“Hello again SUNshine”
Referencing your letter for info on how to go about applying for Disability payments~~Not having any experience in applying for Disability payments, I can’t speak personally. But I think the references I've provided below my name will be a helpful start. And since this is a much-needed benefit for many of our Ovarian Cancer sisters who have been diagnosed with late stage OC, I thought I would just put it on a separate topic.
Early on in my life I worked as a Stenographer right out of High School, plus went to college part-time, and of course had to “work in” dating some handsome males. Well, as time went on, I met and married William. We talked about both of us working. It was left up to me to make the choice. So I chose the best of both worlds I figure. “He would make the money and I would “spend” it. And guess what, I was one of those women back in the 60’s who chose to “STAY HOME AND BAKE COOKIES!”
Yes, there were some “lean” times early on. But now I’m looking at over 50 years accumulation of “stuff” and wondering why I thought I ever needed or accumulated all of it. Some days the furniture cries out as I pass by, “Hey, I’m still here. Dust me first!” I remember the comedienne Phyllis Diller saying, she never dusted. “Once a year she called the police and reported a robbery. The FBI came over and dusted for fingerprints!”
And, of course Erma Bombeck lamented about the things she would do differently if she had her life to live over. And wouldn’t we all? She wouldn’t save that big pretty candle, she would burn it before it “melted” in the closet. So last year I burnt the “scented candles” the grandkids gave me. A cancer diagnosis is a “sobering” experience, and priorities certainly get rearranged, not so much by us, but by IT, does it not? And pretty much all the “stuff” of our lives with the exception of loving God and country, our family, and our friends, isn’t of any lasting value in my opinion. The wonderful memories of helping others
And women know that working outside the home and inside the home is surely juggling two jobs. Sometimes when applying for something, I was asked, “Do you work?” To which I always replied, “Do you mean “outside” the home?” Never let it be implied that being a homemaker isn’t a full-time job in and by itself. So when you’re diagnosed with Stage IV cancer, how on earth are you supposed to “keep up with your normal routines of life” when this cancer is pulling you in the opposite direction? Erma also wrote: “I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren't there for the day.”
In those days jobs were available and women did have choices. I’ve been happily married to the same man for the last 54 years now. We’ve grown closer together through the “trials of life” that naturally occur to all who dwell on Planet Earth. Moreover, I was his caregiver in the world of Esophageal Cancer, and now he is mine. God’s still good. I’ve got lots to be thankful for, including the fact that I am “not alone” even though my present PET scan last week reveals that my cancer has advanced “considerably.” But I move on, confident that my times are in the hands of the Lord.
So my advice to you (although you didn’t ask for it) is make the most of moment of each day you have, and with Stage IV, why try to “work in further employment” if you can work out anything else? This cancer is “debilitating” and it does put a “crimp in our future” and how we want to spend the rest of our days. I’m going to have to make some choices this week, none of which I wish to make, but the most I, as a realist, can pray for is to have long periods of “progression free time” (PFS) between the traditional treatments now available to Stage IV Ovarian Cancer patients. Last time I checked, there is no Stage V!
So my prayer for you would be that you are quickly able to get some help with your finances, because Ovarian Cancer Stage IV definitely disables us. You should not have to jump through hoops and get in a “red-tape entanglement” to receive something that you are definitely qualified for. Think of how many people are ripping off the system, who really are able to work, but have managed to scam the government.
I hope for both you and me that we will make the wisest choice of those treatments presented to us for “options”. All of us who “live in the OC” world want to enjoy a good quality of life so we can spend it with those we love the most.
Wishing you all success,
Loretta ~ also Stage IV OC
_____________________________________________
In looking at sites that speak about “disability” payments, I think these are helpful, and you can call them if you need more help. It’s a support link for OC patients, and not a legal site looking for clients.
1. http://www.herafoundation.org/blog/ovarian-cancer-and-social-security-disability/
“Ovarian Cancer and Social Security Disability
April 30, 2015- Written by guest blogger Deanna Power…
How to Medically Qualify with Ovarian Cancer
The SSA evaluates all applicants with a medical guide called the Blue Book, which has listings for various conditions, symptoms, and disability benefit qualifications…More severe forms of ovarian cancer that also have distant metastases or are inoperable (a physician’s opinion that surgery will not be beneficial) or unresectable (the cancer is still present after surgery). If your ovarian cancer has progressed this far, it is listed on the SSA’s Compassionate Allowances List (CAL). The CAL is a list of conditions that are eligible for almost immediate approval, because the symptoms are so serious that patients can’t wait the one to two years of a normal SSD approval. Applicants with inoperable ovarian cancer or distant metastases can expect to be approved in as little as 10 days…”
___________________________________________________________
2. https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0423022260
(My personal note: This article was last updated in 2008 and still applicable going forward. It would seem that someone would have “updated” it since then. However, if you reference it, you will quickly be told if changes have been made. But when possible, I like to see when the article in question was last reviewed by someone responsible and placed a more recent date than one some 8 years ago. But it would seem if OC patients were eligible then, it would certainly be true today. )
_________________________________________________
3. https://www.ssa.gov/disability/professionals/bluebook/
Disability Evaluation Under Social Security
“Social Security Disability Planner for applying for disability benefits online…
Social Security representatives in the field offices usually obtain applications for disability benefits in person, by telephone, by mail, or by filing online. The application and related forms ask for a description of the claimant’s impairment (s), treatment sources, and other information that relates to the alleged disability. (The "claimant" is the person who is requesting disability benefits.)…”
___________________________________________________
4. https://www.ssa.gov/planners/disability/
“…The disability planner will help you find out:
How you can qualify and apply for benefits,
- What happens if your application is approved,
- Who can receive benefits on your earnings record,
- What you need to know about receiving disability benefits, and
- When Medicare coverage starts for Social Security disability beneficiaries.
We pay disability benefits under two programs:
The Social Security disability insurance program pays benefits to you and certain family members if you worked long enough and paid Social Security taxes.
Your adult child also may qualify for benefits on your earnings record if he or she has a disability that started before age 22.
The Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program pays benefits to disabled adults and children who have limited income and resources.
For most people, the medical requirements for disability payments are the same under both programs and disability is determined by the same process.
Whether you apply for Social Security or SSI disability, we ask you for information about your medical condition, work and education history to help us decide if you are disabled under our rules.
Most of the information in this planner is about Social Security disability benefits. Links to additional information about SSI can be found on "What Is Supplemental Security Income?"
Information for Advocates, Attorneys and Third Parties.”
__________________________________________________
“Applying for Social Security Disability Benefits with Ovarian Cancer
According to the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance, there are nearly 22,000 new cases of Ovarian Cancer diagnosed in the US every year. It is the fifth leading cause of cancer-related death for women. Because Ovarian Cancer is such a serious disease, many women are unable to work while receiving cancer treatments. Due to this hardship, the Social Security Administration (SSA) offers financial benefits for families in need.
What Type of Benefits Could I Receive?
There are two forms of disability benefits. Medical eligibility is the same for both types, but each has its own technical qualifications.
The first is known as Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). SSDI is only available for adult women who have worked throughout their lives and paid Social Security taxes, or are working part-time and are earning less than $1,090 per month. Younger applicants will be expected to have worked less than older applicants. You typically must have worked for five of the past 10 years to qualify for SSDI, but again, this may not apply to young women. If you are, for example, a mother who took 10 years off work to raise a family, you will not qualify for SSDI. SSDI applicants are eligible for Medicare two years after the onset of their cancer.
The second form of disability benefits is Supplemental Security Income, or SSI. SSI is available for women of all ages, but there are strict financial limitations for SSI applicants. If you have an income-earning spouse, if you are working part-time, or if you have more than $2,000 saved, you will not qualify for SSI. Most applicants who are approved for SSI benefits are enrolled in Medicaid. Only a handful of states have a separate eligibility standard for Medicaid. Be sure to check with your local Social Security office to see if you need to file any additional paperwork for Medicaid. Some women can qualify for both SSI and SSDI if their financial need is strong enough AND they have a recent work history, but most will only qualify for one form of disability benefits.
What About Benefits for my Family?
If you are approved for SSDI benefits only, your family will be eligible for additional benefits on your behalf. The two eligible parties would be your children and your spouse. Your children can qualify for up to 50% of your benefits if they’re under the age of 18 OR they’re 19 and still in high school, if they’re unmarried, and they are your biological child, adoptive child, or stepchild. Your spouse can also qualify for up to 50% of your benefits if you share the care for your child under age 16. Keep in mind that you can only receive up to 180% of your monthly payment, so if you have a large family, not all members will receive 50% of your payment.
How Do I Qualify Medically with Ovarian Cancer?
When you apply for disability benefits for Ovarian Cancer, the SSA will compare your cancer to its listing in the Blue Book. The Blue Book is a medical guide that lists how severe a disability must be to qualify for benefits.
Ovarian Cancer is listed in Section 13.23--Cancers of the female genital tract. There are two ways to qualify with Ovarian Cancer:
1. Your Ovarian Cancer is a non germ-cell cancer with one of the following:
· Extension of the cancer beyond your pelvis, such as your bowels.
· Your cancer has spread beyond regional lymph nodes.
· Your cancer has returned despite a round of anticancer treatment.
2. Your Ovarian Cancer is germ cell and it returned despite a round of anticancer treatment.
Speak with your doctor to find out if your Ovarian Cancer has progressed far enough to qualify for disability benefits. Ovarian Cancer will often qualify at Stage IIB, where it has grown into nearby pelvic organs. It will almost always qualify at Stage III and beyond.
Compassionate Allowances and Disability Benefits
Some disabilities, such as late-stage Ovarian Cancer, are clearly disabling. For cases like these, the SSA will speed up the application process. It will usually take around 4-5 months to get approved for disability benefits. Women who qualify for a Compassionate Allowance can expect to be approved in as little as 10 days. You do not need to send in a separate application to qualify for a Compassionate Allowance. The SSA will simply approve your claim quickly. If one of the following is met, you will likely qualify for a Compassionate Allowance:
1. Your Ovarian Cancer is inoperable.
2. Your Ovarian Cancer has spread to distant organs.
3. Your Ovarian Cancer has returned despite a round of initial treatment.
How to Apply for Benefits
Every woman applying for Social Security disability benefits should first visit the SSA’s website at www.ssa.gov and go through their Adult Disability Starter Kit. It will outline exactly what you need to apply, from tax forms to medical records. SSDI applicants can complete the entire application online, while SSI applicants need to schedule an appointment at their local SSA office. For any additional questions, feel free to email us at help@disability-benefits-help.org, or ask us a question in our forum.”
7. https://www.ssa.gov/disability/disability_starter_kits_adult_eng.htm
_______________________End of references_____________________