How Much Can I Earn and Still Collect SSDI?

i am married does my husband income amount affect me from being eligable for ssi

whats is quality review? how long does it take and can they overturn an approval? if so how often?

My husband has maniers disease and can no longer hear. He is a salesman and his employer will be asking him to step down in his position since he can not hear customers even with his hearing aids. He is 56. How long should it take to get on disability and where do we turn to for health ins? Do they usually turn down these cases for the first couple of years?
Thanks

I just started drawing my SSD last summer. However, it’s very hard to make it on this. I am in KY.

I draw for my mental disability. I have bipolar disorder, anxiety and depression.

I know you can work so many hours, but I have a very hard time finding a job. Going through about 6 years of my life and not being properly medicated now have things on my record. So every thing I apply for a job, it’s found. And I cannot get it expunged yet.

I thought about going back to school, but I’ve here if you go back to school, they will say you obviously don’t need SSD. I feel like I’m in a bad position right now. Please give me some advise.

m, ky

Are you saying that if receiving ssdi in 2009, that you can work every month and earn up to $979/mo without any consequences? No trial period starting or anything?

I am 55 yrs.old and was approved for disability and qualify for disability
rehabilitation vocational services my question is wise too work par-time for work making $8.00 per @28 or 32 hours a week.

I am 55 yrs.old and was approved for disability and qualify for disability
rehabilitation vocational services my question is wise too work par-ttime for work making $8.00 per @28 or 32 hours a week.

My question is when I turned 65 I went fro SSID to widows Benefits, and Medicare! I was wondering if I can work , either parttime, or full how much do I have to pay SSAdm. for working.I’. 68 now . when I was 65 I wanted to work but it wasn’t clear what I could do! I was on Medicade when I got Widows Benefit they took away my Medicade and paid for my Medicare which doesn’t pay much so I have to also! I’d appreciate some answers thanks

I am about to do a special project/contract work with the Bureau of Census. The project is for 8 wks, and it pays $22.50/hr as well as .50 cents per mile with regards to public transportation.

I’ve been getting SSDI for about 3 years now, but am totally unsure if this job could put my benefits at risk. If anyone knows, please feel free to educate me!

I was just awarded permanent disability in Jan. 2010 at $1140 per month. I have been self employed but not making more than a few hundred a month this past year. however, looks like I can start to make quite a bit more now. Since it is self employment, what are my restrictions,when do I need to inform S.S. and do they take my gross or after I do a profit and loss? Very worried about losing it since it took two and a half years to get it.

@Ann:

Ann,
Has anyone replied to your question? I have been looking for the same answer….
Thanks
Chris

I was in jail for 10 months in Florida. I was being payed while incarcarated by Social Security. They issued me a letter of overpayment of over $8,000.00. I moved to Illinois and went down to my local Social Security office and payed the overpayment. They said I would then again receive my benefits after 2 months since paying the overpayment. I have yet received a payment, I am wondering can they refuse me payment because of a bench warrant I have out still in Illinois, even tho not convicted? I was told a judge in San Francisco ruled that this was illegal and order millions of dollars repaid to recipients. Can you please advise me, thanks!

From what I have found out by calling the 800 number for SSA, I can make $980 a month GROSS pay. And I can work 24.5 hours a week @ $9.00/hr. Before SSDI turns around asks for any money back from me because I made too much that month. But if you have any questions, you can always call the Medicare number to ask about your benefits and pay, etc.

I understand that I am able to work while applying for disability albeit may harm chances of approval. My questions is does it change the ‘back pay’ to the most recent job. I haven’t been able to work in over two years, will it cut into my back pay if I get a part time job while waiting for approval?

@tami:

SSI is based on the entire household. Disability is based on the individual

I received a recorded message from Social Security say that I could work from home part time and still be eligable to receive my full SSDI benefits and I would like to find out more about it . Is there a phone # or website that I could go to too get this info?

