Re: Stress and Frustrated!

[Guest guest]

Hi Bonnie:

Sorry to hear of your disability coverage problems. Sorry, I can't help out as

our Canadian Disability probably doesn't work the same as yours.

Just wanted to let you are in my thoughts and I am sorry you are in such a

predicament. Lord knows you don't need this stress.

Jo

Stress and Frustrated!

Hi all...

I am so stressed and frustrated. Any advice would be appreciated. To make a

long story short. I worked for TRW for 8 years. In Sept of 2001 I began

disability, applied for and was approved for SSDI on the first try. Had a

little more trouble getting my LTD, but with the help of an attorney was

approved for Long Term Disability a few months later. Here is the problem.

According to TRW's Employee Policy and Procedures I am entitled to receive

disability benefits such as paid health care, pension etc. Because the LTD was

inititally denied, TRW refused me any of those benefits. When I asked how to

appeal I was told BY THE HR MANAGER, to send the letter to her and she would get

it to the right person. I did.

It eventually got to their legal department where I was strung along for 9

months with promises of a settlement only to be told that NO they did not owe me

anything. I retained a local Employment Attorney who wrote a letter and,,,,

60 days later we received a reply saying that we had been talking to the WRONG

person and any appeal should be address to the Administrative Appeal Committee.

So, OK, I now prepared an entire package with all the documentation and sent

it to them.

5 months (Sept 04)later I received a letter APPROVING my appeal, but no

details of how I would receive them. (The 29 months of benefits have now

already expired). I wrote them another letter asking for the details, and

giving them the figures I believe they owe me to compensate for my out of pocket

costs.

I called and the only person they will allow me to speak with is the

secretary. She is not authorized to give me any details, but keeps telling me

they are working on it. She did slip however and say that the figure is lower

than I am expecting. I wrote another letter and email AGAIN telling them how

much I think they owe me. Still no reply.

So here is my dilemma. If I call my attorney he bills me for every phone

call. If they are close to sending me a check and its just tied up in

paperwork, I had to try to get the attorneys involved. I was also told by my

attorney that if we sue, I cannot get penalties, or damages, only what I am

owed. So I could conceivable spend more money on an attorney that I could get

back.

Question. Do I continue to wait? For how long? What else can I do to

speed things up? I have called several agencies already and no one can help

me. They tell me this is NOT a disability problem this is an Employee Relations

problem. I have tried the TV stations, they say they only handle consumer

issues not employee problems. I do not have the money to fight a long court

battle...

This is just not right but I don't know what to do....

Bonnie G - Phoenix

[Guest guest]

Hi Bonnie,

I believe it when you say you are frustrated. Wow what a run around. Do you

have a local politician in your area? I think some politicians do get involved.

That's my best advice if you don't want to stick it out and wait, even though I

know you've waited long enough. That's my advice, hope it helps. I'll help you

with my prayers. Take care and keep us updated.

God Bless

Yolanda

Stress and Frustrated!

Hi all...

I am so stressed and frustrated. Any advice would be appreciated. To make a

long story short. I worked for TRW for 8 years. In Sept of 2001 I began

disability, applied for and was approved for SSDI on the first try. Had a

little more trouble getting my LTD, but with the help of an attorney was

approved for Long Term Disability a few months later. Here is the problem.

According to TRW's Employee Policy and Procedures I am entitled to receive

disability benefits such as paid health care, pension etc. Because the LTD was

inititally denied, TRW refused me any of those benefits. When I asked how to

appeal I was told BY THE HR MANAGER, to send the letter to her and she would get

it to the right person. I did.

It eventually got to their legal department where I was strung along for 9

months with promises of a settlement only to be told that NO they did not owe me

anything. I retained a local Employment Attorney who wrote a letter and,,,,

60 days later we received a reply saying that we had been talking to the WRONG

person and any appeal should be address to the Administrative Appeal Committee.

So, OK, I now prepared an entire package with all the documentation and sent

it to them.

5 months (Sept 04)later I received a letter APPROVING my appeal, but no

details of how I would receive them. (The 29 months of benefits have now

already expired). I wrote them another letter asking for the details, and

giving them the figures I believe they owe me to compensate for my out of pocket

costs.

I called and the only person they will allow me to speak with is the

secretary. She is not authorized to give me any details, but keeps telling me

they are working on it. She did slip however and say that the figure is lower

than I am expecting. I wrote another letter and email AGAIN telling them how

much I think they owe me. Still no reply.

So here is my dilemma. If I call my attorney he bills me for every phone

call. If they are close to sending me a check and its just tied up in

paperwork, I had to try to get the attorneys involved. I was also told by my

attorney that if we sue, I cannot get penalties, or damages, only what I am

owed. So I could conceivable spend more money on an attorney that I could get

back.

Question. Do I continue to wait? For how long? What else can I do to

speed things up? I have called several agencies already and no one can help

me. They tell me this is NOT a disability problem this is an Employee Relations

problem. I have tried the TV stations, they say they only handle consumer

issues not employee problems. I do not have the money to fight a long court

battle...

This is just not right but I don't know what to do....

Bonnie G - Phoenix

[Guest guest]

Bonnie,

How terrible you must be feeling, its just not right at how they keep jerking

you around like that.

Can you possibly talk to another attorney that might not charge you so much. I'm

not sure if they can help but have you tried your local disability act people

about this to see if they can help in any way.

Bonnie you are in my thought and prayers, please keep us posted. Take care,

Sandy

Stress and Frustrated!

