Can You Apply And Work While Waiting?

[rdnkjeeper]

A friend was over yesterday and told me that they applied for SSD and kept working until right before their first payment. I checked this website and Social Securitys website, but couldn't find anything that said yes or no. So how many people have applied for SSD and kept working?

I am 60% VA, finding it harder and harder to work everyday....Thanks

[LarryJ]

To make it clear, I was meaning apply for Social Security Disablity while still working....with the plan to quit or retire when it is granted.....by some of the comments I think I might have confused a few people....sorry for the confusion.

Yes, you do have me confused. I don't know about anyone else, but, I am totally confused.

Help me out here, if you could.

You are totally disabled? You have to be 100% totally disabled before you can receive Social Security DISABILITY Insurance (SSDI), right?

You want to work up until you get your first SSDI check?

Does the entity that you currently work for deduct SSDI/Social Security from your paycheck?

Do you figger that the Social Security Administration will take a look at their records concerning you and your employment?

Do you really think that they will let you work up until you "retire" on Social Security Disability?

It's time for me to take my medication and prepare for another drug-induced nightly coma!

Let me know how the SSDI thing plays out, okay? :)

[free_spirit_etc]

My back is the problem.....there is a thread on here about it someplace. To save you from searching, 5 Herniated discs, 4 bulging discs, Ostioarthritis, Disc degeneration, Canal Stenosis, Spinal Stenosis, Sciatia, and Neuropathy. I can work one maybe two days without killing myself, but then I have to up my pain pills. Pain pills are the only way I can make it through a week of work.....some weeks are worse than others depending on what I am doing. I am a Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator. I am in a lot of pain all the time, but I just keep popping the pills, to continue working to support my family.

The folks that said you cannot work and get approved for SSD were correct. If you can work full time and make above SGA (Substantial Gainful Activity) then you cannot meet the criteria for being disabled - as you are capable of earning above SGA because you are doing so.

However, the folks that said you can work and get approved were also correct. As long as you are not capable of working above the SGA amount.

This doesn't just mean that you can cut back hours and earn just below SGA to get SSD. They would still need to determine if you are actually capable of earning more than you do (i.e. working more hours) or capable of doing a different type of job.

The reason I asked was because of your statement that you are finding it harder and harder to work. If this is a progressive thing, that keeps getting worse, then you might want to learn all you can about applying now - so you will know what to do when you can't work as much.

If your condition gets progressively worse, you might not have to wait until you cannot work at all to apply or get approved. If you get to the point where you cannot consistently work enough to keep earning above SGA, you might want to go ahead and apply even though you are still working.

Of course they might question whether you really are not capable of working that much, or just don't want to. However, that is a legitimate question for them to ask. It is part of their job to find the answer to that question. If the answer is you are really not capable - then you are disabled under their standards.

So- can you work while waiting to be approved for SSD? In certain circumstances - maybe.

Can I ask -

1. Are you taking more than the prescribed amount of pain killers?

2. Does working (while popping pain pills to numb the pain) cause your condition to worsen?

[free_spirit_etc]

Yes, you do have me confused. I don't know about anyone else, but, I am totally confused.

Help me out here, if you could.

You are totally disabled? You have to be 100% totally disabled before you can receive Social Security DISABILITY Insurance (SSDI), right?

You want to work up until you get your first SSDI check?

Does the entity that you currently work for deduct SSDI/Social Security from your paycheck?

Do you figger that the Social Security Administration will take a look at their records concerning you and your employment?

Do you really think that they will let you work up until you "retire" on Social Security Disability?

It's time for me to take my medication and prepare for another drug-induced nightly coma!

Let me know how the SSDI thing plays out, okay? :)

Larry,

Personally, I think he asked a very legitimate question. And I believe he deserves considerate answers and respect.

He is not asking how to cheat the system. He is saying that he has some pretty significant physical disabilities - such that SSA might consider him to be disabled - and he wants to know if he has to quit working in order to apply, and be approved for, benefits.

I do not see anything wrong with that question. Nor do I see any reason for him to be ridiculed on this board.

Free

[LarryJ]

Larry,

Personally, I think he asked a very legitimate question. And I believe he deserves considerate answers and respect.

He is not asking how to cheat the system. He is saying that he has some pretty significant physical disabilities - such that SSA might consider him to be disabled - and he wants to know if he has to quit working in order to apply, and be approved for, benefits.

I do not see anything wrong with that question. Nor do I see any reason for him to be ridiculed on this board.

Free

Well, personally, I think it was a stupid question.

If everybody could just work right on up until they started getting their SSDI checks for NOT BEING ABLE TO WORK...........then, hell, I'M STOOOPID!

And, why do they call it DISABILITY Insurance..............like, you know, BEING DISABLED and not ABLE to WORK?

Otherwise, then, how come I darn near lost my home becasue I worked until I COULDN'T WORK, before being able to apply for Social Security DISABILITY?

Yes, it was a stupid question..............and, I'm becoming less and less inclined to try to help people that ask stupid questions.

THINK, PEOPLE.

Or, is THAT a stupid thing to ask people to do?

I give up.

I absolutely GIVE UP!

You might say that I have HADIT!

I am SO outta here!

[JR Reihs]

To make it clear, I was meaning apply for Social Security Disablity while still working....with the plan to quit or retire when it is granted.....by some of the comments I think I might have confused a few people....sorry for the confusion.

No confusion here and the answer is still the same........No, but you can apply over and over again. but as long as you are still gainfuly employed you will get the computer generated denial because you are still working.

If what you said about your friend is true then I would not suggest you go for it the same way because by your post, you may need it soon.

I would consult an Attorney on this, and also talk to the SS office.

[poolguy11550]

Well, personally, I think it was a stupid question.

I agree.