I have terminal cancer and am being discharged from active duty Air Force, I will be collecting VA benifits of 100%. I am 34 and still able to work for the next few years. If I decide not to collect SSDI may I still work and is so are there any restrictions? Thank you in advance for all responces. Will

I have a question, I am collecting SSDI and just recentlying got a letter for Disability Update Report. I started going to school online and wanted to know if this is going to affect my SSDI? I only put maybe 10 hours a week in for school and there is some days that I just do not feel like doing anything. It is so different from working full-time and on a set schedule. Please help if anyone can. Thank you

@Tami:

Tammy,

I was self-employed and because I did my taxes as self employed it sparked a re-evaluation of my ability to work, not only did I get audited by IRS, I was also re-evaluated by SSDI and received a form that I had to fill out. After they received it, they said all was okay. Yet 3 months later a complete evaluation was done and I received more forms for my doctors and etc. It ended up being 6 months from hell. It was not worth all the stress, which sparked an episode of severe bipolar depression. I lost that job BECAUSE of my illness (even though the employer knew of my disability), because if “inconsistant performance”. Which is the definition of bi-polar disorder! After that experience I will NEVER attempt to work again. It was NOT worth it. I nearly suicided because I felt that I couldn’t live on $945 a month – even with food stamp assistance (the housing program here closed the list for assistance for nearly 3 years). Rent consumed 3/4 of my disability, and i was headed for homelessness. Because I was considered an “independant contractor” (even though my boss micromanaged my work) my tax rate was increased to self-employment tax I ended up owing IRS/SS etc., more than $800 that they were going to take out of my monthly diability. I’m telling you, if you are disabled – don’t ever make more than $500 a month – even making that much on a consistant basis will red-flag you for a disability audit.

The goverment wants to avoid taxing the wealthy and corportations and to make ends meet they are putting A LOT of pressure on IRS and Disability to “clean house” to fix the economic woes that Bush (funding oil wars and terriost attacks and protecting the wealthy) and Corporate Banking and Wall Street lies and machinations has caused.

I’m telling all of you – watch out, they are out to take your benefits – all of them by dismanteling the SS Admin, including medicare / medicade and other Fed and State benefits (including housing, foodstamps, medicare, medicaid, vocational rehab, mental health services, etc). If the program’s intent is to help the poorest of the poor it is being considered on the chopping block this very minute in order to avoid millionaire individuals and corporations from losing money that they would otherwise spend paying kickbacks, prostitutes, several luxury vacations a year, and lawyers and accountants highly trained at hiding illegal expenditures and immoral shennagicans.

You are damned if you work, you are damned if you don’t. Work / Not Work? Choose which at this time is the choice that hurts YOU least IN THE LONG RUN. There will be a time, soon enough, that you will have to work because there are no more benefits. And if you are receiving benefits and you don’t deserve them – shame on you! You are hurting people who do need them IN A CATASTROPHIC WAY!

I’m not working right now, but I know the amount of money you can make increases every year.

My question is, what can a person make per year in this 2011 year without worring about
SSDI getting in the way. I do collect SSD & need advise as to how much per year I can earn without losing my SSDI

When you get an answer to this Wanda will you please email it to me. I`m in the same boat
Thanks
Colleen

