Getting ready to apply for SSDI

[Nakita]

Hello everyone. I am new to this board, so please excuse my lack of knowledge in the SSI/SSDI categories...

I am a 42y/o female, married, with no dependent children. I stopped working in July, because my employer was no longer able to accommodate my disabilities. This is NOT what they told unemployment. They told UNEMP that I couldn't abide by their attendance policy. I guess that's true. You see I have a variety of medical and mental ailments. What my previous employer was referring to was the fact that I could not work with a migraine. I could not work when my blood glucose was over 300. I could not work during a panic attack.

I worked customer service for a national bank. On the phone. 8 hours a day/ 5 days a week. My doctor advised me to quit and apply for disability two years ago. I couldn't afford to do that. I cut back to part time. But I could not guage when I was going to have a migraine. My diabetes is still uncontrolled after 1 1/2 years. So I had to call off work. Would you want me working on your bank account with a migraine or a panic attack? If my brain was scattered due to high blood sugar? I think not!

So one day my supervisor called an ambulance for me since I was having severe chest pains due to a panic attack. I was hospitalized for three days. I called work every day to tell them I was still in the hospital. When I returned to work on my next scheduled day, my badge didn't work, and i was told to report to HR. I was fired, the HR specialist actually said "we can no longer accommodate your disability, so we're letting you go, but you can file for unemployment and we won't fight you". Well, WV is a right to work state, which means either the employee or the employer can terminate the work for whatever reason the choose. I could have been fired for being a fiesty, red-headed short woman. Actually, I was making more than their new minium, and they could hire someone new off the street and start them at $3 less.

So, I've been collecting Unemployment since Aug. I applied in Sept to WV for medicaid, and after grueling applications, doctor's reports, and accumulated medical bills that have gone unpaid, I was finally awarded a medicaid card. I have officially been disabled by the state of west virginia.

My unemployment benefits will run out in December and I plan to apply for SSDI in January.

Do you, the people on the board, think it will be easier to be approved the first time around since the state has already disabled me? My doctor has written elegant and elaborate reports about my disabilities. I hope that I get approved the first time, since I will have no place to live by February with no income, no retirement fund to fall back on, and only a small fed tax refund in Feb/Mar.

Thanks

[lfoster21]

Have you already applied for SSDI? I ask because it will take several months for an answer, either for or against. Im in Virginia and it is a 6 mo. wait for a decision. Also, when you say your considered disabled by the state, are you talking about being considered disabled by a state insurance company or something else? (Im considered disabled by the state dept. of workman's comp and Ive been told that wouldnt necessarily make a difference to SSA. I should have my first decision from SSA in Dec.) When i hear from them, I will post the decission.

Good luck and keep us posted,

Lorie

[Nakita]

No I haven't applied for SSDI yet, because as soon as I do, I won't receive any more unemployment checks. I have been disabled by the WV dept of human resources and now receive a medicaid card. my worker there told me that it should be easier to get SSDI now.

[lfoster21]

It seems like maybe you'll have some luck, being that you have already proved your disability to social services. Would your unemployment end when you apply to Soc. Sec. or when you are accepted? I now have Workman's Comp, but I was allowed to apply for Soc. Sec. If I am accepted for Soc. Sec. then the w/c will be reduced or perhaps ended.

Keep us posted, I am really interested in this situation. I should know next mo. if I am accepted on my 1st go around w/ S.S.

Good luck,

Lorie

[Nakita]

If I apply for SSI/SSDI I will lose my unemployment benefits. The difference here is that by collecting unemployment, I am stating that I am able and willing to work full-time. If I apply for SS benefits, then, I'm obviously not able to work.