Disability in Canada - AGAIN!!

[anonymous]

Hi, I'm the one who put up the original post. I should have said more about myself because now I have more questions! I'm a 24 year old female and currently working full time. I'm in ok health (PFT's around 56% maybe but I feel as though my health has been declining since I started working full time. I graduated from university over a year ago, so this is really my first "real" job. I've been here about 14 months. It's not that I can't work, it's just that I know that if I didn't work I would be in better health. Right now I'm at the dilemma of is it really worth it? Is it worth it to work my butt off all day (I work 7 - 4), get home, eat, do physio, and go to bed early so I can get up just to do it all over again tomorrow? My life is work and physio. I have no free time. And I know if I could do my treatments more often I would be healthier. So is it worth it to die sooner just so I can have a job like regular people. I know I don't really need the disability, but I would prefer it. Can people get disability just because it would be more convenient to their long term health? Can you apply for disability if you still have a job? I would obviously quit once the disability came in, but can you be working when you're actually applying for disability? I just don't have time to do everything!! I know I could think about a part time job, but I would rather just not have to worry about a career/job at all. Is that lazy? Are we all just dying to work? Let me know if anyone feels this way. And thanks for listening.

Melanie - 24/CF

 

[thelizardqueen]

I'd be interested in knowing the same. My health always goes on the decline when I start working.

 

[anonymous]

If you guys have questions the absolute best person to ask is Beth Sufian she is a lawyer with CF and does CF disability cases. Although I am not sure if she can work in Canada.

 

[Tess]

I hadn't been working for a while when i finally got the paper worked filled out and sent off.....

I don't think you can be working when you apply for it either.... I think it pretty well depends on what you Dr puts in his/her report to them too. if each time you go you test results are a bit worse your pretty well a shoe in.

I stopped working because i was a tech support agent (for an internet company) and couldn't get through a call with out coughing 30,000 times.... I had a bad lung infection at the time. So I got put off on Medical leave... collected Sick benefits from EI.

I didn't really find out specifics but if you go or call your EI office they'll make an appointment for you and discuss all of it with you.

 

[lilMeggies]

Just go to your social worker in the clinic and they will work everything out for you

 

[Tess]

My social worker couldn't due anything for me because my clinic is in NS and I'm in NB things differ from province to province...

But hey what ever works as long as you get the info your looking for ...

Canada.gc.ca may have info on it too .......

 

[JazzysMom]

When I applied for & got initially denied for disability its because I didnt fall under the "CF Guidelines" with Social Security. Beth Sufian got my case approved on appeal using a few factors. Some of it being my medical history, but most of it being my need for time to care for myself which included eating properly, doing treatments, taking naps & going to the doctor. IN addition (tho this was more Social Security's end then Beth's) my final approval stated that because of the type of work, wages I earned & lack of similiar employment in my area or a certain radius of my area...that I would not be able to hold substantial employement or earn equivilant wages. For once in my life leaving in the country was a true benefit when it came to my CF! So to answer the ??? depending on the case ~~ yes, just needing time to care for yourself can be a case for disability instead of being "sick" according to their requirements.

 

[Ender]

Check with your company to see if it has a long term dissability plan are part of it's insurance package. Insurance companies pay a lot better than the government disability. Usually though you have to work in the company a couple of years to apply...maybe three.

That being said..i think it's important for cfer's to come up with a plan as to what they are gonna do once they get sick...or can't work...because it is a pretty realistic scenerio for most people.

I dunno, i personally hate working...and seeing as how i got the short end of the stick on thew hole health thing, i don't see the point of working myself to the ground for another companies gains.

My plan is to finish schooling, find a company that has a good long term dissablity, work for the required time and then retire. In the meantime put money into rrsp's and stuff, cause when you go on long term insurance, you can take them out without a penalty.

Why work when you don't have to...seriously. You know cf kinda sucks, but look at the brightside, we can retire at 30. I kinda like the thought of that <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0">

Kiel

 

[anonymous]

Thanks alot to everyone who replied to my original questions/rantings. I'm currently checking out all of my options and hopefully by next year won't be working/dying as much! If anyone has any more information or experiences about any type of disability pay in Canada, please let me know. My email is alegris@uoguelph.ca. Thanks a bunch,

Melanie 24/CF