Have Question...

[TiaTia]

Hey everyone...

My doctor has been pushing me to apply for disability benefits for six months now, but I wanted to keep trying to work. I worked some part time here and there for a friend's company, but have not worked full time for six months. My doctor said she read in the paper that if you have only been able to work part time, then you can still get benefits. She is very sure that I can get benefits because of the severity of my IC. I have also talked to some of her other patients who have said that she is a master at getting people benefits. But does anybody know anything about this part time thing? I cannot just not work at all, because my husband's income, no matter how hard he works, will just not cover us. It is a horrendous feeling, as I am sure you all know, to be stuck in this situation. I cannot work, lately even part time. We just moved into our brand-new first house, and we are going to lose it if I don't have any income coming in. I HATE IC!!! Sorry, I just had to get that out. I have been working for 21 years, and it ****** me off that I have to fight so hard and jump through hoops to get what is rightfully mine. There is no doubt that I am currently fully disabled, at least for now, and I need help.

If anyone knows anything about this part time thing, I would truly appreciate any of you sharing that knowledge. My husband and I are running short on solutions, and the bank funds are alarmingly low. I know it would take a while to get disability if I even can, but at least there would be some hope in the future. What is really upsetting to me is the people out there who I have met who are not disabled but are receiving disability. I know one guy that had a doctor friend forge papers, and now receives $1200 a month, and *****es that it isn't enough <img src="graemlins/cussing.gif" border="0" alt="[cussing]" />

Anyway, thanks for listening. I know I vented quite a bit there. I am just scared to death right now, and don't know what to do. Take care, have a great, pain-free 4th of July, and God Bless...

Cristina <img src="graemlins/hi.gif" border="0" alt="[hi]" />

[dyno]

Please check with an authority on this but this is what I know. A few years ago before my sister died she was on 100% SS disablilty. She was able to make some money because she worked from home. I was thinking it was at least $400.00 a month. She was also able to get Medicare or Medicaid, whichever one it is before you retire. She was only 35. But that also helped kick in where their own insurance left off. Good Luck!

[Teri]

Call your local SS office. They will beable to answer all of your questions. When I applied I was only calling to ask about it....the girl told me to go ahead and apply and if I got better I could just drop it but in the mean time, it was a good idea to get the ball rolling.

I used the information from the ICA and won my case on my first appeal without a lawyer. BUT, I did a TON of foot work. I physically went to each and every dr and hospital and got copies of all of my records to send to SS when I applied. I also had all of my dr's write a personal letter regarding my abilities.

You could be wasting time, HURRY UP AND CALL [img]wink.gif[/img]

[JaneP]

Teri is right. Call the SS office and ask about applying and working part time. I'm not sure, but there may be something about getting disabiltiy benefits and making not more than $ 700.00 per month. Not exactly sure of the amount, but I think that it is somewhere around that. I think it would be hard to win your case is you are working at all when you apply because the SS definition of disability is that you are unable to do any kind of work, not just the work you have done in the past. I understand the very negative effect that IC can have financialy on a family. The amount that I receive from SS disability is about one quarter of what I was making at my last job. It's better than nothing, but I sure hope to someday be able to work and contribute. Good luck to you, and I hope that it all works out.

[Judith]

I get disability benefits and I work part time. I am allowed to make up to $740.00 a month and not be penalized. I must get that income because I only get about $500.00 a month in SSDI benefits. Even though this is a federal program, you still should check with your local social security office just to make sure.Good Luck! Judith <img src="graemlins/bunny.gif" border="0" alt="[bunny]" />

[nccarol]

I have been on SSD for almost 12 years now for IC, depression, Fibro etc and it is possible to get SSD as it sounds you worked for some time. It goes by the years you worked and salary but there are SSD websites. I think it is SSA.gov. Or your local office will have the info, and they can go retro I think depending on what is considered gainful employment. And you can use trail work for the first 9 months making any amount and now you can work up to $740 per month for I think 36 months along with collecting. You can get SSD and SSI in some cases. The disability office has all pamplets on it. In your case sounds like you do need it. I tried to push 3 more years past what I was able to and had to go on SSD.One last tip which I did not know so I lost money is being on disability you can claim tax exempt if working some. Found out after the fact but figured I would pass it on. Check first though in case things have changed. <img src="graemlins/grouphug.gif" border="0" alt="[grouphug]" />