Disability Advice?

[ladysprite]

So. When I talked to my therapist today about the amount of pain I'm in, and the way it's impacting my ability to eat, sleep, perform everyday functions, and think, she said I needed to get out of work and on disability ASAP.

I had been figuring on going on short-term disability when I had surgery, but apparently I need to move a little faster. I have an appointment with a neurosurgeon near the end of the month, but in the meantime I need to work on getting interim medical insurance (because ANOTHER snafu left us still uninsured, this time until November) and a new PCP and starting disability paperwork right away.

There's just one problem.

I'm self-employed. And I was always told that, because of that, if I ever needed disability I could just count on social security. But apparently, as I just found out tonight, Social Security Disability is only for cases where you're going to be out of work for over a year. They don't provide short-term disability.

So. I'm trying not to view this as another catastrophe, or yet more proof that I'm doomed and that the universe wants to condemn me to a short, miserable life of pain and suffering. And instead I'm asking for advice.

Does anybody out there know anything about short-term disability, especially for self-employed individuals? Especially especially, say, in cases where they're already diagnosed with an injury? I don't yet have any doctors saying I need it (my therapist isn't an MD), but the diagnosis of herniated discs is already out there...

Please, and thank you...

Comments

[ricevermicelli.livejournal.com]

Both long- and short-term disability insurance are purchasable, but it does become much much harder to do that when one is already diagnosed with a serious problem (and it is much harder to do that as an individual then as a member of a group, like an employer plan). The disability insurance I have through work didn't kick in until after a year of employment/a year of paying premiums.

So short-term disability insurance is probably not going to help you now.

Is the pain you are dealing with now by any chance the result of a car accident? If so, is it possible to file an injury claim that way? Did work cause or exacerbate your injury, and are you potentially eligible for worker's comp? And do you know for sure that you won't be dealing with this for a year? What's the treatment and recovery plan?

[ricevermicelli.livejournal.com]

Oh! What's Umbran's insurance status? Does his work potentially offer insurance to spouses after key events (change in employment, for example) or during open enrollment?

[ladysprite.livejournal.com]

Sadly, it's not the result of a car accident or a specific injury - it's a problem that's been slowly building as the result of chronic repetitive stress. So no injury claim, and I think that rules out worker's comp (though if it doesn't, I'd love to know). And treatment/recovery is surgery and 4-6 weeks of restricted activity; if I'm still feeling like this in a year I'll just kill myself rather than live in this fashion.

Umbran has already emailed his employer to see if his insurance happens to include me, and, if not, whether I can be added - thank you for the corroboration that that might work....

[siderea]

it's a problem that's been slowly building as the result of chronic repetitive stress. So no injury claim, and I think that rules out worker's comp (though if it doesn't, I'd love to know).

It doesn't, but I'll tell you: no employer (or more accurately, no employer's WC insurer) takes a Worker's Comp claim lying down. Repetitive stress injuries from repetitive work behaviors (e.g. programmers getting inflamed carpal tunnels, checkout cashiers getting tendonitis) are totally legitimate grounds for a WC claim, but proving it can be mighty hard. The insurer would likely fight it, attempting to argue -- in court if necessary -- that you had the injury previously, or since you engaged in behaviors which stressed the injury outside of work, they shouldn't be on the hook to pay.

[citabria]

This.

I'm also wondering how a WC claim would even be processed, since you've been working at multiple clinics for the past several years. I can't recall if your placements are through an agency or not; if they were, that would be much easier (the claim would be processed with the agency). If not ... well, if not, this conversation would best be conducted by phone.

To be clear, I'm not saying that a WC claim *can't* be processed, or that it would be denied -- just that it might be more complicated given your work status.

[wcg.livejournal.com]

How do you know you won't be out for at least a year? I'd apply for the Social Security Disability, and if I was lucky enough to start working earlier than a year in the future, just tell Social Security then. If it turned out I had to be out for a year or longer, things would already be in place.

[johnpalmer.livejournal.com]

Nod. The sooner you start the ball rolling, the sooner determinations can be made, and since initial determinations are usually refusals, you'll be closer to being able to make an appeal.

It's far better to be six months through the process and say "Okay, never mind, I'm better" than to be waiting an extra six months for benefits.

[moonchylde.livejournal.com]

I second the 'just apply'... my father threw his back out and he's retired but working PT on the side. His employer actually recommended he apply for the disability (he has no health benefits through work, only his retirement.) He was shocked at the idea, but he did qualify and eventually (2-3 mos? Not sure how long he was out) he went back to work.

[ricevermicelli.livejournal.com]

This echoes my thinking on SSDI. You don't know how long you'll be out. You have some medical support for the notion that you're unable to work right now, but you don't have anything concrete like a date for surgery, and you can't get one until you get the insurance straightened out, and get in to see a new PCP and get a referral to the neurosurgeon. I know how long it can take to get in to see a new PCP - it's months. So your disability is "indefinite", and while I certainly hope you are all better well before that year is up, I have plenty of experience with medical crap taking longer then planned.

[mr-teem.livejournal.com]

The SSDI process for disability claims is also VERY long. My brother's took well over a year and he ended up using one of those lawyers that advertise on the TV to help you through the process. There's a built-in assumption in the process that you are denied the first time, too.

So, start now.

(On the bright side, if I can use that term, if you are approved, you get benefits retroactive to when you applied.)