SSI help

[Lance2020x]

Okay first of all, HI! I haven't been here in AGES (and I have almost a dozen messages that are VERY old and need responses, I'm SO sorry! :-( ) I've been traveling a lot and.... trying to figure out the next steps of my life.


Well I got a call from my insurance saying that due to.... some new "hoop" they need all my paperwork to go through SSI, and I needed to contact them and set up an appointment.

Well... Years ago I heard some of you talking about SSI and I thought it sounded very interesting, but I only wanted to look into it if I NEEDED it, because.... well I'm a bit lazy and I didn't and it would be like me to take the "easy path" and I don't like that.... you know?

Anyway, while I was talking to my insurance rep. I mentioned that I had thought about it in the past and she said "Well, while you're talking to them, just ask!"

I've been thinking and thinking and thinking since then and trying to figure out... WHAT DO I DO?
I'm VERY healthy for someone with CF, I take VERY good care of myself.... I used to be a DANCER for petes sake (granted, one of the reasons I quit was I wanted to take care of my body...).

I KNOW it would be a huge pain for me to take a 40 hour a week job, I HAVE worked myself into the hospital before... but I want to live life as if I don't have limitations due to CF...

On the flip side, I've wanted to go to college for awhile, but there is no way financially I could pay for it, and I don't think I could do college and work a job AND do 4 hours of therapies a day... But maybe? I hope all that makes sense...

Good Lord I'm long winded...

Anyway, if you all have opinions please share them.

Also, my meeting is on Tuesday by phone, if you have any suggestions or comments please share, I know a lot of you are on SSI and have gone through the process. What should I expect? What should I say? What should I ask? If I DID decide to go for it, should I do full coverage while in college (if I go) and partial while not? CAN I do that?
Prayers, suggestions, wisdom, stories, all would be appreciated.

Thanks!

(p.s. I'm so so sorry about the piled up messages, I'll try to get to them! For the people who I was going to send the old medical equipment to, I'm really sorry, I'm way behind on messages and haven't had the finances to send the stuff, but I still have them and will sort through my messages soon!)

 

[Lance2020x]

Okay first of all, HI! I haven't been here in AGES (and I have almost a dozen messages that are VERY old and need responses, I'm SO sorry! :-( ) I've been traveling a lot and.... trying to figure out the next steps of my life.


Well I got a call from my insurance saying that due to.... some new "hoop" they need all my paperwork to go through SSI, and I needed to contact them and set up an appointment.

Well... Years ago I heard some of you talking about SSI and I thought it sounded very interesting, but I only wanted to look into it if I NEEDED it, because.... well I'm a bit lazy and I didn't and it would be like me to take the "easy path" and I don't like that.... you know?

Anyway, while I was talking to my insurance rep. I mentioned that I had thought about it in the past and she said "Well, while you're talking to them, just ask!"

I've been thinking and thinking and thinking since then and trying to figure out... WHAT DO I DO?
I'm VERY healthy for someone with CF, I take VERY good care of myself.... I used to be a DANCER for petes sake (granted, one of the reasons I quit was I wanted to take care of my body...).

I KNOW it would be a huge pain for me to take a 40 hour a week job, I HAVE worked myself into the hospital before... but I want to live life as if I don't have limitations due to CF...

On the flip side, I've wanted to go to college for awhile, but there is no way financially I could pay for it, and I don't think I could do college and work a job AND do 4 hours of therapies a day... But maybe? I hope all that makes sense...

Good Lord I'm long winded...

Anyway, if you all have opinions please share them.

Also, my meeting is on Tuesday by phone, if you have any suggestions or comments please share, I know a lot of you are on SSI and have gone through the process. What should I expect? What should I say? What should I ask? If I DID decide to go for it, should I do full coverage while in college (if I go) and partial while not? CAN I do that?
Prayers, suggestions, wisdom, stories, all would be appreciated.

Thanks!

(p.s. I'm so so sorry about the piled up messages, I'll try to get to them! For the people who I was going to send the old medical equipment to, I'm really sorry, I'm way behind on messages and haven't had the finances to send the stuff, but I still have them and will sort through my messages soon!)

 

[Lance2020x]

Okay first of all, HI! I haven't been here in AGES (and I have almost a dozen messages that are VERY old and need responses, I'm SO sorry! :-( ) I've been traveling a lot and.... trying to figure out the next steps of my life.


Well I got a call from my insurance saying that due to.... some new "hoop" they need all my paperwork to go through SSI, and I needed to contact them and set up an appointment.

