[Junerain]

I received a letter stating that my disability will be cut off, due to the work I have done from 2007-2011 being 'sustainable work,' the letter also had an address I could write to, explaining my case.

The letter cited fifteen different jobs I had, some for a month or so, all very briefly held, of which I was ternimated from, due to my schizoaffective disorder.

How can I be denied benefits when I DON'T EVEN WORK AT THESE JOBS ANYMORE.......I was terminated fifteen times, with all my co-workers complaigning of my mental illness, accusing me of being mentally ill.

I have ten days to write a letter explaining a) I got terminated from all these jobs due to severe mental illness b) I am considered totally and permanently disabled by the student loan section of the government, excusing my loans due to PERMANENT and TOTAL disability, c) without disability I will no loner afford rent, I will be homeless, and without health insurance I will be unable to afford my medication, and be hospitlaized for a sixth time.

Please, what is the government looking for in a letter like this, so I will not be denied benefits?

My therapist and psychiatrist will also be writing letters.

But what can I include in MY letter? Hmmm, the only thing I can think of their angle is, the letter states there is no evidence that I did not fully earn the salary I was paid, there have been too many months above the amount I was allowed to earn.

Another thing I can include that my schizoaffective disorder has gotten increasingly WORSE since the years in question, 2007-2011. I have been terminated more frequently and with more reasons such as distractability and being unable to sit still.

Advice? While I was writing this, my Pdoc called and advised me not only to write a letter, but to call the number given for questions, and perhaps visit the local disability office with the letter given, which I will do.

I am scared of ending up homeless, my income is only minimum wage, and I am certain to be fired again soon.

[missbelle]

Hi Junerain;

I hope things work out for you but when you receive SSD you are saying you cannot work. There are some programs like 'ticket to work " that allow you to keep your SSD and work. I had that but never used it as my arthritis was really too bad to go to work. The issue is I think that you need to inform Social Security when you do start a job and when you stop etc. You may not have told them you were working and seeing that work history regardless of the reason for termination..(p.s. that will not show on a social security report) shows that that you are indeed capable of gainful employment........thus not eligible for benefits

Hopefully this can be appealled and the benefits will not terminate...just don't work now and if you do see what is available thru social security that would not affect benefits. As a disabled person you can still work and keep some of your benefits if not all. Just never start a position without contacting Social Security

Best of luck to you

[Rohag]

I suspect they see all the jobs but don't see the terminations for reasons directly related to your illness.

The letter cited fifteen different jobs I had, some for a month or so, all very briefly held, of which I was ternimated from, due to my schizoaffective disorder.

...I DON'T EVEN WORK AT THESE JOBS ANYMORE.......I was terminated fifteen times, with all my co-workers complaigning of my mental illness, accusing me of being mentally ill.

They at least need to know that. They may ask to see documentation, which you can attach to the letter.

Please let us know how this goes.

[nicoleb2]

With social security disability, the assumption is that you CANNOT work, anywhere, and if you do, you HAVE to let them know, or, as you have found out, they will cancel your benefits immediately. They have really strict guidelines you have to follow

[Perna]

During the trial work period, there are no limits on your earnings. During the 36-month extended period of eligibility, you usually can make no more than $1,010 a month or your benefits will stop.

From: http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/10095.html#a0=2

The trial work period was the first 9 months you were on disability and then there are 36 more months or a total of 45 months, 4ish years; I assume you started disability late in 2007 and 07-08=1, 08-09=2, 09-10=3, 10-earlier in 11=4ish.

The $1,010/mo. figure is for 2012 so was probably less and if you made it at all in those 36 months, that's why they are cutting you off.

If I were you, I'd go into an office and request Expedited Reinstatement (below) and take the letter you received and your explanation, pointing out the number of jobs you held and that that number of jobs is not "sustainable"

http://www.socialsecurity.gov/disabi...rch/wi/exr.htm

[Junerain]

I had a month at the beginning of 2007 where I earned $800, and a month in 2011 where I earned $800, I have NEVER earned more than that, nothing like a thousand ever! This whole thing is ludicrous. When I went to social security yesterday, they thought there would be a ruling in my favor. Gave me paperwork to fill out about how little I have earned. Going to get a statement from my PRESENT employer about how little I earn, and whenever there is no school, I earn nothing, for instance, all summer long. (I am a teacher's aide)

Getting disability means you cannot work with SUSTAINABLE income, which I cannot. Need to be around kids at all times to keep my spirits up, need to earn the minimum wage jobs with kiddies.

[Perna]

Of more pertinency to this case are statements by courts that proof of the fact of engagement in substantial gainful activity supports the denial of disability benefits, though the medical evidence, standing alone, would have led to the opposite conclusion.

From: http://www.socialsecurity.gov/OP_Hom...-56-di-03.html

You work too hard That you've been able to go out and get these jobs means that you "can" go out and get these jobs. You're doing what any teacher's aid would do.

