counselor
disability
husband still working
lucky so far
no permanent damage
not sure
retire next year
A counselor at the cancer center wants me to consider going on disability.
By writersedge
@writersedge (22563)
United States
March 6, 2012 7:45am CST
I have substitute taught a couple of days and gotten shingles. Then a couple days and got diarrhea. But when she said that, I was shocked.
Part of what is great about being a teacher is that you can teach no matter what. In a wheelchair, etc. I hadn't considered it and was shocked.
On the other hand, I've been lucky so far. No permanent damage with the shingles. Didn't end up with transfustions from the diarrhea. People with better immune systems than mine have come out worse.
It's just really hard for me to wrap my head around it. I just thought I would work until I was a wreck and then retire. I can't retire until next year when I'm 55. The average age of correctional employees to die is 55 where I live so I wasn't even sure I would make it until recently.
I have friends telling me to do it so I won't get more ill with maybe permanent damage. I have other friends telling me not to expect too much. Several have been denied disability repeatedly. One woman's daughter needed a double lung transplant because of cystic fibrosis. She was denied 2xs. Her daughter didn't get a transplant in time. She lost her at 30 years of age and she left behind a daughter 10 years old. Another friend is blind in one eye and had tunnel vision in the other. Denied 2xs. One friend fought for a year and a half and then they gave him everything in one lump sum that they mostly took back in taxes.
So I'm wondering if it's even worth it. But a year without an income. If my husband gets laid off from work, we'll never make it. One person at only half income. Where he works, people are hired for a few weeks, laid off a few weeks, hired a few weeks, laid off a few weeks, over and over again. So far his hire number saves him, but if they don't get enough orders, they may dig deep into the numbers and reach him.
In one year, I retire anyway. I don't know if it's worth the hassle or if I'll get anywhere. But if he looses his job again with the cost of my treatments, I don't know how we'll make it.
It's so hard to know what to do. Do you ever feel like it's really hard to know what to do?
3 people like this
10 responses
@GardenGerty (157551)
• United States
6 Mar 12
I have heard that you should start the application by hiring an aggressive disability attorney that works on a contingency basis. I will also point out that if you only get a certain amount of disability, you will also be able to work a limited amount, when you are feeling well. Can your husband get temporary unemployment when he is on a temporary layoff? I know it varies from state to state, just as disability does. In my opinion, you should try it. I am sorry for your friends who have not gotten disability when they have tried. I have a friend who is trying right now, but is not going the lawyer route. I do not believe he is disabled enough to qualify and neither does his wife. He has been depressed and that is part of why he is so slowed down. I am helping him job hunt and learn computer skills so he can look.
1 person likes this
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
6 Mar 12
You are a very good friend to him.
I really hate that a lawyer would take part of what should be mine or anyone else's.
My husband can get 1/2 income unemployment. For two people, that's not much money. Esp. with my medical co-pays.
1 person likes this
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
7 Mar 12
I think I'd have to be older to get both. I don't know. I'll have to check with someone on that Hatley.
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
7 Mar 12
you can also get social security plus ss i now I would think
@francesca5 (1344)
•
6 Mar 12
people who work in health are wonderful people, but they can also be a negative, in that they almost seem to fear the illnesses we have more than we do.
i got type 1 diabetes when i was about 18, and i was given all these doom and gloom stories, and i just decided to ignore them, because i just felt that if i started believing all these negative things then i would make them happen.
so i would be careful, and though its done in the nicest possible way, health professionals can just be too cautious.
if work is making you tired and stressed then take that advice, but if you are enjoying it, and its keep you optimistic and cheerful, and allowing you to do things that take your mind of your illness and think about other things, then i would ignore that advice, because the benefit of doing something that makes you feel good, like still working, and feeling like a capable adult, is far more important than a bit of tiredness, but obviously you have to make the judgment.
the counsellor cannot really know what it is like to be you, and what you need, only you can know that, and if you like working, and still enjoy it, carry on.
they do worry an awful lot these people who work in health.
1 person likes this
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
7 Mar 12
Actually, sitting by the phone and waiting for calls that never come day after day when I could be doing something else is quite irritating. I called the school, I've been waiting most of my school years for nothing since 2008. I have to wait from 6AM to 11:30PM. Day in and say out. A couple days a month I get work. Then sick a week or two plus quaranteening myself so I don't give it to my older friends.
Plus I'm really going broke waiting for not much work. The kids and parents are getting harder to deal with. So are some of the teachers.
I enjoy healing circle and T'ai Chi more. So I think that helped me some just now.
@francesca5 (1344)
•
7 Mar 12
my only fear is that disability benefits impose on us a label, but if you are happy to use the label but not let it become you, then it could be a fun way to explore more interesting things, and these healing things are getting very popular, if you put time into it you might even find it a nice way to earn money once you are feeling better.
sorry...............i just can't help but think that way.
