transition from SSDI to full-time employment?

[mom483]

Has anyone in the US, successfully transitioned from SSDI to full time employment. How did you do it? What were your results?

[Dolphin14]

Someone I work with did. He said he had a 9 month trial period. He got his benefits and worked. At any time during that 9 month period of he had a health issue he would be able to leave his job and resume his inactive status. He did well and he's been working a couple years now

🐬

[mom483 in reply to Dolphin14]

Thank you for your reply Dolphin14! I'm glad he was abler to get back on track. May I ask what he does? My main concern is that it took so long to get it, that if I lose it, I wouldn't be able to go back if I needed it. Yes, I am catastrophizing, but I can't help it. Also, too, that my working wage would only be equal to disability. I would definitely lose medicaid, which would leave me without transportation - I use the medicaid cab to get to my appointments. So many things to consider!

[Dolphin14 in reply to mom483]

Oh yes he was concerned too but wanted to give it a try. He work as a secretary in an MD office.

There is a lot to consider absolutely. You can easily get right back on if something happens within that trial period.

Have you talked to Social Security?

[Hidden]

I’m really not trying to discourage you, it’s great that you want to work, but I’m on SSDI and my experience has been it can be very difficult to get off of it. There is something called PASS, it stands for plan to achieve self support.

[mom483 in reply to Hidden]

Oh no you are not discouraging me at all! This is why I asked. Because I know there has to be a leap from SSDI to a regular wage. The problem is, that with SSDI comes other benefits like medicaid (transportation, copays, ) and food stamps. So it's not just a matter of the wage, you have to consider if that "normal" pay is going to be able to support yourself plus with all the other things that come from working. I don't have a car and I'm not on a bus route, so I would have to pay at a minimum $20 per day just to get to and from work. That's $400/month. So would I come out ahead or work and still struggle?OF course my biggest fear is IF I go back to work, will SSDI still be available? I mean I know its supposed to be, but ANYTHING can happen.

[Hidden in reply to mom483]

Yes, the times these days are really uncertain. I wish I could get off of it too. I recently tried to work, had to leave the job, and that messed up my benefits and it was hell to try to straighten all of that out. Now I’m getting all of my SSDI back, but I was also getting food assistance and that’s still messed up, on top of the state I live in decided this month to reduce food benefits that they increased for people because of the pandemic, so I’m actually sorry I even tried working!!! The reality is that you’re getting benefits that are hard to get, if you work that can be held against you. There’s a lot of people working lousy jobs to get what you’re getting. I know what a downer it is to realize that. I honestly don’t think too many people are able to get off of it.

[mom483 in reply to Hidden]

THAT is EXACTLY what I am talking about. I thought maybe, I was being too pessimistic, like maybe I am missing something? I can't afford to lose what few benefits I have - Medicaid w/ a spenddown ($350(?) per month and a whopping $23 per month in food stamps) I'm in NY and my corona FS benefits were$200 per month - yes I do miss that little bit I got! It made a HUGE difference. IMO I think they intentionally make it hard so people can screw up and be left with nothing.

[Hidden in reply to mom483]

Well, everyone’s different, I’d love to hear a success story of how someone got completely off of it too. The government has these programs called Ticket to Work and PASS. I tried to ask for more information about those programs at my local Social Security office and the person there couldn’t or wouldn’t help me at all, she just told me to call a phone number. And I’ve inquired about those programs before, it’s very confusing as to how they exactly figure out your money. I really wish I could tell you something more positive, I’ve been through the wringer myself with all of this.

[mom483 in reply to Hidden]

I really appreciate your reply. and your feedback is very helpful. Like I said before, I would think a person would have to have some sort of safety net in order to go from SSDI to working full time. Plus a HUGE leap in income otherwise I don't thin it would work.