Finally Some Good News to Share!

[ThomCat]

I Just Got the Letter! My Long Term Disability Insurance Was Approved! I'm Getting My First Check Shortly, Retroactive to Last November! Woo Hoo! I'm Not Going To Be Homeless!

If I could jump up and down I would be. I've been hugging JennaLaw and crying for the last few minutes.

I can't tell you all how much pressure I've been under wondering how I would survive with no income for years if this just buried in bureaucratic denials.

OMG! I'm going to have income to live on. :cry:



Thank you, everyone who has offered moral support through all of this. I couldn't have made it through this nightmare without all of you. You all know who you are.

:grouphug:

[jonnyblitz]

1. YAY! I was just thinkin about you and JennaLaw about 1 hour

ago, I kid you not. I have been layin low since june. to make a long story short i ended up with vertigo of all things and haven't been quite right since though it is much more managable now. but i am itchin for a new york city visit soon....

anyways big ass hugs to you with this good news and please give jenna a hug for me.

[ThomCat]

5. Come down! Come visit any time!

Let us know when you want to come down and Jenna will come get you. She's back and forth to Connecticut almost daily cleaning out her place up there.

We would love to see you. :hug:

[jonnyblitz]

11. I will be PMing you quite soon then. what is the best way to

get in touch with jenna besides texting and phone talk? should I PM her thru DU or should I get an email addy for her? I noticed she didn't get near a computer during the move. :D

[ThomCat]

14. I'll PM you her email address.

:)

[jonnyblitz]

21. thanks! i have her cell phone number but i hate phone chat and

i only text brief messages. I can't type fast without QWERTY. :( I will email her soon.

[Frosty1]

2. Cool

:woohoo:

[ThomCat]

17. It is! I don't know what I would have done if this didn't come through.

:woohoo:

[musette_sf]

3. happy dance for ThomCat!!!!

[ThomCat]

18. If I could dance, I would definitely share this dance with you!

:D

[BarenakedLady]

That is wonderful!

I'm so happy for you.

:hug:

[ThomCat]

19. Thank you!

Now I can afford to survive the wait until round two with Social Security.

This disability insurance has been a horrible pain in the ass, but it is worth every hassle and every dollar now that it has come through for me. :)

[demmiblue]

4. Wonderful news...

for a wonderful person!

:hug:

[ThomCat]

20. Thank you very much, demmiblue!

:hug:

[Robeson]

6. Way to go, Thom!...

...here's a big :hug: , a celebration :party: , and a :toast: to better days!

:pals:

[ThomCat]

23. Thank you! Being able to pay the bills

and not worrying about being homeless is definitely what I call better days! :toast:

:hug:

[Inchworm]

7. Woot!

Glad to hear, Thom! I love great news at the end of the day.

:hug::yourock::hug:

[ThomCat]

24. Woot!

:hug: It's nice to suddenly not be destitute. :woohoo:

[lizziegrace]

8. Thom!!

I'm so happy for you. :hug:

[ThomCat]

25. LizzieGrace!

Please call me when you have a chance tomorrow. :hug:

[lizziegrace]

26. I will sweetie

send me a message on FB when you feel like talking.

:hug:

[Ptah]

9. swedish fish for you

That's great news, ThomCat

[ThomCat]

28. Thank you!

:P

Yes, this is the first good news is a long, long time. :)

[SeattleGirl]

10. Woohoooooooooo!!!

I'm so happy for you, Thom!

[ThomCat]

29. Thank you, SeattleGirl!

:hug:

[Eyerish]

12. Congratulations ThomCat!

My mother was lucky enough to get hers on the first try, but it took her state representative and 10 months of being relentless to get it. I remember how trying of a process it was. I'd never seen such a look of relief on her face as when she got her letter.

I hope this is a harbinger of many good things to come for you. :hug:

[ThomCat]

30. Was that her Social Security Disability?

I haven't been that lucky yet. This is private insurance that just got approved. My social security is in limbo for a few more years waiting for an appeal, unfortunately.

I'm glad your mother got hers approved. It really is an ordeal. It's a total nightmare. :(

[Eyerish]

42. I'm sorry, I misunderstood...

Yes it was her SSDI that I was referring to. I'm sorry that it will take so long to get what you should of gotten first time around. Nothing like fighting chronic pain and the bureacratic process at the same time. I'm so glad that you were at least able to get some financial stability til you can get the SSDI.

