VENT -SSA is playing havoc with my nerves

So I have been on SSDI since August 2001. I have worked really hard with the help of providers and Voc Rehab to try to return to work. Per the SSA rep, their own hand out: Working While Disabled - How Can We Help, and more research, I know that I can have a Trial Work Period of 9 months and can earn whatever amount during this time or earn below a certain amount for it NOT to count as a TWP month. Well, apparently not so.

They sent me a form to determine, that I have 15 days to return, whether or not I could still receive benefits. It is going back asking for information back to February 2001 (14 years ago!, who has records that far back) of my work history. Besides not have all the detailed records and of specific hours worked each week during this time, this technically is irrelevant because I did not file as permanently disabled until August 1 2001. I don't understand why they are asking me this. I was out on short term disability February to March that year then came back part time time April through July due to the disability, then FMLA for 12 weeks until November. So my last day of actual work was August 1st. I am praying they are not trying to count April - July as some of my TWP months in which case I will have to pay back some of the social security payments these last couple months, let alone knowing they will stop sooner than expected.

Then on top of that, I was fortunate that I received long term disability sick pay from my employer for 18 months when I left. SSA has me listed as working for this insurance company, thinking I working in the years after I left. I have corrected this on the form as well and have proof from my W2 showing it was third party sick pay. It just gets my nerves going though.

I am angry, scared, and beside myself at the thought of losing these benefits. Things at the job are not secure enough yet to loose SSDI. I needed these TWP months. Vocational Rehab and my providers helped me make a plan for goals each month. I understand why people are afraid of working while disabled if SSA does things like this. I want to make a success of this but just to be cut off, how does this help?

I am filling out the forms best I can and I do have my tax stuff with W2's during this time is all I can provide as I keep those 15 years. I will turn it in today and see what they say. Please pray or hope with me that they continue my benefits. Thanks in advance for listening to me vent.

They make a lot of mistakes. I think their motto is "if you're not a nervous wreck now, wait until you hear from us!"

Check out Myler disability. They'll help you. That's who I used. You don't have to pay them anything.

Things have a way of working out, s.s. has a way of making the nerves rattle make sure you have all necessary documentation ready to rock

I didn't have anything except literally like 3 doctor visits when I applied.

I am rather confused and my imagining is that they are more concerned about how much disability you were paid by the 3rd party (which might have disqualified you, your income would be different/sufficient (according to them) without SSDI? If you were getting a "paycheck" whether through working or through employer disability, I imagine it is kind of like when you qualify for COBRA insurance after you leave a job and have some other insurance too/instead and they won't pay you because you have or could have/qualify for COBRA? That sort of thing.

I know nothing about cobra. But I know people get ssi/ssdi and other paychecks. If so, the amount of ssi/ssdi is lowered if you get extra income from another source.

SSDI/SSI are only lowered or canceled in the case of (SSI) with additional income of any kind; or discontinued for SSDI if it is earned income after qualifying for the criteria of income above a certain amount for 9 trial work period months OR showing medical improvement OR no longer disabled. For the time period they are asking, I showed no improvement and did not until 2014, and attempted to work 5 months, which is when it is considered that my TWP began; this was even per the SSA representative I met with before and during this period. Lovely, huh?

However, not just any income affects your benefits, only earned income above a certain amount affects SSDI, not: stocks, dividends, interest income, insurance payments, plus others, even if you won the lottery, would not affect your benefits for SSDI per the accountant, SSA, or IRS. That is not the case with SSI however. All of the above affects SSI.

That is why it is confusing that they are asking about it now, other than somehow it is showing as employed by the insurance company, which would be a problem were it the case, but is not, and can understand why they would need clarification. Hopefully it will all straighten out as have indicated on the forms and with the W2's from that time showing it was third party sick pay from insurance.

Have not heard back yet but was told it could be awhile. I could have to pay back the SSDI payments depending on what they determine for some of the months, which hopefully will not be the case. In explaining at this point, not sure how could pay them back, what happens?! They set up a payment plan. Isn't that great on top of everything else? So, my next question is, can you declare bankruptcy from the government? Just curious. Will have to find a way to pay it back if it comes to that but still, just curious.