SSDI and going to college.

gracefullystained · Jun 23, 2008, 03:45 AM

I don't know where this goes, so I'm putting it in general. Feel free to move it.

Once I'm stable enough to be able to go out in public again (right now I can't leave my house), I would like to go to college. Does anyone here know whether that will make me lose my disability before I'm ready for the workforce? I know that if you can *work* you'll lose it. ..but work and school are very different things.

Thank you!
gracefully stained

(JD) · Jun 23, 2008, 09:27 AM

Here's what I found on the web.

>First, contact your state Department of Vocational Rehabilitation--if you are eligible, they will pay all tuition and fees (plus books, usually) at a public college.

>Also, contact any other service/advocacy agencies and ask about any programs they have.

>Next (and this applies whether or not you are eligible for any of the above programs or not)--contact the college/universities you are interested in and start the application process.
NOTE: if you have a weak academic record, you might hav to start ata community college with open enrollment (that means they'll take you as long as you have a high school diploma or GED). If that's the case, don't be discouraged--I started the same way, and now am working on a doctorate at a top university.

Next, go to this website: fafsa.ed.gov This is the website where you can fill out an application for federal student loans. You'll need to give them your earnings info of tax returns--and depending on your age, possibly your parents as well.

The FAFSA will be sent to any colleges/universities you indicate. When you are accepted and tell the school you will be attending that you are going to start classes, you then need to contact their financial aid department--they will have more form(s) to fill out--but what HAPPENS is this (at most colleges; there are minor variations): They will take the FAFSA plus what other information they get from you and determine how much financial aid you can receive in the form of student loans. NOTE: at this point, you are NOT obligated to anything--that comes next.

Once you register for classes, the student loans/grants will be applied to your fees/tuition, etc. Any funds left over will be given directly to you--or, if you still owe some, you'll have to pay the difference. That's unlikely, though, at least at a state/public university if you are a resident of the state.

On the FAFSA, you'll be asked to indicate if you want to be considered for grants--always say yes (you don't have to pay those back).

Also--normally most schools automatically use the FAFSA to apply you for any grants/scholarships they have--but check and make sure that you are applying/being considered. That's important,too--it can be a good bit of additional money.

Next--since you have a disability--as soon as you are accepted to a school and decide that's were you are going, contact the school's Office of Disability Services. They will make sure you get whatever assistive technology/accommodations you need both in and out of class. NOTE: the school i s legally REQUIRED to do this. They do need for you to give them as much lead time to set things up for each semester, though--so don't put this off. Also, they will help you in any work-study/student assistant job you get to make sure you have what accommodations you need to do the work.

and I found this also:

They can, but they calculate that money in the financial aid figures. However it is not in vain because if an SSI-getter can earn a college degree they can work and make enough money in their skill with their degree to not even need the SSI.

[b] Hope some of this is correct, and helps! SSDI and going to college.

serafim_etal · Jun 23, 2008, 12:29 PM

Sky's post gives you all the steps necessary to do this. Now t6he personal side!

I have been on SSDI since 2002. I just graduated with my AA last month and begin as a junior at a state college in August. Going to school has not effected my SSDI at all. But being on SSDI HAS effected my schooling...in positive ways. First, at the community/jr college level, in my state, there is a thing called a Board of Governor's Grant (BOGG). This is a grant that waives tuition, health service fees, and half of parking fees. To get this grant you have to fall into certain economic categories, and show proof of this with tax returns etc...unless you receive SSI or SSDI...then you get the grant, all you have to show is the letter you get from social security each year. The grant is good for a school year. This is in California, but other two-year colleges may have something similar...the school's financial aid office can tell you.

The Disabled Students department at colleges is usually very helpful. Their job is to ensure that the disabled student is able to succeed. They can provide you with accomodations that you may need. I receive extra time on exams and a quiet room to take them in, a tape recorder for lectures if I want it (some teachers don't allow recording, if you go thru disabled students, they have to allow it), drinks in class (some classes/teachers don't allow food/drinks, but some meds cause cotton mouth...computer labs are one place where there are generally NO exceptions, disabled or not), consideration for absences (anxiety/panic makes it hard to attend classes at times), and a general "heads-up" that I may get up and leave the classroom with no warning (I have never had to do this). There are many other accomodations that are specific to different diabilities...ranging from special equipment for those who are paralized to someone to take notes for those who have trouble with that.

