability Insurance? It would be a policy that you bought over and above your regular ins. If you go on disability with work insurance, it won't last long. SSD does not pay much. Hope you have other means to live. I have SSD and can barely make ends meet. Fortunately my wife has a good job, and I have Medicaid now, and can swing the supplemental. Takes forever to get SSD going, so find out how long you are eligible from your other insurances. I went through the whole thing by myself, and got through fairly well.

[saddlesore]

DavRed,  I sent you a PM and lost the message, If you want to copy and paste it here go ahead. Maybe someone else can learn something from it.

[DavRed]

DavRed,  I sent you a PM and lost the message, If you want to copy and paste it here go ahead. Maybe someone else can learn something from it.

I've been exactly where you are. Worked all my life even after back surgery at 19. Sometimes I missed work but managed till I was 52.  I had a hip replacement and went back to work but the back still gave me trouble.  My "union shop" said they don't have light duty jobs. That's a whole other story.
 
It's a scary thing to take the jump to walk away form your job and even trying to get information can be slow.  Things like social security, cobra payments till you get set up with social security and medicare.

I'm single so I had enough money to last almost two years before things fell in place.

When I applied for social security I was turned down the first time(seems standard procedure) Then I appealed it and went before a judge and he looks at the paper work. With the medical records and work history he could see I wasn't just looking for a free ride. And I was ok'd.   

All of this takes time and you feel helpless but it does come together.

Just taking the step of leaving your job and moving forward helps with some of the anxiety.  Be prepared for feelings of guilt too. You worked all of your life and you may have thought only gold bricks apply and many people feel that way but the judge will know by looking at your work record 
that you're not faking it.

I hope this helps but only you know your physical condition so the choice is yours.

If you have any questions just ask.

Steve

[specialdose]

                Davred, I do not have personal experience but my sister is on SSD and it took her over 2 years and a attorney who got part
          of her back pay. Took awhile but she did get it. I am glad we have the general section to ask for help on matters like this. That
          is part of the family orientation of this forum that I enjoy. Good fortune should you have to take that course.

[Bigwolf]

+1 What saddlesore said.
I had independent disability insurance that carried me until the SSD finally kicked in.  The SSD took 4 years, a lawyer, several trips to their doctors and investigators and then appeal to the judge who then quickly approved it.

The feelings of guilt were (and sometimes still are) very hard for me.  Twice I tried to go back to work only to find I could not do the work.  The doctors have no answers for me and no clue what is wrong.  So, no silver bullet and back to work.  It's been 12 years since I went on disability.

Oh well, I have decided I just have to console myself by riding a very special fat girl I just happen to have.  Life after work ain't so bad.

Bigwolf

[Windrider]

Here are some items to consider:

Do you have private disability insurance?
If you do the insurance company may require you to file for social security disability.

Did you ever have a significant period of employment with a railroad? Disability through the Railroad Board is almost identical to Social Security Disability.

Are you a veteran? - VA Disability varies depending on whether you are service connected (i.e. your disability started while you were on active duty) or not. They determine percentages of disability. Social Security does not.
Note: While both the VA and Social Security are programs of the federal government they are very, very different and a favorable decision on your application for one will have absolutely nothing to do with the outcome of your application for the other.

As is well reflected in other posts the social security disability program appeals process rewards persistence.
However, rest assured that there is no policy to automatically deny any initial claim. The Administration gives Administrative Law Judges greater latitude than is given the State Disability Determinations Services.

If you are talking about Social Security Disability check here: http://www.ssa.gov/disability/

[fudgie]

If they 'force' you on disability, quit and find a job you like.
It will take a few yrs to get disability and prob will be denied a few times. My x inlaw has 'fibromyalgia', like everyone does in this town, and is still trying to get disability and back pay (which I dont agree with) and been trying to win for 3 yrs.
If your not ready, find something you like.

[Reb]

I bet if you old farts knew you were going to live this long, you'da taken better care of yourselfs. 

[sugerbear]

my wife's employer paid the ltd premiums. when she got her ltd, she had to apply for ssd.
the ltd folks then deducted the ssd from the amt they would pay to equal the 50% ltd.
like this. ltd would pay 50% of her wages, say $2000 month. ssd pays $1200. the ltd ins would then pay $800 to make up the difference.
we were told that if she had been paying the premiums, the ltd would have paid the entire $2000. 
clear as mud?

