Re: Judy - Disability Application

February 22, 2001

Judy,

My company required that I begin applying for

Government disability (Social Security Disability)

after I had been on my company's short term disability

plan for 5 months.

Like you, my company will keep paying me LTD benefits

(until I retire, in my case), whether or not Social

Security Disability approves my claim. If Social

Security approves my claim, as I understand it, I will

be receiving 2 monthly checks -- one from my company

and one from Social Security. The total of these 2

checks will equal what my company's LTD check had

been. In other words, the check from my company will

be reduced by the amount awarded from Social Security.

However, any future cost of living increases awarded

by Social Security will be added to this amount.

If the Govt decides to deny my initial claim, my

company requires that I go thru the entire Social

Security appeals process. (My initial claim is still

being processed so I'm not sure if I will have to

appeal anything yet. Yes, it often takes a long time

to get a decision! ))

Another thing you might want to check into -- I

learned that, in my case, if Social Security denies my

initial claim, my company hires an attorney for me, to

handle all of the appeals. And my company pays the

attorney's fees. I was astounded when I learned of

this great benefit! I don't know if many employers

offer this benefit, but it sure doesn't hurt to ask!

The only other thing that I can think of right now for

you to check into is the status of any retirement

plans, stock options or bonus plans, if you had been

participating in these.

I can't think of anything else right now. I hope I

haven't overwhelmed you. ) But feel free to ask if

you have any more questions. I know it's highly

unlikely that our company's disability plans are

identical, but maybe my experiences will give you a

starting point on what questions to ask your company's

HR dept.

As always, wishing you the best,

Connie R

--- JOstry93@... wrote:

> Connie, thanks so much. I will check into each item

> you mentioned,in fact,

> I'm going to print this out so that I don't forget

> anything. Was there a

> poiint when you HAD to apply to the Government for

> disability. My company

> requires that you apply within two years, but they

> have to keep paying me

> until I get it. It's all very confusing and

> frustrating, Just one more

> thing! Thanks again. LOL, Judy O

>

__________________________________________________

February 22, 2001

Judy,

My company required that I begin applying for

Government disability (Social Security Disability)

after I had been on my company's short term disability

plan for 5 months.

Like you, my company will keep paying me LTD benefits

(until I retire, in my case), whether or not Social

Security Disability approves my claim. If Social

Security approves my claim, as I understand it, I will

be receiving 2 monthly checks -- one from my company

and one from Social Security. The total of these 2

checks will equal what my company's LTD check had

been. In other words, the check from my company will

be reduced by the amount awarded from Social Security.

However, any future cost of living increases awarded

by Social Security will be added to this amount.

If the Govt decides to deny my initial claim, my

company requires that I go thru the entire Social

Security appeals process. (My initial claim is still

being processed so I'm not sure if I will have to

appeal anything yet. Yes, it often takes a long time

to get a decision! ))

Another thing you might want to check into -- I

learned that, in my case, if Social Security denies my

initial claim, my company hires an attorney for me, to

handle all of the appeals. And my company pays the

attorney's fees. I was astounded when I learned of

this great benefit! I don't know if many employers

offer this benefit, but it sure doesn't hurt to ask!

The only other thing that I can think of right now for

you to check into is the status of any retirement

plans, stock options or bonus plans, if you had been

participating in these.

I can't think of anything else right now. I hope I

haven't overwhelmed you. ) But feel free to ask if

you have any more questions. I know it's highly

unlikely that our company's disability plans are

identical, but maybe my experiences will give you a

starting point on what questions to ask your company's

HR dept.