Best wishes to you :)

[WCGreen]

13. Cool....

[ThomCat]

31. Very...

:)

[CaliforniaPeggy]

15. My dear ThomCat!

That is just the best news EVER!

I have been hoping so much for this...

You deserve it. And now you're going to have it.

There is justice in this world, after all...

:loveya: :hug: :loveya:

[ThomCat]

33. This really is the best news.

:hug:

I was very worried that the insurance company was going to try to deny my policy and stall me as long as they could. I don't know how bad it could have become.

I can't believe it's an event when an insurance company does what they're supposed to do, but it is. This is a wonderful day!

:woohoo:

:hug:

[Kali]

16. I'm so glad for you, ThomCat!

:bounce: <<=== stand-in for both of us;-)

[ThomCat]

34. Thank you, Kali!

Woo Hoo! I appreciate that! :D

:hug:

[AwakeAtLast]

22. EXCELLENT!!!

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[ThomCat]

36. Hot Damn, Yes it is!

:hug:

[lildreamer316]

27. YAY!!!!!!

I am SO HAPPY for you!!!
This is wonderful! :hug:

[ThomCat]

37. Yay!!! This is very seriously the most important thing that has happened

to me in many years. This one bureaucratic decision had so much riding on it... and I have been so amazingly stressed out about this. This really is wonderful!

:hug:

[Parche]

32. Hey

that is not just good news

THAT IS FUKIN GREAT NEWS!!!!!

i am so happy for you

believe me when i say i know how that is....as i am going thru that also
but my relief should be here soon

:hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :loveya: :loveya:

[ThomCat]

38. I hope your good news is following closely behind mine.

:hug: :loveya:

They better not keep you waiting they way they kept me. This kind of stress is horrible. x(

[GoddessOfGuinness]

35. I'm so glad, ThomCat!

This is fantastic news! :hug::hug::hug:

[ThomCat]

39. Thank you, GoddessOfGuinness!

:hug: :loveya:

[DarkTirade]

40. 'bout time.

:thumbsup: :)

[ThomCat]

44. Yup. They said it would take 30 days to process.

Here it is 8 months later. :wow:

So-called professionals in 2 offices couldn't communicate to get this processed. I had to step in and do part of their jobs for them to find out why my own insurance policy was stalled. I had to sit in people's offices and refuse to leave until people got off their butts and delivered what I needed so that I could get paperwork from point A to point B so that this policy could finally get processed. How totally fucked up is that?

But the end result is that I got the assholes in one office to give up paperwork they swore they had already delivered (but hadn't). I delivered it myself. And I got the other office to acknowledge that paperwork and process it to finally get my claim settled. :woohoo:

I hope this isn't the way this is normally supposed to work. :(

[Starbucks Anarchist]

41. Great news!

:hug:

[ThomCat]

45. Yes, it is. I'll be able to rejoin the real world again!

I have felt so cut off from the world because I was preparing for the worst. :(

:hug:

[AllenVanAllen]

43. That's wonderful!

:thumbsup: :applause:

[ThomCat]

46. Thank you!

:hug:

[Lil Missy]

47. YAY!!!

:bounce: :*

[ThomCat]

50. Hi Lil Missy!

:hi:

Yay! :hug:

[noamnety]

48. I am so happy for you!!!

I can't even imagine how relieved you must feel.

[ThomCat]

51. Thank you!

:hug:

I'm not even sure I know how relieved I feel. :)

I've been burying this stress for a while, trying not to let it get to me. Suddenly I don't need to be so worried anymore. It's wonderful!

[Tangerine LaBamba]

49. Wonderful!

You did good! Pretty powerful fellow, you are.

Well done, and congratulations! I'm delighted for you.

Now you can exhale, huh? And relax. And feel better and better.

Congratulations, again ................

[ThomCat]

53. Thank you!

:)

[Gormy Cuss]

52. Thomcat-that's terrific.

What a relief!



Cartoon is utterly irrelevant other than I think of Top Cat sometimes when I type your user name. :hug:

[ThomCat]

54. Hey, if they're playing good music, that's as relevant as it needs to be!

:)

It's a huge relief.

