Thursday, August 30, 2012

The ALJ Ruling---I’m Disabled



Back in late June I had my hearing before the Administrative Law Judge regarding my Social Security case. I answered a lot of questions as to the pain I am in daily, how my life has changed since March 25, 2010 when I was put on medical leave by the district, what I can and can’t do, and a host of other stuff. I explained in detail what I actually did for the school district when I was employed as the vocational rehab specialist that was there described me doing far different work than I actually did.

It was a very exhausting and extremely painful experience.  Not just in terms of the physical effort to attend the hearing, but in terms of the emotional. Very tough to hear your life and work history summed up by others in cold terms.  

The bottom line is that the ALJ judge found in my favor and issued a ruling of “fully favorable.” This means he did find me to be disabled.  Something that anyone around me knew to be true after a couple of minutes.

I am to get a small amount of back disability pay as well as a small monthly disability check. At this point I have no real idea when those payments will arrive. What I am told in one letter is not what I am told in another. The good news is at least something is coming at some point. I also now know that working for the school district also means that my payment will be far lower than it otherwise would be because the PISD didn’t pay into Social Security.

Sure, I knew that at the time when I went to work for them.

But, I only thought of that in terms of retirement. Retirement was way off in the future and a mythical thing I rarely thought about---if at all.  I never once thought of the impact of that decision should I become disabled.  While I now know full well the economic cost of that decision, I will never know if being thrown over a desk by a very angry special education student more than once at my last assignment, being slammed into the walls, or any of the other physical situations I found myself in the last assignment as well as over the years in the PISD caused or contributed to where I am at now.

All I do know is that finally I should be receiving a little monthly money to help us here. That will mean an end to the donation widget at left that has been a major savior to us and at the same time a huge humiliation. While I am very grateful for all the help we have received, I am also very embarrassed to be in a situation where I had to ask for help just to keep a roof over our heads and other basic necessities. As long as Sandi is still able to work and I receive my small monthly check, unless another disaster strikes, we won’t have to ask for help. Feel free to knock on wood--I AM!

The ruling also means that come Saturday I will be under Medicare. This will mean that I can start seeing my doctors again. First up is my cardiologist so that I can find out how bad my heart enlargement is these days.  Then it will be on to the back/leg deal to see if I can get any relief at all.

This also means I can go to a doctor to do the paperwork so that when I do drive somewhere I can park in a handicapped accessible spot once I have the plates/placard. Something that will help me tremendously due to my increasing lack of mobility and other issues.  Walking anywhere with my cane or walker is painful and exhausting.  An ability to park closer to the doors will be a huge relief.

With Sandi still in cancer remission based on the latest PET scan and this deal with me, hopefully we are turning a corner and things are going to start getting a little better.  Time will tell.

Kevin



36 comments:

  1. Sounds like the worst of it is behind you. Here's hoping that things keep getting better.

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  2. Congrats doesn't seem enough. I've been through the process. It's wearing in all phases.

    Based on my experience, and it was about eight years ago, your back money should come in a couple of months, maybe less. Mine was enough that it was broke down into two payments, running monthly(it was overlapping the end of a year, the beginning of the next, and it came before I got the announcement in the mails, just appearing in my bank account.

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  3. It is a brutal and dehumanizing process, in my opinion, Randy.

    I have no idea how this is going to work. Staff has told me several different things and letters have said other things. With the way our mail is since the carrier retired, I expect to see something in a bank account long before I get the notice--if ever.

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  4. Glad you got a positive decision.

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  5. Yes, Kevin, definately hope the this corner is being turned, leading to a better path. Once you're back at the doctor's hope he/she can figure something out to help you along.

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  6. Thank you, Terry. I hope so too.

    I still think it is a nerve disorder because of the way it seems to be spreading. It has been two years since anybody examined me so maybe now they can figure it out and at least slow it down.

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  7. Wow. Wow. Wow. I'm so happy for you, Kevin. Not that you're disabled, of course, but that a judge finally _recognized_ your disability so that you can get benefits and care.

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  8. Believe me, I understand, Lisa. Not happy that I am disabled, but very happy I got the ruling and can now get some help. I need it desperately.

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  9. Good news, Kevin.

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  10. Woo-Hoo Kevin! So glad for some good news for you guys!!! Will keep you guys in my prayers for continued good things to keep happening!

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  11. That it is, Glenn. Thank you.

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  12. Thank you, Kay. Appreciate it very much.

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  13. So happy that there is a small ray of sunshine coming through your door! Sometimes even that ray can make all the difference. Hopefully this is a start to new good things, and don't be embarrassed, most of us are just a half-step away from your position, which is scary in itself!

    Hang in there!--Lisa

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  14. Glad to hear it! Long overdue.

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  15. So glad to hear you finally were awarded that, Kevin! I know it is dehumanizing to go through the process. I know--I've set through them before, giving testimony. I celebrate with you and Sandy.

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  16. Kevin, this is the best news I've heard from any direction in a long time. You - and Sandi - survived the worst I can imagine, and I salute the two of you.

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  17. Finally, something good coming to you! You and your family have gone thru such a hard time. Hope this means things are truly getting better for you and Sandi.

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  18. Great -- more movement in the right direction. Sandy is in remission and working, now you have medicare and disability payments. Only one other big hurdle, how is Karl?

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  19. Thank you, Keizerfire/Lisa. It is a start.

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  20. Thanks, Jeffrey. It has been a very long process.

    And I get to do it all again in a couple of years when they reevaluate me to see if anything has changed. For now, I refuse to think about that!

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  21. Thank you, Sylvia. hearing other folks talk about you in cold clinical terms is just flat out weird.

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  22. Thanks, Earl. I don't think we are out of the woods yet. But, just maybe the trees are thinning a little.

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  23. I hope so too, Fiona. Thank you.

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  24. Thank you, Patty. Yes, Sandi is amazingly still in remission which means we can do some things abviut me.

    Our youngest, Scott, still has a medical problem to deal with, but hopefully he is turning the corner on that.

    As to Karl---still unemployed and traumatized by all that happened. I can't say much as a lawsuit has been filed in federal court against Kroger as well as against the store manager William "Bill" Latham for what he did to our son.

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  25. Finally some good news for you and your family, Kevin. I hope this means your luck is changing for the better and soon all issues with each of you will be resolved. Good luck at the doctors. I hope they have some answers for you and that your heart is okay, especially.

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  26. Thank you, Jan. I hope so too.

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  27. This is such good news (though yeah, hard to cheer being disabled...). Sandi remains in remission, you can get medical help, and Karl's case is moving along... You are all strong and brave; (and am glad to see there are some things about your lives you CAN talk about here; keep us posted).

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  28. Thank you, MB. Appreciate it. Walking a fine line on Karl's deal, bit everything else is pretty much fair game at this point.

    If Karl's deal does not get resolved soon, you may see all of us on nationwide television talking about his case. Who knows? Up to Kroger and William "Bill" Latham as to how loud this case gets.

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  29. I'm so happy for you the ruling was in your favor and you'll be receiving social security disability.

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  30. Kevin - how wonderful to hear some good things are finally coming your way! HOORAY! If anyone deserves it, it's you and your family.

    You hung in there and continued fighting only for what you deserve for a longer time than a lot of folks would have and I salute you!

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  31. Thanks, Kaye. Just glad it is over--for now. They have decided I will be better in two to three years so they intend to put me through it again then.

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  32. I'm glad the ruling was in your favor. Hoping for nothing but the best to come for you and your wife!

    Morgan Mandel

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