As always, wishing you the best,

Connie R

--- JOstry93@... wrote:

> Connie, thanks so much. I will check into each item

> you mentioned,in fact,

> I'm going to print this out so that I don't forget

> anything. Was there a

> poiint when you HAD to apply to the Government for

> disability. My company

> requires that you apply within two years, but they

> have to keep paying me

> until I get it. It's all very confusing and

> frustrating, Just one more

> thing! Thanks again. LOL, Judy O

>

__________________________________________________

February 23, 2001

Connie, thank you so much for the information. I guess I will have to give

HR a call. All I know for sure what how short-term disability went. Somehow

I doubt that they will pay attorney fees, but I will sure ask. Again I am

printing this file out so that I don't forget anything! Thanks again, LOL,

Judy O

February 23, 2001

Connie, thank you so much for the information. I guess I will have to give

HR a call. All I know for sure what how short-term disability went. Somehow

I doubt that they will pay attorney fees, but I will sure ask. Again I am

printing this file out so that I don't forget anything! Thanks again, LOL,

Judy O

February 23, 2001

Connie, thank you so much for the information. I guess I will have to give

HR a call. All I know for sure what how short-term disability went. Somehow

I doubt that they will pay attorney fees, but I will sure ask. Again I am

printing this file out so that I don't forget anything! Thanks again, LOL,

Judy O

February 24, 2001

For what it's worth, a piece of information regarding Social Security- 99.99 % of the claims are denied the first time. I'm not sure why- only know this occurs.

Re: Judy - Disability ApplicationJudy,My company required that I begin applying forGovernment disability (Social Security Disability)after I had been on my company's short term disabilityplan for 5 months. Like you, my company will keep paying me LTD benefits(until I retire, in my case), whether or not SocialSecurity Disability approves my claim. If SocialSecurity approves my claim, as I understand it, I willbe receiving 2 monthly checks -- one from my companyand one from Social Security. The total of these 2checks will equal what my company's LTD check hadbeen. In other words, the check from my company willbe reduced by the amount awarded from Social Security.However, any future cost of living increases awardedby Social Security will be added to this amount.If the Govt decides to deny my initial claim, mycompany requires that I go thru the entire SocialSecurity appeals process. (My initial claim is stillbeing processed so I'm not sure if I will have toappeal anything yet. Yes, it often takes a long timeto get a decision! )) Another thing you might want to check into -- Ilearned that, in my case, if Social Security denies myinitial claim, my company hires an attorney for me, tohandle all of the appeals. And my company pays theattorney's fees. I was astounded when I learned ofthis great benefit! I don't know if many employersoffer this benefit, but it sure doesn't hurt to ask!The only other thing that I can think of right now foryou to check into is the status of any retirementplans, stock options or bonus plans, if you had beenparticipating in these.I can't think of anything else right now. I hope Ihaven't overwhelmed you. ) But feel free to ask ifyou have any more questions. I know it's highlyunlikely that our company's disability plans areidentical, but maybe my experiences will give you astarting point on what questions to ask your company'sHR dept.As always, wishing you the best,Connie R --- JOstry93@... wrote:> Connie, thanks so much. I will check into each item> you mentioned,in fact, > I'm going to print this out so that I don't forget> anything. Was there a > poiint when you HAD to apply to the Government for> disability. My company > requires that you apply within two years, but they> have to keep paying me > until I get it. It's all very confusing and> frustrating, Just one more > thing! Thanks again. LOL, Judy O> __________________________________________________

February 24, 2001

For what it's worth, a piece of information regarding Social Security- 99.99 % of the claims are denied the first time. I'm not sure why- only know this occurs.

