Social Security

[julie]

For those of you who have applied and been granted SSDI benefits, I am curious to know the following (no names necessary if you don't wish to disclose it):

1. Were you working Part time/Full time when you APPLIED for benefits? (please indicate either part/full or no work).

2. Did you continue to work Part time/Full time while you waited to find out if you were entitled to benefits? (please indicate if you continued to work part or full time).

3. When you were finally given your benefits, were you still working part or full time (please indicate if you were still working part or full time).

4. Did you continue to work part time or full time (if under the allowed earning amount) after you started recieving your benefits?

Thanks to anyone who can answer. I'll answer Mark's below in case anyone is interested about his.

1. Mark was not working, he was a full time student
2. N/A
3. N/A
4. N/A

 

[bgchastain]

Hi Julie-
I applied for SSDI while I attended college. I was 20, so 7 years ago.
1. I worked part time when I applied. I also went to college full time.
2. I did work part time during the process.
3. I stopped working about a month before I started to receive the benefits.
4. I didn't go back to work after that.

Hope that helps you!

 

[wallflower]

I'm not going to be much help here, but I got my SSDI through my dad. At the time I was in school and not working. Once I started working, I was told that since I was able to work I was not disabled anymore and my benfits stopped (2 years after I started working full time I believe (my part time work didn't seem to be a factor). HOWEVER, my Medicare continued for 8 years beyond that (expires next July). I don't know how it all works, but SSA told me to not even bother applying for it again unless I started making under $800 a month (and he was a jerk about it).

EDIT: I am still listed in the system as medically disabled, but am denied because of work only, if that makes any sense.

 

[Faust]

That's my only fear. If I start working and then several years down the road I get real sick or whatever and can't continue, and then they tell me to F off, no soup for you!


It's hard enough to be accepted for disability when you have a medical diagnoses of a known disability, but it's probably next to impossible to get on it after you have worked some. They don't comprehend that you can get worse after you work.

 

[julie]

That was some help Barb, I'm just trying to get some more general information and it helps!!

Thank you also Bonnie, that helps out.

 

[Jennifer1981]

Hi Julie,

1. No work
2. N/A
3. N/A
4. No!!!

They say that you can work, but if you work they will try and use that against you later. I also heard that once you are rejected after receiving benefits, it is near impossible to get it again.

I worked part-time (30 hours a week) as a Medical Assistant. I cultured a strain of pseudo which made me lose my job. My job had to even file a JACO report to protect itself in case any of its patients caught my bug. I worked with terminal cancer patients that were getting chemo and radiation.

I was accepted right away. Most people though are rejected a few times before they start to receive benefits. I think because I lost my job due to my culture and put so many at risk for the month that I didn't know that I had it, it allowed acceptance easier. Also with the JACO report filed.

Jennifer 24 w/CF

 

[Brad]

I applied a few years back, and received the Rejection paper work
in my mail box LESS than hours later. I do work full time, but I do nothing
else because all my energy is used working, I do take off when needed
under the Family Leave Act, I don't paid for time off, it just protects me
from loosing my job. This year I have missed about 15 days so far.

I had a Uncle who had worked all his life and got cancer, he applied
for SS, sadly his first check was delivered the day he was buried.

I think I will move to Canada!!!

 

[Faust]

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>Brad</b></i>

I applied a few years back, and received the Rejection paper work

in my mail box LESS than hours later. I do work full time, but I do nothing

else because all my energy is used working, I do take off when needed

under the Family Leave Act, I don't paid for time off, it just protects me

from loosing my job. This year I have missed about 15 days so far.



I had a Uncle who had worked all his life and got cancer, he applied

for SS, sadly his first check was delivered the day he was buried.



I think I will move to Canada!!!</end quote></div>


I love my country to no end, but the thought has crossed my mind also, but I need to look into all the details and weigh them.

 

[coltsfan715]

Hi there
1. When I first applied I worked full time - then quit and did not work for 6 months while going to school. Then got a part time job to bring in money to pay bills while still going to school after I had applied but before I had received the decision.
2. I worked part time until the time that I received a letter denying me disability status. The reason was because my breathing function was above disabled level. I ended up getting sick right before receiving the decision and having to leave my job. Then I appealled the decision and did not work at all.
3-4. After my appeal I was given disability status and started receiving benefits. I was not working and have not worked since.

As for the job thing and still getting Medicare benefits. I have talked to an Independent Life Specialist - fancy title for a guy/gal that can tell you how much you are capable of earning through a job before your monetary and insurance benefits are affected. He basically told me that if I choose to go back to work I have a 9 month trial period (it does not have to be 9 consecutive months - he said). During that trial period NONE of my benefits would change. The trial period would start when/if I went to work and earned over roughly $600 a month, for each month I earned over that amount a month would be taken out of the trial period. So say I went to work in April and May and earned $650 then I would only have 7 months left in my trial period, but then my earnings for June and July were $550 I would still be left with 7 months in the trial period.

After the 9 month trial period there is a "mini" trial period that is 3 months. In that trial period they are trying to see if you are capable of earning over roughly $800 a month. During those three months your benefits are not affected either. The 3 month trial works the same as the 9 month - according to what I was told - where the "trial period" does not begin until you have used all 9 months in the 9 month trial and until you start earning over $800. The months do not have to be used consecutively. Once you have shown that you can work for more than 3 months earning more than $800 dollars then your benefits will be effected.

With disability it is either all or nothing I was told as far as monetary benefits go. So if you earn $799 you can keep all of your monetary benefits but if you make $801 you receive no monetary support. To my knowledge that starts after the full 12 months of trial work is complete. As for medical/insurance coverage you are covered for I want to say 5 years from the date that you start working or something along those lines. I can not recall the specifics. I do not remember what he said in regards to if you stop working and become unable to work again after your trial period is over, so I am sorry but I can not provide info on that.

Basically the conclusion I came too. You could work in a position and earn only about $750 a month, still keep your monetary payment through SSDI (not through SSI - they are two different entities) and also keep your medical coverage through medicare. You would use the 9 months in your trial period, but the 3 month trial period would never begin because you would never make over $800. Just a way to work the system I suppose. I asked the guy about that and he just stared at me for a second - with the look like you weren't supposed to pick up on that. Then he agreed and said yes ultimately that is a possibility.

*Also the monetary amounts change from year to year based on inflation rates. $800 was a rough estimate - but I think it was closer to $860.

Hope that was helpful. I can give the info of the guy I spoke to to anyone that is interested. He is in Florida, but maybe they have a similar office in other states, and could possibly give you contact information for other areas (I don't know if they can or not that is just speculation).

Lindsey

 

[65rosessamurai]

Well, if any of you guys decide to leave this beloved U.S. of A., due to their red-tape SSI benefits, don't come here!!!!
"We no have benefits, we no not know see eff, you autta ruck, yankee!"

 

[LisaV]

You're talking Social Security Disability based on your work record, right?

If so, For my husband
1. Not working
2. Still not working
3. Still not working
4. Went back to work on the "Back to Work" program, couldn't make it. Worked occasional part time after that.

Was refused the first time. Got a recommended lawyer immediately. Was accepted the second time. Never even rexamined after that. Guess his pfts were pretty low and he had other stuff as well (3 failed spinal fusions, severe chronic pain, etc. )

 

[julie]

Thanks Lisa, that's perfect and just what I was looking for!!

I appreciate the responses from everyone else as well!

Oh fred, come to the US!!!!!!!!!!! <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">