Disabled, Yet Unable To Qualify For Any Benefits State Or Federal Because Of Employment Status

[SeanCharles]

Ugh!

I am extremely frustrated with the "system". How does someone currently employed, while their disability is causing stress/anxiety and other symptoms move to Disabled Status? Seems that I can't find any help to prove a case all the while stuck being employed.

It's as if I am stuck doing what I hate rather than being given the space away from employment to work on properly managing my ptsd and other conditions.

It almost comes down to questioning my ability to work, Am I working, the answer is yes. Am I struggling in life? yes. Am I struggling to live and be a successful employee? yes. The reason being is that I do have disabilities that limit my living and employment.

Because I am under a union contract, my pay is too high to qualify me for Medical Assistance aside from the benefits I get currently being employed. I am kicking myself for not doing what I should have before I got into the mess I have created for myself in the here and now!

My hatred for this world is extremely dark! THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I HAVE WRITTEN That here....

My frustration, anxiety and stress are at an all time high and I'm ready to go head to head with a system that is denying me what I want because I am stuck in an employed status.

I don't know what to do. There has got to be a solution aside from quitting the job which won't prove I am disabled, yet it would cause problems with my bill paying since I can't pay bills without a source of income!

 

[Fadeaway]

I wish I had answers for you. The system is poorly designed. It is set up so people who don't need it can abuse it, but the honest people who need help can't get it. I am very frustrated for you.

 

[SeanCharles]

Update: I just got informed that I do meet some eligibility pending some additional paperwork for a STATE disabled status.

 

[catjudo]

It is difficult and frustrating. As far as SSDI is concerned, it is for people who are unable to work. It doesn't matter that you hate the job. It doesn't matter that the stress and anxiety make it difficult. It only matters if you are capable of doing the job. The very first criteria for SSDI is that you must be unable to work (and it is expected to last for six months or more) due to a disability. As long as you still have the job the federal government will say that you don't qualify for disability because you are able to work.

It's a problem many people face when considering disability... You don't feel well enough to work and need disability to be able to not work. But you have to be without a job before you can apply. If you're out of a job you can't pay your bills. If you're out of a job you can't afford doctors and medication. So you keep trudging along at the job trying to make it work and hold it all together until it all falls apart and you don't have any choice but to leave the job and apply for disability.

It's kind of a broken system in many ways but unfortunately it's the only one we've got. I hope you're able to find a way to get some relief soon.

 

[silkleaves]

A very broken system. Ive seen, and even know people who very well could work but are on disability. And its not a matter of me passing judgment, they are literally doing everything they did for a living, except now as a hobby, with jokes that they work more now than they did when they had a job. I dont say anything, I mean...its just a battle I cant even get into.

I know others who have taken advantage of govt assistance and other such things...no disability, just not working and having more kids hence more aid. No system is perfect, no one solution is perfect, but it definitely does break my heart to see someone struggling and doing everything they can to stay afloat who needs the assistance and coming across roadblocks, while for others it so easy to just do it.

Anyway, Im glad that you were able to find out meet some eligibility requirements for state disability. Maybe with a bit of the load off, you will be able to find that there is some work that you are able to do, even if its not as high paying.

 

[SeanCharles]

I'm aware that the system is broken. It's a struggle getting the work done, the stress, anxiety and other heath issues are affecting the work I do. The number one issue is in a nutshell and would qualify is my PTSD! I have a seizure disorder and a thyroid issue which I suspect, yet I don't have medical confirmation that these two conditions, the seizures and thyroid, are connected to my PTSD.

I am only keeping the job until I can figure out HOW to transition from employed status to UNABLE TO WORK status. Thanks to this JOB I do have health insurance, although I can't afford the DEDUCTIBLE which is $1000 a year. I can afford the premium because it's taken from my weekly pay.

What prompted this thread was until a second phone call, my inability to obtain Medicaid as a secondary insurance. Based on this recent information I am eligible pending a determination by the state disability determination which will require additional paperwork which I will be completing before the deadline of June 6th.

Being able to pay my bills would not be possible if I terminated the job. That also would not necessarily be a determining factor that I am disabled.

Unfortunately, I am not eligible for Long Term Disability coverage because I am under a union contract which to me may or may not be grounds for discriminatory litigation based on the fact that this coverage is available to non-union employees.

 

[AngelKeeperJ]

Do you have any short-term disability benefits? I ask, because back when I went on full SSD, I had already used 3 short-term disability periods and went back to work for a small time between each.

When I finally lost my job, and applied for full SSD, they counted the short-term periods towards my case, so I qualified much quicker because I had not been able to 'completely fulfillment my job requirements' for quite a long time. Hopefully, at some point you will qualify for more benefits so you can concentrate on healing!!!

 

[SeanCharles]

@Confused Wingless I do have the ability to take a medical leave of absence. I have not used it although I have mentioned my consideration of doing so to my assistant manager (which was a bit misinterpreted) while I have been struggling to come to terms with another issue which in one way inadvertently gave away what my disability is or in ways isn't.

