Does Working Part Time Jeopardize a CDR
 

Hi Everyone-
I just got approved and I'm super happy about this. However, my disability amount isn't enough to pay all my bills. Right now I couldn't imagine working, but soon I may need to work part time to help pay my bills. Right now I live with my mom, who is supporting me.
I have bipolar, anxiety and depression and an artificial heart valve. These conditions prevent me from working high stress jobs and now with increase of my meds, I have a hard time concentrating. However, if need be I may try and get a bagging job at a grocery store.
In my approval letter I am within the MIE, I think due to my age. Rvd. in July 2015, this falls within the 18 month time period.
So my question is, if I eventually go back to work part time for 15 hours or so and stay well beneath the SGA amount do you think I will be risking losing my benefits?
I'm caught between a rock and a hard place here and I'd like to believe what the REDBOOK says about working part time being ok....Any thoughts?? Thanks for your input.
Canswicky
Again I'm so relieved to have been approved, and I am not complaining, I'm just obsessing and worrying over something I truly have no control over. I guess I'm just looking for other's who have worked part time and have survived ....and have kept their SSDI....please put me at ease if possible.
Thanks a lot.:)

Are you receiving SSI or SSDI? Different rules apply.

http://www.disabilitysecrets.com/top...ile-disability

I am receiving SSDI. Like I said I'm not going to even consider part time work for a few months, but I thinkmy mom would appreciate any amount I could help out with as long as it didn't aggravate my illness.

Working Part time and keeping SSDI
 

As far as the rules go, I think I'm safe, but I was hoping to hear stories of other's who have kept their SSDI while working Part time....
Anyone out there?

Thanks and sorry to be nagging...just obsessing.

Canswicky

Please if there's anyone who works part time and has had a successful CDR please reply. I hate to beg, but now I'm begging.

thanks and I hope all have a pleasant Wednesday!
Thanks ahead of time.
Canswicky

LIT LOVE provided a link for you to "research." Did you read all of the info? Pertains to you.

Not trying to be nosy or anything but what type of "bills" are we talking about here? Asking because, there are some resources out there that may be able to help.
Examples:
Cable bills - Comcast & Verizon FIOS have discount programs for seniors/disabled.

You may qualify for food stamps. Check w/your local Social Service Office.

Utilities - Most states have programs. Again check w/your local Social Service Office.


LAST BUT NOT LEAST: Read the stickies at the top of this website. Loads of info there that may be of further assistance while you are waiting for a response here.


:hug:

Thanks MZ yes I read the link and it pretty much clears things up for me. If I need to work part time then that's what I'll do and I'll of course report it to SSA and then if I get the long review come July so be it.
The big bill I'm talking about is rent...if I move out of mom's which I want to do since I'm almost 42, I will have about 1200-1300 to pay for an apartment, my disability is 1379, so yes things will be tight.
Thanks for replying
Canswicky

The long form review is comparable to the initial application process, btw. If you want to try working look into the Ticket to Work program as it does provide some additional protections.

If you make $770 or more in a month that will count as one of the 9 months allowed in your Trial Work Period. http://www.ssa.gov/oact/cola/twp.html

If you are able to work pt it is not quite as simple as SS leaves you alone if you stay under the SGA amount. Some have reported that they have lost their benefits by proving they're capable of working near the SGA level. What is the amount that is "safe"? Who knows. You might want to consider going to college and figuring out if there is a skilled desk job you could manage and make more money per hour, which would be workable for you.

You can also utilize free Vocational Rehabilitation Services. Jobs can even include government jobs where you take incoming calls from home.

And lastly, you might want to see if there is any subsidized housing for the disabled. If your credit is in decent good shape and you wouldn't mind living in a designated rural area, the USDA offers subsidized loans to those with low income, including the disabled. The rules are pretty specific but it's an excellent loan program.

