I emailed my social worker at clinic today to start the process of SSDI. Or think about starting it. And figuring out when.
SSDI
Pros:
Go to school full time
Not stress about going to school and trying to work
See family and friends more
Possible improvement in health
Work small part time job for extra income (Barnes and Noble? Discount!)
More time to read/crochet
Exercise more regularly
Grants for school maybe
Place student loan repayment on hold until I can work again
Food Stamps / State insurance
Cons:
Less money
Health Insurance issues
May not be able to get student loans
Might not be able to pay all bills
Money stress
Full Time Work
Keep current income
Health insurance
Like my work friends
Easier to get student loans (possibly)
Cons:
Sleep deprived
Can’t exercise whenever I want
Will wear myself out with school and work
Can only take one class at a time
No life / never see friends or family
Work related stress
LTD:
Pros:
Go to school full time
More time to read/crochet
Exercise more regularly
See family / friends more
Possible health improvement
Less stress of working
Can get SSDI while on LTD, LTD will just deduct SSDI payments
Cons:
Can not work at all
Might not get any grants
Dealing with the insurance company every week to get paid
Stress about going to school while on LTD
Unsure of health care options
Sorry Amy...this is a tough decision. I will be thinking about you as make it!!
ReplyDeleteTake care,
Lisa
Hey Amy,
ReplyDeleteVery difficult decision. Obviously health insurance is major, so what do you mean by saying "health insurance issues" on your cons list?
I don't know anything about your financial situation or whatever, but if you have any credit card debt, is there a way to plan on working for say 6-8 more months and try really hard during that time to pay down any debt? I know that's not always an easy task, but if you could it would free up some financial commitments to give you more room with your disability money.
I've had the whole disability scene in my mind for the past year and my main concern is not being able to do what I love - design. I love working for my own money doing what I love. So that part I understand how hard it is to give up!
I hope you can find some answers you feel comfy with. Very tough.
One more thing...I've been full of things to say in the past couple days! lol
ReplyDeleteI know you love what you do too, so maybe part time work in your firm sounds good. But you know, you can only make so much money a month before SSDI shuts you out. It's a thin line, huh?
to be honest, at this point I don't care about my credit card. I have one with about 4k on it and if I get sent to collections then so be it. It's only money. The only thing I care about is my health insurance and my jeep lol.
ReplyDeleteHealth Insurance issues is getting my meds, seeing my DR, hospitalizations. That kind of thing. It is one of the questions on my list to my SW :)
Hey Amy,
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your decision, I know it is though but everything will work itself out.
I found your blog while searching for the best information on Cystic Fibrosis. I think your blog is very helpful and believe that you could reach even more people if you joined Wellsphere's HealthBlogger Network (HBN). The HBN is comprised of over 2,600 of the web's best health writers and their content is read by over 6 million visitors a month at Wellsphere.com.
For more information about joining, please visit http://www.wellsphere.com/health-blogger or email me at hua [at] wellsphere [dot] com.
Best,
Hua
Director of Blogger Networks
hey sweetie,
ReplyDeletehappy to chat with you about the options from a legal perspective (not to mention as a fellow cystic who just went through this mess). you know how to find me.
love you! you'll make the right decision for me -- certain of it!
I hope God is with you in your decision making. You are amazing!
ReplyDeleteLucie x