What to do?

[Oscar]

I have been offered a full time job as a secretary with the State of Tennessee Department of Childrens Services. The job pays 21,000.00 a year with full health benefits.  I am currently drawing SSDI with Medicaid/TNCare. Should I keep my part time job at the bank and still draw SSDI/Medicaid or go for the full time job with benefits? I am in good health, not counting the recent MSRA infection that is now resolved. My #'s are great, undetectable 436 t cells. I take good care of myself, take my meds on time, eat right, get excersise, and 8 hours sleep each night. I am finding that working part time doesn't keep me "stimulated" enough. Should I hang on to SSDI and continue to work part time or go for the full time job and give up disability??? This is a hard decision for me to make. Fear of the unkown is holding me back.

Dan

[Dachshund]

That's great Dan! Will you still live in Jackson?

My gut instinct...go for it!

Hal&Sam

[Oscar]

The job is in Jackson. My mother is completely against me doing this. She is affraid that I will get sick again and won't be able to keep the job and then not be able to get my SSDI benefits back. I understand her concerns but a guys gotta do what he feels he needs to do. This job would give me the opportunity to have my personal life back. Mainly my OWN place to live. Don't get me wrong I am grateful that my parents were  willing and able to help me when I was seriously ill. I need to get out on my own again & this job will allow me to do that.

Or I continue to work for the bank part time, draw SSDI & live at home with the old folks.

Dan

[cmhjeff]

I say go for it, sounds like a great opportunity.  If you go back to work FT don't you continue to receive SSDI for a short time?  I think it's a return to work program thry Social Security.   I also think there is a window of time where disability would start back up if you could not remain working.  Just some things you may want to look into.

Jeff

[Oscar]

Jeff,

That is the Ticket to Work Program. You have a one time 9 month trial work period where you can earn as much as possible and still draw your SSDI benefits. I have already used my trial work period when I worked for the law firm as a debt collector. If I did get sick again I think my SSDI benefits would start back. The insurance question is the main thing I am worried about. With out that I can't get my meds.

[Terry]

Dan,

I’d check everything out first before giving up your SSDI The government has a back to work program to help those healthy enough to make the transition back to work with out jeopardizing SSDI or health coverage. I'm attaching the site for that so you can browse through it. take small steps back to work. don’t lose what you have gain and this site helps you make those choices.

Terry

http://www.ssa.gov/work/

[MSPspud]

Hi Dan -  I would consider the following things before jumping into this:

Do the benefits start at day 1?
Does the health insurance have a pre-existing condition clause that won't cover you for 6 mo to a year?
What sort of policy does the state department have toward sexual preference?
Is this job union (being that it's state)?
Will you have internet at work and will this potentially interfer with your ability to keep up? (I know this may sound like a silly question, but there have been times when internet has effected my work).
Have you visited the environment and checked out your new boss?

Anyway, congrats on this opportunity.  I think it would be a great idea to enter the work force for MANY reasons.  Because of HIV/AIDS, we do have to make sure we're certain of career choices though.  Very certain...  just like deciding if we're ready to take meds or not.  

[water duck]

Dear Dan,

GO GO GO Dan, you must do it , as i read between the lines, your mind is already make up. You just needed  us to booster your confidence.

Self love and self confidence must come from within us. Let it come out and grow, you will see that all else will follows. Just tell yourself : I CAN DO IT AND I WILL DO IT.

I shall say a little prayer that you will not let this pass without a fight.

With lots of love and support !!

Siang

[AlanBama]

Dan,

I am so happy you got this offer!  I say go for it, I believe you can be successful!   Just think about it....it would be better to be working and have full health benefits than what you are dealing with now; and if for some reason you were not able to keep it up, you can reinstate your SSD.   I did.

Hugs,

Alan

[Robert]

Go for it.   Job security.  Job satisfaction.  Benefits. Most important of all, a high, high degree of personal satisfaction and sense of self worth. 

[Teresa]

Congratulations on the job offer. Whatever you decide to do it has to make you feel good that they want YOU!

Hugs
Teresa

[Cliff]

Take it!  It's what you want (maybe even what you need).  Grab those fears by the horns and tackle 'em to the ground!!!

[Oceanbeach]

Dear Dan,

Interesting topic here.  As a person living with a disability, you have the right to attempt to return to work full-time for up to 9 months, with no loss of benefits.  At the end of those 9 months, you have the option to keep the job or keep the disability and the benefits.

The most important question that needs to be asked is one that you must ask of yourself, do you feel up to working full-time?  You also read everything and are aware of the RWCA and the potential loss of benefits or reduction of benefits.  So far, this is just legislative talk and nothing serious is anticipated for the next year.   This enables you to have time to make this important decision but the shit will hit the fan sooner or later.

I know you have been looking forward to Montreal for a long time so, the next question will be, can you take the full-time job and still attend AMG 06?  Have the best day
Michael

www.Commission-on-AIDS.org

[zephyr]

Hi Dan,

Congratulations on the job offer!! You've gotten some terrific advice from other members here, and I agree, this opportunity is a wonderful one!

Could just be the very thing you've been waiting for, honey.

I say, nothing ventured, nothing gained!!

Love,

Zeph

[bobik]

Hey Dan,

Sounds like a big YES.

Supporting hug,

Coen

[RAB]

Dan

Just curious--have you decided anything yet?

RAB