Social Security Disablility, my experience(sorry its long winded)

I have been wondering how I might share some important information with the forum members. We each have life experiences that have value. Here is one thing I can share with you.

I am disabled with kidney disease which was caused by an immune disorder, IgA is the name of the disorder. I was self employed after 20 years of military service. My business showed no profit for the first four years(depreciation, etc). I took no salary so I owned no Social Security Tax.

After about four years I found myself not feeling well and unable to work outside in the heat of the summer(I live in se North Carolina). I assumed (ass/u/ME) I was getting old, 54, and diabetes was just catching up with me. So I gave up my business and helped my wife sell at the flea markets on the weekends. I even had to give up the flea market, just too ill to go.

Finally I had a new Dr. who decided to check my kidney functions and ended up on dialysis. Recovery took several years to get to the point where I could do a couple hours work in my shop each day to recycle stuff. Recycling has been great for my health both physical and mental. By recover I mean I can now do some activities but I am still doing daily dialysis, peritoneal dialysis.

So back to Social Security Disability(SSD), being on dialysis is an automatic qualifier to be awarded SSD. Because I hadn't paid into the system for over 5 years I was denied.
I got a lawyer whose staff went through 30+ years of health records to support my claim that the disablility started before being unqualified because of not paying into the system. In the end I was approved and the approval only took 4+ years and the cost of a lawyer.

I wish good health and great fortune to each of you. Even though I didn't owe any Social Security tax I could have volentarily paid a minimum amount and avoided the very scary four+ years waiting to get approved for SSD.

I have miltary health insurance that includes perscription drug coverage. Once retired nothing is free. I can not imagine what would have happened to me if I didn't have the military insurance. My wife and I struggled to pay the co-pays and insurance premimums. Please talk with your CPA to make sure you and your family are covered by this basic insurance,SSD.

For those who think that the Social Security retirment and SSD are the same thing you are mistakened please take the time to check it out.



Thanks to all who contribute here, I have learned much, Mike.