Any Nurses recieving SSD/SSI

Nurses Disabilities

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Any Nurses recieving SSD/SSI?

Specializes in Med/Surg.

I am.

If things had worked the way they are suppose to I would not be eligible for SSI. But most things don't go the way they are suppose to. I did not apply for my disability right away, I waited two years before applying, thinking given time and treatment I would be able to go back to work. Secondly when I did file for disability, I did not hire an attorney, because I felt I really did not need one, my disability was well documented and I believed in the system. I don't believe in hiring a attorney and filing suits. (Unless there is really a justified reason to do so.) I did not know until it was too late, if you do not have an attorney you will automatically be denied. Your disability is based on your last five years of earnings, Between being denied and not having an attorney it was beyond five years, when it went to court so I had no wages they counted. Based on that I receive the very minimum the same amount, someone would receive that has never worked a day in their life.

This is a very frustrating situation, considering I started working when I was 15 years old, and have worked most of my life working two jobs most of the time consecutively. I also raised three children divorced by myself, without child support or any type of assistance.

I hope my sharing this will prevent anyone else from winding up in this situation. Don't wait to hire an attorney.

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Specializes in PACU/Cardiac/Nrsg. Mgmt./M/S.

:heartbeat

what type of disabilities are we discussing here? emotional/mental or physical: back, neck, etc. its much easier to get an idea of the discrimination and the problems you are going through if you can allude to the type of disability you have.

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I did not know until it was too late, if you do not have an attorney you will automatically be denied. Your disability is based on your last five years of earnings, Between being denied and not having an attorney it was beyond five years, when it went to court so I had no wages they counted. Based on that I receive the very minimum the same amount, someone would receive that has never worked a day in their life.

Well, I live in Tennessee. I quit work in February 2005. I applied to SS in March (the same year) and was approved and payments started in August with my first check in September. I had no lawyer. I think it depends on each person's situation. I have talked to others who had to have a lawyer's intervention.

I am not sure what got my approval, but it didn't take long. I have arthritis, bulging disks in my neck and was in counseling for depression (from being a caretaker of a man who had two strokes) anxiety, am a BKA and have other problems. I was trying to work 12 hours a day and I couldn't function efficiently (which caused the end of a 30 year career.)

After a 3 year absence, I decided to try part-time work to see if I could hold up. A nursing home is not easy work, but much better working 8 hours vs 12 doing total patient care on 12 patients (I had 38-42 at the nursing home) and it made such a difference not having to do baths, beds etc. But I have also quit there, it was too much for me.

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how do you receive ssd? how does it work to get it...do you have to wait 2 years?

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how do you receive ssd? how does it work to get it...do you have to wait 2 years?

You have to quit work first. Then apply at your SS office. They will let you know when/where to come in for an evaluation. I do not know about 2 years, I started mine in 5 months. It's not easy, some paper work to do, but if you have documentation from a Dr. it helps. The wait depends on how serious your disability is (I think) but do not know how it is determined.

You can call SS and they will send your papers in the mail, if it's not close to you, like mine was, this works better.

Good luck.

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I guess what confuses me is that the ADA wrote me and gave me an appointment for a meeting with them. I (thought ) it is over how to get back into the working area because with alot of job jumping and severe depression which finds itself in my life since I was a teen, I have had a hard time (keeping) a job.So the last time I got very depressed I called NAMI and talked to them concerning my situation. They sent me some papers online where to call> rehab for workers... but a long wait...So one day after that I called a nursing home for a job (only ) on weekends ,just to relieve me of too much stress untill or if I can get into fulltime. The lady DON, said it would be too stressful because I for the first time), told her that I suffered from depression. I called NAMI and told them what she said and then I called back the DON and told the lady that NAMIsaid she could`t talk that way and the lady yelled over the phone at me to NEVER call there again. Wow, I was so hurt and discouraged. Its like if you make up stories ...they will consider you but if you say the truth, anything about mental health , it is a bad word....But now that I am feeling somewhat better, I got a call from a detention center to try first shadowing a person. I am scaared the job will bring me down Yet I need the job and do not want to job hop if I do take it and later I decide it is too much. The supervisor said she needed full time personell....I wonder should I go to the rehab and let them help me find the right job or take this job and work hard to fight my emotions? I wish someone would give me some advise. I really want to feel good about myself but I have to fight depression, Gad, and OCD. Sometimes it gets me to feeling very sorry for myself when I really want to be like the strong nurses. I just don`t know how. .:scrying:....

