Social Security Disablity Community Group
This is for any one that has found themselves in the long wait for Soicial Security. Any one that has gone through this process or is in the middle of it. Venting is allowed.
True or false: If you work while receiving SSDI or SSI benefits, your benefits will be stopped permanently.
I think the answer to this is supposed to be that if you work under the guidelines set by the Social Security Administration, you keep your benefits including your Medicare/Medicaid (Medi-Cal in California) healthcare coverage for a period of time. What a person needs to understand is the conditions they set, which includes a nine-month trial work period and how they define substantial gainful activity, or work.
However, in my case, I have worked under the guidelines of the Social Security Administration, and I have been told my benefits will stop anyway. In the month of December 2012, I worked as a bell ringer/kettle worker for the Salvation Army. The work consisted of standing beside a metal 'kettle' and ringing a bell for eight hours a day, five days a week, to let passersby know that I was collecting donations which could be dropped in the kettle. The work was full-time and lasted for three weeks and one day. It was the first work I have done in eleven years. Because the work did not include special accommodation such as help in doing the work or some kind of device that helped me do the work, they consider it evidence that I am capable of working and no longer require SSDI.
I turned in my paystubs and provided all the information on my employer that was requested. But the paperwork I completed and submitted in person to them was somehow lost by the employees of the Social Security office, so I had to do it all over again, this time in person with an employee of the Social Security Administration, in their office again. Additionally, they returned copies of my pastubs to me, stating that I had not printed my Social Security number on them. So I mailed them back with my Social Security number printed on them as requested. It's a tangled mess of paperwork lost somewhere in a government building.
So, I am appealing their decision, and I will let all of you know how it turns out. Unfortunately, while I appeal the case, I will likely lose my benefits and therefore lose the place where I live and everything I own, and end up homeless on the streets. I hate that part of life, where you lose everything and have to start all over again at zero, because it's happened to me so many times! Here I am at age 47, without a star on my horizon again. Life can be really unpleasant, and then you die in the end anyway.
I think the answer to this is supposed to be that if you work under the guidelines set by the Social Security Administration, you keep your benefits including your Medicare/Medicaid (Medi-Cal in California) healthcare coverage for a period of time. What a person needs to understand is the conditions they set, which includes a nine-month trial work period and how they define substantial gainful activity, or work.
However, in my case, I have worked under the guidelines of the Social Security Administration, and I have been told my benefits will stop anyway. In the month of December 2012, I worked as a bell ringer/kettle worker for the Salvation Army. The work consisted of standing beside a metal 'kettle' and ringing a bell for eight hours a day, five days a week, to let passersby know that I was collecting donations which could be dropped in the kettle. The work was full-time and lasted for three weeks and one day. It was the first work I have done in eleven years. Because the work did not include special accommodation such as help in doing the work or some kind of device that helped me do the work, they consider it evidence that I am capable of working and no longer require SSDI.
I turned in my paystubs and provided all the information on my employer that was requested. But the paperwork I completed and submitted in person to them was somehow lost by the employees of the Social Security office, so I had to do it all over again, this time in person with an employee of the Social Security Administration, in their office again. Additionally, they returned copies of my pastubs to me, stating that I had not printed my Social Security number on them. So I mailed them back with my Social Security number printed on them as requested. It's a tangled mess of paperwork lost somewhere in a government building.
So, I am appealing their decision, and I will let all of you know how it turns out. Unfortunately, while I appeal the case, I will likely lose my benefits and therefore lose the place where I live and everything I own, and end up homeless on the streets. I hate that part of life, where you lose everything and have to start all over again at zero, because it's happened to me so many times! Here I am at age 47, without a star on my horizon again. Life can be really unpleasant, and then you die in the end anyway.
In Montana a man just went to jail for under reporting his earnings so be careful.
http://mtstandard.com/news/state-and-regional/philipsburg-man-is-sentenced-for-social-security-disability-fraud/article_de17d9a6-886d-11e2-b052-0019bb2963f4.html
http://www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10095.pdf
Please keep us updated on your situation:):)
~~~bear
When I applied for SSDI I was still actually working..........and had brought in my pay check stubs to show them (currently)......the rep I spoke to then said as long as it wasn't over $720 (2012 limit)......I was fine.........we finished off my paperwork and I was approved for SSDI after the initial 5 month wait.
Then at some point, later, hubby and I went to local office regarding his retirement stuff and I again asked about me working..........it was now 2013 and the limit has been raised to $750 a month.
I work 2 short days a week and my employer does allow me to have a supplemental o2 tank at work...that I have had to us a couple of time last year..and there have been a few days when I just could not go to work.................but the flip side of that is there has been a few days when I could fill fin for someone that has called off..
I just think there must me sumptin more to this...........or maybe that is just wishful thinking:):)
Whatever...I do hope Beaumont gets it fixed ASAP!!!!!!!!!
This entire situation is the fault of people at the SSA not taking the time to properly review my paperwork. I will keep trying, but I am not able to smile about any of this. It has not been fun. This should not have happened.