Social Security is screwed up Part II.
So, I don't really recommend getting a disability. Just in case you were thinking about it, stop and think again. Not only will you be depressed because your vital organs do not work, you will be forced to fill out hours upon hours of intrusive paperwork that doesn't make any sense.
A while back, I complained that I couldn't get ahold of anyone to cancel my SSI. Since that bitter post I have managed to contact SSI and learn a little about the program they use to wean people off monthly benefits. SSI is a wonderful program, although it can be difficult to get into and even more difficult to get out off. When you are disabled you can receive monthly benefits. They're not nearly enough to cover all your expenses, so don't even imagine that they're going to do that for you, but they ARE enough to cover your medications, and I suppose if you want to be technical if you're disabled enough to be on SSI you're probably living with someone else anyway, someone who is helping with the rent. When you don't need SSI anymore they don't just stop paying you, because most people with disabilities such as renal disease end up unable to work off and on for months due to complications arising from their disease itself, transplant, infection, etc. So you do this work program where they pay you through a certain month, than they put you on hold so that while you don't receive anything, you can begin benefits immediately with a simple phone call should you find yourself unable to work.
This sounds wonderful, except that 1)the website makes this sound like it's a voluntary program for people who have never-ending disabilities. This isn't the case. You can't just CANCEL your benefits. You HAVE to do this work program thing.
I can see the point of them wanting to wean you off of the benefits. Should you need to start them again, it beats going through all the paperwork from square 1. It also allows them to keep an eye on your earnings and KNOW that you're going to be OK on your own if they stop giving you money.
I figured I was in the clear when I called the Social Security office and spoke with a nice young woman about this program, and she made it sound fabulous. I was feeling very positive about it until I received their paperwork in the mail.
Apparently SSI wants to call and bug all my employers since 2005 about my disability and my earnings---one of which is none of my employer's business, and the second of which is something they know about since the Social Security Administration has access to my taxes. My paperwork was half filled out for me with my employers from the date I applied for SSI, including salary information. So what the hell did they need me to fill it in for? Keep in mind that this is for paperwork to get them to STOP sending me money, not for paperwork I'm trying to fill out to GET money.
I got to the part where they wanted me to authorize their agents to call and bug my boss and I put a big "x" over it, along with a note saying that my condition was none of my employer's business and that since they had access to my tax records they could pretty much shove it, along with the phrase "stop giving me money." I hope that works, because I'll be pretty pissed if they call my supervisor.
It was a lot easier to get them to send me money every month than it's been to get them to STOP. I'm still afraid that they'll keep giving me more and more money and then try to sue me for benefits fraud, since that certainly gets them a lot of media attention.
I'm starting to think I should have just kept my trap shut. This is the thanks I get for trying to be an honest, socially responsible citizen.
A while back, I complained that I couldn't get ahold of anyone to cancel my SSI. Since that bitter post I have managed to contact SSI and learn a little about the program they use to wean people off monthly benefits. SSI is a wonderful program, although it can be difficult to get into and even more difficult to get out off. When you are disabled you can receive monthly benefits. They're not nearly enough to cover all your expenses, so don't even imagine that they're going to do that for you, but they ARE enough to cover your medications, and I suppose if you want to be technical if you're disabled enough to be on SSI you're probably living with someone else anyway, someone who is helping with the rent. When you don't need SSI anymore they don't just stop paying you, because most people with disabilities such as renal disease end up unable to work off and on for months due to complications arising from their disease itself, transplant, infection, etc. So you do this work program where they pay you through a certain month, than they put you on hold so that while you don't receive anything, you can begin benefits immediately with a simple phone call should you find yourself unable to work.
This sounds wonderful, except that 1)the website makes this sound like it's a voluntary program for people who have never-ending disabilities. This isn't the case. You can't just CANCEL your benefits. You HAVE to do this work program thing.
I can see the point of them wanting to wean you off of the benefits. Should you need to start them again, it beats going through all the paperwork from square 1. It also allows them to keep an eye on your earnings and KNOW that you're going to be OK on your own if they stop giving you money.
I figured I was in the clear when I called the Social Security office and spoke with a nice young woman about this program, and she made it sound fabulous. I was feeling very positive about it until I received their paperwork in the mail.
Apparently SSI wants to call and bug all my employers since 2005 about my disability and my earnings---one of which is none of my employer's business, and the second of which is something they know about since the Social Security Administration has access to my taxes. My paperwork was half filled out for me with my employers from the date I applied for SSI, including salary information. So what the hell did they need me to fill it in for? Keep in mind that this is for paperwork to get them to STOP sending me money, not for paperwork I'm trying to fill out to GET money.
