Diver-Down,
That's the EXACT company I was referring to!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I worked there for many years, and they are TENACIOUS about not paying for anything!!!
But, there is a difference between Social Security disability, workmen's compensation and the disability benefits available to you when you buy insurance that is offered through various companies.
When I worked at P&G, because of that disability insurance that is available, when I needed surgery, P&G requested that I not come back until I could come back at full capacity. (they did not want me to come back on light duty), so I was off for 16 weeks, until my surgeon okayed me to go back to full duty (I was a mechanic at the time) I got my disability payments every two weeks, never had an issue - once a month, my doctor would re-check me and update my insurance company.
In contrast, someone I worked with got hurt at work. Being the mechanic at the time, it took me almost 20 minutes to get the arm out of the rollers, as we had to disassemble them. The person went to the hospital, of course, and the rollers had broken her elbow and fractured a wrist.
They had her back to work (in the office) the very next day. She ended up needing surgery for the wrist and elbow - she never missed a day at work except the time she actually had the surgery. They paid her her regular 40 hour check (which is actually a short-change in this case), and
the company only paid workmen's comp for a handful of days. Fast forward, about 18 years - today, as we talk, she has lost all use of her right
arm, and it has withered to about half the size of her other. Two years ago, after dozens and dozens and dozens of court hearings and many other things, the company paid her a lump sum. There is, of course, a lot more to the story, but, the bottom line here is that no company wants to pay workmen's comp. It makes their safety record look bad, it raises their insurance rates, and, it subjects them to government investigations.
The bigger the company, the more money they have to "catch" you doing something that can get them out of it. (lots of larger companies keep lawyers and investigators on the payroll year around, just for this reason).
You do not always get denied the first time on disability - unless you are talking about Social Security disability - then - yep, you will be denied the first time and, if you appeal, the second time. The quickest way to get SS disability is to apply, get denied, and then ask for a court hearing. (skipping the first appeal-which will be denied). And then, unless you have something like end-stage kidney disease, it will still take a year. Once you have SS disability, depending on which type you get (there are two kinds, SSDI, for people who have all their credits, and SSI, which is, technically, federal welfare, which is for disabled folks who either have never worked, or don't have enough credits for regular disability - and there is a combo, SSDI and SSI, for folks who have enough credits, but in low paying type jobs, so their amount is not up to the minimum SS amount).
Then, they are not going to investigate you. It simply means that you cannot do the jobs you used to do, because of injury - and, you are actually allowed to work, as long as you don't go over a certain amount. In SSI, the amount can be adjusted every month, in SSDI, you get 9 months of trying to resume working, without losing benefits, and then, depending on the circumstances, can keep your medical, it can adjust every month - and lots of other things. They will review it on a regular basis, but, if they make you do a full review, and pass their requirements, it is
7 years before they will do another - by law. They very rarely do that, usually, they will send a questionaire, you fill it out and send it back, and they just say ok, they don't need to do a full review. One thing about SSI - besides your home and your car (one car), you are not allowed to
have any more than $2,000 worth of assets. Also, if you have a spouse, their income is counted. Which sounds like a pain, but, if you need a lot of medical treatment, it is worth it, because you do not pay for that, you will qualify for medicaid.
I spent about 7 years taking people for all these things - I have been what the government calls an "advocate" for many folks, so I have learned that they all follow a certain trail - but there are many places for twists and turns. Even folks who are terminal have a pain getting Social Security, though there are a few fast-track items (fast track still means 6 months or so). The one good thing - if you win your case, they will date your
benefits back to the day you applied. SSDI has a 5 month waiting period, SSI, however, will pay for those 5 months, so it is best to apply for both at the same time.
Beth
