Confused and no answers
 

Back in sept of 09,, I had started to apply for SSD, and even went so far as getting Binder and Binder to represent me, during the following months I received a lot of paperwork from SS, questionarres and such,, and my doctors received there paperwork as well,, I felt good enough to go back to work and worked up till Xmas eve of 09,, and am still off work on STD,,
Now I got a call well over two months ago from Binder and Binder asking me what exactly was my last day of work,, and I told him and he said we need to readjust your last day of work and I should expect to hear nothing from SS at least till May or June,, which I tottaly expected anyway, So last Saturday I went to the Post Office and there was a letter from SS saying I was awarded benefits,, first I was glad and suprised..in hte letter it said I was getting back pay for Feb of 10,, and would receive a monthly benefits,,
My problem is,, the dates just dont make sense,, approved in three months?.. backpay to only Feb,, so I called Binder and Binder,, they first said Congrats, but wehn I questioned the timing and dates,, since I havent been off work for at least 5months,, they said we will get back to you,, I call every day at least three times but they never get back to me
I was told to not contact SS,,and when they deposit my money this week,, i will set it aside,, if I am not eligable for this benefit,, I dont want to harm my chances of staying on it,, even if it means being off it till i am eligable,, I dontknow what to do about my employment,, I am making co pays for my health insurance at the present time,,they belive I will eventually come back to work,, but I cant,, so I need guidance from some of the good SS people on here as to what I need to do,, its a struggle, my kitchen table is covered with papers,, SS papers,, Std PAPERS,, LTD papers,, its a mess,, and everyt day the paperwork just seems to get bigger andnot smaller,, thank you for reading my story

My understanding is that if you get long term disability benefits they will deduct your SDD allotment from the premium and give you the difference. Lets say your LTD payment was $100 and SDD was $70. LTD would pay you $30.
As for the Feb. 10 date, it seems odd but I don't understand why Binder doesn't want you to contact SSA especially since you're not getting any answers. You don't have to divulge anything to SSA when you call just ask for an explanation of the date chosen for back benefits to start. I have not heard good things about Binder and Binder so it doesn't surprise me thay don't respond.

thank you trudi,, i think I will call SSA,,

I did call the SSA yesterday,,I got a very nice girl who looked into my case,, she said my original filing date was sept of 09,, I told her,, I continued to work on and off up to dec of 09,,
She asked some questions and said my date of filing shouldhave beenonthe letter,, I told her it wasent,,, I told her I tried to call my local office,, and she said there hard to get ahold of since they have such a big caseload and few staffers,, anyway,, she said she didnt think me working was going to be a problem,, and that if it was,, it wo0uld come up for review, and in your case that would be in 5 to 7 years,, sionce the SS doctors felt my condition was progressive,, I asked her over and over and over,, is there aprobem with me taking the monthly check,, she said,, NO,, it is not a problem,,
Later I got a call from Binder and Binder,, (she said they were still looking into the matter,, ),, i told her what I did,, and told her I told SS that I had worked, she said,, you should not have said that,, I told her,, Look,, I;m not going to lie about it,, so we ended that conversation with her saying that if it becomes a issue,, to contact them,, so we will see

Congratulations. I agree with you, honesty is always the best policy.

What is the effective date on the contract with B&B? It seems to me that you did all the work. If you had to fill out all the forms why are they now saying not to get in touch with SS.
Some people have been mixed up in the system. So be careful your not under another persons name or SS#. Social Security makes mistakes, (did I spill the beans).
First I would read over this contract with B&B. Was there any clauses about time being of essence? Get back to me when you can.

If you make an appointment with SS it takes maybe (depending on where you live) 20 minutes up to 2 hours wait. Find out if B&B filed any paper work with SS asking for backpay, did you get copies? If it was me I'd tell B&B to take a hike. (That's just me) Be careful if you sign anything from B&B from this point on. You might want to talk with your bank. Did you sign to begin with? Let me know. Was there any consideration? OK enough for now I have answered the first 5 or six threads. Let me give somebody else a turn.

wait a sec
 

How much could Binder and Binder be getting paid anyway? There is no backpay here? This is the least of your problems.

