› Forums › General Melanoma Community › going back to work- questions
- This topic has 18 replies, 6 voices, and was last updated 13 years, 3 months ago by
LynnLuc.
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- January 22, 2011 at 5:13 am
I am wanting to go back to work…dx with stage 4 melanoma-I have been NED for nearly 9 months . I am still in the trial here at Moffitt. I will need 2 more days off for treatment for the trial…Am I crazy for wanting to go back to work? I know if I do go back I will lose my state disability ( from state job in North Dakota) as well as my SSDI.
I am wanting to go back to work…dx with stage 4 melanoma-I have been NED for nearly 9 months . I am still in the trial here at Moffitt. I will need 2 more days off for treatment for the trial…Am I crazy for wanting to go back to work? I know if I do go back I will lose my state disability ( from state job in North Dakota) as well as my SSDI. If I get reoccurrence I will never get my North Dakota disability back as I am in Florida now…I wonder how hard it will be and how long it would take to get the SSDI started again…anyone know if it would be easier the second time around?
I feel like I can't sit around and do nothing like I am waiting to die. Yes I know I felt that way in the beginning, but now I really want to move forward and hope and pray for the best.
Another question…should I tell them at my interview about my diagnosis? Or wait and tell my direct manager/supervisor. I know the law says they can't discriminate…but in this area unemployment is 15% and afraid they can pick and choose and trump up a reason not to hire me if they don't like my dx…I do not want to claim disabled …I want to be hired because of my skills and experience…not because of my dx…
anybody want to throw some thoughts out there?? Thanks, Lynn ( have interview next Wednesday…)
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- January 22, 2011 at 6:33 am
If you're going back into social work I see no reason why that would interfere with your work unless the trail you are in would take time away from work. If you would require time away from work immediately then I suppose you would need to disclose that before accepting a job. But other than that, I say good for you it's great that you are feeling up to going back to work. If it doesn't affect your job they don't need to know. I would be very careful and check to see if there if a waiting period on health benefits though. You don't want to get caught with a 6 month wait for benefits and no SSDI.
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- January 22, 2011 at 6:33 am
If you're going back into social work I see no reason why that would interfere with your work unless the trail you are in would take time away from work. If you would require time away from work immediately then I suppose you would need to disclose that before accepting a job. But other than that, I say good for you it's great that you are feeling up to going back to work. If it doesn't affect your job they don't need to know. I would be very careful and check to see if there if a waiting period on health benefits though. You don't want to get caught with a 6 month wait for benefits and no SSDI.
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- January 24, 2011 at 2:19 pm
Perhaps you could try going back to work part time? You can earn up to $1000 per month and not lose your SSDI.
The application process for SSDI would be the same as the first time if you need to reapply. You would have the 5 month waiting period for benefits again.
Hoping you continue to do well!!
By the way – I'm in ND – working for the State. Today I think I'd rather be in Florida 🙂
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- January 24, 2011 at 7:10 pm
Where at in ND? I was doing CPS for Bott, Pierce and Mc Henry counties and before that- targeted case management at Foster/Eddy and Wells!
When I called Soc Sercurity they told me I could earn up to 740 ( or maybe 770) before they cut me off…I get long term disability from ND state and they allow me to make up to 70% of my previous pay before they cut me off…
I only get 1350 a month total and hubby is still trying to find work…I don't even qualify for Medicaid down here..just considered medically needy and so I would need 1300 this month in medical bills before Medicaid even cover anything. Our monthly income is only 1350…go figure…house payment, car payment utilities food etc etc..where would I get 1300 for medical bills….
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- January 25, 2011 at 4:35 pm
I have a friend who is a social worker for Foster, Eddy & Wells – she's only been there a few years. I think she works with foster kids a lot.
I'm in Bismarck – I work for Disability Determination Services (DDS) …. I do the medical reviews of SSI/SSDI claims. We're a federally funded state program (through SSA). Each state has thier own DDS.
I'm not an expert on the qualifications for SSI/SSDI since that's handled by the SSA office, but I know you are not considered to be engaging in Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) until you earn over $1000 per month for 2010 (haven't heard if it will go up for 2011). So I'd question why they told you $740 or $770. Maybe call to clarify? Maybe it has to do with your disability payments from the state?
My dad and sister-in-law have both had melanoma (luckily caught early)- that's why I lurke around here keeping an eye on treatments and such.
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- January 25, 2011 at 4:35 pm
I have a friend who is a social worker for Foster, Eddy & Wells – she's only been there a few years. I think she works with foster kids a lot.
I'm in Bismarck – I work for Disability Determination Services (DDS) …. I do the medical reviews of SSI/SSDI claims. We're a federally funded state program (through SSA). Each state has thier own DDS.
