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Jun 7, 2016 02:24AM
- edited
Jun 7, 2016 02:47AM
by
cb123
Hi All,
I'm finally breaking down and going to apply for SSDI tomorrow. My 5 month waiting period since onset is over. I'm not stage IV so I expect this will take several months and I'm just checking this post for any last minute thoughts I might have missed.
I'm encouraged by the monthly allowance of $720. My benefit is not very much and $720 will help. I won't be working really, just selling things on Etsy.
I would like to clear something up that I keep seeing here. SSI is not a "low income" thing although total household income is used in determining the benefit amount. SSI is for people who are disabled and who have not earned enough "work credits" during their lifetime to qualify for SSDI. My daughter was disabled in her early 20s. She had only gone to college and worked at the mall. She had not earned the minimum work credits to qualify for SSDI. Many women who are homemakers and didn't work outside of the home, fall into the SSI category. They make you apply for both at the same time here at my local SS office, just in case you don't qualify for one and may qualify for the other. Here are some links:
SSI vs SSDI
Social Security Credits
Also, I would like to encourage all of you to keep an eye on your Social Security Statement. You can go to the website and pull it up. It will give you detailed personal information as to How much will I get if...?
Social Security Statement
Lastly, and this really sucks, my SSDI is greater than my early retirement benefit @ 62. I'll be 59 this year. When my retirement date comes along, will I earn the lesser retirement amount instead of the higher disability amount? Are they going to force the early retirement benefit? If I can (technically) retire at 65 it's almost the same as the disability. I'll get the answer from SS tomorrow. This is pretty much the only question I have left for them.
I'm not looking forward to this but I can't do my old job and I'm having a hard time finding something new that I can do with my good right arm being so tender and in pain. (It's a missing lymph nodes thing.)
The thing that's going to qualify me medically via cancer, because I'm not stage IV, is that I had 20 positive axillary nodes. 10 is the cutoff. (see below or click this link: 13.10 is Breast Cancer ). My PCP is filling out the forms to also qualify me via Depression.
Thank you all so much for sharing your experiences and knowledge. It's been a great help.

cb
13.10 Breast (except sarcoma—13.04) (See 13.00K4.)
A. Locally advanced cancer (inflammatory carcinoma, cancer of any size with direct extension to the chest wall or skin, or cancer of any size with metastases to the ipsilateral internal mammary nodes).
B. Carcinoma with metastases to the supraclavicular or infraclavicular nodes, to 10 or more axillary nodes, or with distant metastases.
OR
C. Recurrent carcinoma, except local recurrence that remits with anticancer therapy.
OR
D. Small-cell (oat cell) carcinoma.
OR
E. With secondary lymphedema that is caused by anticancer therapy and treated by surgery to salvage or restore the functioning of an upper extremity. (See 13.00K4b.) Consider under a disability until at least 12 months from the date of the surgery that treated the secondary lymphedema. Thereafter, evaluate any residual impairment(s) under the criteria for the affected body system.
~I have lived a wonderful life and truly haven't missed a thing.~ BRCA1 Deleterious Mutation E1250X (3867G>T)
Dx
3/15/2014, IDC, Right, 1cm, Stage IA, Grade 2, 0/2 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2-
Surgery
8/8/2014 Lumpectomy: Right; Lymph node removal: Underarm/Axillary
Dx
1/15/2016, IDC, Right, 1cm, Stage IIIC, Grade 3, 20/27 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2-
Surgery
3/15/2016 Lymph node removal: Right, Underarm/Axillary; Mastectomy: Right; Prophylactic mastectomy: Left
Targeted Therapy
Hormonal Therapy
Arimidex (anastrozole)