Now that I am heading to a regular university, SSDI has helped me with financial aid. Being on SSDI puts a person in the lowest economic category...which opens up lots of grants and scholarships that would not be available otherwise. Many grants and scholarships are based on grade point average AND financial need. I have a friend who attended the same school as me, graduated at the same time as me, is transferring to the same school, at the same time...our GPA's were .01% different (hers higher). We both applied for grants and scholarships through the school "foundation" (one scholarship app and essay for many scholarships). I received two grants and three scholarships, these total enough to cover all of my direct school expenses for a year (tuition, health services, class fees) and a little extra towards books. My friend got nothing...because her having an actual job bumped her up an economic category!

Last year I got a letter saying that it was time to review my SSDI claim (supposedly these come every 3, 5, or 7 years depending on your disibility). It had a few questions for me to answer and then I had to send it back in. By a few I mean I think there were four. I remember it asking if my disibility was the same, better or worse (boxes to check) and if I had attended any school, then if yes to school, was it court ordered, thru rehab, or other. I put yes to school and other...and sent it back. A couple weeks later I got a letter back saying my claim did not need to be reviewed at this time. So *in my experience* school appears to have no bearing on SSDI!

I hope some of this helps.

gracefullystained · Jun 23, 2008, 07:24 PM

Thank you both so much. I've scoured and scoured the web and couldn't find *anything* like what you posted, Sky. I've been looking for weeks, literally. I really appreciate it.

And thank you, serafimetal! It's great to have personal experience relayed. That makes me feel much more comfortable about the whole thing. I have been so worried that trying to better my life would end up screwing it up in the process.

keli449 · Jan 02, 2012, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by serafim_etal

Sky's post gives you all the steps necessary to do this. Now t6he personal side!

I have been on SSDI since 2002. I just graduated with my AA last month and begin as a junior at a state college in August. Going to school has not effected my SSDI at all. But being on SSDI HAS effected my schooling...in positive ways. First, at the community/jr college level, in my state, there is a thing called a Board of Governor's Grant (BOGG). This is a grant that waives tuition, health service fees, and half of parking fees. To get this grant you have to fall into certain economic categories, and show proof of this with tax returns etc...unless you receive SSI or SSDI...then you get the grant, all you have to show is the letter you get from social security each year. The grant is good for a school year. This is in California, but other two-year colleges may have something similar...the school's financial aid office can tell you.

hi i was in a car accident in 06 stopped work in 07 had 2 surgeries and really miss my job, ive moved 3 times in 1 1/2 years 1 due to roof collasp other house was sold, anyways i cant find a job here pay wont cover the rents and bills, im on ssdi and ltd i want to move to nevada and start a 2 year nursing program im so scared that my ssdi will be taken away im so lonley without working! i have crps, panic and anxiety disorders, i know i would feel so much better if i had a carrer i have been a med asst for 20 years so i am familiar with the field and nevada is alot cheaper, im going to have 1 more surg for spinal cord stim implant then move again what do u think about school, i know it will make me very haappy! how should i start, i havent had a cdr yet and got on ssdi in 09 any response would be great! TY

The Disabled Students department at colleges is usually very helpful. Their job is to ensure that the disabled student is able to succeed. They can provide you with accomodations that you may need. I receive extra time on exams and a quiet room to take them in, a tape recorder for lectures if I want it (some teachers don't allow recording, if you go thru disabled students, they have to allow it), drinks in class (some classes/teachers don't allow food/drinks, but some meds cause cotton mouth...computer labs are one place where there are generally NO exceptions, disabled or not), consideration for absences (anxiety/panic makes it hard to attend classes at times), and a general "heads-up" that I may get up and leave the classroom with no warning (I have never had to do this). There are many other accomodations that are specific to different diabilities...ranging from special equipment for those who are paralized to someone to take notes for those who have trouble with that.

