Well, like it or not it looks like we are going to be a losing a full time income. Permanently. BB has never really recovered from his back injury and is making plans to go on disability. The surgery worked as well as it can work, but the Dr failed to tell us that all the “things that could happen as a result of the surgery” are likely to happen. When a Dr. tells you about paralysis and death, you know they are telling you things to cover themselves, and that makes all the other things seem like stretches as well.
But BB only does have a limited amount of mobilization, and he is in different stages of pain constantly. He can work for a few hours at a time. But not be doing the same thing for those few hrs. If he is on his feet for too long, his back hurts. If he sits for too long, his back hurts. If he jolts his back- he is out for the rest of the day.
And now his body is having a negative reaction to the pain pills. Something about eating through his stomach lining. He can’t take more than half his dosage without having severe stomach pains. Last season he was using pain pills regularly and his bile ducts leaked and had to be removed. After the surgery the Dr said he thinks it was caused from the pain pills. Another fact that they warned as a possibility that we didn’t think it was a probability. I was kind of disappointed that he was being prescribed the medicine knowing it will lead to a breakdown of his organs.
So BB is going in for another surgery next month. To try and ease the pain for him. But the Dr has already said he’ll sign off on disability paperwork to help BB’s case.
So from the little data we have gathered so far:
BB must not work for 6 months before he can file.
Because he is young, he will probably get rejected a few times before it is approved. We can expect it to take up to a year and a half before the benefits start.
This is a decision that means BB cannot work at all while on disability. There are some instances where he might be able to do side jobs if he earns less than X per year...but it’s up to the judge to set the parameters.
Because BB is young, has not paid much into the system and hasn’t earned huge salaries in the past, I think we can expect it to be less than $1000 a month.
BB will get Medicare after he starts getting disability.
If BB ever feels better enough to get a job, he can go off disability, but he will probably never be able to go back on.
And I think I heard that he will get no Social Security benefits when he is retirement age. Something about him getting his SS money now instead of later.
So that’s the newest. We have been dealing with this for a few weeks now, but I am finally starting to get a little familiar with the terms and get my head wrapped around all this.
Wow- I really cried when BB laid it all out for me. I was so selfish for one night and BB was great about letting me have my moment to grieve all the future plans that we would be giving up.
And the details are still really blurry, but I think this is our new reality. I’m slowing allowing it to sink in.
Disability...
December 16th, 2011 at 05:47 pm
December 16th, 2011 at 06:09 pm 1324058999
((HUGS)) I am so sorry that you are going through all this.
December 16th, 2011 at 06:11 pm 1324059082
December 16th, 2011 at 06:21 pm 1324059661
And Disability Insurance! I wish someone had told us about that earlier (than right now). I have never heard of that. That would have been pretty great to have, though when he was first injured about 7 years ago- we would not have had the money then to take it out. But I do wish someone had suggested it and we could have kicked the idea around.
December 16th, 2011 at 06:21 pm 1324059716
December 17th, 2011 at 02:43 am 1324089804
December 17th, 2011 at 07:37 pm 1324150647
Also, my BIL is trying to get on disability. He hasn't been able to work for a couple of years due to his back and his knee. He can barely walk. His unemployment runs out this month. He's been trying to get on disability for a year with full doctor's approval. It is a tough road as he is in his late 40's and even that they consider too young or something. Very frustrating for my sister who only works 24 hours a week and has her own physical limitations. Hope the process goes more smoothly for your husband.
December 31st, 2011 at 02:29 pm 1325341760
Jerry