Yes, you have to notify SS you've worked but first I'd write a letter to my attorney about the situation. You need to document this mess and phone calls won't help. I've learned the hard way that advice/info you receive from the 800# is unreliable.

Binder and Binder could end up with up to $6,000 that's a pretty good chunk of change for not doing anything. I do agree with you on the 800 number they just keep whatever information the local office has. I found that each time I called I get a different answer from different people. Always try to keep in touch with your case worker and if they don't call back ask for a supervisor.

Has there been a recent change in the law? Attorney's fees are regulated for disability claims. My attorney would even take cases until after a 1st denial so backpay would accumulate. When I received my Partially Favorable decision it was 25% of the backpay with a cap at $5000 and change.

yes they can now win $6,000

If they think he stopped working in September, it's doubtful his backpay is anywhere near the $24,000 it would have to be for B&B to get $6000

B&B got 498 dollars,, it was deducted from my first months pay from SS, Now I have made it quite clear again and again to B&B and to SS that there is a problem in my app date,, but it just appears that since its written down,, it must be true,, I have done all I can and do not know how to even go about making it any more clearer,, any of you here that has spent hours listening to,, (your call is very important to us),, please hold for the next avaible representative,, will def wear thin after a while,,
Now for another question, I have applied to the state for umemploymeny compensation,, I think I may have a case for it,, I;l try to explain and see if any of you find fault with my logic,, I have contacted the State OVR for training for a job that I can do without aggrevating my condition,, they told me that this is what they do 80% of teh time and they train to make sure you dont go over teh monthly SS alowance,, I think since I will be working part time,, that I shoud be intitled to partial UC benefits,, now I am sure my logic is full of holes,, but any ideas would be appreciated,, I looked at ym states reasons to collect, and actually for health reasons is a reason that you can collect UC,, but collecting SSD is a fly in the oitmentmm ,,B&B made little money off me,, they did collect all teh medical records,, and tehy did a lot of filing and lots of letters to SS,, but I also called my local congressmen,, I called my state senators,, I filled out forms for them to look into my case, so I dnt know if it was B&B that won my case, or the legwrok I did,, who kows,, someone made hte determination I could not work

Did your SSDI application say that you were unable to work at all ?

It said nothing about not working,, I now theyhave the ticket to work program,, where you can earn under a 1000 amonth,, but the way i feel today,, i could not empty a wastebasket let alone work,, only thing that was onmy award letter was a review in 5 to 7 years

on the app for UC compensation it said there wre health reason that wolld allow you to collect,, but it also said that you mucst be avaible ready and able to work,, so whoknows

The law changed. It was $5200 cap for attorney's fees. Last year it increased to $6000. But that's the chance you take with contingency agreements. Sometimes the lawyer gets paid a lot for doing nothing, sometimes the lawyer puts in huge amounts of work for a tiny paycheck.

THE 800# is USELESS, and you are wasting your time by calling it. If you your intention is to notify Social Security, contact your local office, in person or by letter. If you insist on doing this by phone, call your local office and keep a detailed phone log.

If you want Binder & Binder to represent you in this matter, I suggest you send them a letter. An overnight letter will get faster attention. They've advised you over the phone to do something I highly doubt they'll put in writing.

Have you received this booklet from Social Security yet? There is a PDF version available if you haven't.

What You Need To Know When You Get Social Security Disability Benefits
SSA Publication No. 05-10153

Do you have a link to that or was it just a pamphlet you got?

I got the booklet that was referred to,, it came with my award letter,, thats what set off the red flags about the 5 months of not working,, but Like I said,, I called SS,, I called my local office,, which I was never able to get through too,, and I explained toteh girl at SS,, that I cold not get through to the local office,, but since all the computers are tied together,, she said it shouldnot be a problem,, and if my review date is 5 to 7 years away,, I mightbe dead before tehy get around to really start digging,,,
On a side not,, I applied to the state for just about every aid possible,, so far I have struck out on all counts,, other then I mightbe eligable for Basic health care,, LOL,,

In Florida, I have found that almost everyone on disability gets healthcare. I think it's ridiculous to make someone who is disabled pay for their own healthcare. I don't know if your the one I told my roommate gets a shot every month that comes out to $7,000. I thought he was pulling my leg, until I saw the bill. He gets everything he needs for about $ 20 co-pay. That's including prescriptions.

