Re: when to go on disability

[Guest guest]

Dear :

I am glad you posted this. I too was/am an at home medical

transcriptionist. The first thing, if you are still working and

making what Social Security considers substantial gainful activity

which I think now is $780 a month, you would not be eligible for SS.

When I applied for benefits, I had been ill about a year and a

half. It had gotten so bad, I was not making any money at all

hardly. At that time, the substantial gainful activity amount was

something like $250 dollars a month!

When I applied, they took all my months earnings for a specific

period and averaged them. They came out less than the $250 amount

at that time.

When to apply is up to you. If you are making the SSA's definition

of the substantial gainful activity, you won't qualify. I don't

know what you are making and how you are paid. I was paid by the

line (I suspect you are too) and could hardly get anything done.

Sitting was a real killer. I am now on a " trial work period " as

defined by the SSA and I don't know if it is going to work or not.

I hope this has helped you.

I did get your phone number and I will call you. I may not get to

it until next weekend because I am trying to work too and by the

time I am done I don't want to breathe much less talk!

God bless

Kaye

- In pancreatitis , " Templin " <nancy@a...>

wrote:

> Hi all,

>

> I was on vacation last week and am trying to read all my e-mails.

I have noticed some of you talking about going on disability.

>

> At what point does one decide they are " there? " I am an at-home

medical transcriptionist and have 2 boys 4 and 6. I can barely get

through the day taking care of them and working. I do love my work,

but it does stress me out and it is exhausting. My kids are getting

to school age and will be needing help with homework, play sports,

etc., and I just don't know how long I can keep up with my job. By

about 5 p.m., I am " done for the day. "

>

> Any and all opinions are welcomed.

>

> Thank you.

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

,

I gave up working when a number of issues came up. I started to forget

instructions given to me just minutes before, my accuracy, which was a

large portion of my job, dropped alarmingly, I'd fall asleep in meetings

or at my desk and I had a hard time meeting deadlines. A lot of other

side effects were also causing further problems. It got to the point

that I was in serious danger of being fired because people were having

to redo all my work when I accepted the fact that it was time to go on

disability. I talked it over with all my doctors and they agreed that I

could no longer work with these things going on. I had always prided

myself on doing my best and being an excellent employee (the rating I

got on my reviews). In one year I had gone from excellent to can't

perform job function. At that point, it was obvious that I couldn't do

this anymore. I miss work a great deal, but I also know that I am where

I need to be right now, at home. I get tired very easily and take at

least one or two naps a day just to get going (though I also have some

days where I can't sleep no matter what I do).

So, that is my story on how I realized that I could no longer work. The

best thing to do is discuss it with your doctor (so that it gets into

your medical record) and to honestly evaluate how you are performing

your job. Hope this helps some in your decision.

Kimber

--

Kimber

Vallejo, CA

hominid2@...

Note: All advice given is personal opinion, not equal to that of a licensed

physician or health care professional.