Well... Years ago I heard some of you talking about SSI and I thought it sounded very interesting, but I only wanted to look into it if I NEEDED it, because.... well I'm a bit lazy and I didn't and it would be like me to take the "easy path" and I don't like that.... you know?

Anyway, while I was talking to my insurance rep. I mentioned that I had thought about it in the past and she said "Well, while you're talking to them, just ask!"

I've been thinking and thinking and thinking since then and trying to figure out... WHAT DO I DO?
I'm VERY healthy for someone with CF, I take VERY good care of myself.... I used to be a DANCER for petes sake (granted, one of the reasons I quit was I wanted to take care of my body...).

I KNOW it would be a huge pain for me to take a 40 hour a week job, I HAVE worked myself into the hospital before... but I want to live life as if I don't have limitations due to CF...

On the flip side, I've wanted to go to college for awhile, but there is no way financially I could pay for it, and I don't think I could do college and work a job AND do 4 hours of therapies a day... But maybe? I hope all that makes sense...

Good Lord I'm long winded...

Anyway, if you all have opinions please share them.

Also, my meeting is on Tuesday by phone, if you have any suggestions or comments please share, I know a lot of you are on SSI and have gone through the process. What should I expect? What should I say? What should I ask? If I DID decide to go for it, should I do full coverage while in college (if I go) and partial while not? CAN I do that?
Prayers, suggestions, wisdom, stories, all would be appreciated.

Thanks!

(p.s. I'm so so sorry about the piled up messages, I'll try to get to them! For the people who I was going to send the old medical equipment to, I'm really sorry, I'm way behind on messages and haven't had the finances to send the stuff, but I still have them and will sort through my messages soon!)

 

[Lance2020x]

Okay first of all, HI! I haven't been here in AGES (and I have almost a dozen messages that are VERY old and need responses, I'm SO sorry! :-( ) I've been traveling a lot and.... trying to figure out the next steps of my life.


Well I got a call from my insurance saying that due to.... some new "hoop" they need all my paperwork to go through SSI, and I needed to contact them and set up an appointment.

Well... Years ago I heard some of you talking about SSI and I thought it sounded very interesting, but I only wanted to look into it if I NEEDED it, because.... well I'm a bit lazy and I didn't and it would be like me to take the "easy path" and I don't like that.... you know?

Anyway, while I was talking to my insurance rep. I mentioned that I had thought about it in the past and she said "Well, while you're talking to them, just ask!"

I've been thinking and thinking and thinking since then and trying to figure out... WHAT DO I DO?
I'm VERY healthy for someone with CF, I take VERY good care of myself.... I used to be a DANCER for petes sake (granted, one of the reasons I quit was I wanted to take care of my body...).

I KNOW it would be a huge pain for me to take a 40 hour a week job, I HAVE worked myself into the hospital before... but I want to live life as if I don't have limitations due to CF...

On the flip side, I've wanted to go to college for awhile, but there is no way financially I could pay for it, and I don't think I could do college and work a job AND do 4 hours of therapies a day... But maybe? I hope all that makes sense...

Good Lord I'm long winded...

Anyway, if you all have opinions please share them.

Also, my meeting is on Tuesday by phone, if you have any suggestions or comments please share, I know a lot of you are on SSI and have gone through the process. What should I expect? What should I say? What should I ask? If I DID decide to go for it, should I do full coverage while in college (if I go) and partial while not? CAN I do that?
Prayers, suggestions, wisdom, stories, all would be appreciated.

Thanks!

(p.s. I'm so so sorry about the piled up messages, I'll try to get to them! For the people who I was going to send the old medical equipment to, I'm really sorry, I'm way behind on messages and haven't had the finances to send the stuff, but I still have them and will sort through my messages soon!)

 

[Lance2020x]

Okay first of all, HI! I haven't been here in AGES (and I have almost a dozen messages that are VERY old and need responses, I'm SO sorry! :-( ) I've been traveling a lot and.... trying to figure out the next steps of my life.


Well I got a call from my insurance saying that due to.... some new "hoop" they need all my paperwork to go through SSI, and I needed to contact them and set up an appointment.

Well... Years ago I heard some of you talking about SSI and I thought it sounded very interesting, but I only wanted to look into it if I NEEDED it, because.... well I'm a bit lazy and I didn't and it would be like me to take the "easy path" and I don't like that.... you know?

Anyway, while I was talking to my insurance rep. I mentioned that I had thought about it in the past and she said "Well, while you're talking to them, just ask!"

I've been thinking and thinking and thinking since then and trying to figure out... WHAT DO I DO?
I'm VERY healthy for someone with CF, I take VERY good care of myself.... I used to be a DANCER for petes sake (granted, one of the reasons I quit was I wanted to take care of my body...).

