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Question on disability? - sm

Posted: May 08, 2015

If you have a medical condition absolutely linked by your doctor to sitting here all day long, what are my options? Doc wants me to quit, does this become a job related disability? Can I get compensated or something, or do I just get to quit and go hungry? Making appointment with specialist to see if surgery can fix the problem but really need to know my options for the future. I've never in my life collected either U/E or disability, so kind of in the dark here.

disability - Effie

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I have never collected disability but from what I understand, you have to be disabled from ANY kind of work, not just the work you currently do, to collect social security disability.

Im not talking government disability - sm

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talking more of a worker's comp type thing. You know like any company does when their on-site employees get hurt. Is that an option here? Basically something to hold me over till I find a job that is more suitable.

The catch-22 of getting disability is - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
that it takes a couple of years to process and be approved. During that time, if you are still working to support yourself, then you will be denied, but how can you survive with zero income waiting to see if they approve you? Although, I think we do have long-term disability through MM, so that would at least be something for however long it lasts. I think you need to get a workers' comp case going and possibly file for short- and long-term disability through MM, though you may have to choose between workers' comp and MM's disability, and then I would also suggest getting your federal disability paperwork rolling as soon as you can because the wait is so long.

Be prepared, though, because it's not a lot of money. My relative who broke his back gets $600/month plus $18/month food stamps, so he has to live with another relative because it's not enough to survive on, but the amount I think depends on your previous income too. I remember seeing an amount in those Social Security statements we used to periodically get in the mail.

FYI, I check my SS statement every month, and - I would get more filing for

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disability than I would retiring. It is easy to go one line and check this out at the SS website.

Disability - ea

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I applied for SS disability and got it on first try in 4 months. You can work while you are waiting for the decision, but not gross more than 1,000/month. Once you are on SS disability, you can still work, but you cannot gross more than 700/month or that puts you into a category of sustainable income, meaning you can work and make enough without disability.

Disability - Paperwork

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Doctor could fill out paperwork for Workman's Comp ...

thanks, Im not looking for long term disability - sm

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I just need a job that keeps me upright and the blood moving in my legs. I have already started looking, hopefully I can just wing it until something comes along..Walmart greeter here I come, lol...

Work Comp - smmt

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You can file a work comp claim. Call you super (or whatever the initials are). That person will refer you to HR. Be prepared for paperwork. The doctor you want to see may not be who work comp insurance will send you to. If you have to be off work, or work reduced hours, the work comp doctor will say so. Then, work comp insurance will pay you for the time you either can't work at all or the partial hours you can't work due to restrictions.

You will have to apply for FMLA, to supposedly protect your job for you, even though you will not/can not use short-term disability (worker's comp insurance will pay instead).

Hope this helps you out some. You should decide if you want to go work comp route or state disability through your personal insurance. Either way, there is a lot of paperwork.

Ok thanks a million, yes it does help - sm

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Soon as I see the specialist, if this isnt fixable, Im gonna have to go workers comp route

Did you report this to your employer yet?? - sm

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There is a process to follow for WC. You need to report the injury to your employer. You can't just decide WC is going to pay you while you look for another job.

Likewise, you can't just get disability because you need to look for another job.

You have to report the injury, be examined by THEIR doctor(s), and follow the process they will give you. You can't just find a surgeon and get opinions, then tell them what you want.

If your doctor thought you were disabled, he would have told you.

Neither program is for someone who just needs a less sit-down job. Get a stand-up desk.

Not true. My husband's doctor prompted him to - sm

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pursue workers' comp & started the process herself.

No I haven't reported it - sm

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I have been hoping to find a solution and not use it..Since it is getting worse, I am looking at alternatives. Standup desk actually was a thought.

Question on disability - Absolutely linked...SM

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Sciatica? Carpal tunnel syndrome? What exactly did your doctor "absolutely" link to your sitting all day? It's not an injury, so it's not workers' compensation by any means. If you undergo surgery, you would qualify for short-term disability. SMH

None of your business - sm

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I think my doc is more qualified than you are to judge my problems. I came to this forum to question this anonymously for a reason.

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