Social Security Disability

[okarol]

Jenna has been called in for an interview, has to bring in all her records. I don't know if she can lose her disability because she still has a college fund that she has not used. Anyone have any experience with this? Thanks.

[jeannea]

No experience with that. But I do know my 401K wasn't relevant to getting social security disability. SSI is another matter. I don't know if you can get that if you have savings.

[okarol]

Yes, turns out it was about SSI and she no longer qualifies since her guardianship college account became her property when she turned 21.

[sullidog]

she still may qualify for SSDI because that doesn't depend on resources like SSI does just work.

[okarol]

She gets SSDI because she became disabled before she was 21 years old, and it is based on her dad's income. So far they have not mentioned taking that away.

[daveosaurus]

Government bureaucratizes can make it awfully hard to get any kind of help. You'd think it was their own money and ESRD wasn't any worse than the common cold. I wouldn't worry about disability too much. Kidney failure is an automatic qualification. 

I hope everything works out for you.

I've been fighting for Medicaid since July. With the help of my centers Social Worker I may finally get it.

[Whamo]

Once you go on dialysis social security is notified.  They called me, left a phone number that doesn't work, and their website is a confusing maze.  My social worker says my insurance will cover me for the first 30 months in any event, and then I'll have to switch over to Medicare.  The Budget committee has medicare on the chopping block, so it is important you demand your Congressman and Senator to support Medicaid. 

[Rerun]

I thought once you got a transplant, Disability and Social Security considered you 'cured' and you had to find a job in 12 months or you were cut off.  Even if you don't find a job, in 12 months you are cut off.

           

[bleija]

its 36 months before they cut u off. or so ive been told

[jbeany]

36 months is the cut off for Medicare, not disability.

SS Disability reviews cases on a regular basis, depending on your illness.  If it's incurable, like being paralyzed, then I think something like every 8 years.  Things that are more temporary, like long term recovery from an accident, get reviewed every 6 to 18 months.  Something like cancer, maybe every couple of years.  They do tend to review transplant recipients within a year of the transplant.  Transplant is not an automatic dismissal though.  They reviewed my case this summer and approved my continuing as soon as I sent them the details of my upcoming surgery.  (Guess having most of my guts on the wrong side of my skin counted as disabled.)  If you still can't work, they don't stop it, transplant or not.

[beachbum]

I don't know what all the rules are. I have a friend that works for Social Security and even he can't explain it all to me. But I do know the best solution is to hire an experienced lawyer. You don't pay anything up front and I think they can take up to 25% of your backpay. I was reluctant but so glad I did. They took care of everything. I was denied three times but after I hired the lawyer I didn't even have to go to my hearing. The judge awarded me. Don't let Social Security bully you. They want people to give up. Find out what your rights are. I kept getting letters from the Social Security doctors saying my kidney failure would "get better over time." lol. Those guys are clowns. You paid into this, you deserve this when you get sick.