My question is this I know of a friend who has been on social security for abour four years from a stroke. Her speach is not quite back and she is still walking one sided. Yet she insist on trying to go back to college. That was one of her dreams. She is 54 now. I dont know anything about social security but my worse fear is that they try to stop her benefits. Is this possible

It's not likely they will stop her benefits. She is in the age bracket that helps her. Going to college is not the same as working. Social Security would have to do a review of her claim to even have a chance of knowing she is going to college.
It's only one oipinion but it sounds as if she still would be unable to work with her speech impediment and inability to walk long distances. The only thing going to college proves is that she can sit for a few hours and has the mental capacity to absorb and retain information.
It's difficult being physically challenged. I would say encourage her dream.

I so agree that we *need* to go for our dreams! But I remember how hard it was for me to get SSDI. It seems they will do anything to avoid doing so. But this is the thing that may be key. One of the best SSDI lawyers I know always says this. Along with whatever health condition, a person has to be able to sustain FULL TIME work, 8 hours a day, 5 days a week to be disqualified from getting SSDI benefits. At least that's how it works when one is applying for SSDI, and I don't see how that would be different after one gets SSDI. And it doesn't sound like that's possible from what you say. But if someone can do ANY kind of work, even if it's just counting bottle-caps, 8 hours a day, than they won't qualify for benefits. At least that's my understanding.

Even though I had to fight to get benefits, if I ever have a dream again, and whatever it takes to pursue it inside me, I would want my friend to give me all the support they could possibly muster. It's been way too long since I had a dream that felt doable with these health issues causing road blocks everywhere I look. Besides, there's never enough people offering support, ya know what i mean?
You could google disability lawyer websites. I know at least one that is chock full of information about the process of getting benefits, health conditions that qualify, and don't qualify, and what to expect down the road after one receives benefits.
It's wonderful that you are looking out for about your friend's welfare.
Just my 2 cents.
Sunrise

I'm SURE they won't take her benefits away. She's STILL disabled. That hasn't changed. In fact, SS disability encourages people to work a little, just that they can't work full time.

She'll be fine going to college. I applaud her. Peace, Lee

I would tell her to speak with her case worker before she does this. This may show she has residual function capacity which has to do with age, education and work experience which fits into SS guidelines. They find any reason they can to cut your benefits so be careful. Sometimes trying to better yourself backfires. Let me add that the SS agency as far as I remember, can take money from her benefits if she isn't able to pay her school loan, of course this won't happen until 6 months after she completes school.

So long as you don't make more than $900 monthly.

I will tell you what my lawyer from Allsup told me this past June after I won at the ALJ level. He said whatever you do as far as trying to work or going to school make sure it is what you want to do as they probaly will try to take your benefits away from you if they can come revieww time. I go for a knee replacement surgery on Tuesday and hope to finally get better soon. My review is for July 2012. I would like to be able to get off SSDI if I can. But I will make sure I have found either a good job or going back to school to do something I want to do before I jeopordize my benefits. It took too long to get them.

Actually, for 2010 the figure is $1,000. It goes up every year.

Trudi, maybe I misunderstood, but I was told that $720 was the "cap" in a regular situation unless you were TRYING/ABLE to return to the workforce. Here is the explantion I found. Does this make any sense??

http://ssa-custhelp.ssa.gov/cgi-bin/...i=&p_topview=1



Question
I am receiving Social Security disability benefits. Will I lose my benefits if I work and earn money?


Answer
Not right away. We have special rules called "work incentives" that help you keep your disability and Medicare benefits while you test your ability to work. For example, there is a trial work period during. During the trial work period you can receive full benefits regardless of how much you earn. You just have to report your work activity and continue to have a disabling impairment.

The trial work period continues until you accumulate nine months (not necessarily consecutive) in which you perform what we call "services" within a rolling 60-month period. We consider your work to be "services" if you earn more than $720 a month in 2010. For 2009, this amount was $700.

After the trial work period ends, your benefits will stop for months your earnings are at a level we consider "substantial," currently $1,000 in 2010. For 2009, this amount was $980. Different amounts apply to people who are disabled because of blindness. The monthly substantial amount for statutorily blind individuals for 2010 is $1,640; for 2009 this amount was $1,640.

Oh thanks , not that $240 yearly is that much but it can make a difference to some. They didn't give a raise to the people on Social Security because of the economy but they raised the income base because of the economy?