I got to the part where they wanted me to authorize their agents to call and bug my boss and I put a big "x" over it, along with a note saying that my condition was none of my employer's business and that since they had access to my tax records they could pretty much shove it, along with the phrase "stop giving me money." I hope that works, because I'll be pretty pissed if they call my supervisor.
It was a lot easier to get them to send me money every month than it's been to get them to STOP. I'm still afraid that they'll keep giving me more and more money and then try to sue me for benefits fraud, since that certainly gets them a lot of media attention.
I'm starting to think I should have just kept my trap shut. This is the thanks I get for trying to be an honest, socially responsible citizen.
posted at 7:14 PM
3 Comments:
My bet is that you're the first person to request that benefits STOP; they simply don't know what to do.
Something similar happened to our family when you were a baby and I was a stay-at-home mom. We were receiving WIC (Women, Infants, Children) aid (about $30 of healthy-type groceries each month), a very good and widely-utilized program. But when your father's job improved and we decided we didn't need the free groceries anymore, I thanked the WIC folks for helping us through a tough time, but proudly asked to be removed from the program.
You should have seen that woman's chin hit the counter as she stared disbelievingly at me. "You want OFF of the program???," she finally asked, blinking several times. "NO ONE has ever voluntarily LEFT this program...!!!"
It makes me sad that trying to act ethically is the rarity in American society.
Anyway, I'M proud of you, even if Social Security doesn't know what to do with you. :-)
I went online looking for information on canceling my SSI, and didn't find any at the SSI site, but did find your interesting and well writen blog.
I was recently (June 2008) also told I "COULD NOT CANCEL MY SSI"!
I want to cancel my SSI that I've had 8 years.
I am still disabled (back problems, no mental problems that could affect my judgement to request this), but I will soon have help from family, and I also find the SSI rules too restrictive for me at now (can't be or reside outside the USA for more than a month at a time, can't have hardly any money in savings, etc., or I will be violating the rules, thus become a criminal).
I am also now 64, and though I will lose my medicaid if I cancel, I will be eligible for medicare when I am 65.
And as a "divorced or ex-wife, married over 10 years", I will be getting some regular social security benefits from my ex-husband's social security in about 1 year, so I figure this will be my future SSI replacement.
Anyway, whatever the reasons (which I actually consider private), I do not want to have SSI anymore, have thought this through several months, along with my family, and wanted to cancel now, without going into lenghty details with the SSI office.
Yesterday I called them by telephone to request this.
I had to wait about 20 minutes before I could talk to anyone (not so bad), but then was surpriced when they told me that if I wasn't going to get a job, I could absolutely NOT CANCEL MY SSI!
Then the lady disconnected me from the conversation and I got the recording again that said I had to wait for the next representative. Another 20 minutes.
This happened 3 more times (equaling a total 80 minute wait & getting 4 different people, 3 who disconnected me), except that I now told the 2nd & 3rd persons whom I finally got, that I was going to be moving in with a boyfriend who didn't want me to have SSI.
The 3rd lady asked if I was still disabled, and I said "yes", but that I did not want the SSI anymore anyway. She asked if my doctor would be willing to sign a paper saying I was not disabled any more, and I said "NO, my doctor would not sign such a paper, nor did I want her too, because there are other situations I need the "disabled" designation" (like my handicapped parking tag), but that I didn't want the SSI anymore anyway. She then said that IF THE DOCTOR WOULD NOT SIGN SUCH A STATEMENT, I could ABSOLUTELY NOT STOP MY SSI. And she then also disconnected me, and I was back with the recording that said to wait for the next represenative.
After another 20 minutes (total 80 minute wait time so far) I got the 4th lady. She also told me I could not cancel my SSI. I said what if I refused it? She put me on hold, but this time actually did get back with me after another wait. She told me that I would have to wait about a week and then the local SSI people would get in touch with me to discuse this.
I feel I have a right to cancel my SSI without stating why. I would not mind if they chose to cancel it temporarelly, like you said they sometimes do, so that a person could get it again if they found out they could not handle being without SSI. But I am angry that they have been telling me that I am not allowed to cancel it.
I might take a trip to Holland for a few months, where I lived for several years, and do not want to violate the SSI rules and get arrested afterwards.
But I actually feel the reasons I don't want SSI should be able to be kept to myself if I so choose.
therosewild@yahoo.com
I cancelled my SSI when I got married then got a bill for $13,000.00. I am in the process of going before a judge because I want to see where this mistake came from, I worked and sent all my paycheck for them to deduct but it seems that SSI is only a loan that you have to pay back when you get gainful employment, the people at the SSI office said that I should have sat home and not tried to work at all. I was on blind benefits. Now I understand why people lie...but I can't.
Sue
Post a Comment
<< Home