Thanks again LIT LOVE,
I'm going to look at the links you provided but will do so after I finish posting my reply.

No, it's not a public college. It's a private Christian University and that is what I mean by I want to enroll for personal as well as spiritual reasons and not with the hopes of professional employment when I complete the program. I will look further but their curiculuum (sp?) is exactly what interests me.

Please don't assume that you can't find similar classes through a public college or even a less expensive private one. If this is for personal growth only, I'd try to see if you can find out the books each class uses, and start there! Many time professors will have their syllabus available online. You might be able to audit a class for a substantially reduced charge (this is an on campus option) if you're not well enough to attend some lectures, it's not an issue since your participation would be informal anyway.

Please check into the auditing option. Because if you explain the situation about the SSDI, many college's will work with you.

Donna:grouphug:

SSI, shouldn't deduct funds for financial aid. In fact, they might be able to increase funds if the person is eligible for a pell grant. In fact, pell grant has been increased this year. Loans needs to be reported as well, but are not counted as resource either.

As far it be considered work. From my understanding. School is not a job. You have to be a substantially gainfully employed. Some part time job are not substantial.

The ability to keep a schedule, as required by attending classes, has in many cases been sufficient to show the ability to work. And from my recollection of my college experience, school most definitely was work . . . in some cases more challenging than some jobs I have held!

You might want to check out this information: http://www.socialsecurityinsider.com...benefits-case/

From what we were told. It has to be a full time job for either SSI or SSDI. School doesn't count. In fact, according there own rules they suppose to help with schooling. I looked at that page. It says "substantial gainful activity" that is different than what we were told "substantial gainful employed". That was a long time ago. Did they change that it in the last few years? Do they even follow the own rules? I was going to tell him, he could go back to school if he wanted after I am gone. I guess I will have to tell him, he can't unless he finds a special school.

I heard of special schools. They help people with mental disabilities. He is considered borderline mentally disabled. He has a little bit of dyslexia, minimal brain dysfunction, and has trouble getting along with people. I have no idea where they are. I don't think they would end a disability for people going to special school, that would be consider disability discrimination.

Please check post #10 of mine in this thread and follow the link to see a copy of the CDR form. SSA does require a beneficiary to report if they've received any education or training.

The Ticket to Work Program, if a person chooses to utilize it, has it's own rules and protections.

If he wants to attempt working, he can contact the Ticket to Work Program to receive more information about the services available.

He could potentially make under a $1000 a month and continue to collect his SSDI benefits. But, SGA does not mean a person is capable of 40 hours of work a week. A person can be found capable of SGA if the SSA rules that he or she can make a $1000 a month. Some people have lost their benefits by working part time and the SSA decides they've had an improvement in health.

If you think he's potentially capable of working, then why not direct him to this forum so he can communicate for himself? Or he could contact a local advocacy group as well. If he is under the ongoing care of a pysch doc, he should get their opinion.

Your (or your spouse's) being in the picture does not make him more or less disabled... If you're worried about his finances,and you're currently helping to support him, finding him the resources to achieve independence while you're still alive, would be something worth considering.

You do not have to be SGA, you only have to be capable of SGA.
Big difference. And here's the link to what the SSA considers SGA, a part time job can be considered SGA. And someone making $700 or $800 a month can still be found capable of SGA even if they stay under the $1000 threshold. This is why some attorneys advise their clients to never work any hours or get training. It's a personal decision...

http://www.ssa.gov/oact/cola/sga.html

And Financial Aid doesn't need to be reported I was wrong because it isn't considered income:Exempt "Amounts for tuition and fees paid from grants, scholarships and fellowships and gifts for educational expenses"
http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/11015.html

Here's the SSA Working While Disabled link:
http://www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10095.html

LIT LOVE
You are not getting the point.

Me & My son was told substantial gainful employed not substantial gainful activity.
Having him doing errands could even be gainful activity or him mowing the lawn or him using the computer or cleaning the house (He is not so good at cleaning the house) and so on. However, none of that means his is not disabled. I am divorced. I am not saying he is cable of getting a job. The problem would be keeping the job and people understanding him. Now with todays economy, getting a job is almost impossible.

I still stand by what I said about the special schools.

The Op should look into pell grants, vocational rehab, and special schools. Then he would have to borrow less. Future SSDI can be garnished for student loans but SSI cannot. This is according to SSA website.

Sir, I made an incorrect assumption that financial aid was treated as income for SSI, and when you suggested I was wrong, I researched the matter and found out you were correct.

My last post was confusing. "You do not have to be SGA, you only have to be capable of SGA." I should have said, you do not have to be performing Substantial Gainful Activity, you only have to be determined capable of SGA by Social Security.

Social Security's definition of Substantial Gainful Activivity is a dollar figure they determine (currently $1000.) Please don't confuse this with a common definition of the words meanings.

My advise to Shari was specific to her, and in response to her concerns. She is expecting to receive her first CDR, she's concerned about triggering a more in-depth review of her case, and that her interest in taking a class is about her personal goals as much as it is about returning to work.

If you and your son are not familiar with the CDR process, this link is a great resource.:
http://nymakesworkpay.org/docs/Guide_CDR.pdf

Gilbert, a poster to this forum, posted a thread recently about his brother's experience, that even working part-time under the SGA level, was used by the SSA to determine that he was no longer disabled, and resulted in the ending of his benefits. Here is a link to that thread.:http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread157811-2.html

If your son attempted a job, and was unable to keep that job, SSA calls that an Unsuccessful Work Attempt:
http://www.ssa.gov/redbook/2010/ssdi...supports.htm#2