TO

[Guest guest]

:

Yes a new friend!

I work for a MT service....Medquist to be exact. Use to be

Transcriptions Limited. I do all kinds of transcription, not just

one specialty. I did work in the hospital a few years in the

radiology department. Can't say I liked it though.

I have been on disability since 1998. They actually took my

disability date back to the first day I got sick which was July 3,

1997 though. (6 years tomorrow).

As far as working. There is an amount that is classified

substantial gainful activity, I think it is 800 per month. If you

make that or over that counts for one trial work month. If you have

nine months in a five year period that qualify as a trial work

month, they stop your benefits. In otherwords, you can make as much

as you want and still draw your full benefits for 9 months. They

don't have to be consecutive months either. So if the next 3

monhts, I make the substantial amount they count them. If the 3

months after that I don't make the substantial amount, they don't

even count them as substantial gainful activity. Sounds confusing

but it is not really. After I get the nine months of SGA then they

take away the SS benefits but not Medicare. I can have Medicare I

think up to 92 months. It is a long time anyway. They just bill me

when the time comes because I won't have a SS check for them to take

it out of.

After my 9 monhts SGA is up then there is a 36 month leeway in which

if I get sick, cannot work I call them and they will immediately

start the benefits over again, no questions asked. But, they will

be investigating for six months to see if you really qualify to be

back on SS. There really is a big leeway in all of this so I don't

feel like I am out on a limb! I know this all sounds rambling but

its hard to explain.

I am glad oyu had a good ER experience. There are two docs in our

ER who are like that and I always am thrilled to get them and they

know it. They know I am not BS'ing them and get on with the pain

meds. They also ask me what I want and how much! Can you believe

that? How much? But I have injectable pain meds at home and they

know I would not be there if I were not hurting and my own meds were

not working.

I have to remind myself not to sit for too long a period before

getting up and walking. Sometimes just sitting typing can make the

pancreas start aching. How about yours?

, I applied for SS for chronic pancreatitis but I don't know

what I got it on to tell you the truth. There were some other

things in my records and I have a feeling they used everything

together to approve me. I don't know, but I do know that I applied

October 30, 1998 and I got my back pay check of over $11,000 on

December 1, 1998, about 30 days. I did not have an attorney. I was

fortunate and I think folks if things are done correctly can do the

same thing. A while back I posted the SS story on Mark's top5plus5

board if you want to read it.

Well, I guess I better get back to trasncribing since this is my

first day " back to work. "

Talk to you later.

Kaye

P.S. Please ignore my typos, I am not spell checking right now!