Re: SSI problems

[Guest guest]

Ok...let me throw in my .02 cents on this. When applying for SSI for your

adult child (and do this a month before their 18th birthday), call in an

apply. They will then set a phone appointment (unless you get someone

really good and they know DS is an automatic qualifyier as long as DS isn't

the mosaic type). , obviously couldn't do this, even when he is 18.

They will ask the person the nature of their disability.

I helped a 28 year old woman get SSI. She had fallen through the cracks and

had no services since she dropped out of school at age 17. Her five years

on TANF was almost expired.

I got her school psychological, which stated she was moderately MR. Due to

the age of the psychological, SSI sent her to their psychologist. She

didn't know she had MR, but she did know she was slow. I went to her house

for the phone appointment and sure enough, when they asked her the nature of

her disability, she said she didn't understand and could they talk to me. I

had already faxed the old psychological and when I got on the phone, I just

asked if they had it in front of them. They said MR and I said yes. I also

helped with the paperwork, which they sent prior to the phone appointment.

The whole process took about 3 months. If she had DS and I had documention

on that, it would have been much easier. She got backpay- because they go

back to the date of application (initial phone call). They also talked to

her about who her representative payee would be - her dad was there and they

also spoke to him. I thought the whole process went smoothly.

Rick - if Jan gets SSDI, how does this effect her eligibility for Medicaid?

Tawashi wrote about her problems on this issue last month (Spenddown).

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[Guest guest]

I understand Medicaid, particularly, can vary from place to place.

Here, they tell me you can't have any better coverage than Medicare and

Medicaid. But the trouble is very few doctors will take it. Or hospitals. So

you

end up going to the University Hospital for even minor routine things and that

can be ridiculous. We are lucky that also has private insurance that

is very good. Medicaid pays for his prescriptions. And his Medicare

premiums. They did pay his $50 deductible for the ER recently.

got SSDI because his dad nominally retired about the same

time. He continued to run his business but cut back enough to manage. And

then

he got more money after his father's death. The only thing with SSDI we

have to reapply for Medicaid every year. Jessie

[Guest guest]

Jan got SSDI because they started paying me social security in spite of

my being full time employed. That happened about four years ago.

She had a wait (I think it was two years) and then she became eligible

for Medicare. Her eligibility for medicare came just as I changed

employers and was no longer able to carry her on my company health

plan. That was very fortunate.

Medicaid has covered most of what medicare didn't in the past two years,

which with her leukemia and transplant were very expensive. She has

been required to pay a " spend-down " of about $ 900 every six months

before medicaid kicks in. Then they pay 100% and with her expensive

meds and treatment that's been a great help. I suspect the spend-down

is larger for Jan because SSDI pays her a little more than SSI did.

The rules for SSDI are a little more generous than for SSI because it is

based upon my career contributions to social security while SSI has no

underlying contribution basis. Of course if you've had a low salary and

pay little social security, then SSDI could be smaller than SSI

Rick

wrote:

> Rick - if Jan gets SSDI, how does this effect her eligibility for Medicaid?

> Tawashi wrote about her problems on this issue last month (Spenddown