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

[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.)