My fighting woman.

[formariz 11,987]

I guess I will start this one with the point what should be the end of it, which is claim what is rightfully yours before they take it away and standup for yourself. So here it goes the reason for it.

My wife worked 40 years as a school teacher in the same school teaching first grade children. This was not only her job but a major part of her life for her dedication was well known. Not only she was a teacher but she bought groceries, clothes, school supplies, and many other items on a constant basis for many of the not so well off children. These were inner city children and a majority were from  impoverished families. Every time we go to that area which before this current situation it was every Friday to go to our favorite restaurants, there are always former students now adults that flock to her and embrace her constantly, a few times actually Police officers that stopped their car and came to greet her.It always brings tears to my eyes to see this. Many times she does not recognize who they are at first since it has been so many years, but they remember her as if it was yesterday. This woman worked her but off all of her life not only in her job but in every aspect of her life. She would leave home at 6AM to take our children 40 miles to a family member for day care, drive another 20 miles to work, leave work pick them up, drive another 40 miles home, she cooked dinner every day, did the laundry took care of the children and me, and finally at around midnight everyday, did her lesson plans and school work for the next day. Following day the cycle started all over again for years and years. And, I am not even mentioning all the activities she was a member of in that community.

At around 2011 she began exhibiting some peculiar symptoms and sure enough she was diagnosed with Parkinson's. By 2013 this became a big issue at work for several reasons.First she lost the ability to write due to her tremors and stiffness in her right side, but the worst of it was that some of the children would cry when they would see her tremors thinking that something bad was happening to her. She couldn't handle that, so she decided to retire then since she was also entitled to her full pension from the school system. This was a devastating blow to her, to have to give up the job she loved so much and a contributing factor to the quick progress of the disease right after that.

 

So now the reason for this post. I and most everyone else advised her to file for disability. Being the proud woman that she has always been, she outright refused and was actually insulted by it many times, stating that not only she was not disabled but more strongly that she was not going to do it just to collect money like many people do faking a disability. We all knew that was not the case but in her mind she has always refused to admit any disability.

 

Now fast forward 6 or so years. Every year when her Social Security Statement came it said on it that if she decided to apply at that moment for disability her benefit would be her pension maximum amount. That was until the statement from 2019 arrived. On that one it now says that she is not qualified due to the recent changes in the system. The change being that to qualify one now has to have at least 20 credits earned in the last 10 years. She has not worked for seven years so there you go the reason why now she does not qualify.

So now upon seeing this, the woman that never stood for any wrong doing from anyone to anyone and fought for what was right all of her life wakes up in a rage. She now decides that this is not right and wants to apply for disability. She calls Social Security Administration about it, and all I can say is that I should have recorded that phone call. This woman gave them such a tongue lashing about fairness, morality and politicians not working for the benefit of the people they represent that I tough, that is it, they think they are talking to a crazy person and they either will hang up on her or they will just ignore her. Well. that did not happen at all. Although at first they stuck to what the statement said, finally after putting her on hold for a few times while they conferred with supervisors ,stated that they want her to apply for disability from the day that she stopped working and not now. That they would have an agent review her situation and call the next day to review it with her. Doubtful she said after the phone call that they would never call and it was only to shut her up. She was wrong. Not only did they call at the exact time they said they would, but they proceeded to file her application on the phone with her. We were not ready for this and required substantial documentation which we had but not at hand at the moment. They just waited every time we had to look for such documentation this process taking about 3 hours. Agent said that naturally this has to go through the regular approvals and process like any other application under normal circumstances and no guarantees are made at this moment but for her to rest assured that it will be a fair process taking her circumstances into account. Also that if she is approved, although they would not pay her from that date she stopped working , they will pay her retroactive for at least one year from now.

 

So we are waiting to see what come of this. This change will affect a lot of people specially if one does not work on a steady basis and does not earn the full 4 credits in a year. Also don't be proud and claim what is rightfully yours immediately.After all we worked and contributed towards it. And stand for what is right and do not be afraid to speak your mind. All I can say is , boy did this woman speak her mind, always respectful but left no doubt whatsoever about what she thought about what is right and what is wrong. She will be a fighter to the end.

[squonk 41,030]

Excellent Cas and might I also add, "I would have liked to record my wife a few times as well" 

[D_Mac 8,593]

My Dad sat in a hospital awaiting a heart transplant and was denied disability. I dont understand. People that need it the most have to fight so hard to get it. Its deplorable.

[elcamino/wheelhorse 9,296]

As far as wives go when my wife gets up a head of steam , I find a corner to hide in. As far as SS disability it is a pain to get , finally I had to get an attorney to handle my claim. The nice part is SS pays the attorney and it does not come out of your disability checks. 

[Cvans 1,009]

Wonderful story and it's great to hear of a deserving person standing up for what they believe in.  I hope and pray that this turns out well for your wife and tell her we are proud of what she's done.  Not only in this instance but also with the work she's done for our youth.  Wish there were more people like her. 

[Blackhood Bill 721]

@formariz DO NOT give up, she can get it. Here in Indiana you always get denied the first time. GET a Disability attorney and they know what it takes to get it to go through. My wife was injured on the job, denied the first time, got an attorney and she got it (pay clear back to first day). There are lots of loop holes for them not to pay it out. Good luck, may godspeed be with you in this diffacult time. Prayers for you and your family.   

[formariz 11,987]

14 minutes ago, Blackhood Bill said:

@formariz DO NOT give up, she can get it. Here in Indiana you always get denied the first time. GET a Disability attorney and they know what it takes to get it to go through. My wife was injured on the job, denied the first time, got an attorney and she got it (pay clear back to first day). There are lots of loop holes for them not to pay it out. Good luck, may godspeed be with you in this diffacult time. Prayers for you and your family.   

Thank you. Been told the same here that they usually deny it the first time. Believe me, she may not get it ,but there is no way now that she is going to drop this. Like she has done her whole life when wronged, this has now become a mission to set things right.

[RandyLittrell 3,877]

My wife is also a teacher and in Missouri you pay into your teacher pension instead of SS. I don't think here you would be able to take a pension and draw disability. When I decided I could no longer deal with the pain of working and taking pain meds, I got a lawyer right off the bat. She helped my get my appointment by phone and she also let me know everything I would need to know. I have had the same doctor for over 25 years so all my records were in one place. I have also went through 2 work comp claims with surgeries so I was used to keeping records. 

 

Get a lawyer, its worth the money they charge. I was approved first time and I believe the lawyer helped with that. 

 

 

 

Randy

[tom2p 2,394]

wow what a disaster 

 

keep fighting 

 

 

[rmaynard 15,428]

I have never seen a legitimate disability claim honored until a qualifed lawyer gets involved. It shouldn't be that way, but it is. Good luck.

[Lee1977 6,643]

13 hours ago, RandyLittrell said:

My wife is also a teacher and in Missouri you pay into your teacher pension instead of SS. I don't think here you would be able to take a pension and draw disability. When I decided I could no longer deal with the pain of working and taking pain meds, I got a lawyer right off the bat. She helped my get my appointment by phone and she also let me know everything I would need to know. I have had the same doctor for over 25 years so all my records were in one place. I have also went through 2 work comp claims with surgeries so I was used to keeping records. 

 

Get a lawyer, its worth the money they charge. I was approved first time and I believe the lawyer helped with that. 

 

 

 

Randy

My wife got disability and her state pension she had taught school for 29 1/2 years. I think most every body get disproved the first time applying and some times the second time.