Police medical retirement

[Frontlinemumma]

I am a serving officer of 10 years and recently on sick leave since October and diagnosed with CPTSD. I’m seeing a psychologist and doing what I can but I know I can’t return to work without making me worse. My psychologist agrees. However when do I apply for medical retirement? What is considered enough time “trying” to improve symptoms when the people who care for you know although symptoms may improve going back to policing will break me. Do I wait 6 months, 12 months or what?!? Having this over my shoulder as well as dealing with the PTSD and not being on frontline is hard. Work won’t make this fight easy either

 

[Roland]

Thank you for your service. It's not easy doing what you do and it's so often underappreciated.

I don't really have any advice. But I'm wondering if you could switch to another, quieter, less stressful job instead?

I don't know anything about medical retirement.

 

[Freida]

Howdy! Dispatch here - I went out on disability and it's a shit show.

What is considered enough time “trying” to improve symptoms when the people who care for you know although symptoms may improve going back to policing will break me.

Things I learned along the way to disability/retirement (mine was a combo of dispatch and military crap)

Base your case on the place you are in today and get the paperwork going cause it can be a long process. If you improve that's wonderful, you can cancel the process. But if you don't improve you all ready have the ball rolling. If your agency's plan was like mine the insurance company behind the scenes will have you check in periodically to see if you still qualify for ptsd. I think I went in every few months and eventually it was determined to be permanent. One thing I didn't know is that they get paid no matter what, so they were actually on my side. I probably added more problems by not understanding that

If you have a union rep see if they can help referee with your agency so you aren't getting even more stressed out doing all the paperwork. My HR gal was actually really helpful - until I figured out she was trying to cover their asses! But hey, it made my life easier sooo it was mutual using each other

Depending on what caused the ptsd you might want to start just playing with the picture of what not going back looks like. First responders get so much of our identity tied up in the job that when we lose the job we are just lost. Thinking of things for the future that aren't FR related might help get thru that grief. And yes - it's grief.

They don't have to be big things or even real things. Say you want to go ride a unicorn or something wild like that. But it helps your brain start thinking outside the FR box, even if it's just random nonsense ideas.

A mantra...(or more) that I found helpful
My life is worth more than my job
My life is more than my job
My life can be something other than my job

And the big one
I am disabled because of my job so those asshats owe me the funds I need to retire and get into a better place in my soul.

 

[AngelKeeperJ]

I am a serving officer of 10 years and recently on sick leave since October and diagnosed with CPTSD. I’m seeing a psychologist and doing what I can but I know I can’t return to work without making me worse. My psychologist agrees. However when do I apply for medical retirement? What is considered enough time “trying” to improve symptoms when the people who care for you know although symptoms may improve going back to policing will break me. Do I wait 6 months, 12 months or what?!? Having this over my shoulder as well as dealing with the PTSD and not being on frontline is hard. Work won’t make this fight easy either

I’m sorry you are going through this! Thank you for your service during your career.
Please call Social Security as soon as possible. If you do end up not being able to go back to work, the claim will start at your date of first inquiry.

Even if you try to go back to work anywhere, if it doesn’t work out, it is considered a failed work attempt and that counts in your favor.

I tried to go back to work at least three times before they fired me. If you’re on short term disability that will count as time disabled.

I was a medical assistant for 25 years and within two years of my daughter passing away, my life had changed drastically… losing a career to CPTSD/mental health is very difficult and takes a long time to adjust to.

Blessings to you and I hope things get better!

 

[arfie]

hello frontlinemumma. welcome to the forum. sorry for what brings you here, but glad you are here.

i tend to think the benefits question is more kismet than intelligence. i never applied for public benefits of any stripe, starting with my veteran's disability pension in 1976, but officials keep throwing them at me. at 70, the sport is getting tiresome. i've tried to give the benefits back a time or 20 and receive only assurance that uncle sam will take good care of me for life. well. . . when the eff did i ask him too? i take pride in working for a living. being a few fries short of a happy meal hasn't stopped me yet.

when, where and how to claim disability? jigged if i know. take your best guess and see what happens. for sure, it doesn't hurt to shake a few trees and see if any tasty nuts drop out.

steadying support while you sort the options. welcome aboard. i hope you find stabilizing companionship here.

