COPD & Emphysema Support Group
COPD is a progressive disease characterized by airflow obstruction or limitation. Emphysema is characterized by loss of elasticity of the lung tissue, destruction of structures supporting the alveoli and of capillaries feeding the alveoli. Both have symptoms that include shortness of breath, among other respiratory troubles. If you are a COPD or Emphysema sufferer, join...
I can't tell you how comforting it is to see so many of my old friends name here again. Like coming home.
Dr. came by this morning and said my lungs are full of emphysema. He said a vest would not help me....even though I get horrible mucos plugs that wear me out trying to cough them up. I think I'm finally beginning to realize this is probably as good as it will ever get.
As much as I think it is a mistake I might have to move back with my estranged husband because social security denied my SSI because last month I had $274.00 too much in my bank account. Also I have a CD worth $1,300.00 that I was told not to cash until I turn 65 or I would pay a penalty tax for cashing earlier. I earned that money working for the city animal shelter shoveling shit and euthanizing "unwanted" animals. That was very physically and emotionally hard earned money. Now even though I can't use it it is held against me. I've worked and paid in to social security since I was 16. What a country we live in now. Wish I could still pop out babies every year like seems to be the ticket to a check here in Texas....I could at least get some of my money back before I die and not have to leave it in the system to those who did not earn it. Instead I was taught to work hard so I could retire one day. I was also taught not to breed what i could not feed. The dole was for the old and infirmed....and even then ONLY if they had paid into the system. What a myth we was fed in the 60s. It seems like the NEW establishment just wants us old and even us not so old and sick to just go away.
Forgive me for running on and on. Maybe it's all the IV steroids and antibiotics and insulin etc...and again maybe it's just the corrupt system that's biting me in the ass when I ask for help.
Am I alone in this struggle?
Dr. came by this morning and said my lungs are full of emphysema. He said a vest would not help me....even though I get horrible mucos plugs that wear me out trying to cough them up. I think I'm finally beginning to realize this is probably as good as it will ever get.
As much as I think it is a mistake I might have to move back with my estranged husband because social security denied my SSI because last month I had $274.00 too much in my bank account. Also I have a CD worth $1,300.00 that I was told not to cash until I turn 65 or I would pay a penalty tax for cashing earlier. I earned that money working for the city animal shelter shoveling shit and euthanizing "unwanted" animals. That was very physically and emotionally hard earned money. Now even though I can't use it it is held against me. I've worked and paid in to social security since I was 16. What a country we live in now. Wish I could still pop out babies every year like seems to be the ticket to a check here in Texas....I could at least get some of my money back before I die and not have to leave it in the system to those who did not earn it. Instead I was taught to work hard so I could retire one day. I was also taught not to breed what i could not feed. The dole was for the old and infirmed....and even then ONLY if they had paid into the system. What a myth we was fed in the 60s. It seems like the NEW establishment just wants us old and even us not so old and sick to just go away.
Forgive me for running on and on. Maybe it's all the IV steroids and antibiotics and insulin etc...and again maybe it's just the corrupt system that's biting me in the ass when I ask for help.
Am I alone in this struggle?
There are several posts here where people have successfully fought through the initial denial process and received SSI benefits. Probably worth going back and research a few of them. Wish I had read a few before I started my application. I initially failed and had to hire a lawyer (one specially certified to handle disability). If you know the process and are willing to stay on top and fight it out you dont need a lawyer, but if you are at all unsure or alone GET a lawyer NOW!
All SSI offices are NOT created equally. Meaning, Yes the rules are written down for EVERYONE to follow, but are NOT necessarily applied the same everywhere by lower per functionaries. For example, I just discovered recently that people in states like Florida, are immediately denied benefits 80% of the time on first application, and may have to wait as long as a year before they get a hearing even with a lawyer. (Where I live it appears at least 70% get it on first application, and I only waited 3 months even with two hearings during that time.) Where I lived Middle America, staff and rules can change just a couple of counties over (Pure guess, depends on the number of requests, knowledge of clerk, total number of employees, etc.). I had much larger resources, but as far as I could figure out the lawyer demonstrated they had nothing to do with my income and I received SSID.
Thus my advices, 1) Hang on to your job if you can. But is it worth it if I just makes you sicker????; 2) Talk to an SSI advocate; 3) Re-apply; 4) Dont make any pre-judgments it probably will be different that what you think. And the saddest part of my advice dump the cats. As COPD increases more and more common items become irritating eventually cat dandruff will cause trouble beyond just annoying and you will be gobbling more and more allergy medication with side-effects to combat it. (smile).
As for the CD; I had one years ago & I had no choice but to take it out to pay some medical bills that were going to cost me more in penalties than the CD was earning.
I thought the penalty would be astronomical, but it turned out I just had to pay the interest i would have earned for a few months.
For me, it was worth paying the penalty to take the money out rather than take out a loan that would have had me pay more in interest than my CD was getting.
I don't know how much interest you are earning on your CD, but it may be worth taking the money out & stuffing it in your mattress so you can get the help you need.
I can sure relate to those darn mucous plugs also. miserable things! I assume you take guaifenesin or something to help loosen them.
And sometimes we just need to "vent" to others that understand. Welcome back as i'm sure many people here can relate.
Hugs Peter
https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-11000.pdf
It may take a year or two. Regardless, it is worth the effort. Good luck!
For Texas:
https://www.texasbar.com/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Find_A_Lawyer&Template=/CustomSource/MemberDirectory/Search_Form_Client_Main.cfm
Mostly just want to send some comfort and hugs your way!!!