Long-term Disability

 Entry 1    7:53 a.m.

Jenny's friend, an attorney, last August offered to shepherd Kenny through all things related to Jenny's illness as it pertains to work. Jenny's friend hasn't followed through. Note to self, never hire a friend to be your attorney. Her repeated inaction means that many things that should have happened last year never occurred.  I, who have some small knowledge of some of the steps, was actively ignored by Jenny when I offered advice. 

So, given that Jenny needed to find a placement at SPS, and her friend hadn't done a thing (except get another HR professional assigned to Jenny at my behest), Jenny reached out to Lisa

My editor-in-chief.
Garberg, leave specialist at the District. Lisa has given Jenny lots of information that really should have been communicated by her lawyer.  She told Jenny to apply and submit for state paid leave (as I did last September). She warned her that her ability to do so was about to go away.  Jenny complied. She told Jenny to apply for LTD rather than work. Jenny bas been paying into the fund for almost 15 years.  LTD pays more than the .5 fte she was going to work. She warned Jenny that she needed to do it as soon as possible, for if she was separated due to lack of leave, she wouldn't get the benefit. Jenny is complying.  

Lisa told her to apply for an accelerated death benefit from her work insurance.  This allows for 80% of insurance to be paid out while you are living. It needs to be done before you are separated.  The lawyer never mentioned any of these things.

She then, and this is the big one, warned Jenny that she needs to be employed at the time the LTD is awarded and the ADB paid out, or she would not qualify for either. I suggested, although Jenny was already contemplating it, that she make one more request for hours from SPS staff.  Yesterday, Jenny did just that and several people did. Two people, one within an hour, donated 160 hours. Jenny is beloved.

So, the lawyer failed her, but Lisa Garberg (and Jenny's initiative to reach out to her) saved her bacon.

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