what to expect next - Disabilities Message Board

ICC · 01-12-2007, 06:57 AM

hubby was approved for SSD on January 3rd after a 3 year wait. hat happens next. all his attorney has told him is that there are no appeals left so he's in and should here something else in 30 days. Check in 30 days? I understand they pay back to 6 months after the day you were injured. is that correct? What about medicare? I know absolutely nothing about this so any help will be appreciated. Even the Part A-B-C-D stuff with medicare confuses the wits out of me.

ICC

countrykid · 01-13-2007, 12:35 PM

Hi
I hope my post on my hubby answered some of your ???'s. I have Medicare because unfortunately I am also on SSDI since July 2004. Mine kicked in last July after my 2 year wait. You should be getting a booklet from Medicare with the info on the ins and outs of it. Now I found it helpful to call the Medicare hotline. They answered alot of my ???'s because each person finances and situtations are different, so you may qualify for additional help in paying your Medicare premium and be eligible for different supplemental insurance.
Our ALJ said we would hear in about 1 month on his letter, the attorney said we may see benefits come March but maybe not till April. And the lumpsum could come before or after the monthly checks. We will just have to keep checking our bank we have DD.
Now PA is really pushing to get backpay and cases caught up. Too much heat from the legislators.
Hope this helped some for you.

ICC · 01-13-2007, 02:06 PM

thanks countrykid----I am also in PA so it is a big help. I had no idea there was aid in paying the premiums for medicare. Right now we are paying over $1000 a month for health insurance and just being able to drop my husband will cut it in less than half. Hubby waited almost 4 years to see anything from WC and it's been almost 3 years waiting for SSD to be approved. I have been without income since Oct. 2006. Injured on the job in May of 2006 but had enough sick days to cover me until Oct. We actually have no income and are living off my husband;s WC settlement. You know how that goes. keep pulling and pulling every month for the bills and before you know it you have nothing. I have no idea when my WC case will be settled. I go to court in Feb. So the way I see it we will probably be without any income for another couple of months. My treating Dr. has recommended that I be put out of work permanently because I have multiple injured body parts that are permanent, no surgery will correct any of them. Plus I have diabetes, fibro, PTSD, depression, asthma and HBP. When my case is settled I will retire on disability from my pension and hope to also apply for SSD but until then we have nothing to go on. It's so scary because your whole life hangs on a check coming and God only knows when. I know you know this and God bless you for making it for as long as you and hubby did. It's so difficult.

God bless,
ICC

countrykid · 01-13-2007, 02:35 PM

ICC
I don't want to pry but why haven't you already applied for SSDI? I know that some people wait but then the wait can be so long till approval. i applied for my SSDI right when I went out on STD. I was lucky I had plenty of medical docs to support my claim so I got approved right away, so when STD ended SSDI started. Timing was perfect. Now I know that WC does effect your SSDI and vicey versey but they adjust either your SSDI or WC money to offset the other or pay back the other. At least you have something coming in till decisions are made. You can apply and use your injury date in May as your disability date.
Just throwing that out at you...because I know how it is without money....we have liquidated everything...we are currently running on borrowed time....

ICC · 01-13-2007, 03:00 PM

countrykid-----I agree with you but my attorney, and he is aware of the situation, asked if I could possibly hold off until after my hearing on the WC case in feb. he asked in Dec and I felt that 2 months wasn't bad. but now I'm thinking even if I win my comp case it will take a little time for them to pay me back to May and begin my bi-weekly checks. I told my attorney back in Dec. that win or lose I am done with WC in Feb. I have been through hell physically and emotionally since being injured and will not do any longer. I have a great pension that I worked 20 years for and can retire on disablilty which is what i will do once feb comes and goes. I guess my attoreny didn't think I should lose anything by the WC and SSD conflicting. also since i am over 50 and with so many health issues he feels my SSD won't take as long as hubby's. you know, countrykid, it's all guess work. I made it clear to him that no amount of money is worth what I have been through. Hubby and I both agreed that the WC win or lose is done in Feb. Hubby stuck his out for 3 years. I know I can't do it. I don't want to. I just want to feel better and get on with my life. Dr. feels he can give me a good quality of life back with lots of PT and rest and that's all i'm looking for. i do agree I probably should have applied immediately but at this point I go to court in less than 30 days so I'll stick it out. thanks for caring.

ICC