[Windrider]

my wife's employer paid the ltd premiums. when she got her ltd, she had to apply for ssd.
the ltd folks then deducted the ssd from the amt they would pay to equal the 50% ltd.
like this. ltd would pay 50% of her wages, say $2000 month. ssd pays $1200. the ltd ins would then pay $800 to make up the difference.
we were told that if she had been paying the premiums, the ltd would have paid the entire $2000. 
clear as mud?

Sugarbear, Important post! I've been aware of this stuff for years, but never had an opportunity to communicate with someone who has experience with it.

If your wife received a cost of living increase from SSD, would her private disability benefit have been further reduced by the amount of the increase??

I realize that both the employer and your wife contributed to SSA and the employer paid the private ltd premium. However, IF the SSD increases always go to reduce private ltd company's benefit to the claimant then this smacks of corporate welfare. I don't know for a fact that it works that way. BUT it appears that if it does this may be a way the gubment and insurance industry put the screws to the middle class. That is the cost of living increase saves the ltd carrier money that may be past on in part to the employer through lower premiums than they would otherwise pay. And the claimant who is expecting to receive an increase in disposable income is left dead in water trapped on a fixed income. I know this is crazy stuff, BUT I'd appreciate your comments. Please tell us it doesn't work as I've described even though I fear it might.
 -- Doug

[DavRed]

All,
Thanks for all the good info.
It sounds like it could be a real Pain is the a$$.

Hopefully I can just keep on working and they will have to pry me out of my chair....
I don't plan on leaving unless they make me...

Guess I will know more in March 2015

[saddlesore]

I bet if you old farts knew you were going to live this long, you'da taken better care of yourselfs. 

 

I'm guessing you're young yet.  Just wait your time will come.

[DavRed]

I bet if you old farts knew you were going to live this long, you'da taken better care of yourselfs. 

Hush... Puppy

You will get here if you are lucky...
You think I got it hard.
No telling what you will have when you do get here.... But that is another thread...

And to be honest. I would not change a damn thing....

[98valk]

some sites that will help you heal your heart

Dr. Stephen Sinatra is a highly respected and sought-after cardiologist whose integrative approach to treating cardiovascular disease has revitalized patients with even the most advanced forms of illness.

http://www.heartmdinstitute.com/
http://www.drsinatra.com/

everybody needs magnesium for a strong heart and health, studies show 95% of heart attacks are caused by low mag levels, one of first things given to a heart attack patient is a mag drip or some other form to get mag levels up. but yet after the patient leaves they are not told to increase their mags levels, why is that? cause if your better they(medical community) don't make any money cause u don't have to come back.
http://www.mgwater.com/
The High Heart Health Value of Drinking-Water Magnesium

best forms to get
bone broth soup
magnesium oil, rub on skin
magnesium citrate supplement

CoQ10 everybody needs it for heart health, japan and other countries prescribe it for heart problems and have done so for over 40 yrs, why not this country?
http://www.drsinatra.com/best-types-coq10-ubiquinone-vs-ubiquinol

then one can get into the proper ratio of omega 6 to 3 fats, cut out all breads/grains unless fermented or risen without yeast.

God Bless
c.

[Michvalk]

I applied for SSD in May, and received my first check from the government at the first of August. I had been on LTD for a year and a half before I Applied for SSD. I received back pay from the government and owed a portion of the Insurance money back to the insurance company. They owed me over and above what SSD paid. They do not reduce payment from the insurance company, because the benefit goes up along with SSD. Hope that explains that a little better.

[sugerbear]

we'll find out next month. she also had to repay the ltd for 4 months of "overpayment".
last Dec we were in the middle of getting it all squared away..

[IamGCW]

I applied for SSD in May, and received my first check from the government at the first of August. I had been on LTD for a year and a half before I Applied for SSD. I received back pay from the government and owed a portion of the Insurance money back to the insurance company. They owed me over and above what SSD paid. They do not reduce payment from the insurance company, because the benefit goes up along with SSD. Hope that explains that a little better.

Curious, why did you switch to SSD from the LTD you carried?  Did I miss something?

Gil