What's new
Cystic Fibrosis Forum (EXP)

This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

Who here is on long term dissability and...

anonymous

New member
Hi Ender

I noticed that you live in Canada. My FEV1 is 27% I am applying for disability, I have worked full time up until now. Not sure of your age or how long you have worked but there is Canada Pension Plan Disability, there is often also a provincial disability assistance program. I am in Alberta so I am not sure what is available in Ontario. If you check with your cf social worker, they would be familiar with all the programs and what the process is to qualify. I will attatch the info I have on CPP. You can also go the the Government of Canada web site.



3) Canada Pension Disability - website - <a target=new class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.sdc.gc.ca/en/isp/cpp/summary.shtml
">http://www.sdc.gc.ca/en/isp/cpp/summary.shtml
</a>Phone toll-free 1-800-277-9914

What is the Canada Pension Plan disability benefit?
The Canada Pension Plan (CPP) disability benefit is a monthly payment. It is available to people who contributed recently to the Canada Pension Plan while they worked, and then became unable to work at any job on a regular basis because of a disability. The primary purpose is to replace a portion of employment earnings for people who recently paid into the CPP. There are also benefits for children if at least one parent qualifies for the CPP disability benefit.
A CPP disability benefit is not approved on the basis of which disability or disease you have, but on how the medical condition and its treatment affect your ability to work at any job on a regular basis.
What do we mean by "disability"?
There is no common definition of "disability" in Canada. If you qualify for disability benefits from other government programs, or private insurers, this is not a guarantee that you'll qualify for a CPP disability benefit.
The CPP definition states that a disability has to be both "severe" and "prolonged", and must prevent you from being able to work at any job on a regular basis.
We can only consider you eligible for the CPP disability benefit if our medical adjudicators decide that, based on your application and supporting documentation, your disability is both "severe and prolonged". The law defines a severe disability as one which prevents you from doing your former job, or any other job, on a regular basis. A disability is prolonged, when it is expected to last at least one year or is likely to result in death.
Only people who meet all the rules in the legislation can receive a benefit. The CPP disability benefit is taxable. The Plan does not pay short-term benefits, or partial disability benefits. This monthly benefit is not guaranteed for life. Your benefit will stop if your condition improves to the point where you are able to work at any job on a regular basis, or you turn 65, or upon your death.
After age 65, the CPP retirement pension amount is less than the CPP disability benefit, but you are also eligible for the Old Age Security and possibly also the Guaranteed Income Supplement.
Am I eligible?
See if this benefit is for you. Answer yes or no to these three questions:
1. Am I under 65 years of age? Yes No
2. Did I stop working because of my medical condition? Yes No
3. When I was working, did I pay into the CPP for at least four of the last six years? Yes No
If you answered 'yes' to all questions, you may be able to get a CPP disability benefit. If you answered 'no' to questions 1, 2 or 3, it is less likely that you will qualify for a benefit, but there may be some exceptions in your case which can help you qualify.

Initial application service standard

To make eligibility decisions on at least 75 per cent of applications within 120 calendar days (4 months). The time begins when we receive a complete application which includes the questionnaire, application and medical report.

Note: If additional information is needed, it may take longer to process your application or your request for reconsideration.


Hope this is helpful,
Charlene
33/cf
 

anonymous

New member
Hi Ender

I noticed that you live in Canada. My FEV1 is 27% I am applying for disability, I have worked full time up until now. Not sure of your age or how long you have worked but there is Canada Pension Plan Disability, there is often also a provincial disability assistance program. I am in Alberta so I am not sure what is available in Ontario. If you check with your cf social worker, they would be familiar with all the programs and what the process is to qualify. I will attatch the info I have on CPP. You can also go the the Government of Canada web site.