I KNOW it would be a huge pain for me to take a 40 hour a week job, I HAVE worked myself into the hospital before... but I want to live life as if I don't have limitations due to CF...

On the flip side, I've wanted to go to college for awhile, but there is no way financially I could pay for it, and I don't think I could do college and work a job AND do 4 hours of therapies a day... But maybe? I hope all that makes sense...

Good Lord I'm long winded...

Anyway, if you all have opinions please share them.

Also, my meeting is on Tuesday by phone, if you have any suggestions or comments please share, I know a lot of you are on SSI and have gone through the process. What should I expect? What should I say? What should I ask? If I DID decide to go for it, should I do full coverage while in college (if I go) and partial while not? CAN I do that?
Prayers, suggestions, wisdom, stories, all would be appreciated.

Thanks!

(p.s. I'm so so sorry about the piled up messages, I'll try to get to them! For the people who I was going to send the old medical equipment to, I'm really sorry, I'm way behind on messages and haven't had the finances to send the stuff, but I still have them and will sort through my messages soon!)

 

[Lance2020x]

Okay more thoughts... like I didn't type enough already.

Maybe the above message didn't make much sense, but for some reason I feel... I dunno, almost like I would be a BAD PERSON for taking SSI. I mean I'm really really healthy for someone with CF. I feel like if I were to be on SSI it would be like a free ticket or something, or like "YOU DON'T BELONG HERE!".... Yes, when I've had Jobs, between doing treatments, meds and work it felt like I had NO LIFE, but isn't that how everybody feels, treatments or not?... Am I insane to even be thinking so hard about something like this?

So okay one of my arguments is "Yes I'm very healthy for someone with CF NOW, all the more reason I should be careful and take as good care of myself NOW to better protect my FUTURE."

But that just.. sounds like a lame excuse. For those of you on SSI, is this NORMAL? There are so many people worse off than me... Okay shutting up.

 

[Lance2020x]

Okay more thoughts... like I didn't type enough already.

Maybe the above message didn't make much sense, but for some reason I feel... I dunno, almost like I would be a BAD PERSON for taking SSI. I mean I'm really really healthy for someone with CF. I feel like if I were to be on SSI it would be like a free ticket or something, or like "YOU DON'T BELONG HERE!".... Yes, when I've had Jobs, between doing treatments, meds and work it felt like I had NO LIFE, but isn't that how everybody feels, treatments or not?... Am I insane to even be thinking so hard about something like this?

So okay one of my arguments is "Yes I'm very healthy for someone with CF NOW, all the more reason I should be careful and take as good care of myself NOW to better protect my FUTURE."

But that just.. sounds like a lame excuse. For those of you on SSI, is this NORMAL? There are so many people worse off than me... Okay shutting up.

 

[Lance2020x]

Okay more thoughts... like I didn't type enough already.

Maybe the above message didn't make much sense, but for some reason I feel... I dunno, almost like I would be a BAD PERSON for taking SSI. I mean I'm really really healthy for someone with CF. I feel like if I were to be on SSI it would be like a free ticket or something, or like "YOU DON'T BELONG HERE!".... Yes, when I've had Jobs, between doing treatments, meds and work it felt like I had NO LIFE, but isn't that how everybody feels, treatments or not?... Am I insane to even be thinking so hard about something like this?

So okay one of my arguments is "Yes I'm very healthy for someone with CF NOW, all the more reason I should be careful and take as good care of myself NOW to better protect my FUTURE."

But that just.. sounds like a lame excuse. For those of you on SSI, is this NORMAL? There are so many people worse off than me... Okay shutting up.

 

[Lance2020x]

Okay more thoughts... like I didn't type enough already.

Maybe the above message didn't make much sense, but for some reason I feel... I dunno, almost like I would be a BAD PERSON for taking SSI. I mean I'm really really healthy for someone with CF. I feel like if I were to be on SSI it would be like a free ticket or something, or like "YOU DON'T BELONG HERE!".... Yes, when I've had Jobs, between doing treatments, meds and work it felt like I had NO LIFE, but isn't that how everybody feels, treatments or not?... Am I insane to even be thinking so hard about something like this?

So okay one of my arguments is "Yes I'm very healthy for someone with CF NOW, all the more reason I should be careful and take as good care of myself NOW to better protect my FUTURE."

But that just.. sounds like a lame excuse. For those of you on SSI, is this NORMAL? There are so many people worse off than me... Okay shutting up.

 

[Lance2020x]

Okay more thoughts... like I didn't type enough already.

