[Type 1 Diabetes 11] My experience applying for the Employees' Pension for Disability with Type 1 Diabetes | Thanks to my social insurance labor consultant

Last time, I wrote about trying an insulin pump again and how I am still using it today.

This time, I would like to write about my experience applying for the Employees' Pension for Disability due to Type 1 diabetes.

To be honest, when I was first diagnosed, I knew nothing about disability pensions.

In fact, I thought it was
a system that had nothing to do with me.
I never imagined I would actually end up applying for it.

I hope this will be helpful for others who are in the same position of not knowing.

*The system is subject to change. If you are considering applying, please check with your local pension office or a social insurance labor consultant.

C-peptide test

What led me to learn about the Employees' Pension for Disability was my hospitalization to start using an insulin pump.

During that hospitalization, I had a
C-peptide test.
C-peptide is a test to check how much insulin is being produced in the body.

I don't get this test very often during regular checkups; in my case, it was only measured occasionally, such as during hospitalizations.

At the time, I just thought, "It's probably just one of my usual tests."

However, when I looked into it later, I learned that
C-peptide is one of the criteria used when applying for the Employees' Pension for Disability for Type 1 diabetes.

Of course, eligibility is not determined solely by C-peptide levels.
But this test was what prompted me to start researching disability pensions.

I thought I wasn't eligible

When people hear the term "disability pension," many imagine:
* Wheelchair life
* Visual impairment
* A state where daily life is difficult
I felt the same way.

I work normally,

I go to the hospital,
and I am able to go about my daily life.
That's why I thought,

"This system probably doesn't apply to me."
However, when I actually looked into it, it was a bit different from the image I had.

Social Insurance Labor Consultant

When I researched disability pensions, I kept running into unfamiliar terms like:
* Date of first medical examination
* Contribution requirements
* Medical certificate
* Statement of medical history and work status
Honestly, I was in a state of

"not knowing where to start."
So, I decided to consult with


a social insurance labor consultant who has a track record of handling disability pension applications for Type 1 diabetes.
The reason is simple.First, I wanted to ask someone who understands Type 1 diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes has aspects that are hard to understand unless you actually live with it, such as:

* Daily insulin therapy
* Blood glucose monitoring

* Dealing with hypoglycemia
* Managing CGMs and insulin pumps
Therefore, I wanted to consult with someone who understands not only the system but also the disease itself.
There are many social insurance labor consultants who offer free initial consultations, so I got multiple quotes and decided to go with one that felt right for me.

Procedures

Actually, I never met the consultant in person.

Our communication was only through:
* Phone
* Email and LINE
* Mail
I even paid the service fee via a smartphone app (lol).

It seems many offices now handle everything online or by mail.

Free initial consultation

What I remember most is the free initial consultation.

I consulted them with the feeling of,
"Can I really apply for this?"
Then, before explaining the system, the consultant asked me many questions about myself.

For example:

* How I manage my blood glucose daily
* Whether I use a CGM or insulin pump
* What I struggle with in daily life
* How I manage my work
* Whether I have anxiety about hypoglycemia
I think they were trying to understand my life and my medical condition.
I've had many opportunities to explain my illness since I was diagnosed, but I feel like it had been a long time since someone listened to me so carefully.

Thanks to that, I felt comfortable asking them for help.

For this application, I left everything to the consultant, including communication with the hospital.

Regarding the necessary medical certificates and documents, they guided me on:
* What is needed
* Where to request them
* How to proceed
They also handled the coordination with the hospital, and my main role was to provide the necessary information.

Of course, there is a cost.

But considering the complexity of the procedures while working full-time, I think it was worth it.

After submitting the documents, there is a waiting period for the results.
Naturally, applying does not guarantee approval.

Because of that, I felt anxious, wondering, "What will happen?"

I remember not being able to settle down until the results arrived.

Find out about the systems yourself!

Since getting Type 1 diabetes, I have had more opportunities to use systems I didn't know about before, such as:
* High-Cost Medical Expense Benefit System
* Injury and Sickness Allowance
* Employees' Pension for Disability
When I was first diagnosed, I was overwhelmed just by blood glucose levels.

But in reality, I feel that knowing about these systems is important for living while continuing treatment.
Of course, not everyone is eligible for a disability pension.

However, even I, who thought it had "nothing to do with me," ended up consulting about it.
If you are curious, it might be a good idea to consult your doctor or a professional once.

Next time preview

Next time, I plan to write about
a summary of money-related matters for Type 1 diabetes.
Including medical expenses, medical device costs, the High-Cost Medical Expense Benefit System, and the Employees' Pension for Disability, I will summarize what changes actually occurred after the onset.