Hi all...

I am so stressed and frustrated. Any advice would be appreciated. To make a

long story short. I worked for TRW for 8 years. In Sept of 2001 I began

disability, applied for and was approved for SSDI on the first try. Had a

little more trouble getting my LTD, but with the help of an attorney was

approved for Long Term Disability a few months later. Here is the problem.

According to TRW's Employee Policy and Procedures I am entitled to receive

disability benefits such as paid health care, pension etc. Because the LTD was

inititally denied, TRW refused me any of those benefits. When I asked how to

appeal I was told BY THE HR MANAGER, to send the letter to her and she would get

it to the right person. I did.

It eventually got to their legal department where I was strung along for 9

months with promises of a settlement only to be told that NO they did not owe me

anything. I retained a local Employment Attorney who wrote a letter and,,,,

60 days later we received a reply saying that we had been talking to the WRONG

person and any appeal should be address to the Administrative Appeal Committee.

So, OK, I now prepared an entire package with all the documentation and sent

it to them.

5 months (Sept 04)later I received a letter APPROVING my appeal, but no

details of how I would receive them. (The 29 months of benefits have now

already expired). I wrote them another letter asking for the details, and

giving them the figures I believe they owe me to compensate for my out of pocket

costs.

I called and the only person they will allow me to speak with is the

secretary. She is not authorized to give me any details, but keeps telling me

they are working on it. She did slip however and say that the figure is lower

than I am expecting. I wrote another letter and email AGAIN telling them how

much I think they owe me. Still no reply.

So here is my dilemma. If I call my attorney he bills me for every phone

call. If they are close to sending me a check and its just tied up in

paperwork, I had to try to get the attorneys involved. I was also told by my

attorney that if we sue, I cannot get penalties, or damages, only what I am

owed. So I could conceivable spend more money on an attorney that I could get

back.

Question. Do I continue to wait? For how long? What else can I do to

speed things up? I have called several agencies already and no one can help

me. They tell me this is NOT a disability problem this is an Employee Relations

problem. I have tried the TV stations, they say they only handle consumer

issues not employee problems. I do not have the money to fight a long court

battle...

This is just not right but I don't know what to do....

Bonnie G - Phoenix

[Guest guest]

Bonnie

Another avenue for you to explore is that this is a COBRA violation.

COBRA is the federal program controled by the Department of Labor

that ensures the worrker have the option to continue health coverage

for up to 2 years. At higher premium usually!!!

I'm involved right now in the steps required to have my former

employer investigated.

I also find it hard to decide whether to pay lawyer fees which may

excede the benefits received. Here is how I reasoned it out:

Horizon Health covers my prescriptions. Without that plan I would be

paying $400+ per month for Rx alone.

The third party billing agency which seems to be set up with the

intent of terminating COBRA has overcharged me $600 in 18 months. To

get a lawyer with guts enough to take of Pfizer by mail will be about

$700. If I can continue my 8 months left I save $3200 in Rx cost.

You can have the employer investigated without a lawyer by calling

your regional Dept of Labor office. They will give you a step by

step plan.

Yet another avenue is your state's Insurance Commissioner. Ours is

covering health insurance issues now.

Good Luck

Eva in WV

> Hi all...

> I am so stressed and frustrated. Any advice would be

appreciated. To make a long story short. I worked for TRW for 8

years. In Sept of 2001 I began disability, applied for and was

approved for SSDI on the first try. Had a little more trouble

getting my LTD, but with the help of an attorney was approved for

Long Term Disability a few months later. Here is the problem.

According to TRW's Employee Policy and Procedures I am entitled to

receive disability benefits such as paid health care, pension etc.

Because the LTD was inititally denied, TRW refused me any of those

benefits. When I asked how to appeal I was told BY THE HR MANAGER,

to send the letter to her and she would get it to the right person.

I did.

> It eventually got to their legal department where I was strung

along for 9 months with promises of a settlement only to be told that

NO they did not owe me anything. I retained a local Employment

Attorney who wrote a letter and,,,, 60 days later we received a reply

saying that we had been talking to the WRONG person and any appeal

should be address to the Administrative Appeal Committee. So, OK,

I now prepared an entire package with all the documentation and sent

it to them.

> 5 months (Sept 04)later I received a letter APPROVING my appeal,

but no details of how I would receive them. (The 29 months of

benefits have now already expired). I wrote them another letter

asking for the details, and giving them the figures I believe they

owe me to compensate for my out of pocket costs.

> I called and the only person they will allow me to speak with is

the secretary. She is not authorized to give me any details, but

keeps telling me they are working on it. She did slip however and

say that the figure is lower than I am expecting. I wrote another

letter and email AGAIN telling them how much I think they owe me.

Still no reply.

> So here is my dilemma. If I call my attorney he bills me for

every phone call. If they are close to sending me a check and its

just tied up in paperwork, I had to try to get the attorneys

involved. I was also told by my attorney that if we sue, I cannot

get penalties, or damages, only what I am owed. So I could

conceivable spend more money on an attorney that I could get back.

> Question. Do I continue to wait? For how long? What else can I

do to speed things up? I have called several agencies already and

no one can help me. They tell me this is NOT a disability problem

this is an Employee Relations problem. I have tried the TV stations,

they say they only handle consumer issues not employee problems. I

do not have the money to fight a long court battle...

> This is just not right but I don't know what to do....

> Bonnie G - Phoenix

>

>