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Specializes in ER, PACU, Med-Surg, Hospice, LTC.
how do you receive ssd? how does it work to get it...do you have to wait 2 years?

It really depends on what state you are in. I know some people that got it in 3-4 months and other (here in CA) that had to wait almost 3-4 years.

The above poster is correct. You must quit working first (or be fired) and then apply. It is best to have your own Doctors because the MDs assigned to you through the 'system' are usually not as thorough as your own Physician. Plus, your own Physician(s) will have more of a history about you. I would highly recommend hiring a lawyer that specializes in SSD claims.

Many people on Social Security Disability still work. They can get a SSD check, plus up to $x/month working (plus, all of their medical is paid for).

I see many disabled people living very happy and healthy lives thanks to SSD. People that would otherwise be homeless without medical care. I always encourage anyone that has severe medical problems that is affecting their ability to work to apply. It's free to apply and now everything can be done online.

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Specializes in IM/Critical Care/Cardiology.
tanya4me,

I was undiagnosed for 4 months with whooping cough. I worked all that time and then collapsed at work in respiratory distress. I had 3 hospitalizations, a 10 month bed rest, FMLA, short and long term disability. Never a work comp claim filed ( I took care of a

So now I sit and wonder what menial little job can I do to make my $900 a month and not lose my SSDI and what if my lungs can't handle it?

I think maybe it depends on the management in a place as to how one gets a fair chance of starting over differently then the previous job. I wish I was still working my old job despite the fact I got sick there. I had 30 years of nursing in too.

I struggle every day with depression and guilt, sometimes anger, all I want to know now is what am I supposed to do.........yikes!:banghead:

This is now.......

I started working as an agency nurse 35 - 40 hours per month. I'm currently doing flu clinics only. It's worked out great. Clinics are 3-6 hour shifts. Pay is good and I don't make more than $900 per month and I can pick and choose which shifts work out best for me.

I love being with people again. It also is great working alongside nurses again.

So I guess there is hope!:nurse:

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Specializes in Nursing instructor, Geriatrics.
I didn't explain myself. I am trying to get a job at a hospital that is closer to where I live. I had an interview and the supervisor asked why I had taken off the past few years. I goofed and told her because of cancer and that I was getting Social Security. Her attitude toward me changed immediately and she started asking me about my immune system, how often I go to the doctor and so on. I know my references are excellent and that's not the problem.

I believe this is against the law for her to ask you about your diagnosis and the # of MD visits. It sounds unethical.

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Don't wait to hire an attorney.

I have to agree with this statement. We just filed an SSDI application for my husband, and involved an attorney from the get-go. I looked at the statistics regarding denials (70 to 80% for the first round), and figured we'd better get us our own pitbull. :) The fee the lawyer can charge is set by law, so we'll pay the same fee whether we get in on the first try (fat chance!) or at the appeals level.

Also, avoid one of those national firms that do so much advertising. I did not like them AT ALL whenever I spoke with them on the phone. They are nothing but low-paid clerks. You never get to speak to an attorney. A local attorney (the one we hired) spoke with me on the phone for an hour before we ever even signed a fee contract with him.

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Hi, as a nurse out of work and looking for "less stressfull" nursing positions, lol, just wondering can a nurse apply for other hospital positions, such as secretary, or has anyone ever gotten an office position, not as a nurse, due to their disability? Or any other non-nursing position? Just wondering.

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Specializes in behavioral health.
This is now.......

I started working as an agency nurse 35 - 40 hours per month. I'm currently doing flu clinics only. It's worked out great. Clinics are 3-6 hour shifts. Pay is good and I don't make more than $900 per month and I can pick and choose which shifts work out best for me.

I love being with people again. It also is great working alongside nurses again.

So I guess there is hope!:nurse:

Sharona,

How did you get a job working flu clinics. What time of year do you apply? I would love to do this. I tried to return to work, but I made a dumb choice. I went to LTC. I thought that I would be able to handle it because I was feeling better. However, it was overwhelming stress and family problems complicated it more. I was stressed at home and stressed at work. I will never do LTC again. I only lasted six weeks. But, I do miss the residents. I do love the geriatrics. But, I don't love so many of them at one time. I would love to sit and talk with them, but I was always so hurried with my med pass. I used one of my trial return to work months. I just applied for a drs. office giving allergy shots at only 16 hrs. a week and $10 an hr. That rate should keep my benefits.

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