Holly --I haven't; I've thought about contacting an attorney.

But, I just want this to be over. I don't want the job back. I didn't ever want to work as a para forever; it was a job with convenient hours while my kids were still home, and one has graduated from HS, and the other will next year. I also don't want to continue to work for someone who doesn't want me there.

The only other reason to contact an attorney might be to sue, and I don't wish to go that route. Besides, I know that he works with his attorney closely on HR matters, and my job is renewable on an annual basis. My guess is that he can terminate paras, just like he can probably terminate untenured teachers, without having or giving a reason. He's probably made sure that he's on firm legal ground.

In related news, I went to see a disability attorney today. I found out that receiving disability takes much more time than I expected: 2 or 2-1/2 yrs instead of what I thought might take 6 months. So, I may need to look for a part time job after all. Just don't quite know what to do. I had hoped to get on disability and volunteer in something meaningful. I hope that there are meaningful part time jobs that I can get in my small city.

~ Faith

Faith, Getting disability does not always take 2 to 2 1/2 years for approval. I was awarded mine within 6 months of going out of work and on the first try. Of course I was very pro-active with my application and made sure everything the reviewer might need for documentation was attached and I hand delivered the whole thing to my SSDI office. Doing that makes a big difference, as they can't stall you with the "I never received whatever...blah, blah, blah.". I also never had to put up with the "We're still waiting for your doctor to provide.......".

Get your ducks in order and apply ASAP. You just might not have to wait so long for approval. Besides, you can't be working at all if your going to have any chance at getting approved. Taking on part time hours could hurt your chances.

Carolyn

Carolyn -- Thanks for your input/information. I have some questions, and some comments, that I hope you respond to, if that's OK.

1. Did you apply recently (in the last year or 2), or longer ago? The attorney[s office told me that it is more difficult to be approved quickly than it used to be. That, generally, only 10% of applicants get approved without an appeal, and most applicants have to appeal a second time, and wait for a court date.

2. Tell me more about being pro-active. I was planning on applying online, as that seems to be a quick way to apply. If you were approved on the first try, you likely did not use an attorney, since you did not need to appeal. Did you contact your doctors, to make sure that they turned things in quickly?

3. It is disconcerting that working at all could hurt my chances of having my application approved. I could do that if I knew it would only take six months.
If it appears that there is a good chance that it can take over 2 years to be approved, I am not sure if it is a financial option to not work part time. I could keep my gross pay under the alloted $900. The only other option I can think of is to borrow against our universal life insurance policy.

I don't think that, otherwise, we can make ends meet with one income. Maybe, with both kids leaving home soon, expenses will be enough less that that might be more doable than I think. But I don't believe that we spent my whole income on them.

I can't work full time, because of my fatigue. It's not horrible, but, after a 6 or 6 1/2 hour day, I need a nap, and I am often drowsy during the day. I thought that working 8 hours a day, 5 days a week was a pretty significant thing. I am still bothered by the not working at all idea, because I am just not so sure how well that could work for us. Even if I don't work, I'd wish to volunteer outside the home, and, as I understand it, SSA asks you to fill out forms about your daily activities. How would that be different. I just can't sit at home all day.

~ Faith

I applied for and was granted my SSDI on the very first try, and didnt have to wait the two years. I was very disabled and it was applied for as part of my severance package as a forced retirement from my job. It lowered what I received in retirement from them, because it was a source of income from SSDI. I did however have to wait the 2 years for the MEdicare to kick in. I was well covered till then, and not happy when Meidcare became my primary, as they dont cover kleenex.

I started receiving payments within 60 days of my application and approval.

hang in there.

Faith - I really think your lawyer was just trying to give you a worst case scenario. In my mind, your history is pretty much strong enough to get you approved quickly. How many people who apply have lost 3 straight jobs directly because of MS and also look at how much FMLA time you have used during that period of time. If anyone could get a quick approval, it should be you.

Take it one step at a time and don't get ahead of yourself. There was a reading in church a week ago and part of it was to not worry about the future, but to only deal with the troubles of the day at hand. Sounds like good advice for you right now.

Probably good advice.

I have an appt. with my therapist this afternoon. I haven't seen her for several years, and I don't know that I really need therapy right now, but I mostly want to pick her brain about disability.

She had said once that she is often effective in helping people get approved. I think they are denying more freq now than they used to, but I'll see if she can help, and if I can try that route instead of signing the papers with the attorney, who would collect 25%. I can prob wait to hire them if I need to go to court.

Still not sure about the not working thing. The para-legal that we talked to at the attorney's office said it was OK to work, but recommended that I not get too close to the $900 limit, because SSA might say, if I can work that much, why can't I work more, and why do I need disability.

~ Faith

Faith,
So sorry to hear you're going through a job loss. I hope things work out for you with a job that gives you more fullfillment of the disability. Even though it sounds like the disability is not what you want.

Good luck and God Bless!
Kathy

The 2 year Medicare wait is Law...if you check the thread that I posted in SSDI forum, there is a bill in the Senate and the House to eliminate that 2 year waiting period for people under the age of 65 who have already qualified for SSDI. You might want to send a letter to your Senators and Representatives asking for their support.

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread46305.html