Disability advice

Wheezie

New member
Hi Katie - I agree with Barbara; Beth Sufian is an excellent resource, especially with this sort of thing. You can also talk to the social worker at Richard's CF Clinic - they often know information more specific to your particular location and if they don't know the answers, they can usually tell you where to find them (a lot of times their other patients tell them how THEY did it too). Not to mention just being a friendly face to talk to about the emotional aspects of making a decision like this.

I can tell you that when I was on disability, I did struggle financially. However, I did not ask a lot of questions and I bet there were more resources out there that I could have used, but didn't. And I am no longer on disability. I say this because sometimes it might feel like making the decision to go on disability is such a permanent way of admitting defeat. But It doesn't have to be a permanent thing at all and it most certainly is not defeat. And there are a lot of jobs out there too that can be accommodating with flexible hours, etc. I work part-time now - Sometimes we just hit rough patches and need a break for a little while. Good luck to you both - feel free to PM me if you ever want to talk more about this.
 

Wheezie

New member
Hi Katie - I agree with Barbara; Beth Sufian is an excellent resource, especially with this sort of thing. You can also talk to the social worker at Richard's CF Clinic - they often know information more specific to your particular location and if they don't know the answers, they can usually tell you where to find them (a lot of times their other patients tell them how THEY did it too). Not to mention just being a friendly face to talk to about the emotional aspects of making a decision like this.

I can tell you that when I was on disability, I did struggle financially. However, I did not ask a lot of questions and I bet there were more resources out there that I could have used, but didn't. And I am no longer on disability. I say this because sometimes it might feel like making the decision to go on disability is such a permanent way of admitting defeat. But It doesn't have to be a permanent thing at all and it most certainly is not defeat. And there are a lot of jobs out there too that can be accommodating with flexible hours, etc. I work part-time now - Sometimes we just hit rough patches and need a break for a little while. Good luck to you both - feel free to PM me if you ever want to talk more about this.
 

Wheezie

New member
Hi Katie - I agree with Barbara; Beth Sufian is an excellent resource, especially with this sort of thing. You can also talk to the social worker at Richard's CF Clinic - they often know information more specific to your particular location and if they don't know the answers, they can usually tell you where to find them (a lot of times their other patients tell them how THEY did it too). Not to mention just being a friendly face to talk to about the emotional aspects of making a decision like this.

I can tell you that when I was on disability, I did struggle financially. However, I did not ask a lot of questions and I bet there were more resources out there that I could have used, but didn't. And I am no longer on disability. I say this because sometimes it might feel like making the decision to go on disability is such a permanent way of admitting defeat. But It doesn't have to be a permanent thing at all and it most certainly is not defeat. And there are a lot of jobs out there too that can be accommodating with flexible hours, etc. I work part-time now - Sometimes we just hit rough patches and need a break for a little while. Good luck to you both - feel free to PM me if you ever want to talk more about this.
 

Wheezie

New member
Hi Katie - I agree with Barbara; Beth Sufian is an excellent resource, especially with this sort of thing. You can also talk to the social worker at Richard's CF Clinic - they often know information more specific to your particular location and if they don't know the answers, they can usually tell you where to find them (a lot of times their other patients tell them how THEY did it too). Not to mention just being a friendly face to talk to about the emotional aspects of making a decision like this.

I can tell you that when I was on disability, I did struggle financially. However, I did not ask a lot of questions and I bet there were more resources out there that I could have used, but didn't. And I am no longer on disability. I say this because sometimes it might feel like making the decision to go on disability is such a permanent way of admitting defeat. But It doesn't have to be a permanent thing at all and it most certainly is not defeat. And there are a lot of jobs out there too that can be accommodating with flexible hours, etc. I work part-time now - Sometimes we just hit rough patches and need a break for a little while. Good luck to you both - feel free to PM me if you ever want to talk more about this.
 

