POZ Community Forums
Main Forums => Pre-HAART Long-Term Survivors => Topic started by: idee on August 11, 2012, 11:35:44 pm
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I am working now and want to make the switch from medicaid and SSI to private insurance. I am thinking of calling social security and telling them I am working and can they put my benefits on hold right now until I need them again. Also if I can keep my medicaid.
But I kind of doubt that can happen. So I'm wondering if anyone on here new of a company that would insure me.
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I am going to stick my neck out here.......as if I dont all the time anyway.
What do you mean "I am working now"....as a waitress, as a web designer...or what. If you are looking to buy your own insurance, does that mean you are self employed or that your employer woun't provide you with HMO insurance?
From personal experience, if you try to pay for your own HMO insurance, it costs between $500 and $1000 and month. I was self employed and had to buy my own....the way I reduced cost was to join the Chamber of Commerce here, and join their GROUP PLAN.
Also, from experience, there are plans social security has to ease you back into the work force. ( BUT, your doctor needs to be part of this process. ) Are you really ready to take on the stress of full time employment?????????????????????
I would NEVER call social security and announce I am back at work.
Do you have a social worker affiliated with an AIDS group? Ask for one. Or call the AIDS Law Project.
As what company will sell you an HMO plan...it depends on how much you have to spend!
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The state I live in has what's called "Med Works." It's the Medicaid for working disabled people. I pay a certain premium for this type of Medicaid and it's always active. I believe other states have similar programs, but you would have to call your Medicaid office.
As for asking SSA to put your benefits "on hold," well, there are different rules for SSI and SSDI, and I'm not really sure about SSI. You can go on SSA's website (ssa.gov) and search "blue book 2012." That has all the info about working while on disability.
I wouldn't necessarily "not tell" SSA about working. When they find out you've been working and collecting benefits, there could be a huge amount you would have to pay back. But I do agree with bear60 concerning getting a hold of someone at an ASO; then,ask for the name of a "benefits counselor." These are people specially trained in helping people on disability (both kinds) get back into the work force. They can also give advice on keeping benefits while working, what those rules are etc. I do know that people on SSI have a more restrictive amount one can make while working and keeping SSI.
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Idee, here's the link to the Red Book site (http://www.ssa.gov/redbook/eng/introduction.htm) from Social Security that Betty suggested you take a look at.
SSI and SSDI are handled differently by the SSA regarding how much a person can earn and continue to receive benefits.
Take a look at the information for SSI here (http://www.ssa.gov/redbook/eng/ssi-only-employment-supports.htm).
But no matter what you do, as others have suggested here, you need to speak with someone in detail about how the possibility of working will affect your current benefits.
I know that if you make over whatever the SGA (Standard Gainful Amount) per month when you are on SSDI, you will be on the fast track to having your benefits cut off completely after a certain period of months pass -- because the way the system is set up, the SSA gives you time to figure out if you can transition back into working full time.
They start you off with 9 months (I think?) of what they call the Trial Work Period (TWP) where you can make as much as you want and it won't affect your benefits. After that, I think it goes into something else -- I forget the name of what they call it and you have 36 months where you have to make the SGA or LESS before they will cut you off. The only good thing about this period is that if you get cut off, you can get your benefits re-instated pretty quickly, if it turns out you can no longer work -- meaning that you don't have to re-apply and go through the entire process again.
I'm not sure if it's the same for SSI, but you need to look at those links -- because they have some examples of how it works -- and also speak to someone.
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Congrats on the job as I am UK based I cannot offer any advice .I have trouble keeping up with the UK system. However where I think they share is is the need to get Expert advice before any big decision.
m
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Oh, the "red book," and I said "blue book," sorry. There are different rules for SSI. I know all about SSDI since I've been going through the process for the past couple years. Solo is right, there is a 9 month trial work period where a person can make as much as they want. Then there are either 2 or 3 grace period months after this, when a person is making over sga, where SSA will continue benefits. But after that, if someone makes over SGA they're off SSDI. During the immediate 36 month period after that, if a person falls below SGA and sends SSA their paystubs, they can get that month's benefit. And if a person finds they can't work, there's "expedited reinstatement" where a person can receive benefits without re-applying. And actually that lasts for 5 years. A person really does need to make sure they're reporting income. I thought I was safe, even worked with a benefits counselor, and still have to repay a month. Which was better than it was at first, when they said I owed over $3,000. Of course, I got the government involved and that helped a lot.
Also, the amount that triggers a trial work period month is different than SGA. It's lower, something in the $600's I believe. And they don't have to be in a row (the trial work period months). SGA, for this year, is $1010/month. So see, there is a difference. In other words, if a person on SSDI works and makes $550/month, they're totally safe, as that's not even enough income to trigger a trial work period month.
I'm not sure about SSI rules, but they're in that red book that Solo linked. Please look at them and if you have questions, contact SSA. You should contact them anyway and ask for a benefits counselor, who can help you navigate these things.
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Thank you. I favorited the red book page and will take a look at it when I have more time to read in quiet. I actually quit my job and decided to go back to school for a better chance at earning more more money.