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Short Term Disability

Posted , 3 users are following.

sml2012
sml2012

Has anyone been forced back to work before you're physically ready by your short term disability insurance company? I had my 6 week post op appointment yesterday and my surgeon recommended 4 more weeks of physical therapy and a return to work date of 9/20/16 which would be the normal 3 months recovery time. Well the super nice Disability Claims Manager called me today and basically told me since I sit on my butt all day at a desk job I should be able to go back on Monday. This was despite my surgeon faxing him his recommendation for my recovery. I'm at a loss. I'm still walking with a cane, quite sore just from walking and doing my exercises, and not sleeping well. I know I'm not ready to go back yet. I've been in tears ever since the phone call.

0 likes, 5 replies

5 Replies

  • Leslie4077
    Leslie4077 sml2012

    Posted

    Wow, that doesn't seem right at all.  Do you have someone at your work place who can go to bat for you on this?  It seems they would take the recommendation of the surgeon.  I wouldn't have wanted to go back to work at 6 months -- sitting was one of the things that was hardest for me!  And then the mixed-up sleep.....ugh!  I'm retired so it's not an issue but I did have surgery once when I was working and my doctor would just write notes saying something like "Leslie can return to work on Sept.20."  And that would be that.  No one ever argued.   Others here may have some advice.  Good luck with it all.  

  • josey1964
    josey1964 sml2012

    Posted

    Can they make you go back before you are ready. I am 6 weeks as well and have at least another 2 weeks off. If all is well I am planning on returning at 50% time until after my 3 month check up with the consultant.

    Hope you get sorted, good luck.

    • sml2012
      sml2012 josey1964

      Posted

      They can't force me to go back because of FMLA but they can stop paying me. That's my dilemma. So frustrating!

  • leah35183
    leah35183 sml2012

    Posted

    Hi, please do not go back to work before you are ready.  Your surgeon is the expert not this person.  If you do go back before your ready and have problems, this person will say it is your fault for returning before you were ready....and you will most likely not be able to go back to disability if it doesn't work out.  Get the fax number of the disability person.  Fax a letter stating that you will be returning on Sept 20 as per you MDs orders.  If there is a problem with this then can he send any appeal paperwork to your home.  Since you have the md in your corner you should have no trouble and 3 months is the standard time to be off.  It sounds like he is trying to limit the pay-outs and not concerned with you at all.  Also there should be a "return to work plan" where you start at 4 hours and then gradually work-up to 8 hours.

    I live in Ontario, Canada where there is WSIB-workman's compensation.  It is believed that their policy is to denied every single claim that they get the first time.  This way they can feret out the "fakers".  There was one case that I know of that an accident at work left the worker a quadrapelegic .  Yep his claim was denied the first time.

    I hope things work out for you.

    thanks,

    Leah

     

    • sml2012
      sml2012 leah35183

      Posted

      Thanks for the advice, Leah! I live in the United States.
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