Now that I am heading to a regular university, SSDI has helped me with financial aid. Being on SSDI puts a person in the lowest economic category...which opens up lots of grants and scholarships that would not be available otherwise. Many grants and scholarships are based on grade point average AND financial need. I have a friend who attended the same school as me, graduated at the same time as me, is transferring to the same school, at the same time...our GPA's were .01% different (hers higher). We both applied for grants and scholarships through the school "foundation" (one scholarship app and essay for many scholarships). I received two grants and three scholarships, these total enough to cover all of my direct school expenses for a year (tuition, health services, class fees) and a little extra towards books. My friend got nothing...because her having an actual job bumped her up an economic category!

Last year I got a letter saying that it was time to review my SSDI claim (supposedly these come every 3, 5, or 7 years depending on your disibility). It had a few questions for me to answer and then I had to send it back in. By a few I mean I think there were four. I remember it asking if my disibility was the same, better or worse (boxes to check) and if I had attended any school, then if yes to school, was it court ordered, thru rehab, or other. I put yes to school and other...and sent it back. A couple weeks later I got a letter back saying my claim did not need to be reviewed at this time. So *in my experience* school appears to have no bearing on SSDI!

I hope some of this helps.

I WANT TO GO TO A 2 YEAR NURSING SCHOOL ON SSDI SINCE 08 AND ltd worked in med field for 18 years, where i live i cant afford it! nevada has a 2 year program how should i approach this no cdr yet, college is carrington i would love to work again car crash in 06 put me out 1 more surg, spinal cord stim and would love to get off pain pills! any ideas how i should approach this? i have rsd panic,anxiety disorder ty so much

amandalouise · Jan 02, 2012, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gracefullystained

I don't know where this goes, so I'm putting it in general. Feel free to move it.

Once I'm stable enough to be able to go out in public again (right now I can't leave my house), I would like to go to college. Does anyone here know whether that will make me lose my disability before I'm ready for the workforce? I know that if you can *work* you'll lose it. ..but work and school are very different things.

Thank you!
gracefully stained

Each USA state does schooling and social security grants differently.

here in NY you do lose your SSI if you -

use grants and loans ie PELL, TAP, student loans....

here any form of financial aid / cash assistance/ agency assisting you by paying for or helping you to pay for anything is considered income. even having housing assistance like HUD affects your state assistance programs that give you cash, food stamps and medical care. some forms of assistance affects how much food stamps you get, some affects how much medical co pays you have to pay before the medicaid will pay for your medical care and some forms of assistance programs affect SSI in forms of SSI deducting a "recoopment" payment from your SSI checks monthly until you have paid back the cash you were not supposed to get because of going to college on grants loans and scholarships. sometimes they knock you right off SSI because the amounts of your financial aid assistance for college was not reported or because that state did not allow those on SSI to get grants and loans...

my advice contact your SSI worker. let them know you would like to go to college someday and need to know how it will affect your SSI and what you need to do when its time for you to go to college. your SSI worker will have all the information you need for your location about schooling and SSI.

Perna · Jan 03, 2012, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by keli449

I WANT TO GO TO A 2 YEAR NURSING SCHOOL ON SSDI SINCE 08 AND ltd worked in med field for 18 years, where i live i cant afford it! nevada has a 2 year program how should i approach this no cdr yet, college is carrington i would love to work again car crash in 06 put me out 1 more surg, spinal cord stim and would love to get off pain pills! any ideas how i should approach this? i have rsd panic,anxiety disorder ty so much

Hi, Keli, I would make an appointment with your doctor(s) to make a plan to address your physical needs, see if they can be worked on and improved in light of wanting to go to college, see what they think and what time frame they might have. I would also study your school's financial aid information: http://www.carringtondev.com/consume...r_Profiles.pdf and then call them and get an appointment to meet with someone and have them help you work through applying, being accepted, finding what Federal aid you can, etc.

keli449 · Apr 01, 2012, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by serafim_etal

Sky's post gives you all the steps necessary to do this. Now t6he personal side!