I grew up poor. For a few decades I was middle class. Then I was desperately poor again.

Now I have income again so I guess I am lower middle class? But I'm one always one health emergency from poverty so where does that put me? Unstable lower middle class?

It's time to start rebuilding my own safety nets while I can. I'm going to use some of this insurance money to invest in medical insurance policies if these is something appropriate out there.

There is no way I want to be caught without health care, and I have learned the hard way not to trust Medicaid and public assistance. :(

[Forkboy]

55. Excellent!!!

I know exactly that feeling of relief you're feeling now. It wasn't the answer to all my problems, but it sure took a lot of the pressure off. I'm actually eating every day now, and not skipping a day or two per week because I just didn't have the money.

I'm thrilled this came through for you!!! :hug:

[ThomCat]

56. I am very happy for both of us!

:toast:

Here is to be able to eat and pay the bills! :hug:

[Flaxbee]

57. I am SO HAPPY for you, ThomCat! This is WONDERFUL news!

:hug: :party: I don't know how you stood the anxiety, but I'm glad it's over. A good friend of mine nearby just got her disability approved, too... :bounce: :bounce:

:hug: :hug: ThomCat. I'll sleep better knowing you're going to be OK (and I'm sure you will, and everyone here who loves you will, too).

[ThomCat]

58. Hi Flaxbee!

:hug: :loveya:

I am not sure how I handled it either, except that with all the health problems I already have, what's some more stress related ailments on top? Who's going to notice the difference? :P

Hopefully I'll show a little bit of improvement now that the stress has eased up. :)

This isn't my Social Security disability though. I'm waiting for my appeal with social security. This is private Long Term Disability Insurance. It pays a percentage of my former salary now until I'm 65 as long as I remain disabled and unable to work.

[Callalily]

59. What fabulous news!

And a definite stress relief too.

I am constantly baffled by the ineptitude of this whole process. To have to step in and take such an active role is just plain nuts.

Anyway, glad that this worked out for you.

:hug:

[ThomCat]

61. Thank you!

:hug:

It really was baffling. It was worse because it was so hard to get anyone to just tell me there was a problem and what it was. I had to dig to even find out what the holdup was, and they weren't doing anything to solve it.

I can't imagine how this would have been resolved if I hadn't been a stubborn bastard. :(

[lady raven]

60. That is wonderful news!

I regret that I wasn't around to offer support while you were waiting, but I want to tell you that I am thrilled for you. I know from a family member's experience what a pain the process can be. It must have been very scary for you wondering when/ if it would come through. Hooray!

[ThomCat]

62. Hi Lady Raven!

I appreciate that very much. :hug:

I hope your family member has a lot of help and support in your family, and from friends. :)
Yes, Everything involved in having a disability is a bureaucratic pain. But the help and support make it bearable.

[GCP]

63. That's great news Thom

I'm so glad for you. You been through the wringer and you deserve some good things happening to you. :hug:

[ThomCat]

103. Thank you!

:hug:

Hopefully the wringer can be dismantled now. :P

[BlueIris]

64. Thank gods. Continued best of luck with your everything, Thom. nt

[ThomCat]

104. Thank you, BlueIris!

:hug:

[nuxvomica]

65. I figured you'd be approved but not so soon

Or that it'd be retroactive. This is awesome good news, ThomCat. I am so happy for you. :bounce:

[ThomCat]

105. This is private insurance that got approved

not social security. This is great news, but it's not THAT good news yet. :)

Hopefully the good news about social security will follow.

[blueraven95]

66. Yay!

I'm so happy for you!

[ThomCat]

106. Thank you, Blueraven95!

:hug:

[seemunkee]

67. Fantastic news

So happy this finally came through for you.
:bounce: :hug: :bounce:

[ThomCat]

108. Hi Seemunkee!

:hug:

Now, not only can survive and pay my own bills, I'm in a position to help one or two other people too a little bit! Yay! It's awesome when the help and good news can get spread around. :)

We don't get nearly enough good news around here.

