So we got an atty via LTD INS and he has filed for a hearing with judge but said it could take 12-18mos (after hus got first denial from SSDI). So fast forward:

Well, hus has received couple of LTD checks (after employer said he could no work) and now on long term disability, early retirement. So he gets a call, several calls now from LTD ins vocational person. She says, we think you can do assembly work at a factory. WTF? 11 knee surgeries, 2 spinal fusions, most recent one in last summer, has severe spinal arthritis, spondylisthesis, osteoporosis of spine and hips and a prosthetic knee. He can't sit or stand longer then 2hrs and they think he can work a prod line..Then she says, we will pay for any schooling, etc. Then she says your homework is to go to the library and look for free classes...and I will call you in a couple of days.

He has a degree and she reminded him and also thinks he can get computing job if he takes some classes....Yeah, like the thousands of other unemployed computer folks looking for jobs, he's got a real chance there,

Unbelievable, two checks and now they are pushing him to work...his employer told him you won't have to work at McDonalds...yeah right...

Not sure how all this works,Any folks been down this road with LTD and them pushing to get you to work?

yes they tried that with me toit was alittle difficult for them though cause i dont have a college degree.plus with my age they figure by time they retrain me they couldnt garuantee me a job

Well hus is 54 and I guess they think he can do manual labor or do something just because he has a degree.

I just found it ironic in one breath they tell him we will pay for schooling and training but his homework is to go to the library and look for free classes....

This after two checks from their company...I could maybe understand it if it had been a year or two...but geeze they are really pushing it...

I think it would have been a better idea to hire your own local attorney. Thats what I did and my LTD carrier was fine with it.

Every once in awhile I fill out paperwork for LTD and they mention that they would pay for schooling and each time I have said no.

If they start playing games with me,I could always mention to the guys where I used too work and they would drop their LTD coverage like a bad habit. Alot of them didn't know that you must return most of your LTD pay-should you be awarded SSDI.

Also a local attorney may be better at getting a quicker hearing or better yet an OTR decision.

Can I just say that attempting to work and being unable to perform those jobs can work in his favor? Although if he has work restrictions from a doc stating he can't sit for more than two hours, they'll have to find a job that fits within those restrictions. Also, what happens at 2 hours? Is that the max for the day? Or after a 5 minute stretching break can he resume another 2 hours at a desk?

How the work restrictions are written are Very important. Docs make assumptions that this stuff is obvious, and aren't used to their proclamations being questioned. They figure if a patient has their support on a disability claim, that's enough. It isn't. Has your husband gone through functional capacity testing and a doc supplied a report? A certain amount and type of surgeries does not equate instant approval.

With a college degree, is your husband capable of working PT at the SGA level? ($1020 per month last time I looked) because that's the standard SS will consider.

The standards are lowered again when he turns 55, but, this might mean he's forced into changing his onset date and will lose many months of backpay. Depending on the LTDI, this might have little to no impact on his monthly amount, so it might make more sense to start a new claim when he hits 55 instead of waiting for an ALJ date. Of course, the LTDI will have an opinion on this...

Just what I was thinking LL.....well said !