Long story short: In Dec. 2013 I had a seizure at work. Given the fact that what I now suspect versus what the Hospital and the neurology docs who work at the hospital on call, they have me misdiagnosed IMHO, and thus are mistreating based on the misdiagnosis. If I may ask, what caused or what action did you take that caused the job loss?

In terms of my job requirements They have me doing other things which are in ways to safeguard me against job loss. It almost seems too that they are piling on so much and expect so much from me that I know my ptsd symptoms are worsening because of the added stress and anxiety not to mention the dissociation I use to cope with everything.

I suspect that maybe becoming Disabled with the state, may ultimately lead me onto the path of full Disability. I will know for sure once I see what determination comes back, otherwise I am going to maybe consider the course of action needed to fix this broken system!

 

[SeanCharles]

Basically the misinterpretation came from my near breakdown at work over the discussion of whether or not I would put her down if it was deemed necessary. Thankfully, that never manifested. I know too, that our daily separations, her health issues, my own health issues combined with the constant questioning, my confusing work performance feedback, and my what do I want, where am I going and HOW not when am I going to get there seems to be compounding the one disabling condition...my PTSD!

I am to the point that I either need a medical leave OR need a vacation. Herein lies a problem: I have some vacation time which I do not yet have. I get two personal days a year and vacation time based on my time with the company. If I venture to guess, I will either have five weeks of vacation based on five years, or I will get more because I am on my 6th year with the company. I do have a combined business/personal medical trip in the planning.

I am also not sure what I will be doing with Ms Sheba since I likely cannot take her with me. I also have this house to consider... The question here is WHEN/HOW.

I will know in time how I am viewed by the state and maybe can figure out how to proceed once I have a definite answer or answers.

 

[cherryblossom]

I'll admit that I don't understand how the system works in the US. However, what I don't understand is, if you are unable to work, then why are you working? Why hasn't your doctor signed you off sick? Also, if you are unable to do the work, why haven't your employers fired you? Like I said, I don't understand the system, but on a basic level, you are working, and despite how hard that may be for you, you are clearly managing to do the job you are being paid for otherwise you would have been fired, so I can see why the authorities won't give you any benefits.

They have me doing other things which are in ways to safeguard me against job loss. It almost seems too that they are piling on so much and expect so much from me that I know my ptsd symptoms are worsening because of the added stress and anxiety not to mention the dissociation I use to cope with everything.

You must be doing a great job, or presumably they wouldn't keep expecting more from you. So it sounds like you're in a catch 22.


When my PTSD was at it's worst, I was signed off sick by the doctor, which gave me the time and space I needed to attend therapy, and put all my energy into processing my trauma, and improving my life. When I went back to work, some accommodations were put in place including a gradual return, and also a change to my shift pattern to enable me to keep a regular sleep pattern.

Also to consider, is whether it's just this job you are unable to manage, or any job? Do you need to look for something else? Or perhaps look at reducing your hours. If paying the bills is a problem, then perhaps you need to think about moving somewhere smaller /cheaper.

Sorry I don't understand this comment . . .

I have some vacation time which I do not yet have.

If you have holiday time owing to you and you need a break, then why not take that time off? Give yourself a break, to help you think more clearly and recharge, do some more research about how to get the best outcome for you. Then after your vacation time, if you are still struggling, then you can consider medical leave. But you might also find that after a break, you feel well enough to continue working.

 

[SeanCharles]

Herein lies a problem: I have some vacation time which I do not yet have.

That vacation pay rolls over every year on an employee's anniversary date (Their date of hire), which is available ten days after that date. I meant to say this previously: I am approaching my anniversary date which for me is 28-May-2014. That's why I don't have enough vacation time available. Until that time is available to me, I only have 4 hours available. In terms of the two personal days, I am using what could have been used on the 28th for the day/night of the Company dinner.

 

[AngelKeeperJ]

I lost my job as a result of me drawing blood from a co-worker, which was ordered by a nurse. I was on short-term disability at the time.I was qualified to draw blood and quite frequently was requested by patients because I was good at it.. The nurse who ordered the lab work lied about her ordering the labs to keep from losing her job.

They 'hit' me with this the day I came back from my 3rd disability. I fought them, but lost unemployment benefits, and by then was too mentally sick with grief to look for work anyway. You can't qualify for unemployment if you aren't able to work. ( I had lost a child in a tragic way) My employers added more and more pressure, as they wanted me to quit. I wouldn't.

All of this ended when I entered the Psyche ward for a week, then came down with viral meningitis and was in and out of the hospital for a month. I don't remember much of that period.

Most likely, your employers are using tactics to get you to quit. Hang in there if you can. Especially if you are unable to do the work. It is counted as "the inability to give the employers the work standards that are necessary." I hope this helps. Even though I did work, I wasn't able to perform like I did before my breakdowns.