When to report Social Security Disability Award

[2010flstf]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? New York

I had a mild stroke in mid-August and haven't been to work since- I have been using my sick days. Friday I received my Social Security Disability award, but it doesn't kick in for 5 months, and I still have 20 sick days left. I am out on FMLA, and I am awaiting notification of my retirement systems approval for disability retirement.

 

[Proserpina]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? New York

I had a mild stroke in mid-August and haven't been to work since- I have been using my sick days. Friday I received my Social Security Disability award, but it doesn't kick in for 5 months, and I still have 20 sick days left. I am out on FMLA, and I am awaiting notification of my retirement systems approval for disability retirement.

I don't really have anything to add - I'm just absolutely astonished at the timing.

You had a stroke in August, then applied for SSDI/SSI and have already been approved?

 

[OHRoadwarrior]

You must have been disabled an unable to work for a year. I am astonished also.

 

[Beth3]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? New York

I had a mild stroke in mid-August and haven't been to work since- I have been using my sick days. Friday I received my Social Security Disability award, but it doesn't kick in for 5 months, and I still have 20 sick days left. I am out on FMLA, and I am awaiting notification of my retirement systems approval for disability retirement.

I'm also amazed that you have been approved for SSDI for having a mild stroke (presumably, that didn't permanently disable you) and that benefits were approved within two months.

In any event, your post is titled "When to report Social Security Disability Award" - report it to who???

 

[csi7]

For social security disability, your disability must be determined to be lasting at least twelve months, your medical evidence must be assessed for disability rating, and if all that is approved, then it goes to your ability to work in the field you are being assessed in.
Yes, some people are approved within the first month, and their checks do not start until the sixth month.
The stroke may be considered mild, however, in some career fields, it is enough to prevent a return to their work.

 

[2010flstf]

Okay, I screwed this question up.
I applied for disability due to statuatory blindness, and my faily and I went on vacation. Ten minutes after returning home I had a mild stroke, and was under doctor's orders not to work until all my symptoms were gone, etc. The doctor gave me a note for wor, plus my cardiologist also wrote me a note; hence I am out on FMLA due to the stroke. I'm a high school teacher, so you can imagine why the doctors didn't want me working. Last week I received a letter awarding me disability, but the letter didn't say why; so I called the guy at SSDI handling my case,and I was told that after seeing my visual field test results, that I have Glaucoma, which has stolen a large portion of the vision in my 1 good eye, on top of the fact I was born blind in the other eye, he said I was an open and shut case of statuatory blindness- I have all the medical history needed to support a quick decision.
I'm sorry if I confused you, thinking and putting things down on paper has been rough since the stroke.
So I have been out on FMLA due to the stroke, and I have been using the 20 sick days I had left after the last school year. I never imagined SSDI would happen that fast, but they said I can use my sick days because I am not working for the school district. My early retirement pension for disability is being reviewed, so I am not retired from teaching until the decision is handed down. My retirement date will be 11/1 if approved, and I have just enough sick days left to get me through October.
I want my sick days. I had medical emergencies at work the last 2 years and was written up for following my doctor's plan of action instead of their medically dangerous methods.
If I tell them before 11/1 I lose my remaining sick days, along with my health insurance.
Now my Superintendent wants me to come in and discuss giving me accommodations so I can get back to work- she read the doctor's notes saying I shouldn't return to work.

Again I apologize- the above paragraph took me 25 minutes to write, it's hard. I'm going blind and they think the mild stroke was a warning for a major one heading my way.
Sorry, again.

 

[OHRoadwarrior]

Look into your union possibly having short and long term disability.

 

[2010flstf]

Look into your union possibly having short and long term disability.

Thank you for the suggestion, but unfortunately we have a very weak union- the members just go with the flow.

 

[OHRoadwarrior]

I do not advocate fraud. Talk to your doctor. Explain the circumstances and how you are being pressured to return. Ask if his opinion is similar to yours, that you should not be released and your followup should be in 8 weeks.

 

[2010flstf]

I do not advocate fraud. Talk to your doctor. Explain the circumstances and how you are being pressured to return. Ask if his opinion is similar to yours, that you should not be released and your followup should be in 8 weeks.

Thank you, I am with you- I don't advocate fraud either.
I also have low blood pressure (I take meds to keep it up to at least 90/60) and severe Asthma. My Cardiologist, Neurologist, and Pulmonologist said no work. The stroke (small stroke) Is believed to have been the result of inadequate oxygen, so staying on my feet, and bending over to help students is out of the question, let alone the stress. The district has doctor's notes stating that their combined decision is no work until at least 1/1/2012. I'm still getting bad headaches.
They know all this, they know about the stroke, they know I'm on a medical watch for more small strokes, or a big one. The retirement system will tell them I'm retired on disability the last week in October. I've not lied to them, except the omission of SSDI for my vision- I've actually been written up for not seeing a student raise his hand. That's how they are.

 

[OHRoadwarrior]

Request one of your doctors write a note, refusing to medically release you. Take it to your meeting with the supervisor. Request your BA or steward attend.

 

[csi7]

I agree with RoadWarrior. Get the assessment for the change in vision documented along with No Work and have a representative with you.

Sorry for the vision loss, you're doing great.