CowTown

New member
Hi Katie,

I know Julie (screen name: Julie) on this site has a lot of personal experience with getting on disability. She is very helpful with explaining about the process, hurdles, what to-do and not to-do, etc. I suggest PMing her. She's the first person I think of when asking who to talk to.

She's a very busy mom of triplets, but I know when she sees your note she'd be happy to help. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif" border="0"> That's just my guess.
 

CowTown

New member
Hi Katie,

I know Julie (screen name: Julie) on this site has a lot of personal experience with getting on disability. She is very helpful with explaining about the process, hurdles, what to-do and not to-do, etc. I suggest PMing her. She's the first person I think of when asking who to talk to.

She's a very busy mom of triplets, but I know when she sees your note she'd be happy to help. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif" border="0"> That's just my guess.
 

CowTown

New member
Hi Katie,

I know Julie (screen name: Julie) on this site has a lot of personal experience with getting on disability. She is very helpful with explaining about the process, hurdles, what to-do and not to-do, etc. I suggest PMing her. She's the first person I think of when asking who to talk to.

She's a very busy mom of triplets, but I know when she sees your note she'd be happy to help. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif" border="0"> That's just my guess.
 

CowTown

New member
Hi Katie,

I know Julie (screen name: Julie) on this site has a lot of personal experience with getting on disability. She is very helpful with explaining about the process, hurdles, what to-do and not to-do, etc. I suggest PMing her. She's the first person I think of when asking who to talk to.

She's a very busy mom of triplets, but I know when she sees your note she'd be happy to help. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif" border="0"> That's just my guess.
 

CowTown

New member
Hi Katie,

I know Julie (screen name: Julie) on this site has a lot of personal experience with getting on disability. She is very helpful with explaining about the process, hurdles, what to-do and not to-do, etc. I suggest PMing her. She's the first person I think of when asking who to talk to.

She's a very busy mom of triplets, but I know when she sees your note she'd be happy to help. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif" border="0"> That's just my guess.
 

CowTown

New member
Hi Katie,

I know Julie (screen name: Julie) on this site has a lot of personal experience with getting on disability. She is very helpful with explaining about the process, hurdles, what to-do and not to-do, etc. I suggest PMing her. She's the first person I think of when asking who to talk to.

She's a very busy mom of triplets, but I know when she sees your note she'd be happy to help. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif" border="0"> That's just my guess.
 

Giggles

New member
If you are tyring to get CF Disability I HIGHLEY reccommend Beth Sufian out of Texas. She has CF and she specializes in getting CF'rs their disability. I would not even try to do it by yourself. She handles EVERYTHING and has NEVER lost a case. She is well worth it and gets paid out of the benefit.

You can google her and get her information. She is out of Texas with a firm called Sufian and Passamano. It is her and her husband.

She is AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Jennifer 35 Years old with CF and CFRD
 

Giggles

New member
If you are tyring to get CF Disability I HIGHLEY reccommend Beth Sufian out of Texas. She has CF and she specializes in getting CF'rs their disability. I would not even try to do it by yourself. She handles EVERYTHING and has NEVER lost a case. She is well worth it and gets paid out of the benefit.

You can google her and get her information. She is out of Texas with a firm called Sufian and Passamano. It is her and her husband.

She is AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Jennifer 35 Years old with CF and CFRD
 

Giggles

New member
If you are tyring to get CF Disability I HIGHLEY reccommend Beth Sufian out of Texas. She has CF and she specializes in getting CF'rs their disability. I would not even try to do it by yourself. She handles EVERYTHING and has NEVER lost a case. She is well worth it and gets paid out of the benefit.

You can google her and get her information. She is out of Texas with a firm called Sufian and Passamano. It is her and her husband.

She is AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Jennifer 35 Years old with CF and CFRD
 

Giggles

New member
If you are tyring to get CF Disability I HIGHLEY reccommend Beth Sufian out of Texas. She has CF and she specializes in getting CF'rs their disability. I would not even try to do it by yourself. She handles EVERYTHING and has NEVER lost a case. She is well worth it and gets paid out of the benefit.