3) Canada Pension Disability - website - <a target=new class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.sdc.gc.ca/en/isp/cpp/summary.shtml
">http://www.sdc.gc.ca/en/isp/cpp/summary.shtml
</a>Phone toll-free 1-800-277-9914

What is the Canada Pension Plan disability benefit?
The Canada Pension Plan (CPP) disability benefit is a monthly payment. It is available to people who contributed recently to the Canada Pension Plan while they worked, and then became unable to work at any job on a regular basis because of a disability. The primary purpose is to replace a portion of employment earnings for people who recently paid into the CPP. There are also benefits for children if at least one parent qualifies for the CPP disability benefit.
A CPP disability benefit is not approved on the basis of which disability or disease you have, but on how the medical condition and its treatment affect your ability to work at any job on a regular basis.
What do we mean by "disability"?
There is no common definition of "disability" in Canada. If you qualify for disability benefits from other government programs, or private insurers, this is not a guarantee that you'll qualify for a CPP disability benefit.
The CPP definition states that a disability has to be both "severe" and "prolonged", and must prevent you from being able to work at any job on a regular basis.
We can only consider you eligible for the CPP disability benefit if our medical adjudicators decide that, based on your application and supporting documentation, your disability is both "severe and prolonged". The law defines a severe disability as one which prevents you from doing your former job, or any other job, on a regular basis. A disability is prolonged, when it is expected to last at least one year or is likely to result in death.
Only people who meet all the rules in the legislation can receive a benefit. The CPP disability benefit is taxable. The Plan does not pay short-term benefits, or partial disability benefits. This monthly benefit is not guaranteed for life. Your benefit will stop if your condition improves to the point where you are able to work at any job on a regular basis, or you turn 65, or upon your death.
After age 65, the CPP retirement pension amount is less than the CPP disability benefit, but you are also eligible for the Old Age Security and possibly also the Guaranteed Income Supplement.
Am I eligible?
See if this benefit is for you. Answer yes or no to these three questions:
1. Am I under 65 years of age? Yes No
2. Did I stop working because of my medical condition? Yes No
3. When I was working, did I pay into the CPP for at least four of the last six years? Yes No
If you answered 'yes' to all questions, you may be able to get a CPP disability benefit. If you answered 'no' to questions 1, 2 or 3, it is less likely that you will qualify for a benefit, but there may be some exceptions in your case which can help you qualify.

Initial application service standard

To make eligibility decisions on at least 75 per cent of applications within 120 calendar days (4 months). The time begins when we receive a complete application which includes the questionnaire, application and medical report.

Note: If additional information is needed, it may take longer to process your application or your request for reconsideration.


Hope this is helpful,
Charlene
33/cf
 

Jennifer1981

New member
One other comment about Social Security and State Assistance through Welfare:

Lisa, I have read your posting about the three requirements to get on Disabilty. I didn't know them. But what I wanted to say and forgot to earlier is that I am furious, in general, with any of the state or federal government programs. They know you have CF. They know it is a terminal disease. Still they make you fill out tons of paperwork, hire a lawyer, and fork out tons of money that you already don't have. The whole system angers me. I have a positive outlook on my CF, but I HATE insurance companies and state and federal programs for all the pain they put everyone with CF through. Then, they have the NERVE to reevaluate you every year. Is there a cure that I don't know of???

Yes, I got accepted right away for Social Security. However, I am denied State Assistance for insurance. I only qualify for my husband's. Even if my husband refuses health insurance, our income exceeds the states rules by $200 a month. They didn't care about the cost of my meds, cost of admissions, or anything. They only cared about our income. It's a shame when someone has to downgrade their job for the government to help assist. I am NOT going to tell my husband "Honey, in order to have help with some of my meds, you have to sell burgers or hot dogs." I think too that if you are married, welfare gives you a terrible time. I married my husband out of love. It's a shame if you have to think about how you will afford your meds afterwards...

Sorry for venting. It just really makes me angry. Oh and I forgot, if we get pregnant, we get state assistance (welfare) immediately. Isn't that a nice!!!

Jennifer 24 w/CF
 

Jennifer1981

New member
One other comment about Social Security and State Assistance through Welfare:

Lisa, I have read your posting about the three requirements to get on Disabilty. I didn't know them. But what I wanted to say and forgot to earlier is that I am furious, in general, with any of the state or federal government programs. They know you have CF. They know it is a terminal disease. Still they make you fill out tons of paperwork, hire a lawyer, and fork out tons of money that you already don't have. The whole system angers me. I have a positive outlook on my CF, but I HATE insurance companies and state and federal programs for all the pain they put everyone with CF through. Then, they have the NERVE to reevaluate you every year. Is there a cure that I don't know of???