A plead for help! Question; the short of ot; i am a disabled man,single parent of the most bestist,wonderful,honor-roll student, beautiful little 10 yr. Old princess. (Sorry bout that, my little Rodia is all the inspiration in my life, i am so very thankful for her.// Ive been on S.S.D.I. since 2004. I pay 550 per month for the current apartment that i u.rent, which is a one bedroom, and at which in all reality, is literally my ndaughters apartment. My living arragements, ( and as its been the same throughout our 1-1/2 yrs. Residence at the apt. Previous to our current, mainly has included bouncing arround from sofao to fold-up cot, in small places around our livingrooms, trying always, my best, to not interfere with the neatness of our furniture. (This is not a complaint,its simply a worded picture of my familys reality); ” please help if u can// i pay 550 a month for rent out of the 674 per month i receive from s.s.d.a.// i never had any of the child support thing that i guess, typically u hear of that comes from the father-to-mother. Not that situation in this matter of course. In this matter the father, me, has the child. And no-matter,as long as i am breathing, thats my little angel,and she will, and always will get everything i have for her well being. //please communicate assistance with me. Mainly, housing n low income programs. I really need a 2 bedroom apartment as close to my daughters school as posible. My daughter is a happy little girl. Thats great! Im living to make her happy everyday. My child is happy n haves fun all the time. When she is happy, she does exceptionally better in school,–and therefore, inturn,makes me happy. GREAT RIGHT? RIGHT. please help. Apartment info., job info. Prayer. I have to find a way to make thing better for myself before i stress myself n back-burnner myself to a pulp. Because, knowing that in order to take care of my only child, i have to manage n secure, at the least, a fair wellbeing for myself….( so far, ive been promising myself that i will get to, me, after i take care of my daughter. Dont get me wrong. I am so very thankful that ive managed to keep my daughter happy on a day to day basis. And equally as important, that we have thankfully managed to keep her on honor-roll status in what is now her 5th grade. ………
P.S. PLEASE SHED LIGHT IF U CAN. I PAY ALL BILLS ON TIME.
WE TAKE CARE OF EVERY HOUSE N APARTMENT WE EVER LIVED IN. I AM A HONEST N VERY DEPENDABLE PERSON. AND WE ARE QUIET AND THOUGHTFUL CARING PEOPLE. SORRY FOR BEING LENGTHLY WITH MY CORRESPONDENCE. THANKS FOR YOUR ATTENTION AND TIME.

Hello, I was just approved for SSD effective September this year. The amount is half the amount I live on now from my job’s short term disability. My case will be reviewed in September for my jobs long term disability.
1. Can I still receive my long term disability from my job and get my SSD benefits so I can survive? I cannot even pay rent with what is awarded to me and I am worried of my survival, like rent, food, medical and car payment. I worked before I became ill and all this was just sudden.
2. How much is the most I can work part time and still receive my SSD benefits.
3. Can I get insurance or continue with the insurance on my job if long term is approved?
4. Is there any help with my rent so I can continue to live where I am?
Thank you.

WARNING WARNING WARNING
I asked my ATTORNEY and she said
the quoted rules are not always followed and
you could lose ALL YOUR BENEFITS and then have to go to court
to prove that you were WITHIN THE EARNINGS LIMITS STATED
just by CLAIMING INCOME WITHIN THE LIMITS

Before you go ahead get an attorney who will give you
a free initial consultation

@Lisa Koffler:
SSDI does not increase every year. I have been on SSDI for 18 years and just like the year 2011 there was no cost of living increase. This has happen numerous time over the years for the goverment will release a report saying there is no cost of living increase.
When there is a cost of living increase it is only 1 to 3% and the Medicare part A and B is raised to in which they 0 out each other so you do not get more cash each month.

@Salvatore Agro: The maximum that you can earn as of 2011 is 1000 dollars and not 1 dollar over, unless it is gambling winnings,work bonus (must state on pay stub bonus), inheritance, workers comp pay or insurance payments.I know for I have been audited 5 times over the last decade when my amounts are over the current limit for that year. Long as you have all documneted records you will be threaten by the goverment until you can prove were all monies come from.

I am on ssi if i was to try to work part time will I still be able to draw my ssi check and how much am I allowed to earn a month to be able to keep my ssi check

If I work while on SSD, will my withholdings be added to my Social Security earnings thereby increasing the amount when I retire? Somebody told me that I’m stuck with the amount I currently get and it remains the same even if I work because the extra earnings will be used to pay the national debt. Is this true?

i am currently drawing 1402.00 a month disability for severe hearing loss in both ears am i able to do a lil on the side for extra money to cure the boredom????

If you have ssi income for a teenager who is sixteen he wants to work how many hours can he work before it effects the ssi benefit amount

My husband has liver failure, I want to have him declared disabled by social security,
but do not want benefits at this time. Can he draw a salary and if so how much ?
any help would be appreciated.

