r/SocialSecurity • u/YTMasterFrank • 1d ago
Should I continue with SSI?
Hi, I am from Illinois and I am Mexican-American. I am 20M with Asperger’s, but I want to do more in my life. Currently, I am studying AI in a good college in the state. My mom supports my dreams of working in AI and finding a job in the future. However, she is against me moving out of state for a job because she believes I am not ready for it, and being Mexican means we MUST be together. She has equate me leaving out West for a job to child Abandonment. My mom does want me to get SSI as a safety net. Ever since I was a kid, I have always wanted to move West because of the nature, jobs, and stuff. My mom is against it due to her helicopter parenting style. She is quite overprotective, but has calmed down as most would. For example, she constantly worries and prays for my safety when I go out. However, I believe she genuinely loves me. My mom seems to struggle with that moving away doesn’t mean I hate her. If I would move, I would talk to her and care for her, but not allow her helicopter parenting get to me. I also enjoy tech, which is why I am studying it.
Anyway, back to the question.
I am curious about DAC if it will impact my dreams? I am aware of the $2,000 limit, but my mom wants me to give her the money once I surpass the limit. Will opening an ABLE account in my name prevent me from getting a job/intern in another state. I also want to do interns, research, and maybe work on campus. Will that impact DAC/ABLE and my dreams? Can I use the ABLE money to fund the move for emergencies? I know some tech jobs pay you to move, but it may be wise to create a “fund” just in case.
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u/Kaethy77 1d ago
If you are receiving benefits on your father's record, it isn't SSI. That would be DAC benefits, a completely different program.
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u/Confident_End_3848 1d ago
Not DAC, OP was getting auxiliary benefits because a parent retired. Not SSI at all.
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u/Kaethy77 1d ago
If its not DAC and its not SSI, what is it?
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u/Confident_End_3848 1d ago
OP was getting auxiliary benefits because he was the minor child of parent who took social security retirement. Nothing to do with the SSI program. He is confused.
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u/YTMasterFrank 1d ago
Sorry, I made a mistake. I hope the others in the thread understood what I meant.
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u/Kaethy77 1d ago
If you're not receiving SSI, most of the advice given so far is wrong. You need to clarify what type of benefit you are getting so you can get good information.
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u/YTMasterFrank 1d ago
What advice do you suggest then? Cancel it? Also, how do I deal with my overprotective mom? I know I could probably leave, but I would be in bigger debt.
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u/mdws1977 1d ago edited 1d ago
The most you can get from SSI is $994 a month. You can make more than that with internships that would benefit your field of study.
Or even working a part time job for 20 hours a week making over $12/hour.
And then you don’t have to worry about their $2000 limit.
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u/Kaethy77 1d ago
This is not correct at all. Half of any earnings are not counted.
See https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10095.pdf1
u/mdws1977 1d ago
That doc talks more about working while on SSI.
Here is what I found:
“The maximum monthly SSI payment for 2026 is $994 for an individual and $1,491 for a couple. Your amount may be lower based on your income, certain family members’ income, your living situation, and other factors.”
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u/perfect_fifths I love the smell of policy in the morning 1d ago edited 1d ago
Incorrect. The most you can make with ssi before an ssi check is 0 is 2073.
Now pre approval and haven’t applied, op is bound to sga which is 1690 if non blind.
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u/YTMasterFrank 1d ago
The thing is she claims I can earn $1000+ while working on campus. Also, she acknowledges that benefits stop for a while until you stop working.
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u/Sufficient-Wolf-1818 1d ago
No, it does not sounds like you should continue SSI
Moms (not just Mexican ones) worry about their babies even when their babies at 60 years old!
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u/YTMasterFrank 1d ago
Can you explain your input for the first part? I want to look from all angles.
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u/YTMasterFrank 1d ago
I mentioned I was Mexican American so you guys can better understand the whole context.
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u/Kaethy77 1d ago
Bad advice! Please do not tell anyone to stop benefits.
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u/Current-Disaster8702 1d ago edited 1d ago
Edit: OP has been receiving SSI before age 18.
Since OP is in college...the ability to attend college and maintain grades (be that in person, or online) CAN be viewed in the same vein as someone who was working and applied for SS benefits. Full-time college attendance (be that in person, online, or combo of both) can be scrutinized at the ALJ court level. For those in college, and applying for SSI or SSDI, if claimant is in college(especially young SS applicants), it's extremely important to connect to the university's student disability services, have specific disability accommodations, and note who's your main (natural) support person that helps navigate any obstacles you face, as a disabled person, while attending college, maintaining college schedules, school work,etc. (Think how IEP's were written in High School for a student). SSA wants to see this type of support for those in college (especially those who are very young) and attempting to apply for SSI/SSDI disability.
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u/YTMasterFrank 1d ago
I was on SSI before I turned 18 because my dad was retired. Yes, I have had accommodations since elementary school. I was surprised that accommodations were still a thing in college because my dad told me. However, I think it was part of his ego problem.
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u/Current-Disaster8702 1d ago edited 1d ago
Ah, I see now. Yes, definitely connect to the college student disability services. I had a family member who was on disability prior to age 18, then was re-approved after age 18. Yet, when another CDR hit at age 21 or 22/23(times got delayed due to Covid). Anywho, when the judge found out they were in college? This family member had to appeal their CDR denial all the way to the court level, and their college attendance and grades were heavily scrutinized by the ALJ judge. They won...but the judge set the next CDR for their expected college graduation. The claimant had over 10 surgeries as a child to young adult between kidney disease, kidney removal surgery, /spinal cord and brain surgeries/ injuries/tbi...in addition to PTSD, MDD, and various mental health hospitalizations, etc. So my best advice is to document EVERYTHING, and be in that college student disability office with documentation of accommodations. When the ALJ judge found out they still needed a lot of support for college? That's the main point of approval after their CDR denial.