Re: Judy - Disability ApplicationJudy,My company required that I begin applying forGovernment disability (Social Security Disability)after I had been on my company's short term disabilityplan for 5 months. Like you, my company will keep paying me LTD benefits(until I retire, in my case), whether or not SocialSecurity Disability approves my claim. If SocialSecurity approves my claim, as I understand it, I willbe receiving 2 monthly checks -- one from my companyand one from Social Security. The total of these 2checks will equal what my company's LTD check hadbeen. In other words, the check from my company willbe reduced by the amount awarded from Social Security.However, any future cost of living increases awardedby Social Security will be added to this amount.If the Govt decides to deny my initial claim, mycompany requires that I go thru the entire SocialSecurity appeals process. (My initial claim is stillbeing processed so I'm not sure if I will have toappeal anything yet. Yes, it often takes a long timeto get a decision! )) Another thing you might want to check into -- Ilearned that, in my case, if Social Security denies myinitial claim, my company hires an attorney for me, tohandle all of the appeals. And my company pays theattorney's fees. I was astounded when I learned ofthis great benefit! I don't know if many employersoffer this benefit, but it sure doesn't hurt to ask!The only other thing that I can think of right now foryou to check into is the status of any retirementplans, stock options or bonus plans, if you had beenparticipating in these.I can't think of anything else right now. I hope Ihaven't overwhelmed you. ) But feel free to ask ifyou have any more questions. I know it's highlyunlikely that our company's disability plans areidentical, but maybe my experiences will give you astarting point on what questions to ask your company'sHR dept.As always, wishing you the best,Connie R --- JOstry93@... wrote:> Connie, thanks so much. I will check into each item> you mentioned,in fact, > I'm going to print this out so that I don't forget> anything. Was there a > poiint when you HAD to apply to the Government for> disability. My company > requires that you apply within two years, but they> have to keep paying me > until I get it. It's all very confusing and> frustrating, Just one more > thing! Thanks again. LOL, Judy O> __________________________________________________

February 24, 2001

For what it's worth, a piece of information regarding Social Security- 99.99 % of the claims are denied the first time. I'm not sure why- only know this occurs.

Re: Judy - Disability ApplicationJudy,My company required that I begin applying forGovernment disability (Social Security Disability)after I had been on my company's short term disabilityplan for 5 months. Like you, my company will keep paying me LTD benefits(until I retire, in my case), whether or not SocialSecurity Disability approves my claim. If SocialSecurity approves my claim, as I understand it, I willbe receiving 2 monthly checks -- one from my companyand one from Social Security. The total of these 2checks will equal what my company's LTD check hadbeen. In other words, the check from my company willbe reduced by the amount awarded from Social Security.However, any future cost of living increases awardedby Social Security will be added to this amount.If the Govt decides to deny my initial claim, mycompany requires that I go thru the entire SocialSecurity appeals process. (My initial claim is stillbeing processed so I'm not sure if I will have toappeal anything yet. Yes, it often takes a long timeto get a decision! )) Another thing you might want to check into -- Ilearned that, in my case, if Social Security denies myinitial claim, my company hires an attorney for me, tohandle all of the appeals. And my company pays theattorney's fees. I was astounded when I learned ofthis great benefit! I don't know if many employersoffer this benefit, but it sure doesn't hurt to ask!The only other thing that I can think of right now foryou to check into is the status of any retirementplans, stock options or bonus plans, if you had beenparticipating in these.I can't think of anything else right now. I hope Ihaven't overwhelmed you. ) But feel free to ask ifyou have any more questions. I know it's highlyunlikely that our company's disability plans areidentical, but maybe my experiences will give you astarting point on what questions to ask your company'sHR dept.As always, wishing you the best,Connie R --- JOstry93@... wrote:> Connie, thanks so much. I will check into each item> you mentioned,in fact, > I'm going to print this out so that I don't forget> anything. Was there a > poiint when you HAD to apply to the Government for> disability. My company > requires that you apply within two years, but they> have to keep paying me > until I get it. It's all very confusing and> frustrating, Just one more > thing! Thanks again. LOL, Judy O> __________________________________________________

February 24, 2001

All I can say is apply for SSD right away. It took us 2 years and 2 appeals before our daughter got it. I applied for SSD 1 year ago and was denied and am working on my first appeal. If you get turned down the first time, don't give up.

Sandy

Re: Judy - Disability Application

For what it's worth, a piece of information regarding Social Security- 99.99 % of the claims are denied the first time. I'm not sure why- only know this occurs.

__________________________________________________

February 24, 2001

All I can say is apply for SSD right away. It took us 2 years and 2 appeals before our daughter got it. I applied for SSD 1 year ago and was denied and am working on my first appeal. If you get turned down the first time, don't give up.

Sandy

Re: Judy - Disability Application

For what it's worth, a piece of information regarding Social Security- 99.99 % of the claims are denied the first time. I'm not sure why- only know this occurs.