Yes, I got accepted right away for Social Security. However, I am denied State Assistance for insurance. I only qualify for my husband's. Even if my husband refuses health insurance, our income exceeds the states rules by $200 a month. They didn't care about the cost of my meds, cost of admissions, or anything. They only cared about our income. It's a shame when someone has to downgrade their job for the government to help assist. I am NOT going to tell my husband "Honey, in order to have help with some of my meds, you have to sell burgers or hot dogs." I think too that if you are married, welfare gives you a terrible time. I married my husband out of love. It's a shame if you have to think about how you will afford your meds afterwards...

Sorry for venting. It just really makes me angry. Oh and I forgot, if we get pregnant, we get state assistance (welfare) immediately. Isn't that a nice!!!

Jennifer 24 w/CF
 

Emily65Roses

New member
<blockquote>Quote<br><hr><i>Originally posted by: <b>Jennifer1981</b></i><br>hire a lawyer, and fork out tons of money that you already don't have. <hr></blockquote>

One good thing about Beth Sufian. She only charged me if we won. And even then, all she wanted was 25% of the backpay. Totally worth it. (But I totally agree about all of that. We have to jump through hoops to get benefits that the government says we have a right to as the type of citizens we are... Of course it's because of greedy effing liars that are everywhere).
 

Emily65Roses

New member
<blockquote>Quote<br><hr><i>Originally posted by: <b>Jennifer1981</b></i><br>hire a lawyer, and fork out tons of money that you already don't have. <hr></blockquote>

One good thing about Beth Sufian. She only charged me if we won. And even then, all she wanted was 25% of the backpay. Totally worth it. (But I totally agree about all of that. We have to jump through hoops to get benefits that the government says we have a right to as the type of citizens we are... Of course it's because of greedy effing liars that are everywhere).
 

anonymous

New member
I understand why you're furious Jennifer. We were pretty furious too.
I will say that they stopped reevaluating my husband's SSD after 5-6 years.

Having the marriage penalty for getting help with medical expenses particularly makes me crazy.
If you didn't marry but just lived together, then the state would just look at your income.
Because you are married, they look at both.
I think once a spouse is declared disabled, then they should just look at that person's disability income. It's not like the disabled spouse can earn more or anything. It just puts more pressure on the "well" spouse to earn more money -- probably at exactly the same time that the disabled spouse needs more caregiving from the "well" spouse.
I think that the crowd that wants to support "family values" should darn well rewrite things so there isn't a marriage penalty - or learn not to be too surprised if folks decide to just live together instead of getting married.

OK, my vent is over too.

Of course, we got married anyway - even knowing all of this - and it was the best thing I ever did.
The heart is mysterious.
 

anonymous

New member
I understand why you're furious Jennifer. We were pretty furious too.
I will say that they stopped reevaluating my husband's SSD after 5-6 years.

Having the marriage penalty for getting help with medical expenses particularly makes me crazy.
If you didn't marry but just lived together, then the state would just look at your income.
Because you are married, they look at both.
I think once a spouse is declared disabled, then they should just look at that person's disability income. It's not like the disabled spouse can earn more or anything. It just puts more pressure on the "well" spouse to earn more money -- probably at exactly the same time that the disabled spouse needs more caregiving from the "well" spouse.
I think that the crowd that wants to support "family values" should darn well rewrite things so there isn't a marriage penalty - or learn not to be too surprised if folks decide to just live together instead of getting married.

OK, my vent is over too.

Of course, we got married anyway - even knowing all of this - and it was the best thing I ever did.
The heart is mysterious.
 

LouLou

New member
SSDI doesn't look at household income - just personal income, right? It's SSI that looks at household, right? How do they decide how much to give you? Emily- how long did the process take you vs. do you know the average? When you mention backpay I suppose you mean from the time you and Beth originally sent in the paperwork, is this correct?
 

LouLou

New member
SSDI doesn't look at household income - just personal income, right? It's SSI that looks at household, right? How do they decide how much to give you? Emily- how long did the process take you vs. do you know the average? When you mention backpay I suppose you mean from the time you and Beth originally sent in the paperwork, is this correct?
 

