SSI and getting a degree

I have been on SSI since I was 17 for having a mental illness since I was 10. I have been going to school and I am trying to get a certificate in horticultural therapy. I really don't see myself being able to work full time after gettng this certficate, maybe in 10 years but not in 2. Is getting a college degree proof that you can work and can they take away your SSI? My doctors know I am still ill and I am on meds. I just want to be able to go to school to do something for myself.

Also, if I loose SSI, do I have to pay back all that I have gotten over the years?

I can't tell you midnight but I just want you to know that I think you are doing really well. Good luck!

I am interested in knowing the answer to your question as well. I am on disability and am not able to work full time due to depression and anxiety, i will not be able to deal with the pressure of getting things done, multi-tasking, dealing with people if i have to deal with the public and worrying about making mistakes alot which i did on my last job. But i have wanted to take a class or two just to be able to learn something and try to keep myself stimulated, I think it would be good for me but i'm also worried they will say you can go to work if you take classes. I feel the two are completely different. Hope we both can get some answers.

I have been on SSDI since 2003. I don't have a definitive answer to the question, but I can tell you my experience so far.

I began attending classes at the local Jr College. In CA, being on SSDI (or other assistance) qualifies a person for a grant that pays tuition only at Jr/Community Colleges. While I was attending I got a claim review form asking me a handful of questions about my condition...one of those was "have you begun school or attended any training programs"...I answered honestly and got a letter back saying there was no need to review my claim at this time. I graduated with an AA in May 2008...heard nothing from SSDI. I have been attending a 4-year University since then and have gotten the review form again ( a few months ago)...exact repeat of last time. I Graduate with my BA in December and have begun applying to graduate schools...not a word from SSDI.

I think that part of the issue between attending school and working is that they are not in any way the same! Yes, I have to attend classes at specific times, however, those times are at most 3 hours (for lab classes) but usually 1-2 hours, and they are not every day. Work is every day, at specific, and usually longer hours. Also, if I don't finish a project/paper/etc by a due date, I can often discuss the problem with a Professor and get help/extended due dates/etc...not so much with a job!

One thing to keep in mind is that I do go through disability services for students. They are required to provide me reasonable (and specific) accommodations...two of mine are consideration for due date changes and absences...I've actually only used the due date one once, and the professor actually changes the project completely but not the due date.

Anyway...my point is that I have not had any trouble with SSDI and attending school...and I have known other people doing the same. Ability to succeed in school is not the same as ability to succeed in a job...and SSI/SSDI knows this.

You shouldn't have to pay back anything.

You will not have to pay back anything and I believe, as serafin mentioned, there are grants out there you can get to assist with tuition. I am not sure but I think you can go to school and collect SSI at the same time. You can always call social security and ask. They can't do anything to you if you are just asking so it doesn't hurt to ask.

SSI is basically designed to help ppl who are disabled but wish to hopefully re-enter the workforce. no you don't have to pay back monies you've received. going to school is a positive approach to possibly be employed in the future to enable a job skill. no money will be withheld while you go to school. if you decide you want eventually to try to work the only money that will be detracted from your check is one dollar for every two you make. you can work up to 20 hours/wk.to see how it goes. if you find this isn't successful with your disability you quit work and go back to your full SSI benefit.
vocational rehabilitation a federally funded agency run by the state you live in may help you get funding for school, counseling and they have a job bank to send you out for interviews to help you get a job. wonderful agency, FYI. it too is designed to help disabled ppl try to get back into the workforce.
hope this helps.

Thanks for your advice. I might wait a couple more years because my son is 9 and I want to enjoy his childhood before he becomes a teen.

There is a difference though in the benefits between SSI and SSDI, 2 very different benefits. For neither one would monies have to be repaid, but there is a difference between them in what happens when someone returns to work and the amount of money one earns before losing the benefit.

Vocational Rehab indicated school is not necessarily indicative of the ability to work. If after you get your degree, if not able to, things should remain the same. If can work part-time, verify what would happen as it could affect current SSI benefits from that point forward either lessening them or losing them all together depending on the amount of your income. Just check with the office that does your reviews, at what point would income affect your benefit.

Yes, here's the difference between SSI and SSDI:

http://www.socialsecurityhome.com/di...01/ssi-v-ssdi/

are you still on ssdi? did you work before for over 10 years?

so they know you finished college?