[Junerain]

I got another letter that the government IS cutting me off from disability. I make no where near enough to cover my bills without it. I do not even make over $700 a month, which means they have no real reason for doing this. I have an advocate from the Mental Health Association, but she is out of the office until 1:30...help this is my worst nightmare!! They advised me to get a lawyer for the appeal, if I choose to do so. I am scared to death.............................................

[nicoleb2]

Be ready, when they do cut you off, go and apply for any type of assistance you might qualify for.

Basically, because you have been working (making min wage or max doesn't matter), you are showing that you ARE capable of having a job, which means you are not, for their purposes "disabled"

[Junerain]

Wrong. Disabled means not being able to make over $720 a month- and I make way under that!

[Junerain]

When you have been fired from 93 jobs all because of discrimination about your mental illness- being bullied and called 'psycho' at every job attempt- that's a medical condition too serious to be ignored. Only earning $450 a month does not take away the HELL I have been through, I still am disabled, my condition is clearly DISABLED!!!!!!!!

[Amazonmom]

I would recommend getting the lawyer. I know if you work while taking disability you have to make sure that you keep them informed of what you are doing. If you only earn 450 a month it sounds like everything will work out. Reviews like this do have to be done because unfortunately people do game the system.

[nicoleb2]

Totally sucks to have to pay for one, but at this point, your best bet is a lawyer because they will know what info needs to go to what people in order to most quickly get your benefits back, plus they can inform you of what has to be done so that if you do work at all, you don't lose benefits again

[Crew]

Hey I agree with Amazonmom, I'd get that lawyer and don't fret too much.

I know you can make the limited amount. However I also know that if you show them your working a total of "9 months" and not consecutively and if your close to working a total of 9 months then they will do a review to see if your still able to be off of Medicare. However they give you an amount of months depending on your situation, I'm reading this out of the "Medicare Handbook they send you each year" all of this info will be in there. Anyway, the point to Disablitiy is that you cannot work enough to pay your way however just say someone lost disability there is an amount of time they have to wait and cut benefits.
Oh there is/was depending on what state your in that Medicare tried to get going and I happened to live in a state that was annoying people to sign up and learn, well they got me so this program is called "Ticket to Work" which gives YOU an additional amount of time and if it shows you can work then Medicare pays for your expenses and pays what you don't make plus Medicaid in each state will often pick you up. But you have to Report EVERYTHING you make, sell etc... if you don't it will be hard to prove yourself.
Like Amazonmom said don't worry so much about it. It's actually very normal.
Hope this helps some and read your Medicare manual for 2012. I'm sure they would send you another one.
Take care and Crew

[mharleman]

I know Social Security "says" that they look at certain criteria before determining a person capable of working; however, I have never trusted them. As my therapist said, they see the world in black and white. What I think is funny, is that's what I've been told I do and what gives me mental break downs. I wish I had better answers for you.

I don't know that there is much more you can do than get a lawyer; because, they may be able to help you where going up against Social Security on your own is unlikely to be successful. Like most here, I can quote you what the regulations are supposed to be, but I won't tell you that this is really the way SSDI works. What I can say is they work only for the government, and seem to focus heavily on removing people for the smallest of discrepancies. Any one of the reasons given here could be why they are coming down on you, or perhaps there is more to the story, but I wouldn't put it past Social Security to look at less than "gainful" but continual and steady changes in one's work status as evidence that one can and should be working. Wish I had better views, but I just don't trust they have the interest of the mentally disabled person at heart. They get paid based on other considerations.

[Junerain]

I am really hurting...I feel.....everything I have can just be ripped away for the smallest of discrepancy, the smallest reason, I have this sensation that the government is 'out to get me' to leave me with nothing at all.

I feel as if I cannot trust anyone or anything, the hand that has fed me...what was that.....a lie???!.... My illness is extremely severe and I know if anyone deserves disability, it's me, each of the 93 firings tore at my very dignity, human resources would call me 'weird' when I did not even do anything wrong.....fire me solely for being 'weird.' If anyone knows discrimination firsthand...my sensitive heart has taken it all in....and left me void where my heart once stood...

My mother wants me to move out to the mountains with her, where she can help more, on the otherhand my father who is also my landlord is ready to evict me if I lack the rent, as his wife hates me for some odd reason.

Even my best friends are not helping in my torment, so few people have experienced this..

Thank you for listening, PC friends....I appreciate your emotional support ahead of time, that's all I am asking

[Perna]

I hope it works out okay. I have a quadriplegic friend who has to practically show up to get his Social Security back after he gets fired or laid off. It's tough for everyone I think, but especially those who can't "point to" an obvious disability.

