Can I file for SSDI while still employed during cancer treatment?

Prayers for you. 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

I surely understand. I have stage 4 gastrointestinal stromal tumor (gist), and while I can work, some days are tough. I've thought about not working, but due to all the appointments, meds, etc, I need the insurance. I pray that you'll overcome and any decision you make will be the right one 🙏

Thank you Andra. I've gone back and forth in my mind about what to do. I do not believe I can return to full time work. My job is not only physical, but highly stressful. I tried working last year, while undergoing chemotherapy. I ultimately went out on leave. I do need the insurance as well. Thank yiu again for prayers.

Robin, in a prior stage of life I managed a Social Security office. Social Security’s definition of disability is an impairment or a combination of impairments so severe that they prevent you from working (at any job that your age, education and experience may suit ) for at least a year or expected to end in your death within a year. Pretty bleak huh? Unfortunately, applying while you are still working will probably make you an ineligible for the benefits now. Depending on the income you receive, I would go ahead and apply just to see if I qualified. If you don’t do that, you won’t know if you’ll qualify now. It is your choice whether or not you apply. However, you should definitely apply the minute you’ve stopped working. Side note: Although I’m 76 I still hold a job and receive treatment for stage 4 RCC. Admittedly, I go into the office very few days, but I do work from home and do what I can do. I’m blessed to have a very supportive employer and do not need the income that a full-time job would afford me. I work because it allows me to have interactions with other people other than my fellow Cancer warriors. I suspect that I’ve survived this long (I’ve been in treatment for six years and counting) because I have some socialization and something to focus on besides my treatment. Whatever you decide to do about your employment I would encourage you to be sure you socialize while you’re going through this. I hope you’re having a good day today and I wish you the best on the road ahead.

Thank you Pat. I appreciate the advice.

Robin, check with your doctor about his feelings on you applying. I had a Lobectomy of my lower left lobe by way of a thoracotomy, 6 rounds of chemo and worked after my surgery for about but 3-1/2 years was then and I am still in extreme pain. I took early retirement,and believed it was after that i was able to apply and was approved for social security disability and retired about 2 years before my full retirement age. Ask the Doctor and call and get a phone conference with social security, when I spoke to them they were very informative. Good luck 🙏🙏🙏

Karen thank you. I will definitely speak with my oncologist and get any feedback and/or recommendations from her.

Can you work part time or on light duty?

Hi John, My agency does not offer light duty or part time. They offer ADA Accommodations, but I don't know what that would look like for me?

It looks like light duty. Reasonable accommodations it is usually worded as.

Hi John, I can check, but I've been with the job for 22+years and have not seen anything like that.

Everything's worth checking.

True

Hi Robin, If the job offers good insurance and pays for all your treatment then you should try and stick out your employment. If you are over 65 you can take your social security while still working. I would not encourage you to retire, because once you do you will not have the job insurance and Medicare takes a while to kick in and does not always cover everything. If you are eligible for Social security apply and get a monthly check while still employed. Your insurance will be paid and you can take leave of absence without pay from the job if you can live on your social security check. You must continue to pay the Job Insurance premium out of pocket.

Thank you Maggie for the advice.

To clarify, you must receive Social Security benefits for 24 months before Medicare kicks in unless you turn 65 (i.e., medicare starts at 65 with or without disability if you apply) during that period. There is also a five month waiting period before your Social Security starts. This makes it tough for people who can’t work, but need the medical care to fight their illness. My heart goes out to y’all. I was “lucky” not to get cancer until I was fully retired and had Medicare and an optional insurance. I wish you the best.

Thank you Pat. I'm not eligible for Medicare, age wise. SSDI has a program called Compassionate Allowance, (CAL) which can fast track disability determination for certain medical conditions that meet their criteria. I'm not counting on that, but I know that my particular disease is aggressive, which it has proven itself to be. My employer offers a good insurance plan, which is covering the cost of my treatment right now, while I am on leave. Unfortunately, the union has advised that the cost of my insurance will go up as of the new year. I continue to weigh all my options. Again, Thank you.

Robin, I was diagnosed with Stage 3 OC, Apr. 29th. I did get Medicare on Apr 1st. I’ve had 2 CT scans, a Laproscopy and a major surgery to take out all the cancer. The chemo treatment alone is $25k for one treatment, i had 6. So far Medicare and my supplement have paid for everything. I have had to pay for some medication, but wasn’t too bad. But Medicare has been awesome and for my husband too. He had a shoulder replacement and he never saw a bill. Good luck to you

Thank you Kathy. I'm glad to hear that Medicare has worked for you and your husband. I see on my EOB from the insurance statements how expensive chemo is as well treatment as a whole. Right now, thanks to colleges known to me and not known to me, who have donated sick to me, I have been able to pay the employees share of employer sponsored insurance, instead of the full cost of the insurance. I have a CT scan this week. Because I'm at stage 4, the concern has always been the continued spread of the disease to other areas. Prayerfully the cancerous mass is smaller. Thank you again for the feedback .

Robin, I am praying for you let us know what is happening

I certainly will update you.

That’s so nice of your colleagues to donate sick time. It’s amazing all the kindness that’s shown to all of us. That’s phenomenal. I will say some prayers for you for no new growth. I will be getting a scan in 3 months. I will be way done with chemo by then, and it will make me nervous having that CT scan. Let us know how your scan was. Know that you have people rooting for you. 🙂🙏🙏🙏

Thank you Kathy! I truly am grateful to those who have donated their time to me. There are caring , kind people still out there. Prayerfully I will have some positive news.

Well I had my CT scan and I await the results. Hopefully the tech was able to get a good picture with only one picture taken. The process for this CT scan was unlike any other, as I have had multiple scans with no issues. Not the case this time. The nurses were unable to access my port after several attempts and after the flush caused me pain. I did not know they were going to use the port, but my oncologist provided an order for them to use it, which I was told way after they tried several times with no success. Additionally, I was told in this same facility by nursing staff that they were not allowed to use the port, as it was just for chemo, in my case. Finally I said use my arm. They finally called the Physician Assistant who used ultrasound to find a vein. She was able to find a deep vein , but once the contrast was administered my arm began to hurt. This was a sign that the contrast did not enter the vein. Then they called a nurse from the ER who was able to start an IV in my hand, which hurt also. Anyway I apologize if this violates my privacy rights, but I needed to share. So the nurses suggested that there might be a problem with the port. I've had this port since 8/25 and have had chemo infusions and blood work with no issues. I left a message for the Vascular surgeon who completed the port placement, requesting he assess if there is a problem with this port. I think that if I have to have another CT, I'm going to request an oncology nurse, if they are going to try an access my port. Never a dull moment with cancer.

I’m so sorry you had to go through all that. Sounds awful!! Were they able to get the scan? Prayers to you!! 🙏🙏🙏