Need SSD help? See post #11

[sgilbert]

I know you can claim short term disability, but does anyone know if you can claim long term disability with ALS? My Dad, 62, is still working full time and wants to take disability, but my parents are afraid he might not be eligible for long term disability. This will cause him to retire meaning he would lose his health insurance. Has anyone come acreoss this situation and how did you handle it? I am just worried as I know the financial ramifications down the road will only increase.

Thanks for your input.

[Roger Sanders]

Hi my name is Roger, I am 36 years old and have been diagnosed with PLS for 2 years
now. I decided to quit work in April last year. I started out on short term disability for
6 months and then it turned into long term disability no problem. I also filed for social
security disability and started receiving benefits 1 month after applying. He should not have any trouble receiving both. I was told that ALS and PLS are automatics.

[Tall John]

Not so fast. Depends on what your Dad has at work. LTD is NOT automatic.

[jimercat]

sgilbert,

My husband applied for long term disability through his workplace. Policies vary and some companies do not offer this type of insurance at all. Assuming that your father's workplace does offer the LTD policy, there most likely will be a waiting period that is required before payments would begin. (His doc would need to give him the records to give the insurance company along with a letter explaining dx -trust me- they will approve the disability.) At the same time your father would need to apply for Social Security Disability. With a dx of ALS the SS case manager is supposed to automatically approve the disability, as ALS is described as TERI (terminal) in the SS rules and regs. Even though he would be approved he would still most likely have to wait 6 months for payments to begin. Medicare would also be approved and would start in 5 months. Reading various forums regarding disability, I see that the start of payments seem to vary from state to state (and probably depend on the case manager). Anyway, your father should be approved for SSDI/Medicare within 30 days of application.

Medicare will be better in the long run probably than his group insurance policy. For example, my husband had 4 rxs filled yesterday and the grand total was $4.66.

Also, if your dad isn't aware of this, the MDA can be helpful in purchasing a power wheelchair and the ALSA has a loaner closet with equipment that your dad won't have to pay for.

Please let us know how you and your family is doing. The paperwork that a PALS has to go through to just survive is very daunting. So please feel free to ask any more questions you may have, as there are plenty of people here with experience.

Very sorry for dad's dx.

[sgilbert]

Thank you all very much for your input and kind words, and please know that my heart goes out to you and your families and I wish you all well.

He does ideed have long term diasbility as a benefit through his employer, but they were not sure if ALS qualified since this is not a condition that you are able to recover from and return in a year or two. So according to your feedback it seems that it will depend upon the fine print of the policy his work offers and the rules here in AZ. My Dad has an appointment scheduled at work with a benefits advisor, so hopefully this will shed a light on things. I just wanted to do some homework to make sure the right questions are asked and that he doesn't get stuck signing something he shouldn't.

Thanks again everyone.

Best,
Stephanie

[jimercat]

Please let us know the results of your father's meeting. LTD is for something you CANNOT return to work for. Do NOT let them JACK your DAD around!!! STD is for returning to work.

Believe me, we've been through so much to get where we are today. I would like to spare y'all the trouble.

[Peg B]

Also, if your Dad is represented by a union, you may want to get them involved. Jimmercat is right, make sure you do not let them yerk you around. I get LTD or until I am 65, or unltil SSD gets approved. Best Wishes, Peg

[elliekusa]

Hi Everyone,

I had to stop working due to "neurological problems" and I could not get long term disability because it was considered a "war related illness". So, it was an exclusion from the LTD policy.

I did get VA benefits, but they are not as good as LTD at the university. In other words, I lost tuition coverage for my kids to attend the university along with MANY other benefits.

I do not have ALS, but I do have an "undiagnosed neurological disorder" associated with service in the gulf war. It is a LONG story and still to be determined what is really going on.

If you are a veteran, please look at this angle. It is important to understand. I lost my livelihood and my benefits!

[CindyM]

I am sorry this has happened to you. Sometimes I think it is a crime how we treat our returning heroes. I hope they find answers for your illness.

[Coach's Wife]

Hello, Sgilbert. If your dad has a LTD policy that's great. His benefits should BEGIN with STD FIRST and then progress to the LTD benefits when the length of time designated for short term runs out. Like the others have said, stay on top of this, and do not let anyone steer you in the wrong directions (i.e., do NOT skip your dad's STD benefit - use it!). Your dad should give "someone" (you? & your siblings?) permission to follow up on things like this...have your dad notify his employer/ H.R. department that they may release any info regarding his insurance benefits to the "designated" people. Keep good records. Document everything - who you talked to about what... and when/ date & time. If they know you are on top of things, the possibility of them "overlooking" a benefit is significantly decreased. All this IMHO.

Louie
Former CALS to husband, Jeff: 7-5-2007

[michellelepc]

I just wanted everyone to know that I am a paralegal for a Social Security Disability Attorney have been doing this for almost 9 years. If anyone has questions regarding getting on SSD the process etc. please feel free to ask me. God Bless you all. :-)

[Al]

Thank you for that kind offer michelle. If you don't mind I'll move this to it's own thread ( I hope) so that it will be seen more. Hope you don't get overwhelmed by requests.
AL.

[Al]

Did it a little different. Changed title of thread and made it a sticky. It'll stay at the top of the page.

AL.