Jennifer1981

New member
Hi Lauren,

SSDI looks at your own income. They don't consider spousal income or anything else. That's how it should be. I'm not sure about SSI. I didn't qualify for that. As far as how much money they give you, they base it on their own math reasoning. I get $722.00 a month. Which doesn't pay much. I have no idea what planet they live on to pay so little. With rent and food, you're done. Forget the cost of meds. I live in Pennsylvania. I was accepted 30 days after applying. Never rejected. I know that I placed my application in February 2003. I was accepted in March 2003. However on the application, I said that I was severe since December 2002. I NEVER got back pay. Only money from February 2003 forward. It's CRAP like I said earlier.

Jennifer 24 W/CF
 

Jennifer1981

New member
Hi Lauren,

SSDI looks at your own income. They don't consider spousal income or anything else. That's how it should be. I'm not sure about SSI. I didn't qualify for that. As far as how much money they give you, they base it on their own math reasoning. I get $722.00 a month. Which doesn't pay much. I have no idea what planet they live on to pay so little. With rent and food, you're done. Forget the cost of meds. I live in Pennsylvania. I was accepted 30 days after applying. Never rejected. I know that I placed my application in February 2003. I was accepted in March 2003. However on the application, I said that I was severe since December 2002. I NEVER got back pay. Only money from February 2003 forward. It's CRAP like I said earlier.

Jennifer 24 W/CF
 

LouLou

New member
<blockquote>Quote<br><hr><i>Originally posted by: <b>JazzysMom</b></i><br>Another thing that was of benefit to me is that the substantial employment part was fruitful. I live in a very rural area & my job paid great (one of the higher paying employers in the area) so I could only be required to take a certain pay cut & travel a certain distance to obtain a job similar to what I had. That couldnt happen so it did help in my case ...<hr></blockquote>
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What does this mean? How does it effect the SSDI picture? Does the amount you get depend on how much you've made or does income effect something else? Just not getting her point here. I'd love an explanation
<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif" border="0">
 

LouLou

New member
<blockquote>Quote<br><hr><i>Originally posted by: <b>JazzysMom</b></i><br>Another thing that was of benefit to me is that the substantial employment part was fruitful. I live in a very rural area & my job paid great (one of the higher paying employers in the area) so I could only be required to take a certain pay cut & travel a certain distance to obtain a job similar to what I had. That couldnt happen so it did help in my case ...<hr></blockquote>
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What does this mean? How does it effect the SSDI picture? Does the amount you get depend on how much you've made or does income effect something else? Just not getting her point here. I'd love an explanation
<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif" border="0">
 

Emily65Roses

New member
I have NO idea whatsoever what the average length of time is, I'm sorry.

And yes, that's the backpay. Basically since the first time we filed (September 02) until I got approved (January 05). Since they finally decided I was entitled to it, I got paid for all that time it was being argued. It ended up being almost 15 grand. And I only paid Beth $3,500. So like I said, it was completely worth it.
 

Emily65Roses

New member
I have NO idea whatsoever what the average length of time is, I'm sorry.

And yes, that's the backpay. Basically since the first time we filed (September 02) until I got approved (January 05). Since they finally decided I was entitled to it, I got paid for all that time it was being argued. It ended up being almost 15 grand. And I only paid Beth $3,500. So like I said, it was completely worth it.
 

anonymous

New member
As others have said SSD just looks at your own work record and you get what you get depending on quarters you have into the system and how much you made.
Medicare A & B that you are eligible for once you have SSD is yours (tho there is a waiting period before you can get it.)

SSI and Medicaid and the Medicare waivers vary from state to state. But as far as I know they always consider total family income.
-LisaV
 

anonymous

New member
As others have said SSD just looks at your own work record and you get what you get depending on quarters you have into the system and how much you made.
Medicare A & B that you are eligible for once you have SSD is yours (tho there is a waiting period before you can get it.)

SSI and Medicaid and the Medicare waivers vary from state to state. But as far as I know they always consider total family income.
-LisaV
 
Top