Medicare

[Billydude]

I just looked up on socialsecurity.gov and it says this....
When you reach full retirement age
If you are receiving Social Security disability benefits, your disability benefits automatically convert to retirement benefits, but the amount remains the same.

[eyeamdry]

Some of us had private long term disability and I was one of them and I assume the other person was as well.  It was through my employer and it stops when you get to your official retirement age which nowadays is anybodies guess.  So what you said is true.  However, you may have other income.
Lucy

[irish]

I know that when I was changed over from disability to the social security the amount of money never changed. The only thing was that I was around 62 so I was and am getting the amount of money that you get when you retire early. If I could have gone on disability years later I would have gotten more money. Can't cry over spilt milk cause I was just glad to have some money coming in. Irish

[Bernice]

Irish,

This is true, early retirment does cost you in the long run, but the only good thing is that IF you are able to still work like a part-time job you are able to earn a small amount in addition to disability. I think it's something like $600.00 per month (not 100% sure). Of course this does not benefit everyone, just those able.

If you have a serious disablity that does not allow you to work it's best to file early.

The age of retirement has changed for most of us in our fourties and below, it's now 67, whew,that's a long time!!

[Billydude]

In my case the disability is more than the amount at 62 so mine will stay the same and not be lowered.  I would imagine that if your disability is lower than that amount it would raise to that amount at retirement age.

[irish]

Bernice, I quit work in 2003 at the age of 60 and I would have had to work until I was 66 years and 8 months. Well, I just turned 67 in January and have not been able to work at all. I would really like to work a little part time but haven't been able to. I keep hoping. I still renew my nurses license cause I think if I could even do 8 hours a week doing charts, etc it would be better than nothing. I can't stand up for long periods of time as needed in nursing nor could I walk that much or lift, etc.

Since my blood sugars are under better control I feel much better than I did before and hope that the infections are less. What interesting lives we lead. Have to be good at entertaining ourselves with autoimmune stuff. Irish

[Bernice]

Irish,

You know what the problem is those making these law, lawmakers are used to a cushioned job where they come and go as please, spend most of their time sitting and eating so yeah they can do this for 100 years IF they live that long and some of them show that the mind don't have to be sharp, just live and draw a pay check and claim power over the rest of the hard working people who bleed, sweat and die working their bodies down trying to make a living for themselves and their families.

I just bet if those lawmakers had to work physically hard all their lives they would think twice about that age limit, bet it wouldn't be dang near 70! By the way what's the life expectance? How many years difference is it compared to S.S retirement???

[eyeamdry]

My disability did not change or I should say will not change when I go over to social security.  WHAT WILL STOP IS THE ADDITIONAL LONG TERM DISABILITY INSURANCE I HAD THROUGH MY EMPLOYER.  IT WAS $389 A MONTH.  From what I know (that's not much) if you have this, it will usually only go until you get to normal retirement age.  So even though my disability/soon to be social security WILL NOT CHANGE, I WILL TAKE A BIG CUT BECAUSE MY PRIVATE INSURANCE GOES BOOM. 

If I had not had this private insurance, my ss check would just be the same as my disability was.  I started collecting early like Irish--so mine is not alot.

[beej]

Reading the different posts here is enlightening.  Basically, I think each one has to become a strong self-advocate and question those gov't folks when something does not make sense and keep track of things with notes/documentation.  There are so many different experiences of getting or getting denied SSD or Social Security and the rules for the dates applicable vary and make a huge difference.  My last roommate received 9 months more SD income than she should have when she got a full time job.  After she reported three times to Social Security that she was still getting checks, she gave up.  Then 2 years later she got a huge "bill" from Social Security that she had to repay all the money and was threatened with fraud!  Fortunately she kept that money in savings and kept all her paperwork and was fine.  It does seem like you need a full college degree and also work at the paperwork and appointments full time to get that "free government money".  Believe me, since I've deal with Social Security and Medicaid/Medicare for my own son for the last 30 years, I have seen everything happen from positive to negative.  If there were any other alternative, I would have thrown in the towel on government assistance because it is so very frustrating.

[Nomad]

Hi,  I'm a newbie.   Was diagnosed through a lip biopsy last July, thanks to my daughter, the doctor - she's an OB-GYN.  Whining helps when to the right people! 

I've been following the Sjogren's World discussions for a while and really appreciate the candor, compassion and camaraderie.  What got me to register and post finally was the thread on Medicare.  I'm in Northern Virginia and an insurance counselor with our state SHIP program, called the Virginia Insurance Counseling and Assistance Program.  Trector, whether Medicare or your other insurance is primary depends on employment status and the size of the employer.  Call the local VICAP rep in your county.  They should be listed under the Area Agency on Aging.  If you are in NoVa, call 703-324-5851 and leave a message.  Someone will get back to you in a couple of days. 

For everyone else, Medicare is standard across the country and in some locations, doctors, especially the primary care ones, will not accept additional Medicare patients because they can't afford the low reimbursement.  Here in NoVa, primary care is a problem. but specialists seem to be less so.  Medicaid is a combined federal and state program and each state can set it's requirements.  Again, in VA, the income limits are quite low - you really have to be destitute before qualifiying for Medicaid.   A big YES to health care reform.  We all deserve a basic level of health care.

Hugs to you all. I'm so glad that you are out there.

[Bernice]

Normad,

WELCOME! WELCOME!

Well I for one am really glad that you are here adding to the vault of knowldedge. I would think having a daughter in the medical field would be a blessing I would think that even if she did not specialize in the field needed she would be helpful in directing you.

And hey maybe she can visit the site sometimes when there's an issue here for the women in her field! She don't have to list herself as a doctor offering medical advice, but just as one with good sound knowledge as does the others, my suppect is that we already have a doctor or two here. We get some very helpful tips here!

[Billydude]

WOOT WOOT and welcome to Nomad

[eyeamdry]

Lol. WOOT   WOOT. For sure, though welcome to Sjogrens World.  We like almost everyone, but especially someone with a relative who is a DOCTOR.

You can even cut in the line!  Lucy....WOOT WOOT.(That was Billydude aka Steve.)