[mharleman]

I can't imagine how you must feel right now. I imagine the whole world is crumbling right out from underneath your feet. Your father's attitude toward this is inexcusable, but you can't allow that to be what you base your worth to society on. Have you seriously considered the offer your mother made? I know I've had to rely on my mother in the past; because, she would help me when nobody else would. My father, even though he was also bipolar before he died, refused to admit there was anything wrong with me or himself. But I imagine that was just his way of dealing with it. You know, ignore it and it will go away. You have my sympathies.

[Nammu]

Something similar happened to me. I had run out of my trial work months but was not notified during the time I worked. I received a letter a year and a half after I was fired saying my SSDI was being terminated. The same thing would have happened to me, no SSDI, no rent, no medical, etc... AHH, panic. I went down to the local SSDI office and was told You should have reported it. Me "I Did." Well you reported it to the wrong office, there is 13 offices!!!!! And I'm supposed to know which one is the right one? When I go in good faith and tell one of them and give one the a letter and they do not tell me that that is NOT the right office?

Anyway the woman told me to just type up a letter stating I was fired and the date and how how long I worked there totally & they would not make me pay back the money nor would they stop my SSDI. Turned out well for me. Good luck.

Good luck.

[Squirrel1983]

Originally Posted by Junerain

I had a month at the beginning of 2007 where I earned $800, and a month in 2011 where I earned $800, I have NEVER earned more than that, nothing like a thousand ever! This whole thing is ludicrous. When I went to social security yesterday, they thought there would be a ruling in my favor. Gave me paperwork to fill out about how little I have earned. Going to get a statement from my PRESENT employer about how little I earn, and whenever there is no school, I earn nothing, for instance, all summer long. (I am a teacher's aide)

Getting disability means you cannot work with SUSTAINABLE income, which I cannot. Need to be around kids at all times to keep my spirits up, need to earn the minimum wage jobs with kiddies.

I am a teacher's aide as well and unemployed in the summer. I am also schizoaffective according to my new pdoc (had him since Jan.). My mom suggested I apply for disability tonight, and I was just looking for information on it. I thought you couldn't collect if you workes, but if you did maybe I can too. Would my pdoc or T have to back up my illness claim? Or both?

[submissivetwin]

Originally Posted by Junerain

I received a letter stating that my disability will be cut off, due to the work I have done from 2007-2011 being 'sustainable work,' the letter also had an address I could write to, explaining my case.

The letter cited fifteen different jobs I had, some for a month or so, all very briefly held, of which I was ternimated from, due to my schizoaffective disorder.

How can I be denied benefits when I DON'T EVEN WORK AT THESE JOBS ANYMORE.......I was terminated fifteen times, with all my co-workers complaigning of my mental illness, accusing me of being mentally ill.

I have ten days to write a letter explaining a) I got terminated from all these jobs due to severe mental illness b) I am considered totally and permanently disabled by the student loan section of the government, excusing my loans due to PERMANENT and TOTAL disability, c) without disability I will no loner afford rent, I will be homeless, and without health insurance I will be unable to afford my medication, and be hospitlaized for a sixth time.

Please, what is the government looking for in a letter like this, so I will not be denied benefits?

My therapist and psychiatrist will also be writing letters.

But what can I include in MY letter? Hmmm, the only thing I can think of their angle is, the letter states there is no evidence that I did not fully earn the salary I was paid, there have been too many months above the amount I was allowed to earn.

Another thing I can include that my schizoaffective disorder has gotten increasingly WORSE since the years in question, 2007-2011. I have been terminated more frequently and with more reasons such as distractability and being unable to sit still.

Advice? While I was writing this, my Pdoc called and advised me not only to write a letter, but to call the number given for questions, and perhaps visit the local disability office with the letter given, which I will do.

I am scared of ending up homeless, my income is only minimum wage, and I am certain to be fired again soon.

With the help of your doctors, write out what your current daily routines are, and what they were like during your working periods. Probably coming home from work drained and exhausted, perhaps overwhelmed by what is left to do after you get home, and how stressful that all is, and the fact that you have to do it all again the next day. Explain that your work day and preparation for it (and winding down from it once you get home) is a whole lot harder than most people could possibly realize. It helps to get the guy who is going to read all this stuff what it's like dealing with a mental illness on top of working a job. It can be like trying to tie your shoes with your hands tied behind your back. It isn't easy! Good Luck, my husband went through it too.

[Junerain]

I heard from my advocate working on my case.....MY DISABILITY IS 100% REINSTATED!!!!!

Because my dad wrote a letter that he overpaid me when I worked with him, and also because my former emlpoyer said it had to accomodate for me, that I 'did not fully earn my income' by doing my job appropriately....I GOT 100% reinstatement

I am able to afford things again

[Yoda]

Originally Posted by Junerain

Wrong. Disabled means not being able to make over $720 a month- and I make way under that!

so, they are going to allow you to keep working?

[Junerain]

YES I can keep working