Just applied for ssdi-help

[jbk1221]

My company just terminated me and my ltd ins said they would cut my benifits if I didn't file for ssdi. I filled out the form online and I got the call today. The interviewer did not sound to happy or encouraging. Do any of you have advice of what's next or what I should do? I have ms that affects my brain,both legs and my right arm from the shoulder down. I have been in construction or a laborer most of my life so I'm at a lost as to what I can do. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Thanks

[SCI-Nurse]

You need medical records from your physician detailing all your impairments, and also stating if these interfere with your ability to work. Were you laid off due to any of these problems, or was this a general lay-off? For SSDI you must be able to show that you cannot do any work, even if you changed jobs or positions. The conditions of your companies LTD insurance will differ. Do you have a copy of that policy? If not, get it. Be sure to check if it is dependent upon approval of SSDI, or only that you must apply (but not necessarily be granted) SSDI.

I would strongly encourage you to seek the advice of an attorney who does SS work. Getting SSDI with MS can be quite difficult, esp. if you have RRMS. Is that the type you have?

(KLD)

[jbk1221]

I do have all the records and how it affects my working. I wasn't laid off, I was "terminated without predudice" when my FMLA and STD ran out. My LTD says I need to file and then show if I was approved or denied. I was first diagnosed with RR and have been "upgraded" to progressive remiting(I think). Should I find a lawyer now even though I already filed? Are they expensive? I haven't worked since jan.

[jccarolina]

They have changed allot of the application process starting this year, but, I can guarantee you that you will be denied the first time, especially since you were working and got let go from your job.

I recommend you find a SSDI lawyer now and talk to him about representation.
Document EVERYTHING, and everything you send Social Security, keep a copy of in you records also.
You should get a decision letter in about 60 days.

I believe one of the changes they made was you only have to appeal once and instead of going through the "request for reconsideration", they go straight to an ALJ (administrative Law Judge) hearing.

I've had to go through the process twice. Once for my SO and then me. I'm going through the dreaded "Continuing disability review" right now.

Yes, the ppl at Social Security are never very friendly.
I mean, there not happy you want what you deserve and they would rather not give it to you.

The system sucks, but don't take NO for an answer, and if you get the denial letter, DON'T stop there, make sure you appeal right away.....

[jccarolina]

BTW,
The lawyer is like a personal injury lawyer, You don't pay unless you win, and there are only alowd to charge so much and the fees are taken out of your first check (Retro-pay)

[metronycguy]

Y. Were you laid off due to any of these problems, or was this a general lay-off? For SSDI you must be able to show that you cannot do any work, even if you changed jobs or positions.
(KLD)
that is n0t true with ssdi if your over the age of of 55 and the work you performer for th least 25 years was physical in nature, and you no longer can meet those requirement, and if you have no education that is viable in the job market,you should be set for ssdi .

[ginamarie]

I was worked at a place where a co-worker of mine went on LTD. He was required to apply for SSDI or they would reduce his LTD to what they would have to pay if he received SSDI. He had to go all the way through the process to the hearing. Basically the company wants to pay you less if they can, but if you were denied at the hearing level then they would drop it. Going all the way to the hearing typically takes years and as long as you were doing what you had to do to go through the process (you didn't have to try to speed things up) LTD would continue to pay. The benefit if you get SSDI is that your children and/or wife may also qualifiy under you and then you would be ahead. LTD will only reduce the amount you receive by the amount of SSDI that you receive, not your family.

That is how it was with that company, which is a major corporation that everyone has heard of.

[SCI-Nurse]

Mike, note that this member is only 40, so he is not over 55, and I assume he does not have more than 25 years of work record.

(KLD)

[metronycguy]

thanks kld i missed that pertinent fact!
ltd is trying to reduce their payout ,since they usually have an offset if the the injured person receives ssdi. i did talk to one person who said they paid extra on their ltd policy to not have the ssdi offset.
the good thing about ssdi is you get Medicare after about 2 years. some states seem to be easier than others to get the ssdi benefits. form what i have read if you don't have a qualifying line item disability , you will be denied on first application.
i see you were in fiber optic work, which usually equals telco.
look into united spinal org http://unitedspinal.org/ for info on returning to work and fighting the termination process due to illness.
may not be anything they can do, but there is good info there

[Andy]

Dont know if Janesville is Borg...err, AT&T territory, but there's a couple Bell shaped heads around here...you?

[jbk1221]

Thanks for all the info I will look for a lawman tomarrow. My LTD will be reduced by the amount I would get but also what my family would get. The only smart thing I did was to buy up to be tax free. We do have bell as well as everybody else. I was in the constuction/overseeing the network, so not much on the tech side. The bad part is my legs aren't working to good so driving,walking, and standing is tough most of the time. My right arm is weak not much grip and always in pain. I have been in the buisness 12 yrs made a lot of friends, nobody sees a way to stay in it. I need to find something else to do or maybe go back to school. Sorry for the long story. Thanks again for the suggestions.

[metronycguy]

sometimes the ltd will pay for the ssdi appeal, since they require it. get a copy of your ltd plan and look it over.
are you a employee of the telco or a contract worker?
they have ibots and hand controls. Pain is a whole other ball game

[jbk1221]

I worked in construction building networks and then got a job with a telco as an outside plant supervisor. They say that hand controls are an unnessesary burden.

[Andy]

Which one?

[jbk1221]

I worked for Norlight out of milwaukee for the last 7 yrs. They were bought by Q-Comm a company down south back in march. As a contractor I've worked for all of the big names in 15 states. I even spent 3 weeks in the tunnels below chicago That was fun. ha

[metronycguy]

i think you could win the right to return to work if you pushed it . there is a time limit to on when to file.
better yet talk to a ADA discrimination attorney. united spinal or PVA may be able to help you with one that specialized in your illness.
i could not return to work since i could not perform my basic job functions.
in the long run i am better off, but i don't have a family to support . i also was injured at work, so i have a better payout with wc and ssdi.
physically i may have been able to do a testing job, but pain management wise, i couldn't.
i was a splicer and galvo guy , started out with the real MA Bell with AT&T long lines as a private line board special services tester then went with NY tel with divestiture and became a SARTS tester.

[jbk1221]

Their policy is to let you go after your FMLA runs out and put you on LTD. They have said repeatedly that if things improve I can reapply "if they have the right position open". I have heard this is a common practice. As far as money goes I will be alright. The worst part is not having insurance.

[metronycguy]

Their policy is to let you go after your FMLA runs out and put you on LTD. They have said repeatedly that if things improve I can reapply "if they have the right position open". I have heard this is a common practice. As far as money goes I will be alright. The worst part is not having insurance.
their policy and what is required by law may not be one and the same, it is your decision

[jbk1221]

Thanks, I will bring this up to the lawman when I meet with him. I appreciate all the info ya"ll have given me.

[Andy]

I worked for Norlight out of milwaukee for the last 7 yrs. They were bought by Q-Comm a company down south back in march.

No kidding? Yeah, I know about Norlight, we recently had a nice last-minute frenzy in Chicago from those who chose to ignore that Norlight was shutting down their long haul transport services for the stuff I'm involved in. Gotta love it when 2 weeks to D-day all of a sudden there is a scramble to other carriers and local fiber issues restrict patching to another long distance carrier's POP or there's a lack of ports available :D . Shoulda read that memo, lol!

[jbk1221]

That would have been a good one. It was usually our fault for the last minute notices. The company that bought us has a rep for running things like monkeys boinking a foot ball. Almost 200 people have left for one reason or another. I still have friends in the biz that work for them. I feel sorry for them when I hear their stories.