What ever happened to...

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glupavomomiche

Distinguished member
Joined
Sep 25, 2011
Messages
282
Reason
PALS
Diagnosis
09/2011
Country
US
State
Texas
City
Podunk
don't kick a man (or woman) when he (or she) is down?

I've been placed on administrative leave with pay.

I'm being sued by a hospital.

My ex is trying to move to my hometown.

I have a disease with no cure.

Every time I think "It can't possibly get any worse!" ... it DOES.

Everyone says keep fighting... keep fighting for what? More crap?

I do believe things happen for a reason.... there better be a dang good one is all I can say at this point.
 
I'm sorry Sweetheart. Who do you have that's on your side? At least your still being paid! Remember that there are many out there that don't have anything. I know for me to say that is probably pretty irritating but it's true. Hang in there gorgeous!
 
I recently retired. I think they were relieved when I did. Have you started the process for Social Security Disability benefits yet?
 
About to get rolling on those benefits. I was advised to wait until I was hooked up all the way with an ALS clinic so I would have advice and counsel and consistent paperwork and all that business.

I think they will be relieved when I leave, as will I. It's just too much. I keep telling myself to push through to May because I will be off all summer and still get paid until August and that will hopefully be plenty of time for benefits to kick in. However... kinks in the plans... lots of kinks.... bleah!

And you're right, at least it's paid leave. I called my union rep over the whole situation and he just laughed and told me to enjoy the extra vacation. He has a point... but I don't like when thinks aren't going according to plan... hmm... ALS is definitely not a good disease for a planner like me LOL
 
Well, truth is we aren't calling the shots like we always thought. Do you have a good neurologist yet? Or can your primary care physician make some recommendations as to what you need as far as your medical team goes? My PCP was a little miffed that I sort of left her out of the process of finding my neurologist and Pulmonologist and such. Have you contacted your local ALS Support Group yet? They can make some good recommendations for lots of things ALS/MND.
 
Also, an ALS diagnosis puts you on the fast track to receive your benefits. Were I you Dear Gulp I'd call them tomorrow to get things rolling.
 
Actually, you can apply for disability online. That's what I did and it was easy. You're right - it's an automatic approval with ALS and fast-track to benefits - 5 months waiting time. I'd encourage you to get this done now.
 
So will they take the diagnosis from any old neurologist or does it have to be an ALS specialist that you are working with? I was led to believe the latter.
 
Hi Glup,

Since you are a planner, then get started shuga pie! While you are being on paid leave, get that proverbial ball rolling so your disability benefits will kick in for you. Takes several months for this to happen! Never heard of filing on-line, but that sounds great to me! Lots of paperwork will be requested from you and from your physician, so get started NOW!

My sis left her job after 25 years to take retirement. She had accumulated PTO, Sick Leave and Vacation enough to continue with a salary that kept her going financially until her benefits started. She was diagnosed in May of 2011 and by end of June 2011 she was retired. Her SS disability started in November or December of 2011. So 5 or 6 months is the time frame you are looking at before your benefits will start.

Sis also had short-term disability that also compensated until the SS began. You may have that from your workplace. Lots of options and lots of decisions to be made, so get CRACKING!

One last thing... God will never leave you and He is always in control...Pray for His guidance daily! You are in the right place for info, support, love, comfort...so never hesitate to ask. Will be praying for you!

Love in Christ, Kaye
 
hmm... ALS is definitely not a good disease for a planner like me LOL

Of course ALS is not good for anyone, but being a planner can at least work to your advantage. Plan ahead! Get your equipment before you need it, start various paperwork as soon as possible. It will save alot of stress on you and your helpers.

Brian
 
The Social Security Administration no longer mails out those yearly earnings records you may have glanced at and then filed away. If your chosen filing cabinet was not of the circular variety dig out your last statement and there you will find an approximate monthly disability payment. More importantly, look to find the total of your lifetime contributions and double it because for every dollar you paid in your employer(s) also paid a dollar. A little math (total in divided by monthly payment) will show how many months it will take to get back just your contributions. Over six years in my case, anyway - just a little information to influence your planning.
 
I filled out my paperwork on line and then called them. They set me up with a phone interview with my local SSA office but prior to the phone interview I needed to supply all my paperwork regarding my diagnosis which I got from my Neurologist. They also wanted my birth certificate and social security card and marriage certificate so get all that in order right away. It is a relatively easy process.
 
And... when you're filling out those SSDI forms. Put the medical billing code for ALS EVERYWHERE POSSIBLE. It is 335.20

You probably know this, but I thought I'd clarify for others who may have similar circumstances. You earn social security credits when you work in a job in which you pay social security taxes. Credits are based on your earnings in each quarter of a calendar year. If you are disabled at age 31 or older, you need at least twenty credits in the ten years immediately before you became disabled. I know you are pretty young to have ALS, hopefully you've worked enough years to collect. (I didn't want to give you more problems to worry about by writing this). If you don't have the 10 years of work credits, there is the social security supplemental insurance to apply for.

As far as the other issues you're facing, if your ex is potentially dangerous, then talk to the authorities about ways to keep him at a distance. And about the hospital billing problems, see if there is someone who can advocate for you, perhaps come up with a reduced payment plan taking your current circumstances into consideration.

Good luck, and keep your chin up.
 
Oh my, you are singing my song! We are

.....being sued by his ex-wife to continue to pay the amount of alimony she has always enjoyed, in spite of the fact that it is greater than his projected disability pay

.....under IRS audit because she doesn't feel that she should be paying taxes on the aforementioned alimony, but he should (I also suspect that he miscalculated the amount as we hadn't yet been diagnosed with anything and I didn't understand the degree of his confusion)

.....I am being sued by my ex-husband because he doesn't feel he should share any of his retirement benefits in spite of the fact that I was a stay at home mom for almost 26 years.

.....his children refuse to have anything to do with him and have stated that HE DESERVES THIS DISEASE and it's God's way of punishing him because he shouldn't have left his abusive ex-wife.

But you know......I don't care. I am here with him, now. We have today. And today is going to be the best day we can make it. Planning is a terrific thing, and when it works out, fabulous! But I've learned to go with the flow.

I've said it before on a previous thread.....What angers you, conquers you. You are bigger and stronger than all of this and you can be the winner. Just for today.
 
My GOSH Cubcake! You have it in spades don't you Dear!
 
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