You can google her and get her information. She is out of Texas with a firm called Sufian and Passamano. It is her and her husband.

She is AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Jennifer 35 Years old with CF and CFRD
 

Giggles

New member
If you are tyring to get CF Disability I HIGHLEY reccommend Beth Sufian out of Texas. She has CF and she specializes in getting CF'rs their disability. I would not even try to do it by yourself. She handles EVERYTHING and has NEVER lost a case. She is well worth it and gets paid out of the benefit.

You can google her and get her information. She is out of Texas with a firm called Sufian and Passamano. It is her and her husband.

She is AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Jennifer 35 Years old with CF and CFRD
 

Giggles

New member
If you are tyring to get CF Disability I HIGHLEY reccommend Beth Sufian out of Texas. She has CF and she specializes in getting CF'rs their disability. I would not even try to do it by yourself. She handles EVERYTHING and has NEVER lost a case. She is well worth it and gets paid out of the benefit.

You can google her and get her information. She is out of Texas with a firm called Sufian and Passamano. It is her and her husband.

She is AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Jennifer 35 Years old with CF and CFRD
 

littledebbie

New member
In order to apply for SSDI you have to be unemployed for 5 months before you can submit an application at which time they will tell you it can take between 3-4 months to get approved, but that they will back pay you to the day you submitted your application. I applied in Dec. and am still awaiting approval. I have not spoken to ANYONE who was approved in 3-4 months. A year seems to be more the average and getting a lawyer seems to be what's necessary (which seems like a racket if you ask me).

The amount of money they will give you a month depends on your work history and while it's not a TON of money it is more than you would get through a state program such as SSI. State is usually around $600 a month and they make you subtract any monetary gifts you receieve and if you earn any money they deduct that as well. THE Fed SSDI, depends on work history, but if your boyfriend is 27 and has been working a few years I would guess he'd be at a little more than $1000 a month (there's a site to check that out)once you are approved you can work part time and earn up to about $800 a month before they start evaluating whether you still need your benefits and they don't deduct financial gifts etc.

For me this has been a long frustrating process. I lived alone for 6 yrs and have been independant since I was 17. I am now having to rely on family and am living with my dad. That's all been a bit of a blow. Also, I have had trouble understading what the hold up is, I am 27 with CF and PFT's at 20%...where's the decision...I'm pretty sure that qualifies me, yet still the dicker about and send me to THEIR docs who aren't even pulmonoligst etc. My feeling has been they make it as hard as possible hoping you will give up and decide it would be easier to go back to work. So I guess I'm saying ..be prepared. I know this was the right choice for me in the long haul. I've had a lot more time to take better care of myself and have felt better than I have in a long time but it has come at a price.

If you have any questions feel free to PM me.
 

littledebbie

New member
In order to apply for SSDI you have to be unemployed for 5 months before you can submit an application at which time they will tell you it can take between 3-4 months to get approved, but that they will back pay you to the day you submitted your application. I applied in Dec. and am still awaiting approval. I have not spoken to ANYONE who was approved in 3-4 months. A year seems to be more the average and getting a lawyer seems to be what's necessary (which seems like a racket if you ask me).

The amount of money they will give you a month depends on your work history and while it's not a TON of money it is more than you would get through a state program such as SSI. State is usually around $600 a month and they make you subtract any monetary gifts you receieve and if you earn any money they deduct that as well. THE Fed SSDI, depends on work history, but if your boyfriend is 27 and has been working a few years I would guess he'd be at a little more than $1000 a month (there's a site to check that out)once you are approved you can work part time and earn up to about $800 a month before they start evaluating whether you still need your benefits and they don't deduct financial gifts etc.

