1. < Transplants

SSDI medical reviews after liver transplant

Posted by mellow123 @mellow123, Mar 9, 2021

I started receiving social security disability in March, 2020, after being approved for disability in September, 2019, due to declining health from liver Cirhosis.
My liver transplant was done June, 2020, 3 months after I started receiving Disability.
I’m told that Social Security pays disability for one year for liver transplant patients, after which patients will be reviewed to continue eligibility for disability payments
3 questions to anyone who knows:
1. Is the 1 year period from the time I started receiving Disability for my disease, or from the time of my liver transplant?
2. Am I DEFINITELY going to be tagged for review, or PROBABLY?
3. Do they generally start the review exactly after one year, or are they saying sometime no sooner than a year later?
Thanks

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mellow123 | @mellow123 | Mar 12, 2021
In reply to @rosemarya "@mellow123, Welcome to Mayo Connect and a belated congratulations on receiving your life saving liver transplant...." + (show)
@rosemarya

@mellow123, Welcome to Mayo Connect and a belated congratulations on receiving your life saving liver transplant.

As a liver/kidney recipient I am retired and I do not have social security disability benefits. However, I do have a son who has recently gone thru the process, been approved, and is scheduled to receive his first payment this week. Not for transplant but due to a spinal cord injury accident. My experience is only as much as I have learned by listening to him as he worked thru the process. My understanding is that it is for 12 months of benefit payments, and then a review or some kind of documentation to continue getting the benefits.
I was impressed that from the beginning of the application process that he had a real person, a representative, to communicate with. It is my understanding, also, that he has a phone number and email for this representative. Do you have a representative who can address your particular situation?

This sounds like a good question to take up with case manager or social worker at your transplant department. They should be able to point you in the right direction. Will you let me know what you find out?
I wish I had more information to share with you.

Will you be returning to your transplant center for an annual evaluation?

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Hi, Rosemary.

Yea, I’ll be getting my yearly evaluation with transplant team in two months. I have to say, of all the great milestones on my life, this is probably he most important and anticipated one for me. 🙂

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1 reply
luckonetj | @luckonetj | Mar 13, 2021
In reply to @tjgisewhite "Hi. I'm going to share what I have been through. I had to stop working in..." + (show)
@tjgisewhite

Hi. I'm going to share what I have been through. I had to stop working in July of 2019 because of liver. I had to be out of work for 90 days before I could file for SSDI. I started my filing process in Sep of 2019. I had my transplant in Dec of 2019. I was approved for SSDI in Jan of 2020 (SSDI says I was not disabled until the day of my surgery, which I am contesting now) for 12 months. My first check was 6 months later which was July of 2020. In Jan of 2021, I received my review papers for my 12 months, even though I have only been receiving actual payments for 6 months. So now, I have a review going on and an appeal for my onset date. I hope this helps and the best of luck.
Tammy

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I assumed the review was performed between my doctors and SSI. .So I deferred all questions as to my condition to my doctors. This is the best advise I can give. Since, our doctors know more than we do about out transplants and SSI uses sub contractors to call doctors. And doctors almost never accept calls from SSI without your permission.

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luckonetj | @luckonetj | Mar 13, 2021
In reply to @mellow123 "I just turned 60. How were you able to get Medicare before age 65?" + (show)
@mellow123

I just turned 60. How were you able to get Medicare before age 65?

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If you apply for disability and are on it for one year you automatically get Medicare.

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1 reply
luckonetj | @luckonetj | Mar 13, 2021
In reply to @tjgisewhite "Hi. I'm going to share what I have been through. I had to stop working in..." + (show)
@tjgisewhite

Hi. I'm going to share what I have been through. I had to stop working in July of 2019 because of liver. I had to be out of work for 90 days before I could file for SSDI. I started my filing process in Sep of 2019. I had my transplant in Dec of 2019. I was approved for SSDI in Jan of 2020 (SSDI says I was not disabled until the day of my surgery, which I am contesting now) for 12 months. My first check was 6 months later which was July of 2020. In Jan of 2021, I received my review papers for my 12 months, even though I have only been receiving actual payments for 6 months. So now, I have a review going on and an appeal for my onset date. I hope this helps and the best of luck.
Tammy

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Tammy, I was told by SSI that they would pay three month's retroactively based on my transplant date..

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luckonetj | @luckonetj | Mar 13, 2021
In reply to @mellow123 "I have insurance, but the copay still makes it expensive. Unfortunately, I’m 60 and not yet..." + (show)
@mellow123

I have insurance, but the copay still makes it expensive. Unfortunately, I’m 60 and not yet eligible for Medicare

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You would be eligible if you were declared disabled and collecting benefits.

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jackie421blfdgurl | @jackie421blfdgurl | Mar 13, 2021
In reply to @mellow123 "Hi, Rosemary. Yea, I’ll be getting my yearly evaluation with transplant team in two months. I..." + (show)
@mellow123

Hi, Rosemary.

Yea, I’ll be getting my yearly evaluation with transplant team in two months. I have to say, of all the great milestones on my life, this is probably he most important and anticipated one for me. 🙂

Jump to this post

Hello...reading some of the posted comments regarding SSDI...I am wondering if I could qualify? Just received my
Second covid vaccine no problems....

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1 reply
Mentor
Dana, Volunteer Mentor | @danab | Mar 13, 2021
In reply to @luckonetj "If you apply for disability and are on it for one year you automatically get Medicare." + (show)
@luckonetj

If you apply for disability and are on it for one year you automatically get Medicare.

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@luckonetj Unless it's changed only people with ALS could get it under 2 full years when I applied. I was told that personally during an interview. I wanted to use the date of the first diagnosis but had it postponed until I was no longer receiving a paycheck. I had to use all my sick and vacation time before being considered unemployed

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Mentor
Rosemary, Volunteer Mentor | @rosemarya | Mar 14, 2021
In reply to @jackie421blfdgurl "Hello...reading some of the posted comments regarding SSDI...I am wondering if I could qualify? Just received..." + (show)
@jackie421blfdgurl

Hello...reading some of the posted comments regarding SSDI...I am wondering if I could qualify? Just received my
Second covid vaccine no problems....

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@jackie421blfdgurl, Great to hear about your 2nd dose of the vaccine! I have had both doses and am doing great at 2+ weeks.

In reply to your wondering, here is the link to US Government information about Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI).
-Benefits and Insurance for People with Disabilities
https://www.usa.gov/disability-benefits-insurance

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1 reply
jackie421blfdgurl | @jackie421blfdgurl | Mar 15, 2021
In reply to @rosemarya "@jackie421blfdgurl, Great to hear about your 2nd dose of the vaccine! I have had both doses..." + (show)
@rosemarya

@jackie421blfdgurl, Great to hear about your 2nd dose of the vaccine! I have had both doses and am doing great at 2+ weeks.

In reply to your wondering, here is the link to US Government information about Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI).
-Benefits and Insurance for People with Disabilities
https://www.usa.gov/disability-benefits-insurance

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Thank you for the information I will follow up this week. Between recovery 5 months from transplant and needing to take my nap at 2:00, then there is my incisional hernia not
To mention my dropped foot, I wish I could work, tired of housework and my four walls,not
To say I cook everyday, for family that comes for dinner. Grateful to God, it's all I have to deal
with. My prayers r with others that have many other problems.

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