Thanks LitLove, yes I have a college degree and have had office jobs in the past. It's just with my last big break down I have lost complete confidence in being able to do any type of stressful job. Plus with my heart condition, my doctor thinks it best to look for a low key job. When I decide to think about working I will check with SSA about my options and go from there. All I know is that this in itself is making me extremely anxious and not helping my mental illness at all. My therapist says that there are plenty of jobs for disabled people and that they are able to keep their benefits, so I'll just have to follow all of the rules and have faith that all will be ok. I can't live at my mom's forever. Thanks so much for your input.
Canswicky

I've just researched the Trial work Period Program and if I decide to try part time work I think I'll look into this program...you get nine months in the trial period and if I make less than the $770 then it won't count as one of the nine months. This may work for me...but I just want to play by the rules.
thanks again for everyone's input.
Canswicky

The TWP isn't really a program, it's a work incentive...

Here's a good place to start your research:
http://www.ssa.gov/disabilityresearc...tailedinfo.htm

It's best to continue on this thread then respond to the outdated threads of others.

Janke has previously written about the problem of returning to work within 12 months in this forum. Here's a link that explains why: http://cascadiadisabilitylaw.com/wp/...aimant-beware/

I moved my response from the other thread...

Please read this, it's pretty typical of the advise of most attorneys:
http://ssblog.bsgfdlaw.com/can-i-wor...lity-benefits/

And this: http://www.ssa.gov/work/overview.html#a0=1
A major advantage of signing up for the Ticket to Work program is that you'll, "•Be protected from receiving a medical continuing disability review while using the Ticket and making the expected progress with work or educational goals."

Most doctors and therapists are pretty clueless about SSDI and SSI. But, it is true that SS can't just take away your benefits with no warning. --If SS found you're no longer eligible you would have three months continuing pay and you'd also have the opportunity to fight the decision via appeal during which time you'd continue to receive benefits. If you ultimately lost your appeal you could potentially be responsible for paying back the extra months of benefits you received.

Thanks both of you for replying and supplying links. SSA set my onset as of 9/01/13 so as of now I believe that puts me in the 12 month period of after being proven disabled, so it maybe safer to get that part time job now, but I still think I'm better off waiting. This has caused me much anxiety and complicated my health to the point where my therapist thinks waiting longer for part time work no matter how low stress is a better idea. As far as the housing predicament, I may look into getting a roommate when the time comes. It's not like my mom is kicking me out. I can be here forever if I want, it's just that I want to be a grown up and move on with my life....
Anyhoo, thanks for all the links and support, you guys ROCK!
Canswicky

In the meantime, start researching your local subsidized housing options/wait lists or even if there is an area you might be interested in relocating to (that's what I ended up doing). ;)

no discounts.
 

I just called Verizon and Comcast. they don't offer a discount for seniors or disabled.

[QUOTE=Mz Migraine;1098800][B]LIT LOVE provided a link for you to "research." Did you read all of the info? Pertains to you.

Not trying to be nosy or anything but what type of "bills" are we talking about here? Asking because, there are some resources out there that may be able to help.
Examples:
Cable bills - Comcast & Verizon FIOS have discount programs for seniors/disabled.

You may qualify for food stamps. Check w/your local Social Service Office.

Utilities - Most states have programs. Again check w/your local Social Service Office.


LAST BUT NOT LEAST: Read the stickies at the top of this website. Loads of info there that may be of further assistance while you are waiting for a response here.[

[QUOTE=snow0700;1105473]I just hung up from Verizon and Comcast. they don't offer discounts for seniors or disabled.

I am sure there are members who had a successful CDR while working part time and those that haven't. And their situation will not be the same as yours, even if their experience makes you feel better or worse.

And you should also remember that the point of work incentives and the Ticket To Work is to get you back into the work force and off of disability benefits, while giving you time to see if you can do it. You may be able to use the work incentives as a way of making more money, but that is not the intent of the policies.

You may want to look into Impairment Related Work Expenses that reduce the wages when comparing them to SGA amounts. Those would be expenses that you have, that a non-disabled person would not have, that allow you to be able to work - modifications to your environment that you pay for, additional medication that you pay for, etc. These are not common, but they exist.

