I feel like I'm disabled.

I don't know what to do. The thought of working right now seems impossible. I have applied for social security but that could be a long process and I don't have that kind of time. There is a lot that I dont qualify for because of my husbands income. I am at the lowest of the low. do you think i should hire an attorney? What would i do in the meantime if it takes years for social security to be approved?

I'm sorry you're not feeling well right now. Making the decision to apply for disability isn't always easy, but it's often the first step to healing.

How long ago did you apply? People are getting approved much sooner than they used to. At this point, since you've already filed, there isn't much more an attorney could do. If you get denied, then I would strongly consider hiring one for the appeals process. Hang in there.
If you do start working again before you're approved, they will deny your claim. Once you're approved and have been receiving benefits for a couple of years, then they have an elaborate work incentive system you can go back to work with.

I only applied yesterday. I did come to the conclusion I don't need an attorney at this point. Thank you for clarifying that for me.

So you are saying I cannot work at all while the case is being decided? Not even part time?

Can you tell me more about the work incentive program?

Thank you very much.

No, unfortunately, you cannot work while waiting for your Social Security decision. To be declared disabled by SS, you have to prove that you are unable to work in any capacity at any job. If you work even part time, they will deny you. I know this can put you in a very difficult financial situation. You may need to reorganize your budget and finances so that you can live on your husband's income for a while. Were you working before you applied? Are you eligible for any sort of employer-based short or long term disability benefits? What did you give them as your date of disability? Even if you are approved tomorrow, you need to calculate six months from your official disability date (the first day you were unable to work) - that is when your monthly payments would begin. But they will pay you back payments if you are waiting longer than that for an approval.

As for the work incentive program, it's called the Ticket to Work. You need to wait two years after your benefits start before you can call SS to get a "ticket". Once you get it, you can work up to 9 months and earn as much as you want without losing your benefits. This is called your Trial Work Period. If, after your TWP is over, your monthly earnings were over whatever the current "substantial gainful activity" limit is ($1000 now I think? That's before taxes, btw.), then you are given three more months of benefits before your monthly benefit stops. However, for the next three years, if you have a month in which you earn less than the threshold, you can call SS and let them know. They will pay your monthly benefit for that month. If, after three years, you are still working, your eligibility for benefits will end. However....you have another five years after that where you are able to go back on disability without having to go through the whole approval process over again. They will do a medical review to determine if you are once again disabled and are able to begin your benefits again quickly if necessary.

The Ticket to Work will also give you access to job training programs if you need them.

Here is a link to the SS website for more information:

http://ssa.gov/work/aboutticket.html

As far as your earlier question of what to do in the meantime while you're waiting for approval...work on your health. I know when I first went on disability I spent a lot of time in treatment, learning how to manage my symptoms and my day to day life. Try to incorporate enjoyable things throughout your day as you feel able to - not sure if you have any hobbies or anything like that. As much as I was relieved to not be working anymore, it was still an adjustment. Give yourself some time to get used to it, but try to put some structure into your days.

I hope you get a quick approval.

dragonfly-
Thank you very much for taking all that time to explain all this stuff to me. It really cleared up a whole lot of questions. Yes working on my health would be fantastic if I had that oppurtunity. I'm starting to realize I have a lot more work to do than I thought. I can only keep shoving issues down deeper and deeper before they get me in a bad place. And yes I have hobbies that I haven't touched in months. I like to make cards, do needlework, beadwork, etc. Thanks again for you time.

I met with a benefits rep recently and wanted to clarify something mentioned above:
During the 9 month period, it stated above that, "You can earn as much as you want", no, you can't. There is a limit to count towards each month that you cannot earn above during those nine months and still receive benefits. However, they are also revolving months so that if you lose income during this time, dropping off to no income, the months are not consecutive, those months will not count toward the 9, then will pick up again when work begins again; and will not lose soc security during any of that time. But you cannot go over the limit amount or you will lose benefits, until out of the nine month period. The earnings can be as much as want after the nine months. If you lose work after 9 mos. time, soc security will p/u for a period of time thereafter as mentioned above.

Good luck with filing and I hope it goes well. Hang in there in the meantime ((((((Alwaysrejoice))))))

I think you may have been given the wrong information. This excerpt is from the Social Security website:

Social Security work incentives at a glance
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.

Expedited reinstatement—After your benefits stop because your earnings are substantial, you have five years during which you may ask us to start your benefits immediately if you find yourself unable to continue working because of your condition. You will not have to file a new disability application and you will not have to wait for your benefits to start while your medical condition is being reviewed to make sure you are still disabled.