__________________________________________________

February 24, 2001

All I can say is apply for SSD right away. It took us 2 years and 2 appeals before our daughter got it. I applied for SSD 1 year ago and was denied and am working on my first appeal. If you get turned down the first time, don't give up.

Sandy

Re: Judy - Disability Application

For what it's worth, a piece of information regarding Social Security- 99.99 % of the claims are denied the first time. I'm not sure why- only know this occurs.

__________________________________________________

February 24, 2001

Hi, here's Lucy butting in again. I applied here in North Carolina on Jan. 31, 2000 with a phone interview for the initial application. I sent them every piece of paper I could think of and finally, I wrote a letter to my Congressman and told him that I had not been denied yet, but that I did not want to wait to be denied the first time. I told him that there are articles of advertisement in our local newspaper saying they have 25+ years experience and they would be ("glad to take my money") after I was approved. I asked him why did we let our system get away with this? That money that the lawyers are making off of our disabilities should go to pay the bills we need to pay where we have gotten so far behind, not to pad the pockets of ambulance chasers! To make a long story short, I had a call from my Congressman's office to tell me that I had been approved for my Social Security Disability in less than two weeks from when I wrote to him. Try it, you don't have a thing to loose, that is what your taxes are paying him for. Some are a little more helpful than others. Good luck! Love and Prayers, Lucy

Re: Judy - Disability Application

For what it's worth, a piece of information regarding Social Security- 99.99 % of the claims are denied the first time. I'm not sure why- only know this occurs.

__________________________________________________

February 24, 2001

Hi, here's Lucy butting in again. I applied here in North Carolina on Jan. 31, 2000 with a phone interview for the initial application. I sent them every piece of paper I could think of and finally, I wrote a letter to my Congressman and told him that I had not been denied yet, but that I did not want to wait to be denied the first time. I told him that there are articles of advertisement in our local newspaper saying they have 25+ years experience and they would be ("glad to take my money") after I was approved. I asked him why did we let our system get away with this? That money that the lawyers are making off of our disabilities should go to pay the bills we need to pay where we have gotten so far behind, not to pad the pockets of ambulance chasers! To make a long story short, I had a call from my Congressman's office to tell me that I had been approved for my Social Security Disability in less than two weeks from when I wrote to him. Try it, you don't have a thing to loose, that is what your taxes are paying him for. Some are a little more helpful than others. Good luck! Love and Prayers, Lucy

Re: Judy - Disability Application

For what it's worth, a piece of information regarding Social Security- 99.99 % of the claims are denied the first time. I'm not sure why- only know this occurs.

__________________________________________________

February 26, 2001

In a message dated 02/24/2001 6:30:52 AM Central Standard Time,

catherk@... writes:

<<

>>

I'd heard that too, I wonder why SS denies all first time claims? Maybe they

hope we'll just go away and not come back! Yeah right, like that is going to

happen! SS is certainly not my first choice and I've been fighting against

this for years, but I finally reached that point where I give in and need

help! God knows we've paid in long enough,it's time they give back. LOL,

Judy O

February 26, 2001

In a message dated 02/24/2001 6:30:52 AM Central Standard Time,

catherk@... writes:

<<

>>

I'd heard that too, I wonder why SS denies all first time claims? Maybe they

hope we'll just go away and not come back! Yeah right, like that is going to

happen! SS is certainly not my first choice and I've been fighting against

this for years, but I finally reached that point where I give in and need

help! God knows we've paid in long enough,it's time they give back. LOL,

Judy O

February 26, 2001

In a message dated 02/24/2001 6:30:52 AM Central Standard Time,

catherk@... writes:

<<

>>

I'd heard that too, I wonder why SS denies all first time claims? Maybe they

hope we'll just go away and not come back! Yeah right, like that is going to

happen! SS is certainly not my first choice and I've been fighting against

this for years, but I finally reached that point where I give in and need

help! God knows we've paid in long enough,it's time they give back. LOL,

Judy O

February 26, 2001

Sandy, why do they make it so difficult? I realize there are probably cheats

out there, but this is not exactly going to be a picnic even with SSD

payments. Why would anyone WANT to do this? LOL, Judy O

February 26, 2001

Sandy, why do they make it so difficult? I realize there are probably cheats

out there, but this is not exactly going to be a picnic even with SSD

payments. Why would anyone WANT to do this? LOL, Judy O

February 26, 2001

Sandy, why do they make it so difficult? I realize there are probably cheats

out there, but this is not exactly going to be a picnic even with SSD

payments. Why would anyone WANT to do this? LOL, Judy O

February 26, 2001

Lucy, Good for you!!! Believe me that is something I will truly keep in

mind. Does it matter if your congressman is not of the same political party?

Will they still help? LOL, Judy O

February 26, 2001

Judy,

Sometimes I think they make it hard so you will give up applying

or appealing. I'm determined to follow through with this even if I have to

file a second appeal.

Sandy

> Sandy, why do they make it so difficult? I realize there are probably

cheats

> out there, but this is not exactly going to be a picnic even with SSD

> payments. Why would anyone WANT to do this? LOL, Judy O

>

> DISCLAIMER!!

> WE ARE NOT MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS, THEREFORE ANY INFORMATION THAT IS

RECEIVED HERE IS FROM EXPERIENCE ONLY. PLEASE CONSULT WITH YOUR DOCTOR

BEFORE TRYING ANYTHING THAT IS SUGGESTED. WE ARE NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR YOUR

PHYSICIAN AND ARE NOT TRYING TO BE. REMEMBER EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT AND

TREATMENT MAYBE DIFFERENT FOR MANY OF US. THANK YOU

>

February 26, 2001

Judy,

Sometimes I think they make it hard so you will give up applying

or appealing. I'm determined to follow through with this even if I have to

file a second appeal.

Sandy

> Sandy, why do they make it so difficult? I realize there are probably

cheats

> out there, but this is not exactly going to be a picnic even with SSD

> payments. Why would anyone WANT to do this? LOL, Judy O

>

> DISCLAIMER!!

> WE ARE NOT MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS, THEREFORE ANY INFORMATION THAT IS

RECEIVED HERE IS FROM EXPERIENCE ONLY. PLEASE CONSULT WITH YOUR DOCTOR

BEFORE TRYING ANYTHING THAT IS SUGGESTED. WE ARE NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR YOUR

PHYSICIAN AND ARE NOT TRYING TO BE. REMEMBER EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT AND

TREATMENT MAYBE DIFFERENT FOR MANY OF US. THANK YOU

>

February 27, 2001

Judy, I don't think that it matters what party they/or you belong to. It

should not matter, our taxes go to pay for all of our Congressmen and they

should help anyone who asks for them to assist them in matters if they are

able to be of assistance. Good Luck, I hope I have been of some help, at

least you know that you don't have to just take what decision they hand to

you, you can come back with some ammunition. Just get that Congressman on

you side and in your corner. Don't give those " ambulance chasers " one red

dime of the money you can spend on bills just as easily as they can. After

all, it is your money and you are not asking for something that you don't

honestly need. If you did not need it, you would not bother to apply for it

in the first place, right? Go for it Girl!! Love and Prayers, Lucy

Re: Judy - Disability Application

> Lucy, Good for you!!! Believe me that is something I will truly keep in

> mind. Does it matter if your congressman is not of the same political

party?

> Will they still help? LOL, Judy O

>

> DISCLAIMER!!

> WE ARE NOT MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS, THEREFORE ANY INFORMATION THAT IS

RECEIVED HERE IS FROM EXPERIENCE ONLY. PLEASE CONSULT WITH YOUR DOCTOR

BEFORE TRYING ANYTHING THAT IS SUGGESTED. WE ARE NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR YOUR

PHYSICIAN AND ARE NOT TRYING TO BE. REMEMBER EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT AND

TREATMENT MAYBE DIFFERENT FOR MANY OF US. THANK YOU

>

February 27, 2001