Maybe the above message didn't make much sense, but for some reason I feel... I dunno, almost like I would be a BAD PERSON for taking SSI. I mean I'm really really healthy for someone with CF. I feel like if I were to be on SSI it would be like a free ticket or something, or like "YOU DON'T BELONG HERE!".... Yes, when I've had Jobs, between doing treatments, meds and work it felt like I had NO LIFE, but isn't that how everybody feels, treatments or not?... Am I insane to even be thinking so hard about something like this?

So okay one of my arguments is "Yes I'm very healthy for someone with CF NOW, all the more reason I should be careful and take as good care of myself NOW to better protect my FUTURE."

But that just.. sounds like a lame excuse. For those of you on SSI, is this NORMAL? There are so many people worse off than me... Okay shutting up.

 

[Faust]

My .2 cents: If you get into the SS system and get out for some reason, you won't be able to get back into the system. So the smart money is on continuing to work until you can't work anymore, then get onto assistance and stop working. I won't share my problems, but basically the system rewards those who won't/can't work. If you are able to work while on assistance, and you come out to do as much, you are screwed. Basically don't do half and half. Either stay disabled and don't work and receive assistance, or stay working and not receive any assistance, and hope the help is there when you finally can barely breath anymore.

 

[Faust]

My .2 cents: If you get into the SS system and get out for some reason, you won't be able to get back into the system. So the smart money is on continuing to work until you can't work anymore, then get onto assistance and stop working. I won't share my problems, but basically the system rewards those who won't/can't work. If you are able to work while on assistance, and you come out to do as much, you are screwed. Basically don't do half and half. Either stay disabled and don't work and receive assistance, or stay working and not receive any assistance, and hope the help is there when you finally can barely breath anymore.

 

[Faust]

My .2 cents: If you get into the SS system and get out for some reason, you won't be able to get back into the system. So the smart money is on continuing to work until you can't work anymore, then get onto assistance and stop working. I won't share my problems, but basically the system rewards those who won't/can't work. If you are able to work while on assistance, and you come out to do as much, you are screwed. Basically don't do half and half. Either stay disabled and don't work and receive assistance, or stay working and not receive any assistance, and hope the help is there when you finally can barely breath anymore.

 

[Faust]

My .2 cents: If you get into the SS system and get out for some reason, you won't be able to get back into the system. So the smart money is on continuing to work until you can't work anymore, then get onto assistance and stop working. I won't share my problems, but basically the system rewards those who won't/can't work. If you are able to work while on assistance, and you come out to do as much, you are screwed. Basically don't do half and half. Either stay disabled and don't work and receive assistance, or stay working and not receive any assistance, and hope the help is there when you finally can barely breath anymore.

 

[Faust]

My .2 cents: If you get into the SS system and get out for some reason, you won't be able to get back into the system. So the smart money is on continuing to work until you can't work anymore, then get onto assistance and stop working. I won't share my problems, but basically the system rewards those who won't/can't work. If you are able to work while on assistance, and you come out to do as much, you are screwed. Basically don't do half and half. Either stay disabled and don't work and receive assistance, or stay working and not receive any assistance, and hope the help is there when you finally can barely breath anymore.

 

[Sevenstars]

Above and beyond the money you get, most people choose to get SSI over working full time because it generally allows you access to state healthcare. Personally I get about 630/mo + healthcare and I can work and make up to $1000/mo, and have. If you work they take what you make -100/2 and subtract it from your SSI check. So if you made 1k you'd actually get 1k-100=900/2=450. 630-450=$180 SSI check. (hope that made sense) I have never made over the amount to actually stop receiving SSI, so I don't know how hard it is to get back on.

I was probably in your similar situation when I was in college. Fortunately my tuition was really cheap (yay for local schools) so my mom helped me out with that. If she hadn't I could have easily gotten just a few loans. I worked about 15ish hours a week in addition to my class load, which was too much. I found the school to be actually way more draining than the work, so I took less classes in the winter (bad time for most CFers, healthwise) and tried to take many of my classes in the summer. This helped a LOT and basically made me able to finish, where I wouldn't have been able to otherwise.

My advice is just to talk to the social worker or whoever from SSI and see what they have to say. Be honest with them, though I'd probably shy away from saying 'But I'm healthy!!' <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0"> Ask her how it works if you want to try to get back to work after school, and if you can/can't do it, and need to get back on SSI or is it a big hassle, etc.

 

[Sevenstars]

Above and beyond the money you get, most people choose to get SSI over working full time because it generally allows you access to state healthcare. Personally I get about 630/mo + healthcare and I can work and make up to $1000/mo, and have. If you work they take what you make -100/2 and subtract it from your SSI check. So if you made 1k you'd actually get 1k-100=900/2=450. 630-450=$180 SSI check. (hope that made sense) I have never made over the amount to actually stop receiving SSI, so I don't know how hard it is to get back on.