For me this has been a long frustrating process. I lived alone for 6 yrs and have been independant since I was 17. I am now having to rely on family and am living with my dad. That's all been a bit of a blow. Also, I have had trouble understading what the hold up is, I am 27 with CF and PFT's at 20%...where's the decision...I'm pretty sure that qualifies me, yet still the dicker about and send me to THEIR docs who aren't even pulmonoligst etc. My feeling has been they make it as hard as possible hoping you will give up and decide it would be easier to go back to work. So I guess I'm saying ..be prepared. I know this was the right choice for me in the long haul. I've had a lot more time to take better care of myself and have felt better than I have in a long time but it has come at a price.

If you have any questions feel free to PM me.
 

littledebbie

New member
In order to apply for SSDI you have to be unemployed for 5 months before you can submit an application at which time they will tell you it can take between 3-4 months to get approved, but that they will back pay you to the day you submitted your application. I applied in Dec. and am still awaiting approval. I have not spoken to ANYONE who was approved in 3-4 months. A year seems to be more the average and getting a lawyer seems to be what's necessary (which seems like a racket if you ask me).

The amount of money they will give you a month depends on your work history and while it's not a TON of money it is more than you would get through a state program such as SSI. State is usually around $600 a month and they make you subtract any monetary gifts you receieve and if you earn any money they deduct that as well. THE Fed SSDI, depends on work history, but if your boyfriend is 27 and has been working a few years I would guess he'd be at a little more than $1000 a month (there's a site to check that out)once you are approved you can work part time and earn up to about $800 a month before they start evaluating whether you still need your benefits and they don't deduct financial gifts etc.

For me this has been a long frustrating process. I lived alone for 6 yrs and have been independant since I was 17. I am now having to rely on family and am living with my dad. That's all been a bit of a blow. Also, I have had trouble understading what the hold up is, I am 27 with CF and PFT's at 20%...where's the decision...I'm pretty sure that qualifies me, yet still the dicker about and send me to THEIR docs who aren't even pulmonoligst etc. My feeling has been they make it as hard as possible hoping you will give up and decide it would be easier to go back to work. So I guess I'm saying ..be prepared. I know this was the right choice for me in the long haul. I've had a lot more time to take better care of myself and have felt better than I have in a long time but it has come at a price.

If you have any questions feel free to PM me.
 

littledebbie

New member
In order to apply for SSDI you have to be unemployed for 5 months before you can submit an application at which time they will tell you it can take between 3-4 months to get approved, but that they will back pay you to the day you submitted your application. I applied in Dec. and am still awaiting approval. I have not spoken to ANYONE who was approved in 3-4 months. A year seems to be more the average and getting a lawyer seems to be what's necessary (which seems like a racket if you ask me).

The amount of money they will give you a month depends on your work history and while it's not a TON of money it is more than you would get through a state program such as SSI. State is usually around $600 a month and they make you subtract any monetary gifts you receieve and if you earn any money they deduct that as well. THE Fed SSDI, depends on work history, but if your boyfriend is 27 and has been working a few years I would guess he'd be at a little more than $1000 a month (there's a site to check that out)once you are approved you can work part time and earn up to about $800 a month before they start evaluating whether you still need your benefits and they don't deduct financial gifts etc.

For me this has been a long frustrating process. I lived alone for 6 yrs and have been independant since I was 17. I am now having to rely on family and am living with my dad. That's all been a bit of a blow. Also, I have had trouble understading what the hold up is, I am 27 with CF and PFT's at 20%...where's the decision...I'm pretty sure that qualifies me, yet still the dicker about and send me to THEIR docs who aren't even pulmonoligst etc. My feeling has been they make it as hard as possible hoping you will give up and decide it would be easier to go back to work. So I guess I'm saying ..be prepared. I know this was the right choice for me in the long haul. I've had a lot more time to take better care of myself and have felt better than I have in a long time but it has come at a price.

If you have any questions feel free to PM me.
 
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