Continuation of Medicare—If your Social Security disability *benefits stop because of your earnings, but you are still disabled, your free Medicare Part A coverage will *continue for at least 93 months after the nine-month trial work period. After that, you can buy Medicare Part A coverage by *paying a monthly premium. If you have Medicare Part B coverage, you must continue to pay the premium. If you want to end your Part B coverage, you must request it in writing.

Work expenses related to your disability—If you work, you may have to pay for certain items and services that people without disabilities do not pay for. For example, because of your medical condition, you may need to take a taxi to work, instead of public transportation, or pay for counseling services. We may be able to deduct these expenses from your monthly earnings before we determine if you are still eligible for benefits.

Here's the link: http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/10095.html

I went back to work for a while from 2003-2010 and for the first 9 months, I was earning a $50K a year income without losing my benefits. It was only after those first 9 months (which don't need to be consecutive, so maybe that's what they were talking about - they only consider the higher earnings as going toward your trial work period) that I lost my benefits (but only after they paid me 3 more months).

I do apologize though...I gave the wrong information for the TWP threshold amount. Oh, and during the expedited reinstatement period if you do apply for benefits, they will start them immediately while they are working on your medical review and will pay you for up to six months while they are deciding.

All in all, it's a good system with some good safety nets for anyone who feels they are able to begin working again.

I'm just praying I can get some help... Thanks for your input guys!

I am feeling the same way. I don't think I could work at this point. I have been fired so many times that another firing could do me in. I took them all very hard. I am gun-shy about returning to work. I tried to file for SSI due to depression and anxiety. I just got diagnosed with ADHD. They rejected my application before I haven't worked enough to have paid into disability sufficiently. long story. I may contact another attorney. Any ideas anyone?

I'm sorry you're not feeling well. Sometimes it's hard to just get through the day, nevermind trying to work too.

Now, not to split hairs...but I want to make sure I understand you. You applied for Social Security disability based on your work history, right? That would be SSDI. SSI is the disability benefit for people who haven't worked enough quarters and fall within certain income limits. I'm not sure what other household income you may have coming in, but if you fall within the income limits in your state, you could qualify.

Here's a link to Social Security for more info:

http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/11000.html#part3

You'll need to call them to get the income limits for your state, but it's worth a shot.

Good luck. I hope you're feeling better soon.

The process usuall takes at least 6-8 months to make a decision. And at least 90 or more % get denied the first time. I cant say whether your husbands income is going to be an in fluence or if you are under his insurance program for medical or your own will determine medicaid/medicare benefits later. If you do get approved you will be paid retroactively from the application date this time, if you get denied, get a lawyer, hell tell you eveything you will want to inclue in the application the next time and if you are under you husbands policysever your self go on disability at your job and get cobra for a few months till you find out about the disability.

I applied for ss disability too a month ago. I'm worried how long it will take as I'm on my last unemployment extension.
My pdoc offered to sign state disability while I am waiting for ss disability to come through. He said I could get state disability for up to 1 year and he has to sign periodic forms stating I'm still disabled.
Hopefully your disability will come through soon...I know it is stressful!

I learned a lot about applying for SSDI from this website:
http://www.thedisabilitydigest.com/


I wanted to have a clue, in case I continued to fail at jobs. I feel like I have gone from clueless, to better than average informed - thanks to this site. Also, when I have been doing really poorly in managing my depression, folks trying to be helpful have said that I could apply and partially solve my problems by doing so. Well-meaning though many of them were, some seemed to have no idea what it takes for an application to be approved. I'm so glad to have an idea.

The site supports itself through advertisement, but I consider the site founder to be running this site with integrity.

Most ss disability claims are denied the first time, don't let that discourage you. It is part of the process. You should appeal that decision immediately, given the fact that you already have a diagnosis.
Go to Department of social services. There you can find immediate help.

I would strongly advise you to get an attorney.

I'm a nurse, and I have seen some situations where it should have been a no-brainer that the persons were very appropriate candidates for SSDI. Yet - they got refused. (I knew of a person with very advanced rheumatoid arthritis who got turned down. This person tried doing it without legal representation.)

Anyone I know of who WAS successful did have an attorney.

Most communities do have some kind of an non-profit agency that will "do what the lawyers do" without charging you anything. Often these are good people and they do have their share of successes.

Quite frankly, though - and after having researched this a lot - I would get the help of an attorney. Furthermore, I would look for a firm that specializes in disability claims.

They (the attorneys) are limited - by law - in what they can charge you.

At the very least, do what I've done and "Google" the subject. I found out that I had a lot to learn.