DISABILITY FINANCIAL NEEDS

[Guest SHELL2020]

My doctor has just declared me disabled and I am in need of financial help. I have gone to the social security and they tell me it will take 5 months before getting approved. I have gone to the TEC and they are of no help. I have a job to go back to but my doctor will not allow me to return for at least 6-8 months. Until then I need finacial help to pay for my bills and food and house. Does anyone know where I can go or who to contact. Any information will do.

[Sheila K]

If you were employed when you became disabled, you should talk to your employer about any programs available where you work. Short term/long term disability or sick leave options come immediately to mind. Some employers allow employees to donate vacation or sick time to come to the assistance of co-workers in your kind of situation.

If these types of programs are not available, it may be to your advantage to contact your state's social benefits agencies. They can provide information about food stamps and other assistance programs. Remember, as a tax-paying employee, you have been contributing to those programs for as long as you have worked. You may be entitled to receive the benefit of the programs you have previously supported through your tax dollars.

Good luck.

[Guest SHELL2020]

I work in a doctors office of 6 women and we do not have any kind of plans to help employees thru disability times! I only have 4 weeks of vacation a year and I have used it already. I have had 4 surgerys this year on my feet. I had surgery in 96 and the first doctor who did it almost crippled me. So I have had to undergo extensive repair surgeries to fix them. I have had to use up all that vacation time. I am lucky that I have a boss that will allow me to return to my job. But like I said I have checked into all the social services and they all say the same thing, it will take 5 months to process your claim or you make to much money or if you quit your job we can help but they can't give me as much money as I make now! Our govt is not a well organized group of people! So what do you do in the mean time? No one has been able to give me an answer and I have run out of people to call! Any help?

[Guest Penn]

I live in Fort Worth and have learned of a surprising number of funds available through the city. There are income requirements, however, and if your city has similar funds you may run into the problem you've already mentioned of making "too much money." It's worth asking, at least. Have you tried your local Red Cross chapter or YWCA? They are often good resources for emergency funds.

If all else fails, could you take in a roommate and get a little income that way?

[Guest nac]

Is there any possibility that you can return to some form of work at your office, modified to accommodate your condition, on a part-time basis until you're fully recovered? We're a large (5000) employer, so obviously we have more options available, however, there may be some light tasks that you can perform on a part-time basis. It says a lot for you as an employee that they're willing to hold your position until you can come back full-time. It might be worth your while to discuss your limitations and restrictions with your treating MD first, then approach your employers about the possibility.

[Alan Simpson]

Assuming that the company you worked for has a retirement plan you may be able to obtain a hardship withdrawal or in-service distribution from the plan which will allow you to have money to live on.

Another option is the possibility of a loan from the retirement plan. While the loan payments must be made, otherwise the loan will be a "deemed distribution" from the plan you may be able to borrow enought to live on and make the loan payments until you are able to return to work.

[Guest dee katz]

I have been disabled since 8/97 & receiving long-term disability benefits through my former employer since 11/97, along with ssdi since 2/98. the ltd provider is fortis benefits and they do not direct deposit each month. they are polite and apologetic, and eventually do release the benefits after a few days....but they have never deposited the money 3 months in a row. is this the way all benefit providers operate, and is there anything i can do other than call every month? since i'm incapacitated by frequent MS attacks they sometimes wait 2 weeks until i notify them. it seems like they think i might die every other month although they always say it was due to my specialist being re- assigned----or their office moving----or someone being on vacation, etc. there have been 3 departments and 11 different specialists & there managers that have had my case in <2 years. they awarded these benefits and agree they should pay them, they're just consistently erratic with payment. do i have any recourse at all other than spending 2 weeks of each month getting them to pay?

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[Guest nac]

Can't speak for your particular contract, but generally once someone is on ssdi, medicals are checked only at specific intervals - every 6-12 months or so, just to be sure there's no change. Checks are cut once a month (I don't think we direct deposit either, but the checks go out on time each month).

It sounds like you may have a case to take to the state insurance dept., if they're inconsistent with payments.