Originally Posted by Jsh1284

Hello posters .. I'm here because there seems to be a lot of experience when it comes to disability matters here. More specifically though .. I was awarded a fully favorable decision at my hearing on May 29th! I got my letter describing exactly how they came to this decision and it says I will get SSDI and SSI benefits along with insurance benefits and all the other goodies. Well of course it's taken a while .. and I'm just wondering what's next. My lawyer was great but now that the hard part is over he doesn't seem to like calling me back anymore .. heh. So I know it's a 60 day waiting period until I get a letter describing exactly what I'm going to get paid .. and 20 of those days are up now .. so what can I expect in terms of when I'll finally start getting my benefits, my back-pay etc?

Also, I have a bigger question as well. I am looking at a LOT of back-pay. My date of onset goes back three years - so I'll get paid (ssdi) going back to THEN. Well, what has me worried though is the fact that I've discovered you can't have over $2000 dollars in assets if you want to keep your SSI. I don't want to just blow thousands of dollars. Furthermore, I don't even know how I could legally even DO that without having more than $2000 in assets accumulated FROM SPENDING the money... LOL. So what's the deal with that? How can I keep my money (I want to save it and buy a house with it down the road) .. and not lose my SSI benefits?

Thanks so much for your help in advance!
Steve H

Originally Posted by Kathi49

Hoosier Daddy,

I just received my "Calculation" Letter (July 10th). And of course, I had to forward that to OPM since I have a pension. Oh, and I will receive my first payment on August 19th. But even so, OPM has to make some adjustments due to the WEP. But not as badly affected as I thought I might be. In any case, this pertains to federal employees.

Anyway, I know you all are speaking of SSI. But I wanted to throw this out there. Did you know that UP TO 85% of your backpay (SSDI) is taxable depending on your income? Found that out after talking to my tax preparer. Read IRS Publication 915 for more info. From what I gather most people who receive a LOT of backpay and have an income higher than $32,000 will spread the backpay over previous years tax returns back to your disability date. Ain't life grand? Anyway, as I said, that pertains to SSDI.

Originally Posted by Jsh1284

Well, I just did some research on the SSA's site and it seems I have nine months to spend my money and then if I still have it after that period I will not get SSI benefits until I get rid of those resources.

I don't understand this. Seems like they would give you some leeway if you're trying to save back to buy your own home or something. I dunno .. maybe I need to just try to get a place now while the housing market is down. I could probably find something nice for cheap and get out on my own. Hmm ... something to think about. Still I would like to do that on my own terms and not be .. kinda pushed into it. Heh I am bipolar and all .. so I feel like I'm in a situation now. Not exactly a bad one to be in but I kinda feel pressured. Bleh ...

Originally Posted by Jsh1284

Well it's not so bad for me now that I think about it. I could save my backpay and get myself a nice lil trailer out away from the city .. and maybe buy a cheap car .. and I'd be set, really. I just wonder if I'm ready to live on my own. It's kinda scary to think of all the free time I'd have living alone like that. It's nice living with my family because I have everyone around and they can kinda keep me under control if I go off the deep end manic (thank GOD that hasnt happened in a long time) .. so I dunno. Maybe I could get a place and live there most of the time but still have a place to sleep here incase that DID happen so I can kinda have someone to keep an eye on me. I know I need it.

Still it sucks that SSI would limit someone like this. I understand why they'd do it but there should be like some clause in the deal where you could like open up a certain type of savings acct or something where you can save .. assuming you're in a position to do so. I mean I suppose I could buy a vault and keep cash in it but that would not only be illegal but dangerous. Grr! I guess the best thing to do for now is wait and see what I'll get exactly .. and then hopefully I can get in touch with my lawyer to see if there's a loophole in this whole thing that I can climb thru.

Anyways thanks for your replies.

I just wanna ask this again now that that's kinda cleared up. Once I get my letter showing how much they're gonna pay me and everything how long will it be until I like.. get my first check and then my first back-pay checks and everything? I really need this money ASAP. It's been so long and I've been letting important stuff go forever so I'm real anxious to get that first check .. heh .. if for no other reason than to know its FINALLY OVER! It's almost unreal that I'm almost finished with everything and my new life is about to start!