Long-term disability vs. Disability vs. Unemployment?

I'm sorry. I feel like I post on this forum way too much. Feel free to tell me I've used up my quota of posts for the week or month, and you're tired of my whining.

SUMMARY OF THIS WAY-TOO-LONG POST: Since, once again, I'm about to get fired, should I try for another stint of short-term disabilty with FMLA leave and let it flow into long-term disability OR should I just let them fire me and draw unemployment?

Here's the long version of my babbling...

I've been reading through the threads about getting on disability.

I checked the short-term and long-term disability policies through my employer. Also, up to 12 weeks of FMLA is available per year, and I've only used 5.

Keep in mind, I've already used 38 calendar days of short-term disability (at the same time as FMLA leave) this year.

4 weeks after being back at work, I got the big write-up about all of the events at work that happened prior to my leave, plus a few new ones that took place since I've been back. Also got a deadline to turn myself around or I'm fired.

My employer's policy says:

Short-term disability (maximum of 90 calendar days) must be exhausted before applying for long-term disability.

Long-term disability coverage works with other disability benefits (including Social Security and State Disability funds) to replace up to 60% of the salary earned before of pre-disability coverage.

If a long-term disability claim is approved by the insurance carrier, the employee will receive a rate of 60% of regular pre-disability monthly earnings.

The monthly disability payments will be reduced by any amount received from workers' compensation, social security, state disability funds, or other retirement benefits.


As of this coming Monday, I've got 43 calendar days left before the day
I'm supposed to be fired.

What if I got ahold of my pdoc as soon as possible, showed my pdoc the write-up, and discussed the fact that I'm still unable to concentrate at work, plus I've now sunk into another depression, and ask if I could be put on short-term disability again?

38 days of short-term disability already taken
+ 43 days potential for more leave before D-day
= 81 days

Not quite the 90 needed before long-term disability can kick in.

But if I'm on short-term disability with FMLA leave to protect the job
(even though I'm on probation, because I'm still a regular, full-time employee), they can't fire me when D-day comes, right?

And if I hit the 90-day mark with short-term disability, I could apply for long-term disability to get 60% of my pay.

Would it be easier to let them fire me on D-day and get unemployment, which is 1/3 to 1/2 of my pay? I know the drill with unemployment. Been there. Done that.

I hate the thought of applying for SSI or SSDI, possibly going to court, etc.

Plus when I'm hypomanic and my creativity comes back, I can accomplish some great things. Just not the things that bring in a steady income. I don't want to tie myself down to never again being able to make more
than $____ per month.

I'm sure my therapist and pdoc would look at the long list of items on my write-up and say that they are all related to bipolar.

I'm making myself batty this weekend with all of this wondering and going back-and-forth.


Long-term disability payments from the employer's plan last a max of 2 years for MI. Unemployment lasts up to 2 years. Same amount of time either way.

Seems like it would be easier to get off of unemployment (let's say if I'm able to increase the customers that I freelance for and actually make a living with it) vs. getting off of disability.

Disability just sounds so final to me. Like admitting that I'll never be able to take care of myself again.

It's Sunday morning. I slept until noon and feel even more depressed than I did last night.

I'm leaning toward unemployment.

If I can just get out from under this round of depression, I can send a round of emails to my friends in the business world and writing world, to let them know I'm accepting new clients.

Then, if I keep up the efforts and keep the work coming, I shouldn't need the unemployment for too long.

That's where I sit on the whole thing this afternoon.

I would do the FMLA then the long term disability while trying to get SSI/SSDI. It seems to give you more income. You can use your time out of work in IOP and get as stable as possible. Go back to school to get a degree in a field that you can do while stable. Then use the ticket to work program to get back on to work.

Hi Miguel's Mom,

Thanks for your input. That's something to think about.

What does IOP stand for?

I've got a degree in a field that I enjoy, but there aren't any opportunities around here. Plus, last time I worked in that field, I screwed up that job, too. I didn't get fired, but I got to the point where my boss had me track everything I did all day to try to figure out why I wasn't productive. I ended up quitting that job before they fired me.

And I owe $90,000 in student loans (now in default) so I can't get more student loans.

The disability info that I just read here http://www.ssa.gov/pgm/disability.htm says the disability must prevent you from working for at least 12 months.

How would my pdoc determine this? The fact that we have been playing with my meds since August and still haven't figured them out?

What if I get on Disability and then decide that I don't want the meds at all because of how they make me feel? Would I then be kicked off disability because I'm no longer under a doctor's care? (I ask this because I HATE the way I no longer have hypomania and creativity.)

I was on unemployment for two years. Towards the end of my unemployment I filed for SSDI. It only took 2 1/2 months before I was approved. So by the time my unemployment ran out my social security disability picked up. So I believe your best option would be to file for unemployment and SSDI. As long as you are currently seeking treatment and have doctors backing you, you have a good chance of getting it. Atleast thats how it is here in Indiana.

I had been seeking treatment for years though. I also had 3 doctors backing me and two employers behind me telling disability that my employment ended due to my bipolar.

I have not told my employer that I am bipolar, and I do not want to.

You can have unemployment and SSDI at the same time? Or do unemployment first, and when it's close to running out, do SSDI?

I'm not going to be able to afford doctor visits and meds while I'm on unemployment.

Well I was on unemployment and when my SSDI came through I got off of unemployment. I was able to recieve state assistance for medication, you may want to check into that and there was a local office with a psychiatrist and therapist that charged by income which was next to nothing because my unemployment was only 374 a week. There are options out there you just have to do your research. Help is out there for us we just have to find it becaue its not broadcasted. Take some time one day and do some research, Im sure there are places in your area that will help out as well. You can apply for medicade, help with food and all of this is just temporary until you get back on your feet. Dont feel ashamed to ask for help you have paid your dues into all of these programs with all the taxes you have paid. Its only fair that when you need help that these programs are there to help you too.

Regarding your student loans: Is there any chance that you could apply for the Income-Based Repayment (IBR) plan? When you are low-income, you often owe only $0 per month! Not sure about qualifying for this program if your loans are presently in default.

Thanks for the info, neelamishi.

I had never heard of IBR, so I Googled it and found out I am not eligible because I am in default, but that info led me to some other sites where I found other information that might help with my student loans.

They have a rehabilitation program, where I'd have to make payments each month for a certain amount of time to be considered "rehabilitated," and then I would be eligible for IBR. But I have no money to put toward getting rehabilitated.

I guess I've been pretty lucky the whole time I've been at my current job, because I haven't had my pay garnished to go toward student loan repayment.

I am glad you found useful info following up on my suggestion. I wouldn't have known about IBR either, but an operator at the loan servicing center happened to mention it to me.

I have been following some of your posts, and I really feel for you and what you are going through at your job. I hope you plan your exit in a way that you are in control and make the best choices possible for your future. It does sound a bit overwhelming.

Hello purpledaisy,

I don't know much about that, but I wish you the best!

Thanks, everyone.

As far as being in control of my exit, I guess it's out of my control because I know they will fire me on D-day. ButI can have some control over the situation by planning ahead and using these next few paychecks wisely and stashing money for a little nestegg.

After a weekend full of being depressed and worrying like crazy, I'm back to thinking I'll let them fire me and go on unemployment for a while.