[michellelepc]

No problem!

[Shane the Pain]

I finally got a hold of a guy who knew what he's talking about and told me to go out on SS and get a part B. look into that 4 long term. Shane

[mybrother]

I am from Illinois. It is my understanding that it takes 6months to get SSD and Medicare may take up to 24 months. My brother is 49 years old. Do you know anything different regarding this information?

[jimercat]

Very sorry your brother has ALS.

He should receive SSDI within 6 months and Medicare within 5 months.

He is TERI (terminal {sorry}) according to their regulations and therefore would qualify for this "quick" approval.

If he is being told otherwise, he or y'all need to start elevating his case.

[sisgldnhr]

My husband stopped working in December 07'. He was on short term disability thru his company for 6 months. He used to bring home 750.00 a week... his STD check was for 700.00 a month.
He applied for SSD and was awarded because of the ALS diagnosis. His first SSD check came on June 9th, 08'. The company that he worked for only had short term disability. After the 6 month period he is no longer an employee. Its amazing that this man worked 7 days a week for nearly 19 years and then be treated the way that he was by them. Very sad.
Remember.......that you must go 6 months before the SSD kicks in!

Sis

[brenda pitt]

OMG! So does anyone know if the government "back pays" to when you first apply for the 5 months you have to wait?

When I talked to the SS office, she told me Medicare kicks in without the normal waiting period. Boy, did that make me feel so much better- after working 30+ yrs.All kidding aside, I know it's great that the law was changed and gets Medicare going more quickly.

I am currently covered on my husband's health insurance, I suppose that will become my secondary? It's just so hard to think about what to do for those 5 months with no income. Especially with 3 growing boys!

Keep the faith,
brenda

[jimercat]

Brenda,

I've read differing stories about back pay.

In my husband's case - nope, no back pay. Believe me, we had a lot of gnashing of teeth during that waiting period, as we went thru retirement savings. We couldn't get my husband's employer to get off their collective butts and get his LTD approved. It was all supposed to be coordinated and ready to go when he left. But it wasn't and we were left with no income. He probably could have been on STD, but no one at his company told us that. Looking back, I should have investigated that. But we were still in shock from the diagnosis and wondering about the future. His boss assured us everything was taken care of and would flow flawlessly. This was after he talked hubby into staying an extra 3 months at his job because they needed his skills to train others.

You gotta stay on your toes or you will slip thru the cracks. And nobody gives a flying flip! (ok rant done...sigh...)

[sisgldnhr]

OMG! So does anyone know if the government "back pays" to when you first apply for the 5 months you have to wait?

When I talked to the SS office, she told me Medicare kicks in without the normal waiting period. Boy, did that make me feel so much better- after working 30+ yrs.All kidding aside, I know it's great that the law was changed and gets Medicare going more quickly.

I am currently covered on my husband's health insurance, I suppose that will become my secondary? It's just so hard to think about what to do for those 5 months with no income. Especially with 3 growing boys!

Keep the faith,
brenda


Brenda,

Our experience is NO, they do not cover the 6 month waiting period. SS office explained it to me this way. When you apply for SSD it takes a year for it to go thru (with a 'normal' disability). But with ALS it is a 6 month waiting period. Therefore, there is no back pay. The back pay comes in if you have to wait 1 year for the disability to go thru. I took 10,000.00 out of my business to cover household expenses during that period thinking that I would get the money back when we got our back pay. Boy did that hurt when I found out that I wasn't getting a dime of it back.

My husbands work place offered short term disability (6 months) after that he was no longer considered an employee. Also when Don's short term disability ran out, that left me without health insurance (since I was covered under his policy). I have purchased my own health insurance at a cost of $310.00 a month, 5,000 deductible per year.

We are struggling financially....the medical bills are piling up and I've got to get a handle on them sooner than later. Don's first SSD check came last month but it is less than half of what he brought home a month. We are getting small early retirement checks from 2 different companies that he had worked for. We set it up so that after Don is gone I will still have those 2 retirement checks as income.

Good luck to you and your family Brenda..... I will keep you in my prayers.

Sis

[brenda pitt]

thanks sis,

My hubby just retired yesterday, so he will now only get paid once a month. But we will all 5 still have insurance, and it will only cost him about $42 a month, which I'm thankful for.

I still haven't decided what 5 months I want to be broke though! I'm hoping to re-work our budget a little bit, and try my best to get some little piddly stuff paid for.

I appreciate your kind comments and I will also keep you in my prayers,
Keep the faith,
brenda

[sisgldnhr]

Brenda,

I don't know how many children you have but you may be able to get some help from various social services. I am fighting right now to get Don's doctor bills lowered thru a social worker at the medical center where he was seen prior to going to an ALS Clinic.

I'm so glad to hear that you & your children get to keep your health insurance! That helps out alot!

Keep us updated,


Sis

[brenda pitt]

Hey sis,

Well, my boys are 17, 14, and 7. So I know the oldest one probably will go off of my hubby's insurance when he turns 18 next month.

I guess I will have to take a day off and get the national debt figured out and see what I can do about some adjustments to medical bills, etc. I am hoping I can do it all in about a day, and then forget about it!

But, once again, thank you so much for getting back with me, and I will keep you posted!
Have a great weekend!
Keep the faith,
brenda