[Hellion]

So I have been living on SSI income for the past couple years which I struggled to get on. But I have been feeling a bit better over-all psychologically speaking...I still struggle but I don't feel as bad. I do not think I am in any way just ready to jump into employment of any kind and give up the SSI in fact I could very well regress into a much worse state if I did that. But I guess I am not sure how to approach gradual improvement without risking just having my SSI income ripped out from under me before I establish something else. I mean part of why I feel better is that I got into a good relationship...but I still have a lot of the same difficulties just am not so down on myself about it currently.

So IDK guess I don't need to worry a whole lot, I do have a lot of diagnoses that are considered to typically be long term disabling...but I worry about things like my therapist having determined I don't need as much therapy and could move down to lesser treatment...but then of course I don't want the SSI administration to take that as some sign I'm 'cured' and ready to be thrown out into the work force when in reality I still have a lot of work to do on myself. I was thinking eventually figuring out how much part time work I could do and still keep some SSI income but then not sure if there is a limit on how long you can do that.

But yeah I don't know if anyone has any exact advice but can anyone else relate to these concerns?

Yes, I can relate. I was only approved for disability a few months ago, but it's something that I have thought about. I don't feel well enough to work right now (except for a day or two occasionally).

There is a program for people on disability who want to try to return to work. The web site is here. There are rules about how much you can earn and how it affects your SSI payments.

I don't know all the details of the program. My impression is that it mostly leaves your Medicaid coverage alone, because withdrawing a person's medical coverage is not conducive to helping them to keep working. (Amazingly sensible, isn't it?)

[stewartmays1]

i am at a point were i realy want to get back into paid work been claiming sickness payments for about 2 years now but that wont last for ever i guess their comes a time when you have to get yourself out there again.start of small maybe do some free courses just to get the ball rolling or volunteer somewhere for a few hours a week.

[fallsfall]

It is both exciting and scary to think about getting off disability. I was on SSDI for 10 years. I got off it 7 1/2 years ago through the Ticket To Work program that jo_thorne gave you the link for. Ticket To Work was really important for me. What they do is help you to decide on a career/job direction and then supply the vocational training needed to get you to your goal. While they are doing this, your medical reviews are postponed - so while you are working towards your goal even if you get "better" they won't kick you off disability until you have finished your plan. That was important to me.

I ended up doing some schooling because I needed to change careers - from a stressful one to a less stressful one. That also gave me a chance to gradually do more and more as I gained confidence and got better. By the time I finished my schooling, I was ready to work full time.

There is a special provision for people on SSI where once you earn over the maximum in a month you don't lose your entire benefit (like you do on SSDI), but they decrease your benefit by $1 for each $2 you earn. This means that as you earn more money your benefit gradually decreases, but there isn't a cliff where all of the sudden you are on your own.

In addition to going to school, I also did some volunteering. Volunteering is great because it gets you into a "work" environment without the stresses. If you can't come in one day they will be sad, but not mad. And they love you because you are doing work for free! So another way to ease into things is to do some volunteering. One of my volunteer placed eventually hired me part time.

You need to be healthy enough to start the process. But I found that embarking on my vocational plan with Ticket To Work helped me get better. It was great to have someone supporting me and confident that I would be able to succeed.

Good luck!

[Shaly78]

I totally know where your coming from I only been in a few months and it's just so hard to see this as the rest of my life!! Especially knowing how part of my story was scandalized! The only solace I can say is if it is that important try to go back to work. If you fall flat on your face, then apply again and this time make sure you don't need working to complete yourself. Yes, sometimes you have to swallow that hard pill and leave well enough alone. I'm 37 years old, I worked since I was 18 years old without that big of problems like I had the last 2 years. It leaves you at a place of being unfulfilled just wondering aimlessly without plan or direction in life. Like coming to terms with mental illness isn't enough, right! I don't know I feel for you. I think I might do okay later years later in some capacity like this peer support or counselor. I got beef with counselors also, so who knows what will happened with myself. I don't know what to say... Hang in there!

[Aries2015]

Originally Posted by Hellion

So I have been living on SSI income for the past couple years which I struggled to get on. But I have been feeling a bit better over-all psychologically speaking...I still struggle but I don't feel as bad. I do not think I am in any way just ready to jump into employment of any kind and give up the SSI in fact I could very well regress into a much worse state if I did that. But I guess I am not sure how to approach gradual improvement without risking just having my SSI income ripped out from under me before I establish something else. I mean part of why I feel better is that I got into a good relationship...but I still have a lot of the same difficulties just am not so down on myself about it currently.

So IDK guess I don't need to worry a whole lot, I do have a lot of diagnoses that are considered to typically be long term disabling...but I worry about things like my therapist having determined I don't need as much therapy and could move down to lesser treatment...but then of course I don't want the SSI administration to take that as some sign I'm 'cured' and ready to be thrown out into the work force when in reality I still have a lot of work to do on myself. I was thinking eventually figuring out how much part time work I could do and still keep some SSI income but then not sure if there is a limit on how long you can do that.

But yeah I don't know if anyone has any exact advice but can anyone else relate to these concerns?

I am confused how to navigate this site. you can call and ask how much you can earn. they will tell you. knowledge is power