Guest guest Posted July 20, 2000 Report Share Posted July 20, 2000 Hey Folks: I am a Social Worker and have worked helping people get SSI/SSDI for years. The two programs are very different, However, the experience you speak of is not that common, most people receive a lot more money on SSDI than on SSI. SSDI is based on your prior work history - how many quarters of working time you put in within a certain period of years. SSI is for folks who are disabled, do not have enough quarters for SSDI and have no other source of income. SSI has much harsher limitations on assets and on income from work than SSDI does. People on SSI, usually never get over $600.00 per month, whereas those on SSDI with several quarters of work time contributing to SSA, can get benefits over $1000 a month (most however, seem to be around $700 or $800 but this varies). I'm sure there are people that find ways around the limitations and creativity can help in that regard. (putting assets in others' names if you can trust them). I don't blame people who do that because in many areas of this country, no matter how simply you live, it's tough to get by on $500.00 per month. I hope this helps. : ) Marti Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 20, 2000 Report Share Posted July 20, 2000 Hi, Marti ... Is it possible to be receiving your regular Social Security at age 62 and also get on SSI or SSDI...?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 20, 2000 Report Share Posted July 20, 2000 : I will check on that one. To be honest, I'm a bit stumped. You may be correct because I know that so far, most exceptions that do exist are likely to be for recipients who are close to, or beyond, retirement age. Social Security just passed a new law raising som e of the earnings caps for recipients; older recipients benefit more from this law though than do younger recipients; it's mostly designed for thos receiving earned benefits due to age. I am a Social Worker in the VA system. Most of the people I work with receive for serious mental illness but many also receive for back injuries and the like. Social Security can be pretty random: I see many people who have applied several times and still don't get it and they should and some who get it but probably could work. While all the offices have similar if not identical guidelines, how they implement those guidelines varies from city to city, state to state, depending on the humans involved. Since like any organization, it is run by humans, and humans err, it is far from perfect. Some Social Security workers are compassionate and understanding and others seem to believe that their mission si to prvent any undue govenment dependence or people bilking the system. No matter what system is designed, there will probably always be a small percentage of people who find a way to abuse it. Sure there are " happy, laughing, partying " people on SSI/D for depression but how has their condition changed over time? How did the doctor write up their SSID paperwork, how did they describe their own symptoms? Etc... Sorry if I'm being too political but I think it's relevant to the topic at hand. : ) Marti Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 20, 2000 Report Share Posted July 20, 2000 : I will check on that one. To be honest, I'm a bit stumped. You may be correct because I know that so far, most exceptions that do exist are likely to be for recipients who are close to, or beyond, retirement age. Social Security just passed a new law raising som e of the earnings caps for recipients; older recipients benefit more from this law though than do younger recipients; it's mostly designed for thos receiving earned benefits due to age. I am a Social Worker in the VA system. Most of the people I work with receive for serious mental illness but many also receive for back injuries and the like. Social Security can be pretty random: I see many people who have applied several times and still don't get it and they should and some who get it but probably could work. While all the offices have similar if not identical guidelines, how they implement those guidelines varies from city to city, state to state, depending on the humans involved. Since like any organization, it is run by humans, and humans err, it is far from perfect. Some Social Security workers are compassionate and understanding and others seem to believe that their mission si to prvent any undue govenment dependence or people bilking the system. No matter what system is designed, there will probably always be a small percentage of people who find a way to abuse it. Sure there are " happy, laughing, partying " people on SSI/D for depression but how has their condition changed over time? How did the doctor write up their SSID paperwork, how did they describe their own symptoms? Etc... Sorry if I'm being too political but I think it's relevant to the topic at hand. : ) Marti Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 20, 2000 Report Share Posted July 20, 2000 Marti ... Thanks again for your response. The increased benefits for those on retirement Social Security applies to those folks who are 65 and older. Now, there is no limit on their income if they still want to work. Before, they were penalized if they earned over a certain amount. This still applies to those who are 62 - 65. I have had lower back surgery ... 