working and ssi - Disabilities Message Board

vadeaux · 01-26-2008, 12:15 PM

I am currently receiving supplimental security income and hane been for about 10 years.I was told (by my case worker,whom I have only actually seen twice--ever) that I was aloud to make a little money.I am an artist by trade but it never really put food on the table so I got a part time job at a dry cleaners.Iwas employeed there for less than a year. the following summer Ireceived a call from the same case worker informing me that my ssi would be cut off untill I showed them the records/payment i had received. when I asked why the case worker claimed she never told me that. I don't have the funds to get a lawyer and there are no probono lawers or advocates in gulf shores ,foley or any other part of baldwin county,Alabama.I tried going to our state senitor but did'nt get much futhger than his assitant. It is a long story and I am sure I am leaving a lot out all I know is I and ALOT of other people in this area are in grave need of some real social guidance

Executor · 01-26-2008, 10:44 PM

Go to the SS website and download the brochure and info on working while on disability. This way, you'll know all the facts and where your particular case stands. To the best of my knowledge, there is some "trial" work period where you can make any amount, and then after that you can only make so much per month, depending on when you started and etc. If you stop working, then the clock resets itself....All sorts of rules & etc. At least this is a starting point for you.

Executor · 01-26-2008, 10:52 PM

Go to the SS website and download the brochure and info on working while on disability. This way, you'll know all the facts and where your particular case stands. To the best of my knowledge, there is some "trial" work period where you can make any amount, and then after that you can only make so much per month, depending on when you started and etc. At least this is a starting point for you.

roses4lace · 01-27-2008, 01:27 AM

Just take your income statements to social security. SSI does not have a trial work period, but some of the income doesn't get counted against you They will work with you if they overpaid you, and there is a maximum that can be withheld from your check. They may take less if you can prove it will be a hardship. They don't seem so concerned about getting all the money, as they do about getting some of it back each month.

With SSI, you have to report every single penny you receive to Social Security within a certain time period. There is something called "countable income" which is not the same as the amount you earned. They will do some elaborate computations, and may reduce your SSI if they calculate an overpayment. You can't even have family giving you Christmas money, or buying your meals or food for you, or social security will say you received money you could have used for supporting yourself, and will claim they overpaid you. SSI is welfare, and if you are earning some money, they say you don't need all of the free money, that you should be living off your earnings. If you can work some, talk to them about a PASS plan - it lets you set aside some of your income to save for things such as classes, equipment, etc., anything you will need to become self-sufficient, and won't be counted against your SSI payments.

My son made some money last year, and they reduced his SSI to less than 1/4 of what he was originally getting, and they say he still owes them over $2000. Fortunately, he just got approved for DAC, so these charges will be taken care of by his back pay, and they'll have to figure out what he would have gotten on DAC vs. what he got on SSI, vs. how much did his income affect things, and straighten it all out.

SSI is very frustrating, and I never figured out how they decided the amount he would receive each month. If there is any way to get on SSDI or DAC, it is much more lenient, and you can earn more without losing benefits.