Hi! Making the choice is really hard. I had a 15 year history of working in the medical field reading charts in hospitals and nursing homes. Every year when I would get the printout from ss that shows ur benefit amount if u are disabled at that time, it was scary because it showed that I lost half my income if I were to go on disability. I also did not have a pension. My job was intense and it was average for me to work about 50 plus hours per week and there was always work to bring home as well. I was getting about 4-5 hours sleep per night. I was so exhausted that I could barely fall into bed. Sometimes if I couldn't breathe well, I still could not get right to sleep. Then I was even more tired!

Because I had to drive to facilities daily, I was out in the elements alot and I often resorted to stopping in doorways at the hospital or standing in the lobby to catch my breath. I was falling behind everywhere. I had already had open heart in 2001 along with a right blebectomy of the lung and I still continued to work nine more years. Even then, I probably still would have tried to continue since I was fearing all the same things that u are also facing, but I went into the hospital and was diagnosed with pulmonary htn. Then, some personal life changes occurred at the same time. My daughter convinced me to apply. It took me 2 months to get approved. Still, it takes anyone who is approved for disability, 2 more years after approval, to get their Medicare health insurance card. I found ways to pay cash at appointments, to get free meds, etc in that period. I only went to the doctor in that time frame when I really needed to. They also worked with me on the phone. It is also a wait to get that 1st check (not 2 years, though). I am now definitely in the low income bracket, but I do ok. I also choose not to tap into some programs that are out there and available to me. I just don't feel I need to at this time. My daughter has a good job and she helps me as well.

Other considerations from my perspective are that sometimes it does take quite a while to get approved. Also, remember that what you're proving in your claim is that you are not any longer able to continue to do the job that you are doing at that very time in that same capacity. (and please, I am speaking very generally and am not an attorney). I did contact legal advise without having to pay anything, and since I was approved quickly and the very first time, I did not need to retain them. So it is clear that, yes, there are challenges in disability. But, the truth is...I AM disabled. Sometimes it is just time to face the music.

Now, the one thing that is most different is that I do get to truly rest. I do have time to really look at my life and enjoy some things I was not able to enjoy before (at least what I can afford), I don't have to try to fight the elements anymore and I, for the most part now medically, am holding my own. Looking back, it was the right decision for me. I believe it is (besides my oxygen which I was also on when I worked and throwing away the cigarettes), the next single most important thing that has helped to maintain me healthwise!

It is a different place to be, though. I would like to work outside of the home some. (you can on ssd). I think it would be easy to become a couch potato and I do not want this. I want to be as viable as I can for as long as I can.

Besides health insurance, another thing to consider is life insurance. If your insurance agent was good enough to encourage you to have a disability clause on your current policy, once you are officially disabled and bring it to their attention, they will assist you in the process that will allow the insurance co itself to pay your monthly benefits. That will save you a little monthly money while allowing you some peace of mind knowing you are still insured.

There are always other ways to do what you need to do in life. Wanting to have more of the time we have (whatever we might think that means) to be with loved ones, to live your dreams, to be you is really what we should always strive for in whatever way works best for us. We can surpass the hurdles. Having a disabling and limiting disease, may just make us more willing to be resourceful at jumping those hurdles to get what we want and need! Pray and then follow your heart. Good luck and may God Bless your choices! Debbie.

Tis tough to decide you are no longer going to do what you've often done for more years than you can imagine. There came a point (about a year after the doc told me I should step down) that I finally admitted that it was time. I was no longer as productive and realized that I was harming myself by staying on. We started the paper work. I had opted to pay premiums on a long term disability policy decades ago, so I found that I had a distinct advantage. I get paid by them while they do all the work and negotiation for SSDI. We still get the hassle and fuss of getting all our premiums and coverages correct and costs are far higher.
It's best to see what disability coverage you have (not SSDI, as it takes at least a year to get approved) that will sustain you until retirement. Working within those restraints is a pain, but we do what we gotta...

Hugs,
Dennis

I went on SSD about 8 years ago. It took 6 months to get approved. But, unless things have changed since then, you wouldn't necessarily have to quit working. I still worked after I was approved, just not at a job that was detrimental to my health or well-being.

I am a widow & collect my husbands ss -- it's so small!! I own a commercial cleaning service & have found in one years time, my stamina is shot!! Physically, I don't know how much longer I can do it. I only work about a couple hours a night now, & some days it is SO hard!!

Ladybug, soft smile, it is clearly your choice. I was never able to get long term disability, and by time I had lost that battle my SS kicked in, so I easily slipped into retirement. I do know that at some point family is going to become even more important, and I know when that time comes you will transition to that easily. Until then I would work, and do a nice balancing act between them. Take care, Bill

When it's "time" for SSDI, your body will let you know. But, the big issue your facing is will your quality of life then will be sufficient to enjoy your surroundings.

I had to face the same dilemma back in 2001, with my PD Dx. I cchose SSDI because I was considered "still young" enough to enjoy my family and friends. I'm glad I've made the choices I made back then. For almost ten years my LTD contributed 2/3's of my yearly salary that I made while working. Plus, with the SSDI and a small pension from a prior employer, it really wasn't too bad. The only big adjustment I had to make was the fact of going from being a bonafide "wworkaholic" to that of a buccolic, sedentary lifestyle. That was the most difficult issue I had back then. I thought I had the proverial "bull by the horns", but it didn't last as I had hoped and wished for. Parkinson Disease, I was able to manage the adverse symptoms that are associated with it. PD is a life altering illness. Then, two uears ago I was dx'd with end stage emphysema. Not happy. COPD is life ending, not just life altering.

Having said that, the decision you have to make is full of uncertainties. Most difficult choices that only you, and you alone, can make. Knowing the effects of COPD the way I do now, I would opt for the SSDI. Trust your doctor on this one!

My prayers are with you and your family! Jim

Thanks for all the great info. I am taking it all into consideration. Going thru a rough emotional time. Nancy

Just had to make that decision myself, I finally took a regular retirement from my job and retained a lawyer (suggested by my Dr.) to get the ball rolling on SSD. It was just the 15th of January that I retired and I don't know how I keep getting up at 5:00AM and pushing through the day. I do miss the daily contact with my coworkers and the students I taught, but as someone else said my productivity was not where it should have been. The Dr. told me to quit over a year before I did. Not regreting it so far....

i had to go on ssdi in 2004 because of a bad back. it took me 2 years (2006) to get it (i was too cheap to get a lawyer; something i highly advocate now.
then i had to wait another 2 years for medicare (2008).
i was diagnosed with Emphysema in 2010 and i thank god that i already had SSDI & Medicare as i was instantly put on O2 24/7 and then medical tests have been piling up since then.
I knew i had a bad back so I worked & saved & invested as much as a single woman can for years, knowing some day i wouldn't be able to work. now sometimes i think that hurts me more than helps me as i have "too many assets" to get help of any kind with co-pays and such.
I'm glad others are letting you know that it takes time to get benefits so you can make an informed decision on what ever you choose...I had to use up alot of my investments in the 2 years that i couldn't work & before i got approved for SSDI; and i didn't have a clue that after i couldn't pay for insurance that i would have that other 2 years before medicare kicked in.
i thought i had it all planned out LOL

Found out that I have short and long term disability thru my work. Pays 60% of my wages and starts after the 15th day of being out of work. Need a doctor to fill a paper out. Don't see him for another month. ?

Tis excellent!!!

I am right there with you, still able to work part time. But it sure saps my energy I want to work at least another year or so, I think the exercise that I get outweighs the bad! (for the time being anyway)

Good Thoughts for All
Annie