Does anyone know anything about disability?

[IcyWolf]

i know this is a weird thing to ask on a parrot forum, but I ask you guys everything, so here goes.

My fiance was born with a deformed left arm. His Ulna and Radius weren't formed correctly. I just looked through my pics and I can only find two where you can kind of see, the bone in his wrist sticks out really far, and his elbow protrudes out about 3 times as much as a normal one. It's always caused him a little bit of pain and he doesn't have normal mobility in it, but it was never that big of a problem. Here are the three pics I have, it's his right arm, please don't mind the horrible pictures and I'd like to note the one where he is smoking inside, that was well before we had any birds so we smoked inside...

Well, we went to a concert last saturday night and he had a guy fly into his bad elbow with the back of his head. This guy had been in the mosh pit and got pushed by someone and landed with his head, right on nick's elbow. It hurt him pretty bad and was pretty swollen, but we just went home and put ice on it and hoped that he would be fine. By the next day it was so swollen that when I took a picture of it, his arm actually looked more like a knee. We took him out to the emergency room where they did about 10 xrays, anesthetized him and put his elbow back in place after they decided that it was dislocated. They told him to stay home from work until wednesday and go back on thursday.

The problem was, they didn't have any of his records so they didn't know what his arm was supposed to look like normally. He went back to work on thursday and they made him use a nail gun all day(he works at a skid factory where they rebuild pallets). Today(friday) his arm hurt so bad that he called off work and we are about to go back out to the hospital. The problem here is that he doesn't have insurance so the ER is really the only place he can go. I thin they want him to go to a spec i a l i s t on tuesday but I don't know how that will work since he doesn't have insurance.

He has worked for this company for almost 5 years and they are absolutely horrible. Even with his whole arm in a splint, they are still expecting him to work like normal and he just can't do it. But they also won't fire him because they don't want him to be able to collect unemployment. The only thing that seems like an option right now would be for him to go on disability but we have no idea how that works or even where to start. We live pretty much paycheck to paycheck though and having him miss all of this work just isn't okay, if we don't figure something out soon, we may have even bigger issues to deal with.

I know Disability is different from state to state so I wanted to mention that we live in pennsylvania, but if anyone has any insight and could maybe point me in the right direction, I could really use the advice! Sorry if I don't reply back right away, we are leaving to go back out to the hospital soon and I don't have any service in there.

 

[roxynoodle]

Well, I'm on it, but he would qualify for SSDI I would think. I'm part of the Ohio state teacher retirement system. It is often hard to get the first time, unless it's for mental illness or if one is mentally challenged it seems.

I do recommend you apply soon as you will likely be turned down at least once. I was. I also think if you get a lawyer involved you need to be very careful. Many will want 1/3 of his disability income for a decade or more as payment, and that's an awful big chunk of money, and quite a racket for them. Your disability income will be much lower than what you used to make as it is. So try to do it without a lawyer.

Also he won't qualify for Medicare or Medicaid (can't remember which is which) for like 2 years. So until he does, he won't have health insurance. That's how it worked for my uncle anyway. Now some companies will give you free medications until then if there is something he needs, and if so, he should apply with them.

As for how much money you will get, it will depend on how long he worked, and how much he put into the social security system. Hopefully it's enough for him to live on.

 

[roxynoodle]

If you are going through SSDI rather than a state pension plan, it shouldn't matter what state you live in.

 

[IcyWolf]

Thanks roxy, I knew a few people here had mentioned they were on disability so I was hoping to get some advice. How do you even go about applying? Sorry, I really have no idea when it comes to any of this.

 

[IcyWolf]

And yea, I've heard before that they turn down almost everyone when you first apply, sort of as a way to weed out those that don't really need it but are just trying to get a free ride. The thing that worries me is that he doesn't make much money even working. He's had the same job for almost five years but if I were to go get a second shift gas station job locally, I would start out making at least fifty cents more an hour than he does now.