Linda

my husband and son are both collecting SSI,, my other 2 children are not,,, can i work out side the home and if so , how much am i allowed to make before it starts to affect my husband and sons bennifits?

@Will:
I’m sure you had an answer to this one, but I’ll reply anyway,
I have been diagnosed with 100% PTSD, 50% sleep apnea, and 80% More for other things..to include the early signs of Lou Gherighs disease to a Total and permanent of 230%. I now know that my Lou Gherighs disease isn’t getting any better, so there’s a chance i start losing my memory SOONER than later..My Point here is, after being told that I’m going to lose ALL my memory and some..well, to me thats TERMINAL also. <with that said..I will live out my life with everything I've earned. WORK again? I'm retired and retired from LIFE, for all the years i've worked BEFORE and after I retired The Active Army(20+yrs). I DESERVE to NOT work anymore! The ONLY work I will be doing is trying to FIND an EXTENSION to my LIFE! So should YOU!
YOu have been diagnosed with TERMINAL CANCER! TERMINAL! Wake up..GOD IS GOOD and YOU MAY BE CURED ONE DAY, but you WON'T FIND your cure WORKING! LIVE out your LIFE as GOD wants you to. LIVE out your LIFE and take care of YOU! Your Country OWES you for your service. Social Security OWES you, because you've EARNED IT..I PRay you are seeking a cure and NOT WORKING away the REST of your LIFE! God Bless and Thank you for your service!

My brother is 65 (66 on 6/5/12) and receiving disability social security. My brother has a part time job driving a school bus for 20 hours per week at $14.00 per hour. How much money can he earn without affecting his social security benefits?

Hello All I get SSDI Also and yes you can work and you can not make more than 400 to 500 amonth I just called SSI office that what they told me and about all others who gets SSDI and they r going to school yes you will lose ur SSDI Bcuz Your getting paid from the state to go to school right? if not no ur ok they want Us to go to school Thank you all good luck

For the year of 2011, how much can you make monthly in employment wages to still qualify for SSI?

@Salvatore Agro: When and if you get an answer, please email me with the result. I am in the same boat also.

I WAS MARRIED FOR 14 YEARS AND PUT MY HUSBAND THROUGH SCHOOL SO HE COULD GET A BETTER JOB. CAN I USE HIS INCOME SO I CAN GET S.S.D.I. kls

Yes if your husband works a full time job it can literally cut your SSI Payments.

with the holidays coming up can i work part time and how much can i earn? my ssdi starts in oct 2011.

I have been on SSDI since 2004 and was a nurse for 12yrs.I get less than anyone I know and most of them did not work at a proven job for any length of time,however,they do live in a “certain” county.I thought the regulations were the same every where but I guess not,huh?
Also,I am very confused about this not being able/being able to work while you are on SSDI and getting any amount of income.I thought you could but had a monthly limit but I called the 1-800 number and talked to someone very nice but confusing because he told me that there was NO limit and we (girlfriend was here so she listened too)could make as much as we wanted and that included inheritance too. Like I said I’m confused because my girlfriend is a caretaker and she just had to send her bi-annual paper in to welfare in which they ask everything including how many squares of toilet paper you use when you wipe and they told her she had to quit caretaking the first of Nov. or she would loose hers-well it would cost her $400.00 month so she can’t do that so who do you believe?
Can anyone give me an answer that is correct and true?
Thanks

I am about to turn 69 and still work full-time making about 50,000/yr. I do not plan on leaving my job for several more years–I love it. My husband is 73, retired from his job, and receives SS. Would I receive my full benefits from SS? Or would I receive reduced benefits?
Thanks

@Rosalind Mayberry: First and foremost check with the Social Security Admin. First of all since you have reached age 66 you are entitled to a full Social Security payment. Every year you wait beyond age 66, the payment will increase. I believe age 70 is the cap though.

@tami: in an SSDI case, Social Security will only look at your earnings, not your husband’s.

How much can I earn a month while drawing Disabality 100% due to cancer?

