Obtaining
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is a difficult and complex process. Two out of every three applicants initially are denied. After years as a transit authority maintenance manager, Bruce Kujawa did not let a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis slow him down. Despite his disability, he has cultivated hobbies that keep him active and his mind sharp. Find out how Allsup contributes to his enjoyment of life.
*This is a true story as told to Allsup.
He once kept the Windy City running on time, so this
Chicago Native Keeps Motoring Along
By Ann Marie Mayuga
Chicago, Illinois—Bruce Kujawa knows motors. The 50-year-old Chicago native understands what makes a motor run. He appreciates the intricacies and can fix any problems.
Mr. Kujawa spent 29 years as a maintenance manager for the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) where he supervised 120 employees and six managers. On weekends, he rode motorcycles with friends and family.
Eventually, he purchased a Harley-Davidson and joined the local Harley owners group where he served as the chapter’s communications chairman. It doesn’t matter if it is a 12-state cross-country trip to Yellowstone National Park or a quick jaunt to a neighborhood park, Mr. Kujawa lives to ride.
On his 40th birthday, Mr. Kujawa made a trip to the hospital emergency room because he couldn’t see out of his left eye. “It was like a piece of tinfoil covered my left eye, and I only had vision from my right,” he said.
He saw an ophthalmologist during his emergency room visit. “After several tests, the doctor said—The good news is you don’t have a blood clot. The bad news is that you have multiple sclerosis,” Mr. Kujawa said.
MS is an autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune response attacks a person’s central nervous system, which includes the brain and spine. MS runs in Mr. Kujawa’s family. His sister was diagnosed with it years ago and is now confined to a wheelchair.
Mr. Kujawa continued working at the CTA for nine more years. It got to a point where it was hard to walk around the CTA campus, moving up and down the stairs, and lifting heavy objects. “It was gradually putting my safety at risk,” he said.
Mr. Kujawa learned about Allsup through the CTA’s retirement benefits website when looking into Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). SSDI is a payroll tax-funded, federal insurance program that provides income to people unable to work because of a disabling impairment.
“There was a link that directed former employees who needed SSDI services to go to Allsup. I thought that was pretty interesting,” said Mr. Kujawa.
Based in Belleville, Ill., near St. Louis, Allsup is a nationwide provider of Social Security disability, Medicare and workers’ compensation services for individuals, employers and insurance carriers. Founded in 1984, Allsup employs more than 600 professionals who deliver specialized services supporting people with disabilities and seniors so they may lead lives that are as financially secure and as healthy as possible.
“I checked out the SSDI website, but the information was overwhelming. When I read it, I wasn’t sure if I would even be eligible,” said Mr. Kujawa.
The call to Allsup went well. “The first conversation involved a few simple questions,” he said. “After the interview was finished, the Allsup representative told me that I should be qualified and would need to fill out paperwork, which arrived a few days later.”
After Mr. Kujawa submitted the necessary documents, then went through a second, more in- depth, phone interview. “I didn’t have to do anything. Allsup took care of it all,” he said. He learned that his
SSDI benefits were approved just five months after his initial call to Allsup. “I couldn’t believe how quickly I was paid. Allsup made it happen fast,” Mr. Kujawa said.
Daily activities for Mr. Kujawa continue to be a challenge. “My MS is getting progressively worse,” he said. “I cannot sit for long periods. I only walk up and down the stairs once a day, and that is to come downstairs for the day and to go to bed at night. I can’t lift heavy objects, so I can’t do as much around the house as I would like. If my wife needs a couple of items from the grocery store, I can run out and get those for her.”
“My wife and two children have been great throughout this process,” he added. “We like to watch Chicago White Sox games, and I’m really good at Sudoku. It’s important for me to keep my mind sharp and remain active.”
Mr. Kujawa still rides his now-modified Harley-Davidson. “I recently converted it to a three-wheel cycle for better handling,” he said. “I can still ride, but just not as far as I used to. “Using Allsup is the best thing I could have done.
“They handle all the paperwork and deal with Social Security for you. I’ve already recommended Allsup to my sister and would recommend them to anyone,” he said.