 

[roxynoodle]

I will need to ask my uncle as far as SSDI goes. I called my pension plan and asked, and they sent me all the materials I needed to go through, and I had to compile all my medical info and have it sent to the disability board. Then they had me see a doctor of their choosing as well. Then they voted on it based on all the medical stuff. As I said, I was turned down the first time, and they voted again a year later and granted it to me. However, every year I have to fill out paper work, along with my doctor, and last fall they made me see their doctor again as well. I do not know if this will ever be permanent or if I will have to continue doing this stuff all the time.

 

[IcyWolf]

Wow, so it took you a full year before you even received any money?! I don't know how we're going to do this. If he keeps going to work but can't do much of anything, they are probably going to just start harassing him in an effort to get him to quit because they know if they fire him over this then he automatically qualifies for unemployment. We are leaving for the hospital as soon as the dog is finished doing his business, would it be wise to ask the people there about it or not?
Ugh, I'm really not looking forward to spending my friday night at the harrisburg hospital emergency room, I'm sure it's going to be a mad house in there tonight and I hate leaving my babies for too long.

 

[roxynoodle]

I had to try to work for another year. It got quite ridiculous though. They had to hire a special substitute teacher because I was out so much. And of course the students suffered from that, and the school board was forced to spend more money to pay for that person. It was horrible! And I felt like crap about the whole thing.

If he had some regular doctor, that person could probably help him with what to do. I think my uncle's psychiatrist helped him with getting it.

 

[Cliffordsmom]

I'm in Oklahoma. Im also a medical bill collector for a lawfirm....it is sometimes TERRIBLE the length of time that people have to wait for disibility, even when they have attys representing them. First thing get an atty if you have a dr's note that he cant work, (most here wont charge until you are awarded back pay).
My mother has lukemia and she is on chemo and radiation, and she has an atty for ssdi and still has been turned down 4 times. Makes me wonder if they actually look at things before they just decline them.....good luck

 

[suebee]

when i read stories like these i am glad we have the NHS in the UK

as for the company, even where i work they have a like it or lump it attitude

hope you see a doctor that has the time to give you good solid advice and long term expectations

 

[IcyWolf]

Here's a pic of his arm from at the hospital last week, it was so swollen, it's normally half this size! You should have heard all of the doctors looking at his xrays, they were saying thing you never want to hear your doctor say, like, "woah, what is that?" and, "well I've never seen anything like THAT before" lol. I always pick on him and tell him it's from growing up with TMI(three mile island) in his backyard. You can literally see the smoke stacks from his parents house. Even now, we only live about 3-4 miles away from it.

 

[Mayden]

Second that Sue, so grateful for the NHS, even if they are a pain in the butt at times at least I know if I need some form of surgery I'll get it without worrying about the cost.

I'm however applying for disability atm and it's a bit difficult, so good luck with it all, I can't really advise for you guys in America. Hope your hopsital trip goes well. I've spent my fare share of time waiting around in a+e and it's not the best way to spend your time. Good luck xx

 

[roxynoodle]

This might sound insensitive, and if so, I don't mean it, to. But, I'm wondering if there is some career he could do that wouldn't require as much use of his arm. Maybe he could qualify for a loan to become an X ray technician or something?

I will say this, when you go on disability, expect to go through a major depressive episode. You will feel like a hemaroid on the butt of society, and lose a big part of your life (your job). This hit me even harder than my depression over my illness and how much of my life changed because of it. When I left my job, I hit rock bottom. It was the right thing to do for myself, my students and the school district, but it was the hardest thing I ever did.

I just can't figure out what else I can do when I'm in the bathroom over and over 5 hours at a time, 3-4 days per week. And then there is the whole pain thing. Sometimes I get so evil I know I can't be around other people. I also have to go to the ER a lot because I can't stop vomiting or because the pain has me at suicide levels. So, it's like, who would hire me?

 

[IcyWolf]

The biggest problem with him trying to get a less labor intensive job is that he is covered in tattoos and piercings so they only places that will even consider hiring him are factory jobs

 

[roxynoodle]

You wouldn't think so these days though. A lot of young people have many tatts and piercings. I wouldn't be surprised if some jobs asked he remove maybe some piercings while at work, but I guess I don't know. I was just thinking, he could go to school, probably for free, get a new career he could do, and make a good living and have health insurance. A decade ago I was warning students who wanted professional careers they might want to think twice about those tatts and piercings, but they became so commonplace I kind of thought society didn't really think much about it anymore.