How much can I earn monthly before my SSDI is taken away? I am talking about for those who want to work for the duration… I am not talking about any trial 9 month periods or 36 month periods. I mean, as an example: I earn $300 to $400 dollars a month with a part time job that I keep for many years, will my SSDI payment be reduced or taken away? Oddly enough, I have been all over the SSA website and they don’t state this.

I may be able to get some freelance work from home. I am bipolar and cannot work with others but, I can manage work loads that are very small and not too stressful. Freelance work could help me out but, I don’t want it to be my undoing.

How much money can I earn monthly and anually and still draw my diability check?

@Gemma: I’m in the same boat as you. Please send me an email when you find out Gemma. Thanks so much. My e-mail is Rex77799@yahoo.com
Good Luck

To whom it may concern:
I’ve been receiving SSDI benefits for 3 years now…. And I’m ready for work I’m constantly bored sitting @ home collecting the $$$ and I enjoy working especially with new ppl what I’m trying to say is can I go back to work and still collect my benefits or is my life over because of a disability…. It upsets me that this condition can cause so many problems such as not working, not enjoying the pleasure of making a living independently, can’t qualify for food stamps cause you make to much, and the thought of embrassment cause you don’t want to scare ppl off with a mental illness…..hopefully I get response from this:) God Bless

@I’m 56 and have been waiting for approvial for disability for over 3 years. How can one speed up the disibility hearing? Also, can one work part time while waiting for a hearing. I was rrecently approved for Medicaid the judge ruled that the bipolar disorder would be around for 12 months making it impossible to work and that my copd is secondary. Any one got any answers.alfred hetherington:

Good comments from a person who has lived it. I’m only nearly 3 years into this disability thing and still waiting for a hearing. At that stage where I’m bored as hell and would like to work part time if I’m able. I’m bipolar and copd. I don’t want to put the disability in jeopardy but I sick of being poor. My attorney gave me a double talk answer sort like damned if you do and damned if you don”t.

@Ann: if workers comp insu pays me 50.000 how much will ssd take

does what i claim on a w-4 effect my social security disability insurance? ? does that effect the before trial work period, what about the substantial amount does it effect either one or no?

I am on SSDI since I was 62 and I am now 64 . When i turn 66 can i go back to work and not be penalized for being on SSDI since SSdI converts to social Security?

My fiance’ just got approved for SSD. Will his benefits decrease when we get married because of my income?

i have ra. and can not work all the time .iam in pain all the time so my doctor wrote a letter saying i will never get any better .so i should go on disabilty .so i had my call with ssd and she said i could work as long as i dont gross over 1000 a mounth so i cut my hours to keep my inc.at work when i get aproved do i have to stop working .?

i just started working a couple of weeks ago and my husband is on unemployment . i wused to get ssi i think where i am a diabetic and when my husband worked they went by my husbands income. well now i am working just sitting and taking care of a lady . they told me when i wasnt working he could make up to 2,200.00 a month and i would still get medicaid and some money. but now i work is it the same way.

I’m receiving disability from Sedgwick and as of this month, SSDI too. I have a combination of mental disorders (Ptsd, anxiety, depression) and ortho (degenerative disk disease) problems. I was wondering if it’s possible to attend grad school? It would be very difficult for me to do it if I was accepted, but I feel like I am just sitting around waiting to die. I figure if I can force myself to go through school, it will almost be like therapy for me. I have read all different opinions on this subject and I don’t know what to think….so confused and scared. I have to undergo a yearly review for both the private and SSDI benefits. Will they ask if I am attending school? If so, how can I make them understand that this is my last chance to try to be able to function as a normal person? I mean, I figure if I mess up and can’t get through a grad program, it’s not going to interfere with my ability to survive financially. But at least I would be trying. Having said that; what are the chances they would stop my disability benefits? Not only would I lose the income I need to survive, but I would also lose Medicare and not even be able to see the doctors i need for my conditions,,,,or get the meds i need. Thanks for reading this.

