I was just wondering if anyone knows ...do you have to have used fmla or short term dis before you can apply for SSDI? I was wondering if this helps in being granted SSDI. Thanks for any thoughts on this

No, it will not effect your case in any way. You just have to be Disabled.

All I know is that you can't be working when you apply. Or at least I think I'm correct. My husband says I am wrong some times!

I would assume that you must not be working at all when you apply because you have to be unable to work to get SSDI. I think you need a doctor to say that you are disabled and unable to work. Hope that helps.

Thanks to all! My dr wants me to take 2 to 4 weeks off work and I'm not sure if I use fmla or short term dis...? I told him I'd have to think about it because we are starting a new registrations system on our computers and I need to be there for training. Needless to say he wasn't happy with me when I said that. I've been struggling at work with som many cognitive issues..making many mistakes. I'm worried about being fired for some of them or written up. I work as a registration rep at a hospital where there really isn't any room for errors. I'm having a hard time learning the new system...to much multi-tasking for me and I'm off balance. I'm under alot of stress so he put me on Paxil and now I'm a bit more off balance than I was before..I guess that is an affect from the med. So, I think I'm going to take my dr up on his offer, it's better than taking a chance on making more mistakes. I've never used fmla or short term dis in the 3 years I've been dx. If anyone has any experince with fmla or short term...please share. Thanks

Much luck and love, Catch. Let us know how it goes..

Short term disability is usually an income replacement coverage, and if your employer (or you) have this in place, it would at least replace a portion of your lost wages while you are off work.

On the other hand

Quote:

The FMLA entitles eligible employees of covered employers to take unpaid, job-protected leave for specified family and medical reasons with continuation of group health insurance coverage under the same terms and conditions as if the employee had not taken leave.

You can learn more about FMLA leave here: http://www.dol.gov/whd/fmla/

In most cases you would use both ... one for protecting your job and benefits, and the other for income while you are out.

There used to be a real good social security disability here on these forums. I do believe they are still active. Just go to the menu of forums and find them. You might also find some other interesting ones.

i can tell you from my own experience applying for disability that you have to document, document, and document some more. your drs that is. it sounds like your dr is willing to do that. make sure that you get copies of all dr notes. doing this gives you information and lets you call your dr in case there are any errors (i found some).

also, when my pcp dr sent in the info i later found out that ssdi never got some of the paperwork, yet my dr's office said they sent it??????? i believe that contributed to my being denied, which is common your first time around. get all the paperwork in your hot little hands, make your own copies and send it yourself return receipt requested. then you have proof.

also, my neuro's office told me to fill out the application like it was my master's paper. that's the way i approaced it.

i don't remember about fmla but isn't that benefit without pay? short term or long term disability is with pay.

so, back to documentation; ask for any tests to be done that will put #'s to your case. i had functional capacity tests that documented all my weaknesses. done by an occupational therapist.

good luck. keep us posted.

Thanks for your responses. Since last Thursday I've been off of Paxil. I couldn't function on that...I was like a zombie! My dr said he thought I needed a break from the stress and am now on long term fmla for 4 weeks. I guess how it works is that I have to be off for 28 days for short term dis to kick in. The only thing is, is that the 28 days of fmla uses up all my vaction days. My hr dept actually told me to use a bit more than the 4 weeks because it will be more beneficial to me should I go back to work to early and then have to leave again...I'd have to start over with the fmla before short term dis kicks in again. This doesn't make sense to me...then again, not much does these days. When I told my supervisor I needed to leave for 4 weeks I thought she was going to slug me. She was soooo angry and wanted to know who he was and how he came up with the conclusion that I neede 4 weeks off. I don't share many of my symptoms with my co-workers so they think that if I'm walking, I must be ok. I work my butt off at work and collapse when I get home. Just not sure if I want to live like that anymore.