Ilovethekitties et al posts brought up some interesting points I would like to comment on for the OP and for others in a similar situation those just below the age requirement for Social Security and essentially disabled.

The official guidelines for disability are very stringent, so stringent in fact that if you are physically able to report to a SS Office, sit in a chair, and fill out a claim unassisted, you are technically not qualified. Smile. However, none of their guidelines (physical mobility, time unemployed, amount of wealth, etc.) is actually etched in stone. That is why in most cases you need the assistance of an attorney. I personally hate that. I truly feel it is a major tragedy that honest citizens can no longer conduct simple business with their government nor have an honest hearing without them. I dont particularly like attorneys, but they are unfortunately an integral part of life in the 21st Century. So dont take a clerks, social workers, or neighbors word for anything. If you seriously cannot work or maintain employment because of extreme SOB and fatigue that is life threatening with COPD and you are entitled to disability.

Also consider that disability is not necessarily the best way for everyone to go, there are often other options. What those options may be depend on each individuals situation therefore the main points to stress here are:
1) Dont think because you looked into one thing or that some one person has given you their opinion that that is the final story.
2) Continue to investigate all options. Attend local seminars on retirement or health plans. Talk to other agents, other people in similar situations, do some research online, etc.
3) Start planning NOW. COPD is irrecoverable, chronic, and progressive there is no point in waiting.

Dear ILove*, based on information I've learned from many people, as gnott says, you need to keep pushing to have what you need. There must be other options for you under a rock somewhere. Too often when you think you've tried everything, there's always one more stone to overturn. Your days sound so exhausting...not good.

Sofie*, If I were to put myself in your place, what I would do is a no-brainer - incidentally I lived in Minnesota for years; and even though its in the 80's here today, I'm getting frost-bite just reading your post. 46+ hours with winter a few weeks away?!?!

I would do an objective pros/cons about your options, keeping in mind what's most important to you and your well-being. For me, what's important to me and my well-being is very simple - I'm comfortable.

good points Gnott.
and also each state is "self governing" so what may be available in one state isn't in another.

here in utah if an adult person is too high of income they have a thing called "PCN" insurance that a person is charged (or not charged) based on their income...it pays for dr's visits and i think a "limited" amount of medications each month.
also many hospitals have "financial aid" for those without insurance or that can't afford "deductibles & co-pays"

i tried to do disability myself & in the end hired a lawyer--
OMG! i had wasted so much time!
the lawyer got SSDI for me immediatly, with back pay.

as for the 2 year wait for medicare (dumb law) that is when i learned there IS other help out there for medical if you don't qualify for medicaid.
so i definatly agree; contact a lawyer that specializes in disability & go from there!

Has anyone here in Texas used an attorney for disability? I was curious about how much they want as a retainer.
I believe I would last a lot longer if I didn't have to haul my butt out 6 days a week 360 days a year no matter how I am feeling or breathing. And even if it didn't extend my time here at least I would have some time to take care of end time things like finding a replacement guardian for my severely disabled adult daughter. I'd also like to see about pulmno. rehab. I have so much I want to do and never the time or energy to do them.
THANK YOU everyone.
>^..^< Sandy

Thank you all for your thoughts, they mean so much to me. I am at a point in my life and my disease where changes need to be made. I am trying hard not to be impulsive, which is a challenge for me.

I would like to say:

DennyGene - I have read about your recent issues and also about how well you are liked here so it is great to read your comments. I am hoping that you are feeling better.

Gnott - you are a smart man and I like how you think.

Ilovethekitties - I am on a state run insurance plan that is for disabled people that still work. The premium is based on income and there are no co-pays and that includes my prescriptions. I have racked up about $50,000 this year - due to the transplant eval - and I have only paid about $2,000 this year. Hopefully your state has a similar program...

For now I am thinking baby steps. I hear OT will be going away at work, plus I have decided to go back for some sessions at pulmonary rehab. When I left there I was walking a mile a session - so I will get exercise and some good thinking time!

Hope everyone is feeling good - make it a great day :-)

Well Sofie, my adventure in the ssdi was backwards from most. When I had to retire because of this disease, I was 62, and eligible for early social security payments. Now on disadility, you have to prove you have a disability that will prevent you from working for one year, and you need to have not worked for 6 months because of this disability. Since the place I worked had a lousy disability plan ($150. a month for 2 years, then, nothing) My only option at that time was early soc. sec.
So in August , before I retired, I applied, and was accepted, but payments would not start until October, but I managed that by living off my last paycheck and sick days/holidays ect.
Then in January, I filed for disability, was accepted, lot of paperwork, and they paid me from back to August to the present day, of back pay, as one lump sum, then started my payments which added on to my social security, in Feburary.
I am from Texas lovethekitties, but never hired a lawyer, because I never needed one. A friend of mine did and the fee was 20% of the monthly pay, .
There is no way you can file for disability and be working, because that shows you are NOT disabled if you are working. If you qualify for medicaid, you can file ssi, which is a different thing, and get disability payments , and later medicaid.
Best wishes for what ever you do, just check every resourse.
BJ

I got my disability in 2004. It was not for emphysema but thought maybe you would like to hear my story. I live in Virginia. I was turned down twice before I hired a Social Security Patient Advocate. We had to move my hearing to another state, West Virginia, in order to have a chance to win. My Judge, who had a Tough reputation, was horrified that I was turned down twice. And granted me my Disability immediately. I had taken most of the money out of my Retirement Fund just to live on for 2 years. I was pretty bitter about it for awhile. My husband and I manage on SS. now. Just barely! Hope things work out for you. Linda

kitties; when i finally hired a lawyer for SSDI he worked for 10% of any back pay he collected.
so i didn't have to pay a retainer of any kind= if he didn't win, he didn't get paid. so he only took cases he was pretty sure of winning.

i also was already on SSDI for a different condition when i got the COPD dx. so thank goodness i had medicare in place when this dx hit me.

knowing i would be out of work during the time i had to break into savings/retirement to survive---wasn't fun, but i made it.
another reason to hire a lawyer so you will get "fast" settlement.

good luck

ps; igor519---your story is amazingly like mine; without the lawyer it took me 2 years; i hired lawyer in the end & got it within a few months.
SSDI only "awarded me" 6 months of back pay tho when all was finished (what a rip off ) & my lawyer took 10% of that as agreed.

I work and I receive a check from SS disability for about $581.00 a month. I had an advocate push my case through for my back pay and $145.00. She succeeded in less than 6 months. What a crocked racket.
I should have quit working while I was still living with my husband before I struck out on my own in August. I did not think this through.
That social worker that I saw in the hospital in 2012 should have helped me apply then but she seemed adamant that I needed to keep working even being discharged with 02..
The good news is that I will be 62 in March so maybe I can early retire. I wish I understood how all of this worked because trying to keep up with everyone else (and USPS accepts NO excuses from anyone) is taking a toll on me. All I do is work and sleep anymore.

kitties; cool that you already have the disability in place!
only 4 more months & you can retire! cool.
without your hubbies income, maybe you will be in an income bracket that you'll be able to receive help from medicaid until you can get medicare (i'm an optimist :) )

The day I was diagnosed I cut my hours in half.I work for my self and now I am thinking how many years I have left .
I am not planing anything this year,there is a lot going in my life now(my parents are sick).
I wish you all the best with the transplant and take good care of your self.Hugs Jade