I was probably in your similar situation when I was in college. Fortunately my tuition was really cheap (yay for local schools) so my mom helped me out with that. If she hadn't I could have easily gotten just a few loans. I worked about 15ish hours a week in addition to my class load, which was too much. I found the school to be actually way more draining than the work, so I took less classes in the winter (bad time for most CFers, healthwise) and tried to take many of my classes in the summer. This helped a LOT and basically made me able to finish, where I wouldn't have been able to otherwise.

My advice is just to talk to the social worker or whoever from SSI and see what they have to say. Be honest with them, though I'd probably shy away from saying 'But I'm healthy!!' <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0"> Ask her how it works if you want to try to get back to work after school, and if you can/can't do it, and need to get back on SSI or is it a big hassle, etc.

 

[Sevenstars]

Above and beyond the money you get, most people choose to get SSI over working full time because it generally allows you access to state healthcare. Personally I get about 630/mo + healthcare and I can work and make up to $1000/mo, and have. If you work they take what you make -100/2 and subtract it from your SSI check. So if you made 1k you'd actually get 1k-100=900/2=450. 630-450=$180 SSI check. (hope that made sense) I have never made over the amount to actually stop receiving SSI, so I don't know how hard it is to get back on.

I was probably in your similar situation when I was in college. Fortunately my tuition was really cheap (yay for local schools) so my mom helped me out with that. If she hadn't I could have easily gotten just a few loans. I worked about 15ish hours a week in addition to my class load, which was too much. I found the school to be actually way more draining than the work, so I took less classes in the winter (bad time for most CFers, healthwise) and tried to take many of my classes in the summer. This helped a LOT and basically made me able to finish, where I wouldn't have been able to otherwise.

My advice is just to talk to the social worker or whoever from SSI and see what they have to say. Be honest with them, though I'd probably shy away from saying 'But I'm healthy!!' <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0"> Ask her how it works if you want to try to get back to work after school, and if you can/can't do it, and need to get back on SSI or is it a big hassle, etc.

 

[Sevenstars]

Above and beyond the money you get, most people choose to get SSI over working full time because it generally allows you access to state healthcare. Personally I get about 630/mo + healthcare and I can work and make up to $1000/mo, and have. If you work they take what you make -100/2 and subtract it from your SSI check. So if you made 1k you'd actually get 1k-100=900/2=450. 630-450=$180 SSI check. (hope that made sense) I have never made over the amount to actually stop receiving SSI, so I don't know how hard it is to get back on.

I was probably in your similar situation when I was in college. Fortunately my tuition was really cheap (yay for local schools) so my mom helped me out with that. If she hadn't I could have easily gotten just a few loans. I worked about 15ish hours a week in addition to my class load, which was too much. I found the school to be actually way more draining than the work, so I took less classes in the winter (bad time for most CFers, healthwise) and tried to take many of my classes in the summer. This helped a LOT and basically made me able to finish, where I wouldn't have been able to otherwise.

My advice is just to talk to the social worker or whoever from SSI and see what they have to say. Be honest with them, though I'd probably shy away from saying 'But I'm healthy!!' <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0"> Ask her how it works if you want to try to get back to work after school, and if you can/can't do it, and need to get back on SSI or is it a big hassle, etc.

 

[Sevenstars]

Above and beyond the money you get, most people choose to get SSI over working full time because it generally allows you access to state healthcare. Personally I get about 630/mo + healthcare and I can work and make up to $1000/mo, and have. If you work they take what you make -100/2 and subtract it from your SSI check. So if you made 1k you'd actually get 1k-100=900/2=450. 630-450=$180 SSI check. (hope that made sense) I have never made over the amount to actually stop receiving SSI, so I don't know how hard it is to get back on.

I was probably in your similar situation when I was in college. Fortunately my tuition was really cheap (yay for local schools) so my mom helped me out with that. If she hadn't I could have easily gotten just a few loans. I worked about 15ish hours a week in addition to my class load, which was too much. I found the school to be actually way more draining than the work, so I took less classes in the winter (bad time for most CFers, healthwise) and tried to take many of my classes in the summer. This helped a LOT and basically made me able to finish, where I wouldn't have been able to otherwise.

My advice is just to talk to the social worker or whoever from SSI and see what they have to say. Be honest with them, though I'd probably shy away from saying 'But I'm healthy!!' <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0"> Ask her how it works if you want to try to get back to work after school, and if you can/can't do it, and need to get back on SSI or is it a big hassle, etc.