Ssd And Voc Rehab

[willie 74]

I am recieving SSD and I am a voc rehab student, I was awarded SSD about 8 months ago and I have six classes left to graduate. I am afraid to tell my voc rehab counseler because I dont want them to say I owe the tuition since I am unable to work. My disabilities have gotton worse since my approval for voc rehab. have put a claim in for IU and at this time it is in the desicion phase.

[Valhalla0321]

Wow.. I am TDIU, on independent living program with Voc Rehab and just went to a SSDI Hearing and the Judge was only asking about my Custody/full custody i have of my child. The judge did not let my VA clinical homeless program caseworker even talk in the courtroom. I have letters and one from Nuero pscy that supports what my VA caseworker and Voc rehab specialist have written, which is i have a serious employment handycap and should not return to work unless my many Disabilities are cured and they have not been. Can't believe that there are some that don't have to go through what i did in court with all the letters in support.. its good to read stories like this though.

[SolInvictus]

I'm no expert on this issue brother but ill lend my two cents to ease your fears for now and hope some of our resident experts can assist you better. I'm on SSDI as well, I went through the vocrehab schooling program and graduated with flying colors even though my disabilities precluded me from gainful employment. Now maybe the sequence of events in my case differs from yours and I'm not sure how big a difference that makes, but it was never in conflict and I don't think yours should be either because the program is designed to "prep you for the workforce" as I understand it. It doesn't guarantee you can work once you've completed it. Therefore there is no earned income for them to claw back. What they paid you was simply a stipend to live on and tuition while you were in school. These are technically integral components of the va training program regardless of the fact that your school was outside the va. In my opinion, even if they could take it back from you, there should be a pretty high bar for them to meet in proving that you somehow abused the system. I don't think they can penalize you for trying to improve yourself because that is the point of the program. But I'm no expert, just thinking out loud. Hang in there brother.

[carlie]

willie,

Are you referring to VA - Voc Rehab?

[willie 74]

I appreciate the response, yes it is the VA voc -rehab. When I started I was already 80 percent service connected. As time progressed some things became worse and I was awarded SSD. I applyed for IU over 18 months ago and waiting to hear about the results. I just recieved an e-mail from my voc rehab counselor about a job log form that I must fill out and send back to him every 2-4 weeks. So I am sitting here and thinking that what type of employment can I really do when I cant sit or stand for more than an hour os so due to service connection issues. At this point do I tell him that my conditions have gotton worse over the past couple of years and I do not plan to seek employment due to my disabilities or do I go with it and see if they can really find me a suitable job that works with my disabilities. My heart wants to work, however I know I cannot physically take it...

[carlie]

I appreciate the response, yes it is the VA voc -rehab. When I started I was already 80 percent service connected. As time progressed some things became worse and I was awarded SSD. I applyed for IU over 18 months ago and waiting to hear about the results. I just recieved an e-mail from my voc rehab counselor about a job log form that I must fill out and send back to him every 2-4 weeks. So I am sitting here and thinking that what type of employment can I really do when I cant sit or stand for more than an hour os so due to service connection issues. At this point do I tell him that my conditions have gotton worse over the past couple of years and I do not plan to seek employment due to my disabilities or do I go with it and see if they can really find me a suitable job that works with my disabilities. My heart wants to work, however I know I cannot physically take it...

I would certainly let voc rehab know you are in receipt of SSD benefits.

Keep in mind SSA considers all medical conditions and VA is ONLY

concerned with SC'd medical conditions.

You will have to make your own decision on that

but

I don't see anyway they can "say I owe the tuition since I am unable to work".

JMHO

[willie 74]

Thank you for the response,

as of today I have faxed the SSD paperwork requested by my voc rehab counselor. My SSD award was soley based off of service connected disabilities. My IU claim is sitting in Pendind decision approval status. Thank you again for the feedback..