California State Disability eligibility

Hi,

I am not sure if you are talking about SSDI…..this is social security disability income…eligibility is determined by how many years you have worked and also your level of disabilty…that will be determined by the disabilty determination unit of SS, after they have received all your medical records. A diagnosis of stage 3 cancer (including 3a, 3b, 3c) and stage 4 is often enough of a diagnosis, along with supporting documents. I believe thay consider stage 3 and above to be "internal" cancer (even if it isnt internal like in an organ). The fact that it is stage 3 means it is in at least one lymph node is how it is looked at as "internal". You can go on the SS website and find more information and I believe you can apply online. I chose to call my local SS office (number in the phone book) NOT the national number and I was set up for a phone interview. I went through my history, they sent me release forms to sign and return to them and then they sent for my records. I believe you have to have a minimum of 35 years of work history. If not there is SSI…supplemental security income, for those who have a disabilty but not enough years worked. The amount is less money as it is not based on your years worked. SSDI is the same amount as what you would get if you were to retire at whatever age you currently are. Do you remember getting the yearly SS mailings, with all your years wages listed and what you would get if you retire at age 65 etc or became disabled?? This is the SS organization giving you this information.

 If you have younger than age 18 childen and cant work sometimes there is a grant from human services that allows a small monthly allowance to help take care of the children, rent, etc….some people call it "aid to needy families with children"etc, different states have different names. usually they can grant you some help while you are applying for SSI or SSDI.

 SSI or SSDI also pays you a back benefit, either from the date you apply (SSDI) or to 6 months previous from your date of application (SSI).  Date of application can be the phone call you make to apply. Again, there is much more information on the Social Security Website. I get mailings from SS to my email about updates, etc now too. 

Regarding medicare….if you get SSDI, you will get medicare automatically two years after your date of eligiblity. That is medicare parts A and B.  With SSDi you are allowed to work, if you want/can, and can make up to $1000.00 a month and still keep your benefits. Part D medicare (prescription drugs) benefit can be purchased.

I was determined eligible for SSDI the year I did Interferon….so that was 2007. I was found eligible for benefits for 7 years based on my cancer disability having been diagnosed in 8/06 with stage 3a malignant metastatic melanoma. When I went back to work after my year of being on Interferon, I called SS (again my local office) and they stopped my payments. When I had to stop working again due to re-occurence and have more treatments I called my local SS office and they started up my payments, etc. It has been easy to do all this. In 2009 I started receiving medicare parts A and B. There is a premium (around $115 a month for me), and I have chosen to keep it even though I have other private insurance. At some point, if I choose not to return to work (I am back on SSDI as of December 2010) I will not pay the COBRA premiums and will need to have the Medicare be my primary insurance. They do pick up some medical bills after my private insurance is billed.

Please write and ask more questions and I hope I along with others can answer them!

Good luck,

Vermont_Donna, stage 3a

Hi,

I am not sure if you are talking about SSDI…..this is social security disability income…eligibility is determined by how many years you have worked and also your level of disabilty…that will be determined by the disabilty determination unit of SS, after they have received all your medical records. A diagnosis of stage 3 cancer (including 3a, 3b, 3c) and stage 4 is often enough of a diagnosis, along with supporting documents. I believe thay consider stage 3 and above to be "internal" cancer (even if it isnt internal like in an organ). The fact that it is stage 3 means it is in at least one lymph node is how it is looked at as "internal". You can go on the SS website and find more information and I believe you can apply online. I chose to call my local SS office (number in the phone book) NOT the national number and I was set up for a phone interview. I went through my history, they sent me release forms to sign and return to them and then they sent for my records. I believe you have to have a minimum of 35 years of work history. If not there is SSI…supplemental security income, for those who have a disabilty but not enough years worked. The amount is less money as it is not based on your years worked. SSDI is the same amount as what you would get if you were to retire at whatever age you currently are. Do you remember getting the yearly SS mailings, with all your years wages listed and what you would get if you retire at age 65 etc or became disabled?? This is the SS organization giving you this information.

 If you have younger than age 18 childen and cant work sometimes there is a grant from human services that allows a small monthly allowance to help take care of the children, rent, etc….some people call it "aid to needy families with children"etc, different states have different names. usually they can grant you some help while you are applying for SSI or SSDI.

 SSI or SSDI also pays you a back benefit, either from the date you apply (SSDI) or to 6 months previous from your date of application (SSI).  Date of application can be the phone call you make to apply. Again, there is much more information on the Social Security Website. I get mailings from SS to my email about updates, etc now too. 

Regarding medicare….if you get SSDI, you will get medicare automatically two years after your date of eligiblity. That is medicare parts A and B.  With SSDi you are allowed to work, if you want/can, and can make up to $1000.00 a month and still keep your benefits. Part D medicare (prescription drugs) benefit can be purchased.

I was determined eligible for SSDI the year I did Interferon….so that was 2007. I was found eligible for benefits for 7 years based on my cancer disability having been diagnosed in 8/06 with stage 3a malignant metastatic melanoma. When I went back to work after my year of being on Interferon, I called SS (again my local office) and they stopped my payments. When I had to stop working again due to re-occurence and have more treatments I called my local SS office and they started up my payments, etc. It has been easy to do all this. In 2009 I started receiving medicare parts A and B. There is a premium (around $115 a month for me), and I have chosen to keep it even though I have other private insurance. At some point, if I choose not to return to work (I am back on SSDI as of December 2010) I will not pay the COBRA premiums and will need to have the Medicare be my primary insurance. They do pick up some medical bills after my private insurance is billed.

Please write and ask more questions and I hope I along with others can answer them!

Good luck,

Vermont_Donna, stage 3a