Got an email from long term disability insurance co

[XanaDUer2]

My nerves freak me out whenever they contact me. I had to take an anti-anxiety med. The email had a password I had to reset, making it an even longer time before I could read it. I'm always worried they're cutting me off, thus I won't have money for my COBRA.

They want more information from my doctors, plus all my social security information. I have no idea how to get that from them, to the ins company. I called my lawyer and forwarded the email to them.

The whole thing is so stressful. If I don't do it by a certain date, I'll get cut off. I need a printer cartridge to print these letters out. I need hard copies due to cognitive issues, so I can refer back.

Disability is so hard.

[Skittles]

1. are you sure that wasn't a phishing scam

it sounds, well, phishy

[XanaDUer2]

2. Hi Skittles

No, it's for real. I hate interacting with them, but I have to

[Skittles]

10. you mentiioned a lawyer

that is definitely the best strategy

[XanaDUer2]

11. Thanks I TOTALLY agree nt

[SheltieLover]

3. Can you screen shot & email to attorney?

Then you don't need to print.

Breathe...

[XanaDUer2]

4. I saved and emailed it, yes

I'm worried that I'm making my lawyer mad. They're very good about sending answer letters, and it's been 10 days since I called with my last question about paying the LTD back. Which is scary to me. I'm hoping the lawyer could explain it better in writing.

[SheltieLover]

5. Breathe

Slowly. Like brearhe in to a count of 4, hold for a count of 4, & exhale to count of 4. Can really help anxiety level.

[XanaDUer2]

8. Right. I am doing so nt

[SheltieLover]

12. Is it helping?

[XanaDUer2]

13. Yes, and I'm watching The Apartment on TCM

I'll make calls tomorrow. I HATE dealing with this stuff. I'm so burned out

[SheltieLover]

14. I can only imagine

[XanaDUer2]

15. I've never seen this classic

It's absorbing.

[SheltieLover]

16. Good!

[BlackSkimmer]

6. I know I don't have to tell you this, but remember you can go to a library to print stuff.

I know you already know that, but sometimes we forget under stress.

I live in walking distance of my library, but when dealing with an issue a few years ago, I almost bought a new printer because of paperwork. Then I remembered.

During Covid, they didn’t even charge for printing!

Hang in there.

[XanaDUer2]

7. Thanks, I will

I hate going into my library because I used to work there, and I'm embarrassed. But if ya gotta, ya gotta.

[BlackSkimmer]

9. There are several in my county. Do you have another you can use?

I do understand that being uncomfortable, absolutely.

Anyway, NO WAY you should be embarrassed.

[OldBaldy1701E]

17. Disability is hard on purpose. (n/t)

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

18. You shouldn't be too surprised that they want more information

from the doctors. Disability is not easy to get, and people haven't a clue how fully documented the disability needs to be. I used to work for an attorney who did Social Security Disability appeals. There's a myth out there that they always turn a person down the first time they apply. No, it's that people don't submit the many papers and forms and every bit of medical information that supports the disability.

The main thing I did for this attorney was to go to local Social Security offices and photocopy her clients' records. They were hundreds and hundreds of pages.

[Maraya1969]

19. When I got on disability many years ago I remember them calling me and trying to

mess with me, like one asked why I couldn't just take my anti-anxiety meds and go to work?

I had a lawyer also and they told me to not talk to them. I think it is a good idea to hand everything over to your lawyer.

One more thing that I learned. I had a friend who went to their doctor and acted like she had her shit together and just chatted with the guy. She was turned down. When went I just acted confused and depressed which was not lying but usually I was able to hide those things from regular people. I figured that doctor should see me at my worst so I was not faking it but I certainly did not "put on a happy face" for him.

I don't know if they still make you go to one of their doctors.

I wish you the best. I know the process can be long and stressful.

[XanaDUer2]

20. Thank you

I got a great lawyer who works with my doctor. They told me the same. If the LTD gets cut off, let them deal with it.

So far, my first turn down, was this assessor I was sent to. Not a doctor. She spoke to me 10 minutes and wrote 8 pages to turn me down.