Once you are accepted for SSDI, you will be eligible for Medicare 2 years after the date that they recognize that your disability began.

In the interim, you may be eligible for Medicaid which is administered by your state. In my state, I would be eligible after I paid a $9000 deductible.

Insurance for the disabled is not automatic.

Maybe you should get a couple of $7,000 shots. In two months you would have your deductible covered.

They give you benefits and then make you spend them on your medical. What about the kids? In Florida they do have programs so you and your children can get some kind of healthcare pretty quickly. The illegals get everything right away.

I;ll spill out what I get,, I get 1994.00 a month from SSDI,,, and my COBRA cost for me and my wife is 1390,, my short term disibility got cut to 150 a week becasue they offest what I get from SSDI,, I have been turned down for all state aid becasue my wife has a job that barely is above Minimum wage,, I have applied for long term disibility through the Hartford who is our union insurer for short term and long term disibility
I have been getting calls almost daily telling me first this is a recorded call,, and then I am asked questions,, vague questions about my condition,, I know where its all going,, they are trying to screw me out of LTD,, on a pre-exissting condition clause,,
We are at teh point that I need to drop my wife from COBRA,, and get her a policy for 450 a month,, I will pay 500,, so we save about 400 dollars a month,, but it comes with a 5000 deductible,,
Yes the illegals get everythng right away,, and yes I was one of the fortunate ones that got SSDI on the first try,, but I also think that the govt who gives gives and takes so much should look at what peole have to go through,, 2 year wait for medicare?,, its insane,, I dont dare drop my COBRA,, its a good plan,, and I was supposed to go to Mayo next month,, but I dont see that happening now,, not with the way our finances are,, and It amazes me that in this huge city of Pittsburgh that touts its cutting edge medical technology cannot tell me why my bodys nervous system is destroying itself that is prgressing atlight speed,, I dont have a life anymore, what good is disibility when you cant even go outside when its to hot,, or its even the least bit cool out,,
Last week all the letters from teh state came in,, Denied this,, denied that,, possible medical aid for me,, none for my wife,, LIHEAP,, denied,, now i;m waiting for the denial from Unemployment,,althoutgh I thought I made a good case to teh state of saying i am going to be retrained to do something,, so we;;ll see,, sorry for the long post,, its alonely house,, wife went out,, sons are out enjoyiong themselves,, and I am sitting here alone with my Doxie,, just sitting here in non stop pain, wondering why I amnot ina hospital with thiese Doctors trying once and for all figuring out wht is goingonwith my body,,

Did you read this maybe things are changing for people who need healthcare like yourself.

http://www.socialsecurity.gov/presso...re-info-pr.htm

After a few $7000 shots, my husband would have killed me for the insurance money so I wouldn't need that Medicaid ;)

The kids aren't eligible for Medicare for any of us on SSDI. If I were a single mom, I would have to apply for Medicaid for them or purchase a private insurance.

FTB.......I wish you luck with your financial struggles.

I don't want to depress or upset you, but I don't think you would be eligible for unemployment. It is my understanding that is to help tide you over until you can get another job. The government is already paying you because you have told them you are unable to work and expect your disability to continue to make you unable to work for at least a year.

So you can only get Medicaid for the kids in your state if you are single? Private insurance that's pretty expensive right? I have a relative who works for State Farm and forget about it. They wanted about $800 a month just for the kids.

Unemployment called me and I explained exactly why I was applying for benefits,, and told them about teh SSDI,, they said we dont care about that,, we dont consider that income,, I explained I was getting retraiend through the OVR,, and a few days later i got a approval letter,,, I caled teh state to make sure it was not in error,, and they assured me it was not,, and my company is not appealing me getting it,, I have Appt with OVR on April 22nd

Congratulations. That is great.

