SSDI review: Did you get SSDI extended after transplant?

Posted by kew852000 @kew852000, Dec 27, 2024

My husband had a liver transplant in September of 2024, and has been receiving SSDI since January of 2021.

From what I have read, SSDI will continue for one year post transplant.

What are the odds of him getting permanent SSDI and what is the process like? He has memory issues, and does not think he would be able to return to his former work (sales director).

Can others share their experiences getting SSDI extended after the year ends?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Transplants Support Group.

katebw | @katebw | Dec 28, 2024

@kew852000 this is an important question! I was on SSDI for a couple of months before my liver transplant in Oct 2021. This was shared with private LTD from my hospital employer and combined was 60% of my social worker salary. I am 57 and widowed for over 15 years with one adult daughter. My finances are tight no matter how you look at it.

It is not true that there is a time limit with SSDI and liver transplants. While I began to return to work less than a year post transplant I did so gradually. I immediately lost my private disability when I taught one class at a local
social work program but didn’t fight it because I still had SSDI.

I got smart and enrolled in SSDI’s Ticket to Work program which I’m
still in but no longer collect the $ as I work full time. If my health falters- and this is key for organ transplants as infection, rejection, etc can happen- I can re collect right away.

The issue of $ and SSDI doesn’t come up in this forum often for some reason. If it would help to discuss more please reach out to me privately, between my own experience and my social work experience, I have learned a lot about coping financially before and after a transplant.
Best,
Kate