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When you go back to work on Social Security Disability
Insurance (SSDI--the one where you need to have
contributed to FICA for 10 years), you get a rolling
window of 9 months, called a Trial Work Period, that
begins when you make $900 ($1500 for folks who are
legally blind). For each month that you make above
$900, Social Security counts 1 month of the Trial Work
Period. If you do not make $900 or more, that month
is not counted. During those 9 months, you get to
keep your earnings as well as your full SSDI check.
After you have used up those 9 months, you get a 3
month grace period, where you can make as much as you
want, while still recieving your full SSDI check. At
the end of those 3 months, you begin the 36-month
Extended Period of Elegibility. During this time, any
month that you make more than $900, you will not get
your SSDI check. For every month that you make less
than $900, you recieve your full check. At the end of
36 months, if you are not making $900, you go back to
the beginning. You are also eligible for Medicare for
5 years after your Extended Period of Eligibility. A
good explanation is available at
http://www.disabilitybenefits101.org/ca/programs/income_support/ss_disability/ssdi/program2.htm
It's California-based, but since SSDI is a Federal
program, the rules are the same throughout the
country.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is the program that
you get on if you do not have the work history and
have less than $2000 in liquid assets, not counting
the house that you live in and the car that you use
for transportation. After the first $85 that you make
per month, Social Security reduces your SSI check by
$1 for every $2 you make until your benefits are
zeroed out. Even after you no longer recieve cash
from SSI, you can remain eligible for Medicaid through
the "pickle amendment" 1619(b), if your assets are
still below $2000. Or you can qualify for the Medicaid
buy-in program. Here's a site that explains it all,
except that California calls Medicaid
Medi-Cal.http://www.disabilitybenefits101.org/ca/programs/income_support/ss_disability/ssi/program.htm
I think that these provisions are reasonably fair, if
you can understand them and can maintain good
communication with the Social Security Administration,
which is next to impossible.
I pay $900/month for rent in Marin County, CA which is
one of the most expensive areas in the country. It's
not great, but we make it work.
Susan
Susan
--- Mark J Greene <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> Susan,
>
> I know that is how that is how its suppose to work,
> but let me ask you this? On the $900 (gross) you
> are
> allowed to make plus maybe the $850 SSDI you might
> get, please tell me a city where a could live on
> that
> approx $1600/month. Where I live right now, about
> 75%
> of that total would go to pay a mortgage or a rent,
> which for a one bedroom apartment is usually
> $600-$800
> a month without untilities.
>
> Mark Greene
> Shawnee, KS
> --- Susan Levitt Waxman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> wrote:
>
> > Mark,
> > That is how SSDI and SSI work, if you can get on
> > them.
> > The trick is getting on the rolls. You can only
> > make
> > $900/month for the 6 months-2 years it takes to
> get
> > on
> > the program. Here's a link from SSA on how you
> > qualify: http://www.ssa.gov/dibplan/dqualify5.htm
> >
> > I believe what we need is:
> > 1) more workers at the Social Security
> > Administration
> > so that the wait time isn't so long, and so that
> SSA
> > does not run 3 months behind reality. This 3
> month
> > lag is responsible for people getting Notices of
> > Overpayment.
> > 2) Clear rules for people with disabilities who
> want
> > to return to work, because even though the rules
> are
> > consistent throughout the country, they are
> > incredibly
> > confusing.
> >
> > Susan
> > --- Mark J Greene <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> >
> > > Michael,
> > >
> > > I have a great idea for SSDI reform. SSDI
> should
> > be
> > > considered a suppliment. Just because a person
> is
> > > disabeled, they should not be prevented from
> > holding
> > > a
> > > job (either full-time or part-time). If a
> person
> > > with
> > > a disability can't hold a job at pays them a
> > "living
> > > wage", then the Disability Benefits should
> > > compensate
> > > the difference. Either way that person should
> be
> > > getting a monthing income that is equal to the
> > > average
> > > cost of living in their city or town. If their
> > > earned
> > > wage puts them over the average cost, then
> reduce
> > > their SSDI, DON"T take it away.
> > >
> > > By doing this, you not only encourage people to
> > > work,
> > > but you allow them to help pay into the system.
> > > Right
> > > now SSDI is non-taxable which means that those
> of
> > us
> > > on SSDI are helping drain the system and not
> > giving
> > > anything in return. At least my idea would
> allow
> > us
> > > to give something back.
> > >
> > > Mark Greene
> > > Shawnee, KS
> > > --- Michael M Cohn <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> > >
> > > >
> > > > Are there any ideas regarding what we should
> do
> > > for
> > > > creating a plat form
> > > > for our group? Job
> > > > Housing
> > > > SSI,SSDI reform
> > > > I know there are other ideas yet we should
> have
> > a
> > > > mission statement and
> > > > set up some goals that we can work on and
> help
> > > out
> > > > each other across the
> > > > U.. This way when campaigns come to each of
> our
> > > > state they will see us
> > > > and see we are working as a team. Yes, we
> have
> > > > numbers and they speak
> > > > loud and clear.
> > > > mike MnS
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> >
>
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> > > This email was sent to 48 members of Democrats
> > with
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> > > This email was sent from Mark J Greene
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> > This email was sent to 47 members of Democrats
> with
> > disabilities
> > This email was sent from Susan Levitt Waxman
> > [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> > Listserv email address:
> > [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> > Your reply will be sent to:
> > [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> > Unsubscribe from this group:
> >
>
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> >
>
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This email was sent to 48 members of Democrats with disabilities
This email was sent from Susan Levitt Waxman [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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