 

[merlinsmom13]

I have hired many people who had tatoos & piercings. If they were well dressed (neat), hair well trimmed etc. Have you thought of food service? Is your boyfriend interested in cooking?

As far as SSI, you can go online & get info. The dr has declare how disabled you are 40% or 50%. He also determines how long, is this a temporary condition or is it permanent. I truly don't know anyone w/a physical disability on SSI. I seem to know more people who have 'nervous conditions' on SSI. If the people I know can get it, I know you can handle the paperwork. (they're not the brightest bulbs in the pack, if you know what I mean) lol

 

[Mayden]

As far as his tattoos go, has he ever considered something like this for work?

Ink Armor Full Sleeve Temporary Tattoo Cover Up at Tat2x.com

 

[roxynoodle]

Yes, the only people I know who got disability the first time all have mental illness, not physical ones :-( One person I worked with took 10 years to get it and she was down to about 5% of one kidney functioning.

I would suggest nursing as a great career these days that pays well, and for which there are plenty of jobs, but it can be physically demanding as well. But, there are also nursing jobs in doctor's offices, and many nurses work for insurance companies processing claims. And it seems to me I've had nurses with tatts and piercings and I never thought anything of it at all.

I worry with disability that his pay could be so bad it might only about cover groceries. I know I'm really struggling. I was used to a certain income, plus I had a second job as well. Now I'm trying to hold onto this house with a much lower income and with more than 1/4 of it going to medical expenses. I'd really like a smaller, cheaper house now that was easier to care for, but I'm kind of stuck due to the horses. No one else would want them.

But, he should definitely apply and see what happens. You can always say no if the pay is that horrible. His arm looks incredibly painful, and I would have to think most jobs would be awfully difficult. Or he could accept for now and maybe down the road will feel like he can work again once he gets some rest? You never know what medicine may be able to do for him in the future.

 

[Mayden]

Yes, the only people I know who got disability the first time all have mental illness, not physical ones :-( One person I worked with took 10 years to get it and she was down to about 5% of one kidney functioning.

I would suggest nursing as a great career these days that pays well, and for which there are plenty of jobs, but it can be physically demanding as well. But, there are also nursing jobs in doctor's offices, and many nurses work for insurance companies processing claims. And it seems to me I've had nurses with tatts and piercings and I never thought anything of it at all.

I worry with disability that his pay could be so bad it might only about cover groceries. I know I'm really struggling. I was used to a certain income, plus I had a second job as well. Now I'm trying to hold onto this house with a much lower income and with more than 1/4 of it going to medical expenses. I'd really like a smaller, cheaper house now that was easier to care for, but I'm kind of stuck due to the horses. No one else would want them.

But, he should definitely apply and see what happens. You can always say no if the pay is that horrible. His arm looks incredibly painful, and I would have to think most jobs would be awfully difficult. Or he could accept for now and maybe down the road will feel like he can work again once he gets some rest? You never know what medicine may be able to do for him in the future.

Have you considered doing something like sharing land for your horses? Making it a bit cheaper for you and you could move somewhere thats close to the land but much cheaper to maintain. Idk how easy that'd be, but maybe worth really looking in to? People pay to loan horses/share land, so

 

[roxynoodle]

Well, it might be cheaper for me to stay here than to pay for boarding (ok that definitely is true!). And I don't want to take in boarding horses because I am just not up to taking care of them even though it would help with expenses. And I know I can't lease mine out at all. One is very old, but also is a very highly trained dressage horse that only very experienced people could ride. And he's just too old now for that kind of person to want to ride him, ya know? The other is half blind and hasn't been ridden in a decade. And she won't let anyone handle her except me.

But, once I'm horseless, I don't think I will want to stay here anymore. It's a big house and big property and takes a lot of effort to maintain. I would really like a small house with small yard or maybe even a condo if it was soundproof enough for the birds. And smaller property means not having to own and maintain things like tractors. I could get away with a small, cheap lawnmower.