Thankfully, as part of my benefits package via work, there is short-term disability through New York Life. They’ve been a little fun to deal with.
Does anyone have any experience with short or long-term disability?
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Yes as a matter of fact I have! I was working for County Government and can’t remember who the company was that carried our LTD or STD. I had to use up all my comp time, vacation and sick time (several months of it had accumulated) prior to receiving STD. I had paid into LTD for years and was denied because I could drive about 3 miles, of back roads. I couldn’t drive during many conditions and not on the freeway at all. I didn’t understand the young man was trying to help me out, BH told me that latter. I was very insistent that I could drive. BH said I should have told him about where I couldn’t drive and not where I could.
As soon as DSS was legally able, they fired me. It then took a couple of years to get my SSD from the Federal Govt but I was able to get my State Employees Disability a few weeks after I was let go. I’m very lucky to receive both. I’m even luckier that BH was smarter and joined corporate America instead of working for the government. It’s a laughing joke with our friends as BH is actually less educated then the rest of us and makes more money.
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Hi @c0nsilience -
I was on short-term disability through my employer (private company).
When it brcame clear I was going to have to transition to long-term, my former employer’s policy was termination at the transition moment. I then spent almost a year on (private) LTD further recovering/job searching. [Same company, just different divisions.]
Of course, incredibly grateful for all that STD/LTD did and giving me the time and space to heal, while also delighted that it is now just back to my doctors and me in my health care.
Happy to answer whatever questions you may have!
Fin Whale Fan 
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Hey Ben,
Experience? Hmm, yes I have, unfortunately. “They’ve been a little fun to deal with…” Only a little fun? Mine were a damn nightmare. I ended up getting lawyers involved in the end. They made the whole process so difficult road blocks at every step with more paperwork and more paperwork, investigators harassing neighbours, sitting outside my home, appointments with dr after dr after dr just waiting for that one false step. A question not answered, a box not ticked, a form not lodged, a dr that disproves my claim… ANYTHING to void the claim.
I attended ALL of their appointments, filled in every form they sent and the assessor still wanted more. I spent months doing everything she requested. Eventually I told her “I have had enough of playing your games, I’m getting the lawyers involved” Well, didn’t that get a reaction. "Ohh no, no, Don’t do that…"she says. “TOO DAMN LATE!!! It’s already done” I tried playing their games and burnt myself out in doing so. The lawyers took over the whole process. I get sent to 2 more specialists of the insurer’s choosing, but otherwise the lawyers did it all. Sure, it cost a % of my payout, but using the lawyers saved what little sanity I had left from dealing with the insurer myself.
P.S. I used the reports from the insurers medicos to lodge my claim for SSD and it was eventually approved too.
Merl from the Modsupport Team
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Thank you all! I’ve been diligent with getting my BP normalized, so I’m trying not to stress out about STD. I’m focused mainly on what I can control and I’m learning how to manage my expectations when it comes to the ball being in someone else’s court. The overall feeling of a lack of independence has been difficult to fully wrap my head around. Before this happened, I was extremely independent and didn’t rely on others for much of anything; that has shifted a bit and, while I’m extremely grateful to just be alive, I’m not super keen on relying on others for any kind of help. The new normal is taking a little getting used to.
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Oh my gosh asking for help was a hard one for me to learn and took a long time with “encouragement” from BH, family, friends and my doctors! I got better at it a couple years ago, but still stubborn and want to do it myself:zany_face:
Try relaxation breathing to help with the stress.
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Thank you! Yeah, it does take some getting used to, much like developing any new habits: practice makes permanent. 
Good call on the relaxation breathing. Between that and all of the new stretches I’ve learned through PT, I’ll be zen before I know it! 
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Those PT’s really like to tell you to breathe!
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