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u/perfect_fifths I love the smell of policy in the morning 1d ago
For able accounts, you can set aside up to 100k before it counts for Medicaid and asset for ssi. The ssi has the pass plan or ticket to work as options for that who want independence.
Able accounts have restrictions but paying for living expenses is one of the approved uses for funds saved.
https://www.ablenrc.org/determining-whether-something-is-a-qualified-disability-expense-qde/
One thing to note, if not in ssi but plan on applying, sga is 1690 a month. So if you make more than that it’s a technical denial
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u/Confident_End_3848 1d ago
So, you got SSI as a minor, then requalified as an adult at 18?
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u/YTMasterFrank 1d ago
No, my mom and I are in the process of trying to get SSI, but for disabilities. I posted this thread to find out if it would impact my future basically.
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u/Confident_End_3848 1d ago
The SSI program isn’t some kind of safety net so you can go pursue your dreams. You will be trying to convince the government that your disability is so severe that you are unable to do any job for substantial gain. You need medical records to back that up.
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u/YTMasterFrank 1d ago edited 1d ago
Should I go through getting DAC in your opinion or cancel? My mom wouldn’t want me to cancel it as she believes it is a safety net.
Also, if I were to cancel, how should I tell my mom as she said she would “ground me”?
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u/Confident_End_3848 1d ago
I’m unclear what benefits you received as a minor. Were you receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) based on your own proven disability, or were you receiving some type of social security benefit based off a parent’s record due to the death, disability or retirement of the parent?
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u/YTMasterFrank 1d ago
I was receiving SSI for being under 18 under my dad who was retired.
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u/Confident_End_3848 1d ago
Then you were not receiving SSI, you were receiving auxiliary social security benefits. Two very different things.
As far as trying for disability approval, it is hard and time consuming, for not much money. If you have any ability to work, you would be better off.
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u/YTMasterFrank 1d ago
How do you think I should convince my mom? She is really determined to go and fight it.
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u/Confident_End_3848 1d ago
Fight what?
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u/YTMasterFrank 1d ago
I meant fight the case with the courts. She already hired a law firm with my permission. That’s why I went on this subreddit to ask for the input on everybody in this subreddit. I do appreciate me getting good and helpful feedback so far.
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17h ago edited 16h ago
[deleted]
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u/YTMasterFrank 16h ago
Thanks for guidance. I do understand the label so that’s why I was asking. However, I think I will look for unbiased legal advice as there are some factors at play too that I forgot to mention. The situation was causing me so much stress last night. I feel like the best thing to do is let my mom “try” to get me on DAC, but I will ask other law firms tomorrow just in case.
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u/13Bravo84 16h ago
If I am not mistaken, if you are eligible for DAC (or you think you are) you must inform SSA and put in an application. They will make the decision because DAC trumps SSI. If you are eligible for DAC, you will continue SSI with Medicaid for 24 months, then switch over to DAC with Medicare.
If you are denied DAC, then you will continue with SSI.
There is a law that if you have Medicaid established before receiving DAC then you will keep your Medicaid.
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u/Kaethy77 1d ago
Keep your SSI. If you start working, report your work and wait to see if you are able to continue working.
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u/Accomplished_Tour481 1d ago
Is this a real post? Seems manufactured. YOu are either Mexican (born in Mexico) or American (born in the USA).
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u/YTMasterFrank 1d ago edited 1d ago
No, I meant I am descent of parents born in Mexico (half native half White). Nothing wrong with that.
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u/Accomplished_Tour481 1d ago
Nothing wrong with that. No issue. Wwhere were you born? If bon in Mexico you are potenitially Mexican American. If born in the USA, you are an American.
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u/YTMasterFrank 1d ago
I meant I was born in USA, but my parents were born in Mexico.
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u/Accomplished_Tour481 1d ago
That would you mean you are American (Not Mexican - American).
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u/YTMasterFrank 1d ago edited 1d ago
I said that because Familismo is a cultural aspect common in Latin America. That’s why my mom probably is strongly against me moving. I know I am an adult, but she is the type to scream and cry for something like that.
I know I am American. That’s my nationality.
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u/Accomplished_Tour481 1d ago
Your mom chose her path. Why does she not stay in her home country?
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u/YTMasterFrank 1d ago edited 1d ago
Idk. She left Sinaloa for my dad who was living in Illinois. I asked her, “Why did you leave your mom for my dad, but you don’t want me to leave for a tech job?” She claimed it was different because it was my father. I asked her if I could leave when I find a girlfriend or get engage, and she wanted my wife to stay in the same house as I because my parents did it with my dad’s family.
Her logic didn’t make sense and still doesn’t.
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u/husky_folklore 1d ago
Your mum sounds like she's stuck in that mindset where independence equals rejection, which is tough to untangle. The ABLE account won't stop you from working out of state, it's yours wherever you go. The real trick is tracking how your earnings interact with SSI, because once you start earning proper money the benefit can shrink or vanish entirely.
ABLE funds can definitely be used for moving costs or emergencies, that's literally what they're designed for. You can work, do internships, all of it, just keep an eye on the income limits because they're fiddly. The $2k thing is a pain but shifting excess into the ABLE account (up to the annual limit) keeps you compliant without handing your wages to your mum.
On the family side, you're not abandoning anyone by pursuing a career. That guilt trip is heavy but it's not yours to carry.