I'm not an expert on the qualifications for SSI/SSDI since that's handled by the SSA office, but I know you are not considered to be engaging in Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) until you earn over $1000 per month for 2010 (haven't heard if it will go up for 2011). So I'd question why they told you $740 or $770. Maybe call to clarify? Maybe it has to do with your disability payments from the state?
My dad and sister-in-law have both had melanoma (luckily caught early)- that's why I lurke around here keeping an eye on treatments and such.
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- January 25, 2011 at 4:36 pm
I have a friend who is a social worker for Foster, Eddy & Wells – she's only been there a few years. I think she works with foster kids a lot.
I'm in Bismarck – I work for Disability Determination Services (DDS) …. I do the medical reviews of SSI/SSDI claims. We're a federally funded state program (through SSA). Each state has thier own DDS.
I'm not an expert on the qualifications for SSI/SSDI since that's handled by the SSA office, but I know you are not considered to be engaging in Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) until you earn over $1000 per month for 2010 (haven't heard if it will go up for 2011). So I'd question why they told you $740 or $770. Maybe call to clarify? Maybe it has to do with your disability payments from the state?
My dad and sister-in-law have both had melanoma (luckily caught early)- that's why I lurke around here keeping an eye on treatments and such.
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- January 25, 2011 at 4:36 pm
I have a friend who is a social worker for Foster, Eddy & Wells – she's only been there a few years. I think she works with foster kids a lot.
I'm in Bismarck – I work for Disability Determination Services (DDS) …. I do the medical reviews of SSI/SSDI claims. We're a federally funded state program (through SSA). Each state has thier own DDS.
I'm not an expert on the qualifications for SSI/SSDI since that's handled by the SSA office, but I know you are not considered to be engaging in Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) until you earn over $1000 per month for 2010 (haven't heard if it will go up for 2011). So I'd question why they told you $740 or $770. Maybe call to clarify? Maybe it has to do with your disability payments from the state?
My dad and sister-in-law have both had melanoma (luckily caught early)- that's why I lurke around here keeping an eye on treatments and such.
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- January 24, 2011 at 7:10 pm
Where at in ND? I was doing CPS for Bott, Pierce and Mc Henry counties and before that- targeted case management at Foster/Eddy and Wells!
When I called Soc Sercurity they told me I could earn up to 740 ( or maybe 770) before they cut me off…I get long term disability from ND state and they allow me to make up to 70% of my previous pay before they cut me off…
I only get 1350 a month total and hubby is still trying to find work…I don't even qualify for Medicaid down here..just considered medically needy and so I would need 1300 this month in medical bills before Medicaid even cover anything. Our monthly income is only 1350…go figure…house payment, car payment utilities food etc etc..where would I get 1300 for medical bills….
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- January 24, 2011 at 2:19 pm
Perhaps you could try going back to work part time? You can earn up to $1000 per month and not lose your SSDI.
The application process for SSDI would be the same as the first time if you need to reapply. You would have the 5 month waiting period for benefits again.
Hoping you continue to do well!!
By the way – I'm in ND – working for the State. Today I think I'd rather be in Florida 🙂
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- January 24, 2011 at 3:51 pm
The cautious side of me says apply for part-time work to stay under $1000 and keep your disability. I wouldn't tell them about your dx, just say you are not avaiable to work on those two specific days and leave it at that.
Good luck!
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- January 24, 2011 at 3:51 pm
The cautious side of me says apply for part-time work to stay under $1000 and keep your disability. I wouldn't tell them about your dx, just say you are not avaiable to work on those two specific days and leave it at that.
Good luck!
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- January 25, 2011 at 6:58 pm
Lynn:
I totally understand your feelings. I just left the workforce after 35 years and it wasn't planned. Melanoma sorta does that for you sometimes. I had yet another surgery this past July (tumor removal). With the previous surgeries I was back to work quickly, about two weeks. I could tell that with each surgery it was taking longer to recuperate and the strength wasn't there like before.
I kept thinking that if I could just get back to work I would feel better, both mentally ,etc. The reality was that if I went back I would have to start completely over with the disability application and we couldn't afford that (we live in Washington state). I think you need to do what is best for you but listen to your body also. Stamina and strength was a big issue in my decision.
Best of luck,
Phil (Filbert)
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- January 25, 2011 at 6:58 pm
Lynn:
I totally understand your feelings. I just left the workforce after 35 years and it wasn't planned. Melanoma sorta does that for you sometimes. I had yet another surgery this past July (tumor removal). With the previous surgeries I was back to work quickly, about two weeks. I could tell that with each surgery it was taking longer to recuperate and the strength wasn't there like before.
I kept thinking that if I could just get back to work I would feel better, both mentally ,etc. The reality was that if I went back I would have to start completely over with the disability application and we couldn't afford that (we live in Washington state). I think you need to do what is best for you but listen to your body also. Stamina and strength was a big issue in my decision.
Best of luck,
Phil (Filbert)
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