@Maureen:

The deal is this. Now, I receive as much as I earned work units for on SSDI but because I also had Long Term Disability they got out of having to pay me the full amount I’d contracted for. They just the few hundred dollars difference between what SSDI paid what I would have received from my purchased insurance.

My claim went to the quality review…how long will it be there and how do I know when they are done with it?

@Purple Muse:

so is it safe to say i can still braid hair 1099 file tax ,claim my dependant ,get a tax refund
while on ssiand ssd or how does this go cuz new york is on the take too to see a person
homeless!!!

I am on ssdi. I recently sold my grandma’s quilts and earned over 17,000 for them. Will this affect my ssdi? This was not work but my husband sold the quilts and the people who bought them sent me a 1099. Is this still considered working? I was selling off my treasures to get more money to pay bills.

@Gemma: If you get a solid answer could you email me, please.

I am in SSD, I do have an IRA and I would like to withdraw money from it. How much I can withdraw in a years (per month) without affecting my benefits?. Do I have to file taxes the following year?

Thanks

I am currently on SSD and SSI. From what I can understand I can make up to $1000 a month including my SSD. However, I received unemployment for a few months thinking that would give me a little more income for a few months. Well I was wrong. They took away my SSI and my medicaid benefits. I know other people who work and only get SSD and still get medicaid or medicare. Does anyone know what I need to do to be able to work a part time job, keep receiving SSD and also get to keep my medicaid? I live in Louisiana if that makes a difference.

I am 68 yrs old, How much money am I allowed while working. I am receiving Social Security and medicare insurance,.

im trying to find out how much i could make on ssd. i got a chart years ago from ssd that told me how much but i dont know how much,if any the total has possibly changed. thanks all for any input you can share with me on this.

@Kiki: i have been on perm. disability for 9 yrs, dur to bi-polar. in those yrs i have workrd on and off. i have always explained to my employer that it must be part-time because of my disability and i cannot make more than what ssdi allows.(which i keep a check on) i always let ss know i am working. i have never been red flaged are questioned by ss about my working.i work to earn more money of couse because my disability only is $728.00 a month. i receive no food stamps. my medical is all paid for by medicare and medcaid (thank the lord) but, the main reason i work is to keep my sanity in check. otherwise i would sit at home and never see anyone. my doctor also says it is best. so kiki, just keep up with the laws with what u can earn. and i always keep it below that amout even if i can earn more. best wishes and may god watch over u.

@tami:

Yes, your husband’s income counts. If you weren’t married but living together, then you could get SSI. The only benefit, financially speaking, to being married is that you can get survivors benefits from Social Security when your spouse is deceased. So if you Social Security is small compared to your spouses, you could collect their Social Security.

If you weren’t married, you could get food stamps and food pantry assistance. You can live a lot better if you are just living together and not be legally married. Being married can screw things up. But if you are wanting your spouses bigger than your Social Security check, then you need to be married a while. I’m pretty sure, you can’t marry them right before they die and collect survivor benefits. I would say the rules say that you must be married a while. So you would have to go without your SSI, food stamps, and other assistance for a while to get your spouses Social Security check.

@Lylatree:

How did they send you a 1099? Did you give them your Social Security number? You shouldn’t have give them your Social Security number? Seems like the person that you sold your quilts to is treating you like a supplier. Also, since somehow they got your Social Security number, they reported it to the IRS as you supplied them $17,000 worth of merchandise for their store. So yeah, I guess you would have to fill out a 1099 form. Next time, do not give them your Social Security number. Or just give them a fake one. If they say you have a couple of numbers missing on your SSN; tell them oh, “12″ (The film “Big”). Or if you have two many numbers added on to your SSN; tell them to take off “5″ (The film “My Blue Heaven”).

@BP:

Since you are older than 65 years old. I believe you can make $40,000 before Social Security starts deducting a dollar for every two dollars earned. Now, if you are under 65 years old, then it is like $14,000 a year. Of course, these income figures are for Missouri.

