Hi Jeanette

Good news :) I was 64 and 2 years shy of being able to retire on SS when my NHL diagnosis happened. I was working FT and I was not just fatigued but had been for awhile. The company had a disability plan. So in Feb. 2019 when chemo began I went on workplace disability (my doctors all wanted me to continue working).

Here's how it worked for me and I sure hope it works out like this for you too:

Via work I started out on short-term disability (lasts a certain number of weeks). Maybe 6 weeks later this transitioned to long-term disability. I was automatically enrolled then with a company that manages the LTD and looks into enrolling a person into something more long term, like SSDI, if necessary. This company did all the paperwork for me and indeed I was eligible to collect SSDI. Apparently there were "recent changes" to the rules to collect and NHL is an acceptable illness, like agent orange, added "recently". It took time for the SSDI to kick in and when it did this company made sure that they were paid back; technically I was on SSDI but that takes awhile (like 4 months from the time the company requested it for me). But that's what this company does - negotiate for disability coverage from what options there are. And because NHL is an approved illness I am able to collect the full amount of my social security.

I hope this helps!

Thank you Bob3, very interesting. I filled out disability paperwork that my Human Resource gave me yesterday. I guess I have to wait to see what they say. I do have FMLA Intermittent leave right now but my boss gets so mad at me when I use it( I only used 3 or 4 days). I would rather be on Disability so I don’t have to worry about her when I have to use it. Thank you so much for taking the time to answer me 🙏 Very helpful information. God bless and Hugs

I was already retired when I was diagnosed, however I don't think I could have continued either, at least the first year

I feel like it's important to keep working as much as possible so that you can place your focus on other things. I had option of intermittent leave at my job so that if I had to call out due to not feeling well my job was protected.

Hey MikeC. I know. They don’t know what we are going through, it’s not something we chose to get. A social worker from where I get my treatments called me yesterday. He gave me the website for filing short term disability. I’m hoping I filled everything out correctly because some of the questions were tricky. Now I have to get my Dr. To fill out her part. I’ll keep you informed.Hooe you’re doing great ❤️