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
6 Mar 12
I'm also going to have to pray that God will direct them should I choose to do it. Tiring myself out for rejections seems ridiculous to me.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (159030)
• Boise, Idaho
6 Mar 12
Disability is a good thing. If you are going to be sick like this each time you try to sub then why not try for the disability? Retiring alittle early isn't so terrible.And retirement and disability benefits are two different things. I retired about seven years ago. I was lucky that I was offered a early one and have a pension. But I am also on SSDI. I wasn't denied. I was accepted immediately. I would hurry and apply. See what happens.
1 person likes this
@wilsongoddard (7291)
• United States
6 Mar 12
It's a difficult decision to make. Yes, it can take a long while to get disability; however, you are endangering yourself every time you go in to substitute.
Have you considered tutoring online rather than substitute teaching? There are several legitimate companies. I don't know how much you are earning substituting, but the pay may be comparable.
1 person likes this
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
6 Mar 12
True, I do seem to be endangering my health.
I have been on some sites, but nothing has really happened with them.
1 person likes this
@jbcratchet (37)
• United States
6 Mar 12
Hi,
Pray about it and seek God's direction. You will make more money from retirement than you ever could on disability. Have a great day!
1 person likes this
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
6 Mar 12
The disability would just before for this year. I can't retire until next year, I'm not old enough yet.
Yes, I will be praying about it.
1 person likes this
@KrauseHome (36448)
• United States
6 Mar 12
Been there my friend. With all I am going thru, and how I almost lost my Job last September before I ended up going to the EEOC... it was not a Fun situation, and with having the Chronic wound but also being Married I know his income means there is no extra help, which is Sad. Personally I feel the worst thing a person can do is go on Disability if they are able to work or find ways within their means of earning some extra income. Yes, you and I have Health issues which can often affect us, but we know God is able to see us thru. Keep strong my friend, and remember you are always in my thoughts and Prayers.
1 person likes this
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
7 Mar 12
hi writersedge why should you be given disability merely on shingles? but I think you said before you have heart trouble too.shingles is the pits.but retiring at 55 here in the US means a cut in how much social security and ss i you get.if you are in the US try the company of Binder and binder as I have much younger friends who were helped by them to get total disability. People who had tried to do it on their own and were turned down.I got ssi in my early eighties because I have a bad leg with brace and disability in my left arm because of artificial shoulder joint. that and my ssi check are what pays the too steep monthly rent and board here at Gold Crest retirement center. it is hard to know what to do writersedge, i think though you should see if you can qualify as the money if you get it will help you and your husband., this horrid economy had broken up homes here in the Us. we got behind on the rent when my son was laid off and my small social security check did not touch the `1200 per month rent for a shabby two bedroom apartment.evicted and made homeless three years ago my son helped me get in her and finally got help from Housing America who helped jobless men with free apts so they had a place to live and an address.Without a permanent address men cannot fill out work applications,he was out of work for a year and a half and is working 38 hours a week almost full time doing what he
is qualified to do computer programming.We were hoping for him to make enough for us to get back into a 2 bedroom apt but he just is not making enough. he shares a large bedroom with three other men whom he knew back in Housing America.so we are doing what we have to do, not what we might want to do.
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
7 Mar 12
No, I have cancer, lowered immune system and every time I substitute teach, I get something, first shingles and then diarrhea. I was lucky, my shingles were mild, but I could get it again and have permanent damage. My diarrhea, I was lucky I didn't need a transfusion. Yes, I have a mitral valve leak.
I'm sorry your son, and so many others, are having such a rough time.
I really don't want anyone to have part of my retirement.
Retiring at 55 would lower a lot of things. I'm not sure waht to do, but according to the Drs, I'll be on chemo the rest of my life. According to my palm only 5 to 10 years, then I have 5 to 10 years without it.
@JenInTN (27514)
• United States
7 Mar 12
I have felt that way before...about the decision making thing.
I think that you certainly have a lot to consider. I know that, for the most part, people are denied several times before finally getting disability. They often have to get a lawyer that takes half if not more of their settlement too. I think that teaching is also a very large part of your life. A good part.
I can't say what I would do...a year to go until retirement. Can you apply for it after your retired?
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
7 Mar 12
Yeah, that rots that people have to give about half of it to a lawyer. What a racket!
@randylovesdar (4932)
• United States
6 Mar 12
If your not getting sick in the classroom then I would stick with teaching. Are you a teacher or a substitute teacher, if you are subbing and feel sick on a particular day you can always say that your sick and cannot come in. I feel if have a year until retirement then I would just stick it out. It takes about a year to get social security and disability anyway. After retirement will you have the option to sub (some schools allow that)?
1 person likes this
