I am a single mom, and very sick with this disease. I own my own business, but I am severely limited in what I can do.
I could not hold a job.
However, I am my own boss, so I just take the hit in income, and push forward as best as God allows on any given day.
I have worked as hard as I can, every day, for more than a year. I even work laying down when I am too ill to get up... I spend myself out working.
I have wondered if I would be able to get better (sick for 1 1/2 years now) if I did not have to work so hard just to pay the bills.
Would I have to be currently not working to file for SSD? If so, how does anyone manage to go without working without the creditors knocking at the door? (Maybe being alone and entirely financially responsible for my family makes this more difficult?)
Another question is that I own a property where I operate my business from. Above it are apartments, which help to pay the cost of the building. Are any of those things factored in? Would my rental income make me inelligeable for SSD?
Thanks for any insight.
Posted by faithful777 (Member # 22872) on :
You can't be holding any kind of job to get disability. You must show that you can't do any kind of job, even putting beads on a conveyer belt at a factory.
I don' think that rental income counts as employment income. You are not working to earn that money. It might stop you from geting SSI but not SSD.
You would have to stop operating your business and tell SS that you can not perform the functions to continue it.
As far as creditors, unfortunately you tell them what is going on and don't answer the phone. Once you get disability, by law, they can not garnish your disability wages to collect the debt.
Posted by Judie (Member # 38323) on :
SSDI will refer to doctors' letters saying that you are unable to work.
You can write a personal statement, but what doctors and vocational experts say on your behalf will hold more weight.
There is such thing as permanent, partial disability too. This allows you to work part time.
You really need to consult a disability attorney about the complexities of your case.
They are free and don't charge you a penny unless you get awarded SSDI (they are only allowed to take up to a percentage of your award and can't take a dime more).
As far as creditors, don't talk to them by phone. Only communicate in writing.
They will do things like try to get you to agree to pay debts, increase debts and re-age debts by using manipulative language over the phone (and tape recording you).
Be very careful what you say to debt collectors.
If they start calling, send them a cease and desist letter stating you will only communicate by written correspondence.
Posted by Mama2six (Member # 38069) on :
You guys are very helpful. I know nothing (or close to nothing) and have not known how to learn about these things.
I do not want to go on disability.
I also do not want to be sick for the rest of my life because I constantly over-worked.
It is stuff to think about.
I also did not know that disability lawyers took a percentage... I thought I'd have to pay them up front and I wondered where THAT money would ever come from when someone is very ill.
Anyway, thanks for the information.
Posted by Judie (Member # 38323) on :
Just go for a free consult with a disability attorney.
The more you know your rights, the easier it will be to make decisions.
Posted by bigstan (Member # 11699) on :
SSDI has a 9 month trial period that you might want to look into more. SSDI recipients are entitled to test their ability to work and continue to receive full benefits regardless of whether they make more than the SGA amount, for a nine-month trial work period.
For Social Security disability lawyers, the fee is limited to 25% of the past-due benefits you are awarded, up to a maximum of $6,000.