[ccharles000]

68. I am happy for you

:hug:

[ThomCat]

109. Thank you, ccharles000!

:hug:

[Pool Hall Ace]

69. I am so happy for you!

:hug: and :*

[ThomCat]

112. Thank you so much, Pool Hall Ace!

:loveya:

I hope the good news is contagious! :hug:

First thing I'm doing is sharing this first check to help one or two other very dear friends. We need to see more people get some good things happening. There's too many people in tough situations and not enough good news going around.

[Highway61]

70. I have been following your

horrible ordeal. Although I don't know you, I am very happy to hear of your good news. Stress will eat you up alive inside. This one hurdle is a very big one. Congratulations.

[ThomCat]

113. Thank you, Highway61!

:hug: You are right, this was a very big hurdle, and it does relieve a lot of stress that really was eating me up inside. I am very happy that I've reached the good news at the end. :)

:hug:

[BuelahWitch]

71. That is wonderful news!

So happy things are working out for you Thom!

[ThomCat]

114. Hi BuelahWitch! Thank you so much!

:hug:

Isn't it wonderful when there is good news? It seems like that is so rare recently.

[In_The_Wind]

72. That's the best news I've read in a long time!

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :hi: :loveya:

[ThomCat]

115. I was really hoping that I would see you posting really good news

before me, that you were finally out of the financial wringer. :hug:

How is the driving job going. I hope it is going well and you are enjoying it. :loveya:

This is wonderful news for me, and as long as the Insurance company doesn't try to play any games and rescind this on me later I am now financially stable. It's not a lot, but if I'm careful it's enough. :)

[bigwillq]

73. YAY!

What good news! :bounce: :hi: :hug:

[ThomCat]

116. Yay!

:hug:

Hi Bigwillq! :hi: :loveya:

Thank you!

[NewJeffCT]

74. Fantastic News

Congrats to you.

:toast: :party: :bounce:

[ThomCat]

117. Thank you, NewJeffCT!

:hug:

It's nice to be able to think about life again, instead of survival. :)

[Rosie1223]

75. That's Great, Thom!

I'm so happy for you!

[ThomCat]

118. Thank you very much, Rosie1223!

:hug:

I'm very happy to now be out of the stressful wringer, and I really appreciate all the good vibes and support I've been given here so often. You're wonderful! :loveya:

[yellowdogintexas]

76. FANTASTIC!!!!

I know this has been a long and frustrating ordeal for you and this is such good news. Puts my teeny little viral episode into a whole different perspective.

:toast: :toast: :toast: :toast: :toast:

[ThomCat]

119. It really is Fantastic!

Oh, please don't let me situation diminish your concern for your own. I wish you continued good health, and a smooth path through medical and insurance bureaucracies whenever you have to deal with them! May be both have good fortune. :hug:

[dembotoz]

77. thank you for the good news

good news comes all to rarely around here.

[ThomCat]

120. It's nice to be able to share good news.

You are right. We all seem to have so much bad news, over and over, that it's rare to see good news.

I'm sharing this first check with a couple of dear DUers who I know are in very bad, difficult situations so that I can share the good news. I can get all of us out of really tough immediate binds and still move forward living pretty well.

Hopefully the good news will be contagious. :)

[Bertha Venation]

78. Holy shit, congratulations, Thom!

:hug: That's the best news I've heard all day.

[ThomCat]

121. Thank you very much, Bertha!

:loveya:

It gets a little bit better. I've decided to share the initial check with a one or two very dear DUers who I know are in very difficult tough situations. I can help get all of us out of our immediate danger, and still live modestly well on my monthly checks going forward. There is no reason not to share the good fortune as much as I can.

In really bad times, we need to help each other when we can. I've been there for people who needed help in the past, and DUers have been there for me when I have need it in the past, and it's a cycle that keeps going around. I'm paying it forward to keep the cycle going. :)

[1gobluedem]

79. Congrats!

Good for you for persevering through all of this. You must be so relieved!

[Symarip]

80. Dude

Thom, that's great. I'm really happy for you. I know you've been struggling for a while.

Sometimes, good things happen to good people. Keep us updated.

[Redbear]

81. Wonderful news

Thanks for letting us know.

[LynneSin]

82. I wouldn't have let you gone homeless

There's always a spare bedroom at my place

[MissMillie]

83. W00T!!!!

This is really a reason to celebrate!!!!!

:bounce:


I can't tell you how glad I am for you!!!!

