Anyone had dealings with NTI? Or worked on SS disability?

[konkrypton]

I got a phone message yesterday from a company called NTI. They supposedly work with Social Security to get disabled people work at home jobs. I would love to work some, but don't want to lose my disability benefits. Did that once, took 4 years to get it back.

I just want to know if anyone has had dealings with them, are they legit, etc. Or if you have been able to work part time without losing your benefits.

Thanks.

[Ptrk3]

Don't know about the company, but, yes, you can work part time as long as you don't earn more each month than the limits on what the Social Security Administration (SSA) considers "substantially gainful activity," presuming you are on SSDI (as opposed to SSI, which is largely dependent on total assets).  You need to report your work--any work--to the SSA, so move very carefully.

See link to Social Security Administration booklet:

https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10095.pdf

From the booklet:

Trial work period — The trial work
period allows you to test your ability
to work for at least nine months.
During your trial work period, you’ll
receive your full Social Security
benefits regardless of how much
you’re earning as long as you report
your work, and you continue to have a
disability. In 2016, a trial work month
is any month your total earnings are
over $810. If you’re self-employed, you
have a trial work month when you
earn more than $810 (after expenses)
or work more than 80 hours in your
own business. The trial work period
continues until you have worked nine
months within a 60-month period.
Extended period of eligibility —
After your trial work period, you
have 36 months during which you
can work and still receive benefits
for any month your earnings aren’t
“substantial.” In 2016, we consider
earnings over $1,130 ($1,820 if you’re
blind) to be substantial. During a
trial work period, a new application
or disability decision aren’t
necessary to get your Social Security
disability benefit.

From page 9:

If you receive Social Security
because of a disability, you or your
representative must tell us right
away if:
• You start or stop work;
• You reported your work, but your
duties, hours, or pay change; or
• You start paying expenses for work
because of your disability.
You can report changes in your
work by phone, mail, or in person.
You can find your local office on our
website at www.socialsecurity.gov.
We’ll give you a receipt to confirm
your report. Keep this receipt with
all your other important papers from
Social Security.

Here's another handy link that explains things:

http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/how-much-can-you-work-while-receiving-social-security-disability-ssdi-benefits.html

Good luck!

[konkrypton]

Thanks, Ptrk3!  I know that "technically" you can work part time and you shouldn't lose your benefits. But both my doctor & case manager think it's dangerous and could get my benefits taken away. I wondered if anyone has had actual experience with this and what happened because of their part time work.
I went back to work in the late 90's when Crixivan hit. Back then, I was being "too honest" in reporting my work and income. My boss ran his own house cleaning business and I worked for him part time. He paid me cash as a contractor and didn't take taxes. I didn't have any records of those months, but I knew the gross amount I had made as it was on my tax returns. So I just divided by the number of months I thought I worked, and put down an average amount. I didn't realize it was over the max I could earn, and in reality, some months I worked a bit more, some I didn't because I was not well. But every month counted as a trial work month.
And suddenly, my 9 months of work within 60 months threshold was crossed and my benefits ceased. And the clerk assigned to my file seemed to not like me, maybe because of my HIV status, I don't know. So when I started having health problems again he wouldn't work with me, I had to apply all over again. It was a nightmare.
I guess what I'm saying is, the SS Admin's brochures don't tell the whole story. I really want to feel like a useful person again, but "once bitten, twice shy" is how I feel.

[flashdance]

I feel for ya with this issue.

I have not had this issue but one of the bigger issues that I have been experiencing is living with HIV for 26 years and now I feel as if I have NO ADVOCATES to help me out anymore. Times have changed. I live in IL and IL used to set the stadard for assistance and advocacy but I cannot find it anywhere unless I am dealing with someone else poz.

[konkrypton]

Flashdance, I *SO* know what you mean. Luckily, I've had the same Nurse Practitioner on my case since the 90's. She is the one person that will move mountains for me to get me something if I need it. But case managers have me do yearly paperwork and produce little benefit, except for ADAP and dental and leave frequently for better jobs. And Medicaid in Missouri is useless if you have even a little resources you wind up with a $400 spend down. I can't pay that! I'm in Kansas City and it used to have a lot of resources for poz folks (food, bus passes, etc.) but I guess we're all cured now. (sarcasm)

[BT65]

I work part time and have been on SSDI since '94 or '95.  It can be a total nightmare.  I'm getting harassed yearly by SSA about my job.  But what I do when that happens is get a hold of people in the government and let them know the situation.  I've even contacted the White House, who in turn contacted SSA.  When that happened SSA dropped their investigation.  But, I have to do that at least once a year when SSA decides to send me a letter stating they don't know if I am still disabled.

There is something called "expedited reinstatement," and maybe you've heard of it.  It lasts for, I believe, the first 3 years if one does get taken off disability for earning over SGA.  It is a safety net put in place where a person can start receiving benefits again right away if they cannot continue to work and need to get back on SSDI, or if they earn less than SGA.  I used it when I started working full time, went off SSDI, then discovered I couldn't do it. 

It is possible to work part time but one has to be careful about the amount one earns, and also accepting that SSA will most likely harass a person at least once a year.  It just depends on what kind of fight one has in them.  As far as the company you asked about, I have never heard of them. 

Good luck and keep up the good fight.

Betty

[konkrypton]

Thanks, Betty. For now, I may stick with my benefits now that Trump is President. I expect SSA to start doing more reinvestigations and closing cases to save money. Still can't believe he won.