Social Security Disablility, my experience(sorry its long winded)

I have been wondering how I might share some important information with the forum members. We each have life experiences that have value. Here is one thing I can share with you.

I am disabled with kidney disease which was caused by an immune disorder, IgA is the name of the disorder. I was self employed after 20 years of military service. My business showed no profit for the first four years(depreciation, etc). I took no salary so I owned no Social Security Tax.

After about four years I found myself not feeling well and unable to work outside in the heat of the summer(I live in se North Carolina). I assumed (ass/u/ME) I was getting old, 54, and diabetes was just catching up with me. So I gave up my business and helped my wife sell at the flea markets on the weekends. I even had to give up the flea market, just too ill to go.

Finally I had a new Dr. who decided to check my kidney functions and ended up on dialysis. Recovery took several years to get to the point where I could do a couple hours work in my shop each day to recycle stuff. Recycling has been great for my health both physical and mental. By recover I mean I can now do some activities but I am still doing daily dialysis, peritoneal dialysis.

So back to Social Security Disability(SSD), being on dialysis is an automatic qualifier to be awarded SSD. Because I hadn't paid into the system for over 5 years I was denied.
I got a lawyer whose staff went through 30+ years of health records to support my claim that the disablility started before being unqualified because of not paying into the system. In the end I was approved and the approval only took 4+ years and the cost of a lawyer.

I wish good health and great fortune to each of you. Even though I didn't owe any Social Security tax I could have volentarily paid a minimum amount and avoided the very scary four+ years waiting to get approved for SSD.

I have miltary health insurance that includes perscription drug coverage. Once retired nothing is free. I can not imagine what would have happened to me if I didn't have the military insurance. My wife and I struggled to pay the co-pays and insurance premimums. Please talk with your CPA to make sure you and your family are covered by this basic insurance,SSD.

For those who think that the Social Security retirment and SSD are the same thing you are mistakened please take the time to check it out.

Thanks to all who contribute here, I have learned much, Mike.

Thanks for sharing Mike. I, for one among many I'm sure, enjoy your posts very much.

OMG Miked,
Im so sorry to hear of your problems mate.
I know to some extent, what its like to have to fight a system and my thoughts are with you on that.

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For those who think that the Social Security retirment and SSD are the same thing you are mistakened please take the time to check it out.

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Listen to what Miked has said, he has been through it!, its time to check your SSD!!!

all the best
Be Lucky

I think it really SUCKS that you had to wait so long.

It's rediculous IMO.

How the ...well mentally ill , "depressed" people and such get it much faster (atleast where I am anyway)...

Man , I wish you the best, and I'll pray for your health too.
God Bless.

Thanks to all who have experssed their support.

I told the entire story in hopes of getting the attention of anyone who might not be currently paying into the Social Security system at this time. As I explained in my experience my business did not show a profit because of accounting and the fact that I was paying too much in loans. All mistakes on my part but it shows you can make money leagally not pay any taxes and still put some money in the accounts.

My plea is if you find yourself having not paid into SS change what you are doing. You never know when something can come along and threaten you health. Mike.

You are a huge asset to this forum and hope your body continues to grow stronger.

Thanks for your post Mike (actually ALL of your posts!) I hope your health improves 10 fold and I know what it feels like to have to fight for something you're intitled to. Long story, but I've been denied for SSD as well for other reasons and I can see where it took for years to get it. Glad you finally got it though!

I'm in about the same condition healthwise as Miked and I am getting a small disability check from the VA for non service connected (which I'm fighting). If I would sign up for SSD they would take the money out of my VA money and I would receive less than I am now. If your a veteran (and receiving a check) and someone asks you to sign up for SSD, check it out closely before you sign on the line, you could lose up to $500 a month going that way.

get well everyone!!

the va and social security seem to find a way out of paying as long as possible. i am glad you won your case. and your advice on ss is excellent.

it is really difficult to get the average citizen to understand or believe how tough it is has become for our vets to get the assistance they need and deserve. that same assistance we were all guaranteed when we signed up. the same is true of social security. we all pay in. the notion that you failed to pay for 5 years automatically disqualifies you, is nothing more than legalized theft of your money.

it is even more disturbing when an elected official can serve as little as one term, never pay in, and get full benefits for life.

wishing you the best.

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i am glad you won your case. and your advice on ss is excellent.

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Not meaning to hijack Mike's thread but I thought it was relevant , but in my case I'm still appealing it (going on 2 years now). Because of where I pulled my tour the gov't is telling me there is no way I was poisoned with Agent Orange even tho I have 4 of the symptoms on their list. After being appoved by the VA someone from there tried to get me to sign up with the SSD and if I would have, like I said I would be getting the $500-600 less. All it took to check out the status of everything was making some phone calls before signing anything else. Just don't want anyone else to fall into their "trap".