I have been on SSDI since 2002. I just graduated with my AA last month and begin as a junior at a state college in August. Going to school has not effected my SSDI at all. But being on SSDI HAS effected my schooling...in positive ways. First, at the community/jr college level, in my state, there is a thing called a Board of Governor's Grant (BOGG). This is a grant that waives tuition, health service fees, and half of parking fees. To get this grant you have to fall into certain economic categories, and show proof of this with tax returns etc...unless you receive SSI or SSDI...then you get the grant, all you have to show is the letter you get from social security each year. The grant is good for a school year. This is in California, but other two-year colleges may have something similar...the school's financial aid office can tell you.

The Disabled Students department at colleges is usually very helpful. Their job is to ensure that the disabled student is able to succeed. They can provide you with accomodations that you may need. I receive extra time on exams and a quiet room to take them in, a tape recorder for lectures if I want it (some teachers don't allow recording, if you go thru disabled students, they have to allow it), drinks in class (some classes/teachers don't allow food/drinks, but some meds cause cotton mouth...computer labs are one place where there are generally NO exceptions, disabled or not), consideration for absences (anxiety/panic makes it hard to attend classes at times), and a general "heads-up" that I may get up and leave the classroom with no warning (I have never had to do this). There are many other accomodations that are specific to different diabilities...ranging from special equipment for those who are paralized to someone to take notes for those who have trouble with that.

Now that I am heading to a regular university, SSDI has helped me with financial aid. Being on SSDI puts a person in the lowest economic category...which opens up lots of grants and scholarships that would not be available otherwise. Many grants and scholarships are based on grade point average AND financial need. I have a friend who attended the same school as me, graduated at the same time as me, is transferring to the same school, at the same time...our GPA's were .01% different (hers higher). We both applied for grants and scholarships through the school "foundation" (one scholarship app and essay for many scholarships). I received two grants and three scholarships, these total enough to cover all of my direct school expenses for a year (tuition, health services, class fees) and a little extra towards books. My friend got nothing...because her having an actual job bumped her up an economic category!

Last year I got a letter saying that it was time to review my SSDI claim (supposedly these come every 3, 5, or 7 years depending on your disibility). It had a few questions for me to answer and then I had to send it back in. By a few I mean I think there were four. I remember it asking if my disibility was the same, better or worse (boxes to check) and if I had attended any school, then if yes to school, was it court ordered, thru rehab, or other. I put yes to school and other...and sent it back. A couple weeks later I got a letter back saying my claim did not need to be reviewed at this time. So *in my experience* school appears to have no bearing on SSDI!

I hope some of this helps.

ty for your information, i see on other forums that state being on ssdi you will lose ur benefits? states if u can go to college u can work, i sure hope i can attend after my last surg! i dont want to lose my benefits, ty for ur help!

webgrrlie · Apr 06, 2013, 11:38 PM

Okay, I'm 43 y.o., and I live in Maryland. Does anyone know anything about SSDI and education in Maryland? HELP!!!

webgrrlie · Apr 07, 2013, 05:16 AM

Help!! Everyone keeps mentioning "Sky's" post, but I don't know Sky, nor how to find the post.

Someone, please help!!

Apr 09, 2013, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gracefullystained

I don't know where this goes, so I'm putting it in general. Feel free to move it.

Once I'm stable enough to be able to go out in public again (right now I can't leave my house), I would like to go to college. Does anyone here know whether that will make me lose my disability before I'm ready for the workforce? I know that if you can *work* you'll lose it. ..but work and school are very different things.

Thank you!
gracefully stained

I don't know how exactly SSDI works with education but I'm wondering how school is different from working, that is, if you're going to go on campus school? I mean I could understand if you're doing distance, or internet learning b/c you could stay home but if you can get out in public and go to school, how is that different from working a job? I'm just curious.

This is good if you're trying to go to work to get back to the work force, sounds like you have a plan to get back out there so I'm not trying to discourage or be negative, just an honest question

maxny · May 20, 2013, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by s4ndm4n2006

I don't know how exactly SSDI works with education but I'm wondering how school is different from working, that is, if you're going to go on campus school? I mean I could understand if you're doing distance, or internet learning b/c you could stay home but if you can get out in public and go to school, how is that different from working a job? I'm just curious.