1978. Two neck surgeries, one in 1985 and another in 1987. Also, I have CMT, and now, I have chronic pain from both the last neck surgery and the CMT. I can't walk without pain ... and I am a Realtor. Almost everything we do to earn a living involves walking. In your experience, do you think I have a chance for SSDI or SSI. I will be getting my first Social Security retirement check ($1095 per month) on the second week in September and that is not enough to live on here in the Socialist Republic of California. ) Thanks again ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 20, 2000 Report Share Posted July 20, 2000 Marti ... Thanks again for your response. The increased benefits for those on retirement Social Security applies to those folks who are 65 and older. Now, there is no limit on their income if they still want to work. Before, they were penalized if they earned over a certain amount. This still applies to those who are 62 - 65. I have had lower back surgery ... 1978. Two neck surgeries, one in 1985 and another in 1987. Also, I have CMT, and now, I have chronic pain from both the last neck surgery and the CMT. I can't walk without pain ... and I am a Realtor. Almost everything we do to earn a living involves walking. In your experience, do you think I have a chance for SSDI or SSI. I will be getting my first Social Security retirement check ($1095 per month) on the second week in September and that is not enough to live on here in the Socialist Republic of California. ) Thanks again ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 20, 2000 Report Share Posted July 20, 2000 Yes, Jeanine, there are people who take advantage of 'the system', fraud,too. - Gretchen Moonglow21@... wrote: > > This is what I was referring to the SSI not the SSDI. I am on SSD and when my > hubby and I were split I also tried to get SSI but was told I would have to > sell my van and my wedding ring..... for an additional $100 a month... I > don't think so....... I need my van to get around in with my scooter. My van > is paid off. But yet. I see others that get SSI that have more.... But they > didn't show it - they put thier stuff in someone elses name so that it > wouldn't show. But yet they have it. Frustrating. Jeanie > > ************************** > In a message dated 7/20/00 9:39:45 AM Pacific Daylight Time, liliwigg@... > writes: > > << Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) allows for people to have > assets and homes. They do not need to see a list of assets. Supplemental > Security Income (SSI) is different, they want to know all assets and > also see previous tax records. I wrote a paper on this years ago, things > might have changed now though. > > Gretchen > >> > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > Make new friends, find the old at Classmates.com: > http://click.egroups.com/1/7075/13/_/616793/_/964118007/ > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 20, 2000 Report Share Posted July 20, 2000 Well , hoping for more Social Security benefits is more supportive, not less supportive, of socialism. You are correct in that my SSI/D expertise is limited to younger populations. The majority of veterans I work with range in age from 38-55 or so. I do occasionally work with older or younger vets, but most are in the middle. I have successfully appealed several SSI/D rejections on behalf of my clients. The key is THOROUGH DOCUMENTATION. I think if you remember to list every one of those conditions you listed in your response, and provide a Doctor, hospitalization or other medical proof for each one, you will have a great chance of getting whatever you are legally entitled. It is also important to put in concrete terms exactly how each one limits your day to day, work related functioning. Be as concrete as you can, you have to assume these people are idiots - do not assume they'll understand how a condition might limit you. The only thing that would work against you is if they feel you have the education and skills to switch to a different type of sales or different field that would not involve walking. If you can emphasize that all of your training and experience are specific to your walking related field, that should help. If you're in your 50's and they're a nice reviewere, they should probably rule in your favor. For younger folks, they might try to encourage job re-training. They might anyway, but who knows. Good luck! : ) Marti Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 20, 2000 Report Share Posted July 20, 2000 Hi, Marti ... Thanks for the input ... nice of you to respond in such a helpful way. I think money received from Social Security is money paid in throughout the years by the recipient. I only want that which was confiscated from me by force through the socialistic system under which we all live ... ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 20, 2000 Report Share Posted July 20, 2000 Hi, Marti ... Thanks for the input ... nice of you to respond in such a helpful way. I think money received from Social Security is money paid in throughout the years by the recipient. I only want that which was confiscated from me by force through the socialistic system under which we all live ... ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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