I filed for Short Term Disability to reduce and relieve the extreme stress-related issues (due in part to my toxic work environment, targeting, agism, and harassment following the deaths of my mother in 2018 and my daughter in 2020) on 9/9/22, effective and approved from 9/12/2022 to 12/4/2022.
Initially, I was approved for 4 weeks of paid benefits or till 10/7/2022, I received those payments with no problems. I called and requested an extension of my paid benefits on 10/8/22. My leave was approved till 12/04. I was supplied with forms that needed to be completed by myself and my psychologist, which were completed and sent back. It was not communicated to me that my psychiatrist who has done my medication management for years would need to do the same until weeks later. It went downhill after that.
Every time I called I spoke with someone different who also told me something different. Communication on their part is appalling, with no clarity, no consistency, and no calls back. Call time on hold is anywhere from 3 minutes to over an hour. Responses to questions are vague at best and always conflict with previous information.
My assigned Claim Manager Madeline when I spoke with her last about why I was not communicated with when she claimed she emailed and called my doctor many times for needed forms, that were sent back to her, that she claimed she never received. My doctor can find no emails or calls from her either. Her response was " What do you expect me to do?" My thoughts were her job just for starters. She is now out of the office indefinitely and when I asked who is now managing my claim, I was told Sherry, who is also out of the office. My Leave Manager Brooke I have never heard from ever.
I spent an entire day on 11/10 trying to find out the status of my claim and what it needed so that I could receive my benefits. I spoke with Daisy - Advocate, who referred me to Noel. N a Supervisor who referred me to Cecile.T the Team Lead said that Carla. J NP was reviewing my file and her notes indicated that my mental status form submitted on 9/21 indicated I was fine to work and needed to clarify with my psychiatrist, not my psychologist who submitted the document. An updated form has been submitted on 11/11/2022. I was also told my Psychiatrist did not need to submit paperwork because my claim was under review. I was then informed that an 11/4 email was sent with forms to complete, but not to who, until I asked for clarification. The amount of conflicting information, outright lies and misinformation is staggering.
I have been given the run-around and have been tasked with jumping through hoops needlessly for going on 7 weeks. During that time I have also not been paid. My doctors and I are being asked for duplicate requests for information when they already have it. Then we are sent on another wild goose chase with very little information and direction, which results in more back and forth. More delays, and more days I am not paid. I feel like I am being forced to go back to work, in the same toxic environment that got me here in the first place.
NYLGBS is directly responsible for my mental and physical health decline and deterioration. Because I have not received my benefits since 10/08/2022 my family and I are being evicted from a home I have lived in for 17 years which I was in negotiations to purchase. I haven't been able to pay the rent, and utility bills and we are just getting by with food. I don't know what to do or how we are going to survive.
I had no idea that requesting short-term disability would ruin my life when all I have been trying to do is take care of myself so I could endure and persevere for my family. I am worse off now than when I began. It's unbelievable. And what is truly ironic is that I am worth more dead than alive. You cannot imagine how that feels.
In 2018 I lost my mother to Dementia after being her caregiver for 10 years and raising my only child, my daughter. In 7/2020 I lost my 26-year-old daughter suddenly and unexpectedly during the early stages of the pandemic to unknown causes, she left behind her 6-month-old son. And now I am losing my home, the last connection I had with them. I am stunned, shocked, and beyond devasted. I feel gutted.
All I needed was the help I asked for that I was entitled to. Actions have consequences. In this case, I am suffering insult to injury from the actions of the so-called Advocates Team at NYLGBS whose sole job is to help their clients, not cause the harm or damage they did to my life.
I would like to receive what is due to me immediately. I would like all future payments to be sent without delay and any adjustments to be handled in a timely manner. I would like any communication to be concise and complete.
I would like monetary reparations for the worsening of my condition and the loss of my home as a direct result of their actions or lack thereof. And lastly, I would like NYLGBS to assume complete responsibility for all medical expenses and the expenses associated with relocating, rehoming, and the purchase a home that is comparable or better than my current home for my family consisting of myself, my husband, my son-in-law, and my 2.5-year-old grandson.
I would like an in-depth investigation into the practices at NYLGBS and how they treat the people they are supposed to help and provide relief to, which only ends up making matters much worse.
Desired outcome: I would like an in-depth investigation into the practices at NYLGBS and how they treat the people they are supposed to help and provide relief to, which only ends up making matters much worse and causing harm and damage.