[QUOTE=snow0700;1105474]Yes they do. You need to ask to speak w/a supervisor or a manager rather than speaking to customer rep.

Verizon's Lifeline Discount Program

Comcast Internet Essentials

Your state and/or county may offer others. Research online. Reason why you need to speak directly w/Comcast & Verizon's supervisors and/or managers.




GOOD LUCK! :hug:

working
 

i just applied to goodwill. everyone there is disabled.

Sheltered Workshops are treated differently than regular employment.

oh?
 

can you explain? can i use twp up and still keep working there without losing benefits?

If you're going to be making over the SGA? No.

Are you even in a Sheltered Workshop?

yes
 

trying to work at goodwill

Goodwill will offer Sheltered Workshops and regular employment. Not every location will have Sheltered workshops.

thx
 

good to know

work
 

ssa needs to clarify work attempts. there are probably under the right cicumstances and the right employer work on a limited basis. but if i ask 10 people i get 10 different answers. there are so many menial jobs the disabled could do on a limited basis. we would contribute in the way of fica taxes, give us purpose but the way it is now it seems to an all or nothing deal with ssa. i couldnt possibly work full time and part time would be difficult but i would love to try. ticket to work is meant to bum rush you benefits. after my failed work attempt i promptly recieved a long form cdr. i only worked less than a month. so much for the ticket protecting you. its not the money. i sit home everyday staring out the window. it's horrible

I thought I had read you needed to keep your earning under 50% of SGA for the month, but I think I misread the rule.

If you stay under $701 per month, you won't trigger a Long Form:

"If question 1.a. is answered “Yes” (or is not answered or is answered BOTH Yes and NO, and DIRCON does not resolve these situations), but question 1.b. is blank/no earnings are reported, the mailer is actionable.
If there is insufficient WORK BEGAN and/or WORK ENDED information in question 1.b. to determine when the earnings occurred, but the reported MONTHLY EARNINGS in 1.b. are $701 or more in any of the three entries, the mailer is actionable." https://secure.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0440502001

Many people forget that some moths they might have an additional paycheck, so you need to factor that as well.

The GOAL really should be to return to work and to make above the SGA level. If that means receiving new training or completing additional education so you can make more money per hour, than so be it. The Ticket To Work Program is always an option.

thx
 

but somtimes it seems to me that ssa makes up the rules as they go. i contacted ssa via email with my concerns. 4 days day later they responded with an explaination that applied to people on ss retirement.

You want to avoid human interaction when possible when dealing with SS.

Own rules
 

They got your money, just like bank bailouts, they got what they wanted from disillusioned taxpayers, and could care less.

I'm not sure who you emailed or what your question was? As a general rule, staff at the 800# or a national office will have more experience with SS retirement then SSI/SSDI and they sometimes don't have adequate training. When possible, it's best to contact your local field office since they have more training.

With the form that is scanned, a computer follows the rules exactly as programmed. Most staff will as well, as you can see from the POMS I linked, their instructions are very specific. Many beneficiaries unknowingly will make an error on the form that will encourage a Long Form. Be very careful how you fill your CDRs out. If you're unsure how to do it, ask questions before starting. http://nymakesworkpay.org/docs/Guide_CDR.pdf

Many attorneys encourage their clients not to ever work, even pt. I think if you can work, you should. Hopefully, you'll end up being able to return to work ft eventually.

I returned to work PT - I believe it triggered a short form 455 and while I am under 20 hours a week and under 700 a month (15 hours a week - 600 a month) I just received notification that I will NOT lose my SSDI benefits.
I wanted to tell others that it probably depends on your physical scenario.

I'm 60 - on SSDI for 10 years. I was truly paranoid that I was going to lose my benefits but with my husband on the liver transplant list and ultimately almost going to lose housing I *had* to figure it out to keep a roof over our heads.
I had to.
Fortunately, I guess because of my age, because of my disability, because, because... I am OK.
thank God.
It's not easy... trust me - it's not...

Ever consider a room mate to share in the monthly rent and other expenses?