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I agree. I don't think that drawing a teacher's pension and having my social security disability cut by 60% - this is based on social security credits I earned as a secretary before and after I was a teacher, is double dipping. But what I think does not matter. Every time we get a SS raise they take it out for Medicare so I never have and never will have more than $144/mon. This was due to Reagan's "double dipper" law in CA. Also, in 1986 our teacher pension contributions were annuitized so we pay income tax twice, once when we earn it and a second time when we get a pension payment. I tried to fight it. There is nothing I can do. I was receiving a LAUSD teacher's pension when I was diagnosed with PD in 1996. I got my social security disability 2 years later at age 62. It should have been around $400-500/mo., not $144 which it still is 10 years later. It sounds to me like it all depends on where you live and who you draw in the system. On the 2nd try I got something, although I don't know if it was worth my trouble. Teachers in CA get Medicare without having worked for it like I did. The Medicare is good along with my secondary, so I am lucky. Two DBSs didn't cost me a dime. Ray Rayilyn Brown Board Member AZNPF Arizona Chapter National Parkinson's Foundation [log in to unmask] ----- Original Message ----- From: <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Sunday, February 24, 2008 7:40 AM Subject: Re: Social Security >I have been reading all of the emails regarding Social Security (SS) >disability, and I would like to add my perspective (and I apologize for the >length of this post, but it is IMPORTANT!) I draw both state retirement >as a teacher (Tennessee) and social security disability. I don't consider >this "double-dipping" because it is two separate pots from which I draw. >Double dipping would be like being retired from the military after 20 >years, then working until retirement age for the Veterans Administration, >drawing two retirements from the same government funded source. I >personally don't see anything wrong with that; if you did the service you >should reap the benefits. > > I believe each state has its own set of rules, but those of which I am > aware definitely allow you to draw from BOTH retirements, if you are > vested by your state. (In Tennessee, you become vested after 5 > consequtive years of employment, with the premium is based on your top 5 > years of salary.) I was told to apply for the SS, then apply for the > State, because if you are SS disability approved, the State automatically > approves you for theirs. My two retirements went through with no > difficulties. > > Here are some important things to know: > 1. You must not have worked for 5 months before you can apply for SS > disability. (you can apply, but it will automatically be rejected. I > guess the 5 months is to see if your disability is something that will > improve with time.) > 2. Get reports from EVERY doctor you have visited since your claimed > disability (for instance, if you saw a podiatrist for an insert in your > shoes- report that. The orthodics might be related to your having PD by > your gait.) > 3. Be as detailed and specific as you can, especially when you report > your schedule of activities for a day. (Tell how you have to sit your > meds by your bedsidde because you cannot get up safely in the mornings for > fear of falling - if this is your case. Tell how you must wait until the > meds kick in to be functional, etc. Don't leave anything out.) > 4. When reporting anything on the mounds of questionnaires and papers you > must complete, think about why you would not be a good employee and > include that thought throughout your papers. (example: you are prone to > falls, you must take medicine every ? hours and it must be on time, you > cannot be considered reliable as you don't know when the medications will > work, etc.). > 5. Be certain to include any mental difficulties associated with your > having PD. (Depression, cognitive difficulty, memory problems, etc.) > Deficiencies in all of these areas make you less than a desirable > employee. > 6. Remember, the older you are when you apply for disability, the easier > it will be to get approved. This is because the SS Administration wants > to give you every opportunity, especially if you are nowhere close to > regular retirement, to return to the workforce (they even have a program > where you can work for a while to see if you can re-enter the workforce). > > With the help of a friend, we wrote a page of tips on applying for SS > disability. I worked with a lawyer to update the article several years > ago, but most of the stuff is still revelant (the lawyer still has it > posted on his site). http://www.ccastle.org/adisabil.html > > My application went through the first time without any problems, as did > the State retirement. It's all in how you complete the paperwork - they > don't know your case, so tell it like it is. Good luck! > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: > mailto:[log in to unmask] > In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn > Peggy > > > -- > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.5.516 / Virus Database: 269.21.0/1296 - Release Date: 2/24/2008 > 12:19 PM > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn