Kidney transplant

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on

I am 52 years old and have been disabled for 8 years due to renal failure. My question is, since I have had a kidney transplant, does my social security benefits end. If so when, because there is always a chance of rejection. If it does end, I do not want to be taken by surprise, will they let you know early enough, or will it be oneof those deals where they just cut you off, then inform you that you are no longer eligible?

Caroline (not verified)
Wed, 06/08/2016 - 10:20 Permalink

I had a double nephrectomy and kidney transplant in September, 2015. I was on short term disability until December and thought I could return to work. I do event management at a convention center, very long hours and running around (center is 6 blocks long). My feet have been swelling up into clubs, I get sudden onsets of fatigue and muscle weakness, twitching and tremors. When my feet swell it can be so bad they they start to bruise. The job requires the long hours and long periods of standing/walking. My HR Director suggested looking into going back on short term disability (I've been back 6 months, but can't continue like this much longer) then on long term (work insurance covers me until I'm 65 at 60% of salary. But I would have to qualify for social security disability. Would I qualify?

Bryan

In reply to by Caroline (not verified)

Wed, 06/08/2016 - 15:56 Permalink

Hi Caroline,
I would not be able to say for sure as we are not affiliated with the SSA, but kidney transplants are considered to be automatically eligible for benefits under their medical criteria, so it may be a good idea to apply .

kb (not verified)
Fri, 06/17/2016 - 13:17 Permalink

I had a kidney and pancreas transplant on 5/13/16. I received a letter today from social security saying I have a phone interview in July about my end stage renal disease. I receive benefits now and what is this letter and when will it end?

Deanna

In reply to by kb (not verified)

Fri, 06/17/2016 - 15:03 Permalink

Hi KB,
I am not sure what the letter is. You will medically qualify until May 2017, so do not worry about that! A transplant is an AUTOMATIC 12 month qualification.

philip (not verified)
Sun, 07/03/2016 - 12:30 Permalink

is that availble in the philippines as well? i may need to undergo transplant but my problem is its really expansive will it be covered?

Bryan

In reply to by philip (not verified)

Tue, 07/05/2016 - 10:31 Permalink

Hi Phillip,
Unfortunately, we really only deal with the U.S. disability system, not the Philippino disability system.

Kelly Miller (not verified)
Fri, 07/08/2016 - 00:53 Permalink

My husband had a kidney transplant in September 2013. Still getting disability now. He did just get a short review letter asking about surgeries since 2014. The transplant was before that. He did ask a women in the SSI office when it work end and she said his review was in 2016. I'm worried they will want him to pay back the money after his 12 months. Is this possible?

Bryan

In reply to by Kelly Miller (not verified)

Fri, 07/08/2016 - 09:47 Permalink

Hi Kelly,
The SSA would only ask him to pay money back if he was overpaid, but that may not be the case here. They may just be doing this review as part of their routine review process.

Kelly (not verified)

In reply to by Bryan

Fri, 07/08/2016 - 22:40 Permalink

So you don't think it would be considered overpayment for the time he received it after the 12 months from the transplant?

Bryan

In reply to by Kelly (not verified)

Mon, 07/11/2016 - 10:24 Permalink

Hi Kelly,
It may not be considered overpayment if the SSA did not consider him able to work in that time and he was otherwise eligible.

man dev (not verified)

In reply to by Kelly Miller (not verified)

Thu, 03/01/2018 - 14:58 Permalink

how much is the benefits one is after transplant? thx

Kelly (not verified)
Fri, 07/29/2016 - 09:25 Permalink

Good morning. I am 48 years old and in end stage renal failure. I am currently doing peritoneal dialysis at home at night and still trying to work during the day. I have been on the transplant list for 1 year. I have not applied for disability yet. If I wait until transplant to apply, will I be denied because I was not on disability before the transplant?

Sarah (not verified)

In reply to by Kelly (not verified)

Fri, 10/07/2016 - 10:50 Permalink

Technically, on PD you are already eligible for disability. And keep in mind, disability and SSI are different. SSI is essentially welfare based on income in the household. Disability for ESRD doesn't have income limits (to receive it-they could adjust for money that you make in some ways though) so as long as you are on dialysis, you have ESRD and are eligible.

Bryan

In reply to by Sarah (not verified)

Fri, 10/07/2016 - 14:55 Permalink

Hi Sarah,
Thank you for sharing! However, SSDI has both technical and medical qualifications, and to meet both you must have a sufficient amount of work credits and also a condition that qualifies for benefits, someone may not be able to qualify for SSDI just because of their qualifying conditon.

Mary (not verified)
Mon, 08/08/2016 - 16:00 Permalink

Hello,

My boyfriend had a kidney transplant in Oct 2013 and is receiving ss benefits. He went back to work part time about a yr after the transplant. Well they recently cut off the ss because they said he went over the allowed amount of income that he can make. My question is the medicare. Can he lose that too if he decides to continue to work? He needs the medicare for the anti-rejection medications that he is on as you may know they are very expensive and I don't think anyone would be able to afford them on their own.

Craig (not verified)
Tue, 08/23/2016 - 00:58 Permalink

I am 64 years old. I received a kidney transplant 2/19/16. I am receiving SS Disability benefits and will for 12 months. It will be very hard for me to get a job for one year until I turn 66. What are the chances that I will loose my benefits for that one year?

Bryan

In reply to by Craig (not verified)

Tue, 08/23/2016 - 10:10 Permalink

Hi Craig,
I really couldn't say as I do not know for sure what type of benefits that you are receiving, but if they are based off of your work record and you are not working currently, then you may be fine. If you're getting benefits based off of your income or resources, then income and resource limits apply.

Gigi (not verified)
Fri, 09/23/2016 - 21:04 Permalink

I will have a kidney transplant this year. If I receive short term disability payments (67%) of salary, will I still be able to apply for SSDI? Or must I wait until after I completely resign from my employer? I really want to go back to my job, even if it is just a little part time here and there.

Add new comment

Find Out If I Qualify for Benefits!