 

[stuart.1]

Mate, I feel for you i truly do. work related ptsd is shit, what ever job we did or do....

seek help, thats my advice get your union involed.



And the big one
I am disabled because of my job so those asshats owe me the funds I need to retire and get into a better place in my soul.

I think this is going to be my new screen saver.

 

[Peaceful Warrior]

I am a serving officer of 10 years and recently on sick leave since October and diagnosed with CPTSD. I’m seeing a psychologist and doing what I can but I know I can’t return to work without making me worse. My psychologist agrees. However when do I apply for medical retirement? What is considered enough time “trying” to improve symptoms when the people who care for you know although symptoms may improve going back to policing will break me. Do I wait 6 months, 12 months or what?!? Having this over my shoulder as well as dealing with the PTSD and not being on frontline is hard. Work won’t make this fight easy either

Find out how to start the process of medical retirement at your agency. If it was caused by an on duty incident or incidents, you may qualify for workers comp. Best route is to get a knowledgeable attorney to help guide you if you are able. Likely the agency will want an MD (psychiatrist) to sign off saying you can't do law enforcement anymore and your medical retirement folks will sometimes send you to a Dr they use to evaluate you. If you are in Florida I can give you the name of an Attorney that specializes in this.

 

[S800]

Worked in online safety (trust & safety) for about 10 years. Began to uncover an unknown but long-preexisting CPTSD issue to juggle, something that simultaneously made my entire work history make a LOT of sense (didnt know I had traumatic responses, so they often dominated social interactions). Ironically it made me AMAZING at crisis management. Just...not everything else.

Was on SSDI before getting into that line of work from an unrelated diagnosis. Much like arfie, I just wasn't willing to take something for nothing, and found a fulfilling career track. At least until I got deep enough into leadership that I couldnt hide those symptoms anymore. Now? Spinning wheels 9 months out of work and doing the "hurry up and wait" with various alphabet agencies.

Main point is, if you feel you may need it, the time to start that process is right now. It's much easier to back out of an ongoing benefits process if its found to be unnecessary than need it and not even be started for a process that can, depending on area, take 10-36 months to get through.

 

[Freida]

Main point is, if you feel you may need it, the time to start that process is right now. It's much easier to back out of an ongoing benefits process if its found to be unnecessary than need it and not even be started for a process that can, depending on area, take 10-36 months to get through.

This! So much this
Disability-90 days
Social security disability - 2 years
VA disability - 5.5 years.

Start now - get it over with sooner!

 

[Freddyt]

I am a serving officer of 10 years and recently on sick leave since October and diagnosed with CPTSD.

I would get after getting disability lined up right away. When we got to the meat of dealing with stuff in therapy - I thank god my wife was there because well - filling out forms and ptsd? Not good.

 

[SPDLTRETIRED]

I am a serving officer of 10 years and recently on sick leave since October and diagnosed with CPTSD. I’m seeing a psychologist and doing what I can but I know I can’t return to work without making me worse. My psychologist agrees. However when do I apply for medical retirement? What is considered enough time “trying” to improve symptoms when the people who care for you know although symptoms may improve going back to policing will break me. Do I wait 6 months, 12 months or what?!? Having this over my shoulder as well as dealing with the PTSD and not being on frontline is hard. Work won’t make this fight easy either

It sucks man. I was a Police Officer for almost 30 years and the last incident I was involved in was my last day of work. Your question depends on what state you're in. It will vary state by state. Go to the retirement board in your state and ask them, if you have a union, you should reach out to them. One thing I learned going through the process is that retirement law is very complicated and you should find an attorney that specializes in not only retirement, but PTSD retirement. Good luck, I hope it works out!