SS approval
 

I applied back in Sept. Today, I went to pay some bills from my online banking account and there was a deposit from SS. Went to the check status page on the SS site and all it says is a decision has been made and I will be notified by mail. I have severe DDD in both my lumbar and cervical spine along with severe arthritis in my right elbow. These along with a knee, hip, and Achiles tendon replacement all from thirty years of doing concrete work. I need at lease a three level fusion in my lower back but I am waiting to go as long as I can before the surgery because they can`t guarantee it will work. Last Fri I got approved for my disability pension from the carpenters union so it has been a good week for me. Maybe now I can get some sleep without having to worry about money, and just worry about the surgery.

Congratulations on the approval. Just recently applied for husband a month ago so, we are in the waiting mode......:winky:

Congratulations!

Congratulations.:grouphug::hug:

hey i know what your talkn about.i worked construction at lockheed for 30yrs.not only did i finally get approved for ssdi but i got my disability pension just like you:D isnt it great when it all falls together:wink:

As long as you have a standing/squatting job and you can't stand for 6 out of 8 hrs,disability is basically a slam dunk.

I also have cervical spine problems and the last thing I would do is get a back operation. Like you say there are no guarantee's. My uncle had a back operation and something went terribly wrong and he never was able to walk again.

Mu husbands job required lot of standing, crawling, lot of dirty work, getting on his knee's, etc. He had a spinal fusion back in June, was on std, then tried to go back to work for a week, but his employer said he couldn't do his job 100% anymore and they had no jobs he could do, so they put him on LTD and he is pretty much taking a forced retirement. Thus, why he has had to apply for SSDI. LTD requires you apply. He has degenerative disk disease, 11 knee surgeries, one prosthetic in one knee and arthritis in both knees and spine, and also spondylilistheis, osteopenia, osteoarthritis. Waiting to see if he qualifies for disability. He can't sit or stand for more then 2hrs.....

I went back to work for 4 hrs and couldn't do anything . This was due too mostly heart problems but was disabled also with severe generative arthritis . Both the heart problems and arthritis prevent me from standing 6 out of 8 hrs.
I went through the LTD process and they got back their backpay. I will get paid LTD until I'm 65.

Congrates...

Thank you and good luck to you all. It is a huge load off of my mind knowing that at least financially we will be ok. Went to a massage therapist this mourning to try to lose some of the knots in my back. It helped a little, I just hope it lasts for more than just a couple of days.

drug test for disability pension
 

Congradulations on your disability pension approval ! I have a question for you and others on disability pension with the carpenters union. I know that when you retire and receive a regular retirement pension with the Carpenters union, you are no longer required to take drug tests. But when you are on DISABILITY pension do they still do drug testing until you reach 62?? Just trying to play it safe

I DO NOT want to sound like an addict that abuses drugs. I just am extremely scared of taking anything that could result in a false positive test. I have heard of this happening to people. I have been drug tested for the last 20 years ( no positive results) and it would be nice to know that someone is no longer monitoring my personal life anymore for the next 20 years

I have never*heard of any drug testing done to retirees, regular or disabled.

Congratulations on the approval!!!!!

If you require pain medication from a doc, they can require drug testing. I wasn't required to submit for testing for many years, and then local requirements from some agency/or agencies, changed that. In theory, I've always been paranoid to try prescribed medical marijuana, since it might be legal in CA, but not federally. Can SSDI benefits be terminated due a drug charge if caught? I'm not sure, but I tend to be very cautious.

SSD does not do drug testing. The only ones that drug test are pain management Doctors Only if you are on narcotic medication. A new trend of non-narcotic pain relievers are coming out because people are getting tired of the DEA monitoring their lives and the pharmaceutical companies are seeing big potential profits from this

I wasn't claiming SS did the testing. And yes, you'd only be tested by your doc if you required pain meds.

I was wanting to ask you, Laga77, how is SSD calculating your monthly income of what they will pay you while your getting carpenter disability pension? Is the carpenters disability pension considered a private or public pension? Reason I'm asking is because I too am receiving disability pension from the carpenters pension and i am wondering how SSD will figure in how much they will pay on a monthly basis AND I'm worried for getting disqualified for getting weekly disability checks from the carpenters ( 235.00 a week )since October and then since I was approved for Carpenters disability pension, for 1650 a month ( before taxes ) I will be getting a lump sum of 6 months and then my monthly payments and continue till I am 62 yrs old . THANK YOU !!

oldcarp, maybe I can help? I "think" the TOTAL amount you can receive is 80% of your regular salary. That is -- your SSDI AND your carpenters pension amounts added TOGETHER cannot EXCEED 80%. I cannot find the documentation right now -- will look and post the link -- or maybe someone else has it handy. :)

I understand the 80% part. But if the carpenters disability pension is a private pension ( which I think it is but not quite sure ), then the amount from a private pension doesn't count towards the 80% amount, and you should recieve the full amount of Carpenters Disability pension and the full amount of Social Security Disability, but thats why I asked Laga77 because he would know by now when he sees his monthly statements and any adjustments ( if any ) are needed. I think this is very critical because if SSD finds out your getting more money than your supposed to, they can stop payments and actually make you pay THEM back some money! Please let us know Laga77 !! Or anyone else that knows! THANK YOU !!

My SSD is based roughly on the amount I would have received if I had retired at 67. It has nothing to do with my carpenters pension. I never applied for SSI. Hopes this helps.

Call SSA. They would know the answer.

Thank you so much for your reply Laga77 ! It gives me something to look foward to when I finally get to see the ALJ. Right now in our area I'm looking at 12-13 months before a hearing. Thank God for the Carpenters Union and their disability pension program! That is one HUGE plus about working for the Union, they take care of the ones in need. GO UNION !!

hi
 

congrats to u. glad it didnt take too long!