FMLA and Disability

Forums General Melanoma Community FMLA and Disability

  • Post
    Christine.P
    Participant

      Has anyone used the Family Medical Leave Act protocol to go on short term disability at 60% of salary and also used their Social Security disability at the same time? Is that allowed (from what I can tell, I think it is but am not sure)? The SS process seems really complicated, but I am about to start treatment for stage 4 melanoma (I am post op and scans are done) and just want to know all the options before I start. 

       

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        Lil0909
        Participant

          I was on treatment for Stage 3 and was out from work for over a year.  I was on short term, and then long term after out for 3 months. After being away from work for a year, my insurance asked me to apply for social security disability.  It probably took me a few hours to complete all of the SS paper work, but I was approved immediately (within 3 weeks).  SS gave me a monthly amount, and then retro-paid me for all of the time what I was out… but this was counted as an off-set to my disability insurance, so at the end I received the same amount every month.  The main benefit I found to SS is that once approved, the restrictions were not as harsh.  When I returned to work part time because I still have such bad fatigue and some other issues, and I stopped recieving insurance disability, but continued to receive SS.  I would think being Stage 4 would make this process even easier for you.  Hope this helps, good luck!

          Side note — I keep all of my medical records, insurance paper work, dr contact info – everything – in a big binder.  That really helped me fill out all of the paper work faster 

          Lil0909
          Participant

            I was on treatment for Stage 3 and was out from work for over a year.  I was on short term, and then long term after out for 3 months. After being away from work for a year, my insurance asked me to apply for social security disability.  It probably took me a few hours to complete all of the SS paper work, but I was approved immediately (within 3 weeks).  SS gave me a monthly amount, and then retro-paid me for all of the time what I was out… but this was counted as an off-set to my disability insurance, so at the end I received the same amount every month.  The main benefit I found to SS is that once approved, the restrictions were not as harsh.  When I returned to work part time because I still have such bad fatigue and some other issues, and I stopped recieving insurance disability, but continued to receive SS.  I would think being Stage 4 would make this process even easier for you.  Hope this helps, good luck!

            Side note — I keep all of my medical records, insurance paper work, dr contact info – everything – in a big binder.  That really helped me fill out all of the paper work faster 

            Lil0909
            Participant

              I was on treatment for Stage 3 and was out from work for over a year.  I was on short term, and then long term after out for 3 months. After being away from work for a year, my insurance asked me to apply for social security disability.  It probably took me a few hours to complete all of the SS paper work, but I was approved immediately (within 3 weeks).  SS gave me a monthly amount, and then retro-paid me for all of the time what I was out… but this was counted as an off-set to my disability insurance, so at the end I received the same amount every month.  The main benefit I found to SS is that once approved, the restrictions were not as harsh.  When I returned to work part time because I still have such bad fatigue and some other issues, and I stopped recieving insurance disability, but continued to receive SS.  I would think being Stage 4 would make this process even easier for you.  Hope this helps, good luck!

              Side note — I keep all of my medical records, insurance paper work, dr contact info – everything – in a big binder.  That really helped me fill out all of the paper work faster 

              Kim K
              Participant

                SSDI lets you work with unlimited income for 9 months.  After that, they will reduce your payments.  They figure if you can go back to work, then you should work to get off SSDI.  The 9 months is used to transition from no work to hopefully full-time work, retraining, rehab etc.

                I worked full-time AND got SSDI for myself and two girls.  The payments really helped out.  The kids income wasn't taxable, but mine was.

                After 9 months I stopped SSDI since I was still working full-time.

                Kim K
                Participant

                  SSDI lets you work with unlimited income for 9 months.  After that, they will reduce your payments.  They figure if you can go back to work, then you should work to get off SSDI.  The 9 months is used to transition from no work to hopefully full-time work, retraining, rehab etc.

                  I worked full-time AND got SSDI for myself and two girls.  The payments really helped out.  The kids income wasn't taxable, but mine was.

                  After 9 months I stopped SSDI since I was still working full-time.

                  Kim K
                  Participant

                    SSDI lets you work with unlimited income for 9 months.  After that, they will reduce your payments.  They figure if you can go back to work, then you should work to get off SSDI.  The 9 months is used to transition from no work to hopefully full-time work, retraining, rehab etc.

                    I worked full-time AND got SSDI for myself and two girls.  The payments really helped out.  The kids income wasn't taxable, but mine was.

                    After 9 months I stopped SSDI since I was still working full-time.

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