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Barb,

In response to your email re: ssdi.  I to collect benefits.  I was =
approved after I had my surgery, a that..  My request was approved on =
the first attempt after I was "let go" from my job.  My doctor =
recommended that I try for it.  I did have a friend that applied for it =
at the same time but was turned down ( she did not have any surgery)  =
Were you approved after your surgery? It is my personal that the surgery =
plays a big part here.  I was not aware of that information you gave =
about employment, but I take it you do not recommend testing it out.  I =
am a 39 yr. old that has had pd for 13 yrs.  and now that my 2 girls are =
totally in school I feel I am more of a burden and there is a need to do =
something productive so I can feel useful.  But I can not put my =
benefits in jeopardy as they help cover the cost of meds.,  and the =
little I do get from SSI is important.  I would appreciate any info on =
this matter you can supply.

Susan A.=20

-----Original Message-----
From:   Barbara Mallut [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
Sent:   Wednesday, July 09, 1997 1:30 AM
To:     Multiple recipients of list PARKINSN
Subject:        Life Changes

Dear List-Friends...

I've been digging myself out from under what appears to be a ton of =
email
today from a great many of ya commiserating me about the loss of my job =
on
MSN.   While I usually respond directly to anyone how emails me, there's =
just
too many messages to do so.

First, thanks to each of you who took the time to drop me email.  It was =
more
than welcome!   Each of you in your own way made me feel good and picked =
my
spirits right up.

After being a forum manager on MSN for the past 22 months, and running =
my own
large BBS for the 4 years prior to MSN - each a 7 day a week 24 hour a =
day job
(ok... so the systems work 24 hours a day.. I only worked about 12 to 14 =
hours
a day) <grin>  The only days off I've bad since July, 1992, was the day =
I had
my pallidotomy - and I was back online the day after the surgery - and =
the day
my daughter got married.  I'm due not only for a rest, 'cause I'm =
absolutely
beat, but also want to play a little now.  Geee... I hope I haven't =
forgotten
HOW to play! <smile>

HEADS UP!  I've learned a valuable lesson which will apply to all US =
citizens
who have or may have SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance) and/or
Medicare.

After a 3 year battle with Social Security trying to get them to =
acknowledge I
was disabled and therefor entitled to SSDI and Medicare benefits, =
eventually,
with the help of an attorney who specialized in Social Security law, I =
was
declared disabled.   The entire procedure was a long, drawn out and
humiliating affair, including having the original "hanging judge" who =
fixated
on the length of my fingernails (HA!  He shoulda seen 'em the night =
BEFORE the
hearing when not only were they longer, but were brilliant RED!) =
<giggle>.

Despite his apparent fingernail fetish the judge granted me SSDI and =
Medicare
benefits so I had some income (1/2 the amount of my mortgage payment) =
and
Medicare..

HERE'S THE RUB:  SSDI permits an individual on SSDI and/or Medicare to =
return
to work for 36 months without losing their 'disabled' status.  There is =
an
immediate return of benefits should that individual stop working (for =
whatever
reason) during that time span.  During that 36 months, Medicare is still =
in
effect, and in fact, one receives the full SSDI payment each month for 9
months after becoming employed (NEAT!)

I worked for 22 months prior to being laid off yesterday.  I immediately
called SSDI to get my benefits reinstated and found that not only had I =
been
DROPPED from the roles of SSDI - I was no longer considered disabled.  =
My
Medicare had been stopped also and I have NO medical insurance right =
now!

SSDI wouldn't discuss this with me during this initial phone call.  =
instead, I
now have a "phone interview" scheduled with one of their reps on July =
18th at
1:31 p.m. (I kid you not... 1:31 pm).   I have that phone interview =
because
according to SSDI, I have to go thru the ENTIRE ORIGINAL PROCEDURE ONCE
AGAIN!!!  The one that took me 3 years with the help of a lawyer before =
a
decision was made in my favor!   Someone at SSDI had screwed up on my =
file and
I'm stuck in limbo till this is settled.

After speaking with an aid at my Congressman's office today, I spent a =
couple
of hours on my PC banging out a letter with the whole story per his =
request.
I'm not going to play by the SSDI rules THIS time and wait another 3 =
years for
my Disability Insurance.

DO keep this experience in mind if and when you get SSDI and/or =
Medicare, and
if ya have any kind of full time work while receiving those benefits.  =
This
was a real eye opener to me!

Barb Mallut
[log in to unmask]
[log in to unmask]


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