NYT article on SS disability, work, and the cash cliff

[lipoenvy]

An interesting article in the 4/7/11 New York Times about Social Security disability and making the transition back to work.  I hadn't heard the phrase "cash cliff" before.
http://economix.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/04/07/moving-from-disability-benefits-to-jobs/?ref=economy

Having had a very bad experience with getting SSD benefits restarted, I find most media discussions of "getting people off disability and back to work" naive but still of interest. 

One bit of naivete in this article:  many of us have long-term disability insurance in addition to SSD, and that benefit is already reduced when we work.  If we earn $200 it results in a $100 reduction of LTD benefits.  If SSD were to operate the same way, also reducing benefits by $100, there goes any incentive to work.  (Not to mention that we get to pay taxes on our work earnings!)

lipoenvy

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A penny saved is more than a penny earned; it's a tax-free penny earned

[denb45]

Well, in my line of work ( what I used to do) going back to work wouldn't be in my best interest, I would actually make a lot less than I do now , here in the State I live (New Mexico) my line of work really doesn't pay that much
like it did in Calif....

 I was SHOCKED to find out what it paid per yr. here in New Mexico, it actually pays LESS than what I make now w/ a Pension & SSDI , so losing all of that for a low-paying job where I live now NO WAY
If I lived back in Ca, I might consider THIS then it would be worth it, cause I'd make more than I do now

[JR Gabbard]

Cash cliff?  LOL

The return to work rules are slightly different for those of us with HIV than what this article would lead you to believe.

Yes, if you work and earn more than $1000 in a month you will be charged with a trial work month.  After 9 of those months (not necessarily in a row) you have a 3 month grace period, for a total of 12 months when you can earn as much money as possible, and still get your full benefit.  After the 3 month grace period, you will not be eligible for your benefit automatically.  During the next 3 years, if you are not able to work in any month(s), you have to call SSA and tell them so and you will be eligible for your monthly benefit for that month.  This is called the "easy on, easy off" period.  If you will be sick for an extended period of time, tell SSA so and the checks will come in automatically again.  After the 3 years, you are still eligible for expedited reinstatement for 2 additional years.  The reinstated claim has to be based on the same disability as your original claim (ie HIV infection, or mental health issues).  After 5 years, if you haven't reinstated the claim, you have to start with a new claim.

So we can fall off the cash cliff, but we are pretty strongly tethered so we can get back up if we need to.