Undergrad on Disability?

[aynmar]

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I don't even know if you can do this, but my in-laws want my husband (the med school hopeful) to go on disability while finishing up his pre-reqs. He has rheumatoid arthritis so they want him to try and go on disability to draw SS while we are young and broke while he is in school.

I feel like there is some sort of ethical dilemma here.......I mean he is obviously planning on being a doctor and would not be on disability then, they seem to justify it as while "retraining." Would med schools ever know that he was on disability at any given time?

 

[EdLongshanks]

I don't even know if you can do this, but my in-laws want my husband (the med school hopeful) to go on disability while finishing up his pre-reqs. He has rheumatoid arthritis so they want him to try and go on disability to draw SS while we are young and broke while he is in school.

I feel like there is some sort of ethical dilemma here.......I mean he is obviously planning on being a doctor and would not be on disability then, they seem to justify it as while "retraining." Would med schools ever know that he was on disability at any given time?

The question is not whether he would be disabled after he finished med-school, but whether he is disabled NOW. Does his arthritis allow him to earn a living now?

I am in the same position with my son. He has arthritis controlled in all joints except one knee, which, despite 2 surgeries, is effectively destroyed and has extreme pain and a limited range of motion. With this knee he is unable to perform any job that a teenager can do -- stand for hours behind a cash register, for instance.

But, once he gets his education. His knee won't prevent him doing jobs that a college education can get him. He could teach school or sit at a desk, for example.

So we have filed for disability for him while he goes to college. He is taking steps to end his disability. But, right now, he is disabled.

Your husband sounds like he is in the same position.

 

[TriagePreMed]

I don't even know if you can do this, but my in-laws want my husband (the med school hopeful) to go on disability while finishing up his pre-reqs. He has rheumatoid arthritis so they want him to try and go on disability to draw SS while we are young and broke while he is in school.

I feel like there is some sort of ethical dilemma here.......I mean he is obviously planning on being a doctor and would not be on disability then, they seem to justify it as while "retraining." Would med schools ever know that he was on disability at any given time?

I work with psychiatric patients helping them get social security and other resources. If that's his only condition, it might be difficult for him to get it; unless he has an extensive history of it and the condition is pretty bad, but by no means, I'm not saying he won't or shouldn't try. He would have an easier time (if he's in California) getting State disability first and then apply to SS. Also, be aware SS can take 6 months+ to be approved.

Anyway, if he's going to med school, I suggest he not do it. I have seen a few applications that ask if you've ever had a disability. Might be a trap door to discrimination.

 

[aynmar]

Wow thanks so much for the helpful feedback. Its a tricky place I guess. Before he went back to school he was working a regular "college-graduate" job and sat at a desk all day. The problem I guess now is that he is in summer school daily, so the only jobs (if he could even find one) are like retail or restaurant and although his arthritis is fairly manageable, waiting tables would definitely not work for him and his wrists. Maybe that is why they are pushing the disability thing.

But for PP yes, that's what we are worried about, if he ever had to explain his time on disability and if it came off as a hinderance and possibly ruined his chances at medical school. Ahhhh this is hard.

Thanks for the feedback though. I know my husband definitely is not wanting to do this disability thing but I think since we had to borrow some money from his parents this is there new plan 🙂

 

[eablackwell]

I agree that depending on the severity and documentation of his arthritis it may be hard to get disability. Prepare to be turned down the first time, possibly even the second. For most people 3rd time's the charm (seriously).

I am in a wheelchair and drew disability as an undergrad due to a serious health complication that stemmed from my disability during freshman year. Without that income I couldn't have managed through school. Now that I'm a teacher I don't draw it anymore, and I knew I wanted to eventually go into medicine years ago. It doesn't make a difference.

Good luck!

 

[sgtbrushes]

The taxes he pays during his first year working as an attending will be more than the bread crumbs he gets now.🙂

Go for it.

 

[EdLongshanks]

The taxes he pays during his first year working as an attending will be more than the bread crumbs he gets now.🙂

Go for it.

My son was feeling guilty about applying for disability, so I showed him my paystub. He feels better now.

 

[TriagePreMed]

My son was feeling guilty about applying for disability, so I showed him my paystub. He feels better now.

Nobody should feel ashamed, especially if you get SSDI, which is based on the taxes you paid for your own work.

 

[EdLongshanks]

Nobody should feel ashamed, especially if you get SSDI, which is based on the taxes you paid for your own work.

It's one of the downsides to that virtuous puritan raising. Guilt, Guilt and more guilt.

 

[Simplify]

I cast off my puritanical upbringing and guess what? I'm guilt free!

 

[EdLongshanks]

I cast off my puritanical upbringing and guess what? I'm guilt free!

Ha, that's what you think. It's just waiting till you turn your back.