I hope it's over for now FTB. I know you've been through a lot. Did you ever get the date straightened out?

As for the date,, I got a letter today from the lawyer,, he said that in his opinion, that when I went back to work after the filing date,, he felt that after I went back and fouind out I couldnt work, that SS would look at it like a failed back to work attempt,, of course I amnot taking his word on anything right now,, he also said that SS might come back at me later on and ask for a overpayment,, so I feel like i have a sword hanging over my head,,
Now,, for anotheir problem,, The state is giving me unemployment,, under the guise that I am goign to wrok through the OVRA to try and get retrained,, my employer is not contesting me getting unemployment,, but here the rub,, I also get short term disibility through hartford,, it was cut severely when I got SSDI,, from 500 to 167 a week,, now,, since i am getting unemployemtn,, I wonder if I need to contact hartford and let tehm know I am getting unemployment,, if i do,, I wnt get a diome from Hartford,, the offset will take it to negative numbers,,,
AND,, I have a long term disibility pending with them too,, this would last for 5 years,, prob at 167 a week,, that is if I get it,, but I suspect,, that there going to deny me on the grounds that teh disiblity that I have falls under a preexisting condition,, I think the only reasn I got it this time was becasue my union bitched to high heaven,, theyhad ooriginally denied me,,
I NEED ADVICE<< ANY ADVISE

I would read the contract with Hartford and see if there is anything about receiving unemployment, if the contract says anything about pre-existing conditions. It's a good thing you tried to work but can't. Not that I wish you ill health, it's good for your case. I just figured out that pending case and that comes out to a pretty good chunk of change. So your getting disability from the Hartford right now? Unemployment from the state? Ya, I would read the contract first and then call. It's better that you know if you owe anything. I'm sure you'll get quite a few ideas, so check back. I'm going to check something if it pertains to you I'll send a link.

Here are some answers to some question by the Hartford. I don't know if this will help you I don't think they will.

https://www.thehartfordatwork.com/th...arn/faq.html#7

Here's some any advice:

Keep your pay stubs. If you don't have them, get them. In order for SSA to make a decision that you had an unsuccessful work attempt, they will need to know exactly what day you started work and exactly what day you stopped. There is a definition of an unsuccessfull work attempt that SSA will use and the dates you stop and start work are a integral part of that decision. Generally, if you worked less than three months and stopped because of your medical condition, and had a break in work activity for a specified period of time (can't recall right now), it would be an unsuccessful work attempt. If you worked 3-6 months, it might be an unsuccessful work attempt. If it was over 6 months, it probably was not an unsuccessful work attempt.

But the dollar amount of money you earned each month will also need to be verified to determine if the work is Substantial Gainful Activity. Pay stubs can provide that data. A W-2 cannot.

Your earnings will be posted to your earnings record. SSA will find out whether you report it or not. These questions will have to be answered some day. If you take care of it now, the sword will not be haning over your head anymore. You may or may not like the outcome. But if you don't like it, you can always appeal that decision and provide new evidence.

Not going to attempt to give advice about the second issue.

After reading over the Hartford paperwork,,I will have to report teh unemployment income,, which will reduce my short term Dis to nothing,, I kow in the long run they werent going to give it to me anyway,, as for SSDI,, I am going to make a attempt to get this straight one way or the other this coming week,, I just dont sleep well at night knowing all this is hangng over my head,, and I was aware that my earnings statement would whow them my work attempts in late 09,,, I just cleared out all my folders of old paperwork,, made a phone call to rochester Min for a hotel when I go to Mayo in may,, I jsut need to get this SSDI thing right and I;lll feel better

It was definately less then 3 months from sept 09 to dec 09,,, ona nd off for daqys and weeks at a time,, but I might get burned on the SGA

Uwa
 

Read this. It's what the claims rep in your local office will refer to.

https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.n...5!opendocument