:loveya:

[Hissyspit]

84. Good news, indeed.

:thumbsup:

[suninvited]

85. Glad you got the letter

I just wish they hadn't made you wait so long

[La Lioness Priyanka]

86. thom. so happy this came through for you

[Hell Hath No Fury]

87. Fantastic news there, TC!

I am soo glad this came through for you -- the thought of any of us falling through the cracks in this country is unacceptable to me. Retroactive to last November, huh? Don't spend it all in one place! :D :hi:

[lizerdbits]

88. WooHoo!

:bounce: :toast:

[graywarrior]

89. I am so happy for you.

I know how tough it is trying to get approved. You held your ground and now you can breathe a sigh of relief...at least til you have to deal with the bureaucrats again.

:toast:

[appal_jack]

90. Excellent ThomCat!

Glad to hear that things are looking up.

-app

[GreenPartyVoter]

91. Hooray! *great big hugs*

[fizzgig]

92. that is absolutely wonderful news, thom

i can't imagine the relief you must be feeling now :hug:

i hope you are doing well :hug:

[WolverineDG]

93. YAY!!

Hmm, maybe my dad still has some pull w/the bureaucrats. ;) Glad to hear you don't have to stress out about this anymore!!

:loveya:

dg

[raccoon]

94. I'm so glad to hear that, ThomCat!

:hug: :loveya:

[applegrove]

95. Very happy for you.

[LynzM]

96. Oh, THOM!!!

YAY!!!! There aren't enough :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: and :D :D :D icons for this!! I am SOOOO thrilled for you!

:hug: :hug: :hug:

[Call Me Wesley]

97. Good news indeed!

I'm glad to hear them! :hug:

[lightningandsnow]

98. I'm so happy for you!

You are an amazing person. :hug:

[Arugula Latte]

99. Great news! Congrats!

I'm really happy for you! :bounce: :hi: :grouphug:

[femmocrat]

100. That is great news, ThomCat.

Whoever made you jump through hoops and get stressed out should be fired (or worse).

I'm so glad you will be more financially secure now. :hug: :loveya:

[marzipanni]

101. YAY! I knew the runaround you got was a big mistake

I just hoped it wouldn't be many stressful weeks or months before it was resolved.
I'm so happy that it has been settled, and now the worry caused by such an unnecessary bureaucratic boondoggle won't affect the quality of your life!

[Danger Mouse]

102. About damn time, right?

Congratulations, I'm very happy for you. :hug:

[crim son]

107. Thank the Deity.

I'm truly happy that this has finally been resolved in your favor. :hug: :loveya: :yourock:

[hedgehog]

110. Woo-hoo!

:toast:

[av8rdave]

111. Congrats Thomcat

It's a shame you had to fight so hard for what you should have had all along, but I'm glad it finally worked out!

[mwooldri]

122. *bounce* ! Finally some JUSTICE!

Fantastic news!

[faithnotgreed]

125. it is a beautiful thing justice

well put

congratulations thom
now you can put that "energy" to good use - and that is whatever feels good to you~

[JohnnyLib2]

123. Hot damn and happy $$$

Great news. :bounce:

[bikebloke]

124. Bravo!

About time. I hope they give you interest too for all the time you've waited.

[Bossy Monkey]

126. Wahoo! Jumping up and down on your behalf!

(Hey, you can still do it virtually: :bounce::bounce::bounce::P)

[Deja Q]

127. That IS great news!!

I'm so sorry you have to live in so much pain (I know it's not pleasant...), but I am glad you're finally able to get long term disability. You are owed it and I'm glad you're getting it, retroactive to the time you applied. That's why people pay into it, in case they actually need it. A shame people need it, but when they do they deserve it. It's sickening the companies try to wiggle out of their obligations.

:hug:

[madrchsod]

128. good for you!....

i know they have to be careful but dam the wait is to long.

that`s the way i felt when i got my social security...i can make my house payment so at least i`ll always have a roof over my head.

[handmade34]

129. I love good news!

enjoy

[Kat45]

130. Woo Hoo!

That is excellent news!

[csziggy]

131. Wonderful!

[joeybee12]

132. Congratulations!

:toast:

[dana_b]

133. best news of the day

seriously - I hope all goes well from now on.