[Eowyn]

Hi, all,

I am in the process of applying for SSDI. It is possible that my employer may also lay me off during this time.

I know that I cannot receive unemployment if I am disabled. Would receiving unemployment before my SSDI application is approved negatively impact my application?

Any other thoughts?

Thanks for sharing your expertise!! It has been very very helpful to me.

[bdh1]

Originally Posted by Eowyn

Hi, all,

I am in the process of applying for SSDI. It is possible that my employer may also lay me off during this time.

I know that I cannot receive unemployment if I am disabled. Would receiving unemployment before my SSDI application is approved negatively impact my application?

Any other thoughts?

Thanks for sharing your expertise!! It has been very very helpful to me.

I was getting unemployment up to the time I applied for SSDI. After that I was advised by a social worker to stop. It worked out for me, I'm now on SSDI.

[rbwalton]

Being on unemployment did not change my decision for SSDI, but it did delay the date that I became disabled. They figured if I was collecting unemployment, I must still be able to work- even though my limitations were part of the reason I could not find work.

[jassno]

Originally Posted by Eowyn

Hi, all,

I am in the process of applying for SSDI. It is possible that my employer may also lay me off during this time.

I know that I cannot receive unemployment if I am disabled. Would receiving unemployment before my SSDI application is approved negatively impact my application?

Any other thoughts?

Thanks for sharing your expertise!! It has been very very helpful to me.

Hey Eowyn,

If your working now, I think your chances for ssdi are limited.

[LIT LOVE]

It depends on your state Rules for collecting unemployment. There are many people that have collected unemployment without issue. Speak to someone at your local unemployment agency and your local SS office as well.

Are you making over $1000 per month at your job? If yes, it is highly unlikely that you'll be approved for SSDI at this time.

[Eowyn]

Yeah, it is a complicated situation. I'm working part time (limited hours due to my condition), but it isn't going well. I am not able to tolerate the daily stresses.

My employer also needs to lay people off, so there is the potential that they could lay me off, I could resign, or they could place me on extended medical leave.

Just wondered if the different options would have any impact on my SSDI application.

[LIT LOVE]

Originally Posted by Eowyn

Yeah, it is a complicated situation. I'm working part time (limited hours due to my condition), but it isn't going well. I am not able to tolerate the daily stresses.

My employer also needs to lay people off, so there is the potential that they could lay me off, I could resign, or they could place me on extended medical leave.

Just wondered if the different options would have any impact on my SSDI application.

You're not in CA, HI, RI, NY or NJ, correct? If you said in the past, I don't remember.

Unpaid medical leave?

The option of applying now, like the attorney advised, if you are (capable of) making over $1k per month is not a good idea IMO. That set's you up for a denial and the uphill battle of a protracted application process that will likely take years and would need to have a change of onset date later on anyway. The upside for an attorney is that he's likely to collect a full fee at some point.

You don't have to wait to file until you've been working below the SGA level for any specific length of time, but, you won't collect a dime until you've been out for 5 months. And your condition should be expected to last one year.

Unless you live in a state with short term disability insurance (listed above) or your school district offers private temp disability ins as part of your benefits, then you'll likely have a difficult financial period. The government expects the middle class to live off their savings during short periods of disability. If you're laid off (unrelated to your medical condition) you might be able collect unemployment, but this is not the best scenario in which to apply. Not that it's an issue that's insurmountable, but...

When you apply for SSDI, you are claiming you are not only unable to work at past jobs, but that you are unable to work at any job. This includes low level PT jobs where you might be capable of making $1000 per month. A Voc Rehab Counselor will evaluate you based upon your doc/s listed work restrictions.

[Eowyn]

I was off work completely for 6-7 months after my injury. I went back part time in August with restricted hours and in a setting with reduced workload. The reduced workload is now no longer feasible, and my doctor isn't extending the number of hours I can work.

During this time I've been collecting private short term disability. I'm coming up on the one-year anniversary of both my injury and my short-term disability claim. My private short term disability benefit will run out then.

I have a neuropsych evaluation in a couple of weeks that should give a clearer picture of my cognitive abilities. Based on what that shows, I'll decide whether complete & permanent disability is appropriate or not.

In any case, I don't THINK it can hurt to work on applying for SSDI until I meet with the neuropsych, right?

I just find myself in this kind of no-man's-land right now with several ways to go forward. Not sure which one is the best.

[LIT LOVE]

Since August you've been working consistently above the SGA level? Are you missing scheduled work? Has your employer complained about your performance?

So short term disability has been paying the difference between FT and PT? You may be able to extend the pay difference with unemployment as well--check your state unemployment rules.

[Eowyn]

I have been working just barely above SGA since August. I think averaged with the months I missed it puts me under SGA for the year.

Yes, I have missed scheduled work due to both medical appointments and just not feeling well.

My employer has been very supportive. No one is complaining about my performance, but I think it's pretty clear that they're going out of their way to make the situation workable for me.

As I mentioned, they are also facing budget challenges and looking at layoffs. My part-time position is one of the first ones that makes sense to cut.

Short term disability has been paying most but not all of the difference between FT and PT. Can you say more about how unemployment might cover that? I haven't heard of that option.