College seems quite different from Work to me.

1. Even going to school full time, there are prob only abt 10-15 hours per week where you actually have to be physically in class, on-campus. The rest of the time you make your own schedule, so you can work around your illness in a way that just would not be possible in a 9-5 or 40/hr per week job.

2. You can go at your own pace- going part time, taking semesters off to deal with illness, creating your own schedule so you can also make your psych appointments, etc.

3. You don't have the pressure of dealing with bosses/coworkers/customers. Yes there is some interaction with professors and classmates, but its generally not the sort of high-pressure, get-fired-if-you-screw-up type of pressure that comes with work.

4. At least where I live, most jobs require either experience or a 4-yr (or graduate) degree. I realize SSA may not care whether jobs are actually available, only that you be able to perform theoretical jobs were they available. But for me, my illness has prevented me from finishing school on time- If I can finish, I stand a chance at eventually finding work and becoming self reliant again.

keli449 · May 24, 2013, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by serafim_etal

Sky's post gives you all the steps necessary to do this. Now t6he personal side!

I have been on SSDI since 2002. I just graduated with my AA last month and begin as a junior at a state college in August. Going to school has not effected my SSDI at all. But being on SSDI HAS effected my schooling...in positive ways. First, at the community/jr college level, in my state, there is a thing called a Board of Governor's Grant (BOGG). This is a grant that waives tuition, health service fees, and half of parking fees. To get this grant you have to fall into certain economic categories, and show proof of this with tax returns etc...unless you receive SSI or SSDI...then you get the grant, all you have to show is the letter you get from social security each year. The grant is good for a school year. This is in California, but other two-year colleges may have something similar...the school's financial aid office can tell you.

The Disabled Students department at colleges is usually very helpful. Their job is to ensure that the disabled student is able to succeed. They can provide you with accomodations that you may need. I receive extra time on exams and a quiet room to take them in, a tape recorder for lectures if I want it (some teachers don't allow recording, if you go thru disabled students, they have to allow it), drinks in class (some classes/teachers don't allow food/drinks, but some meds cause cotton mouth...computer labs are one place where there are generally NO exceptions, disabled or not), consideration for absences (anxiety/panic makes it hard to attend classes at times), and a general "heads-up" that I may get up and leave the classroom with no warning (I have never had to do this). There are many other accomodations that are specific to different diabilities...ranging from special equipment for those who are paralized to someone to take notes for those who have trouble with that.

Now that I am heading to a regular university, SSDI has helped me with financial aid. Being on SSDI puts a person in the lowest economic category...which opens up lots of grants and scholarships that would not be available otherwise. Many grants and scholarships are based on grade point average AND financial need. I have a friend who attended the same school as me, graduated at the same time as me, is transferring to the same school, at the same time...our GPA's were .01% different (hers higher). We both applied for grants and scholarships through the school "foundation" (one scholarship app and essay for many scholarships). I received two grants and three scholarships, these total enough to cover all of my direct school expenses for a year (tuition, health services, class fees) and a little extra towards books. My friend got nothing...because her having an actual job bumped her up an economic category!

Last year I got a letter saying that it was time to review my SSDI claim (supposedly these come every 3, 5, or 7 years depending on your disibility). It had a few questions for me to answer and then I had to send it back in. By a few I mean I think there were four. I remember it asking if my disibility was the same, better or worse (boxes to check) and if I had attended any school, then if yes to school, was it court ordered, thru rehab, or other. I put yes to school and other...and sent it back. A couple weeks later I got a letter back saying my claim did not need to be reviewed at this time. So *in my experience* school appears to have no bearing on SSDI!

I hope some of this helps.

Hi hope you are well, I seen your post awhile ago as I looked up ssdi and school, I live in California and I really want to go to school but am afraid I will lose my benefits, dx with crps, nerve damage,anxiety, should I go for financial aid or will that red flag me? would they pay for a vocational school like Carrington college? or just a community college? I keep reading the post here and just could not afford to lose my benefits. thank you so much

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