I have SSDI. Here are the current rules regarding earnings:

Trial work period—The trial work period allows you to test your ability to work for at least nine months. During your trial work period, you will receive your full Social Security benefits regardless of how much you are earning as long as you report your work activity and you continue to have a disabling impairment. In 2011, a trial work month is any month in which your total earnings are over $720, or if you are self-employed, you earn more than $720 (after expenses) or work more than 80 hours in your own business. The trial work period continues until you have worked nine months within a 60-month period.

Extended period of eligibility—After your trial work period, you have 36 months during which you can work and still receive benefits for any month your earnings are not “substantial.” In 2011, we generally consider earnings over $1,000 ($1,640 if you are blind) to be substantial. No new application or disability decision is needed for you to receive a Social Security disability benefit during this period.

More details can be found here:
http://www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10095.html#part3

Does anyone realise that most of the answers are at the top of the page. Just read it. It lays it all out for you. The state you live in doesn’t change anything.

@Purple Muse:

hi, I too receive ssi for bipolar depression…I desperately want a part time job somewhere making no more than 500$ a month. Where can I find a job that would pay me this? Please help. I am desperate.
Thanks
S

Thanks JME!

@Ann:

is it true? this 2011 tell me what up?

Are you saying that if receiving ssdi in 2009, that you can work every month and earn up to $979/mo without any consequences? No trial period starting or anything?

I have 3 disabled children who receive SSI. I am their representative payee. I would like to get a part time job this summer. How much can I make before it affects their benefits? Email me at jersygrl5569@gmail.com if you have an answer. Thanks!

i get a ssi check, and mediciad, is ther any hours i can work and not lose my check and mediciad ive been sick for the last 6 years but would like to try to work if possibile. dont want to lose anything cause i see a mental health dr every 2 and a half months still on my medicines.

I don’t mean to be “unsympathetic”, however, if you can work part time and earn up to a certain amount in order to keep your benefits, then I honestly think that “most” can get a full-time job and wean off of disability. I know there are some who absolutely need it because they are physically disabled or severely mentally disabled, but typically if that’s the case, you’re not able to work at all.

There are reasons there are a lot of regulations regarding social security disability and that’s simply because it’s used and abused by a lot of people who can work and for one reason or another, choose not to. I have my opinions on the “why”, but I won’t get into them here. If this is you, then take the disability and lower your standard of living to be able to be self sufficient without needing to take a part time job (you may have to do a number of things including: room with someone, stop smoking, stop drinking alcohol, stop taking drugs, stop eating out, get rid of your car payment and buy a “hooptie”, shop at the goodwills, stop gambling, give up your vacations, etc.). It’s not there to make you rich, it’s there to help you survive at the lowest level because you’re not ABLE to work.

I know exactly what I’m talking about because I know several people (or know of) who are on SSDI and they are perfectly capable of working fulltime. They’re able to travel, go to bingo twice a week, go to the casinos, go to the beach, work for cash, under the table jobs, go shopping, go to the park, etc., however, the only aspect of life their disability affects is their ability to work. I’ve never seen a disability that “shuts off” at home and turns on at work.

Again, I’m not being all-inclusive because there are definitely people who need it, but I would be willing to wager that at least 50% (and that’s probably very conservative) of the SSDI recipients are able to work a full-time job and take some of the burden off of the taxpayers and put more money in the pockets of those truly disabled or those retiring who’ve paid in their entire lives. I hope they get even more strict and make it very difficult for people with minor physical or mental disabilities to obtain benefits. That’s the only hope of saving social security as a retirement supplement meant for those who work and pay into it throughout their lifetime.

There has to be an equitable solution and hopefully someone comes up with it soon or all the money myself and my employer are paying on behalf of me (an the millions of others), will be sucked up by many that could very well be gainfully employed. But because of low goals and settling in life, they would rather stay at home and bring in $1000/month in disability (easy money) rather than work a full-time job making probably much more. It’s very frustrating.

Those who bash my comment are most likely those I’m strongly referring to. The others are the ones who legitimately need it and (oddly enough) probably agree with me.

We need reform and quick!