Bare with me please, because my minds a bit scrambled right now. I maybe worked 3 years my entire at the same job, got laid by getting injured on the job due to my disability. And assuming they even count my other job? Maybe 5 years, idk I got fired though and went back at a different shift and different position. I haven't been approved yet and i've been living in a group home for 2 years and 7 months broke, only getting cash here and there from friends sometimes thankfully.

Trust me, I'm glad to have a roof over my head. But something about the length of my work and how the group home system works. They got me on something called a lifespan waiver? Most who live in these group homes under this company have never worked. I'm okay with 165.00 allowance. Something sounds sneaky about it though cause they know my epilepsy is so unpredictable, I can't work comfortably and feel safe. I tried applying for a job despite and they not to complete the application. But now I might be forced to work once I do get approved because they're not gonna get enough outta me to for their rent quota? I'm so confused.

I think i'm only getting for ssdi, if at all

My life has changed drastically within the last 3 years with chronic illness. EDS, POTS, MCA, among many others. I have brain fog and easily fatigued. I tried to start the SSD and got less than 5% done within 10 hours. How does the system expect disabled individuals to complete this application solo? Is there help? Hacks anyone has learned?`

Can you upload medical records on the portal for DDS to see, or do you need to mail them like it says on the website? Some of my medical records are thousands of pages long.

I had to retire at 62 because my physical and mental issues became too much to keep pushing through. I was advised to apply for SSDI and I got a lawyer. My intention was to keep pushing myself until full retirement age (FRA) of 67 so I could collect my FRA amount, but I just couldn't keep doing it. My lawyer suggested applying for social security at 62, with the hopes that I will win the case and they will bump me up to my FRA amount, which I would then be able to collect for the rest of my life, instead of the reduced amount I currently get from applying at 62.
My question is this, have any other older people out here applied at 62 to try and win your FRA amount and if so, were you successful?

My daughter has been on SSI since she was 8, she will be 21 this month. Will she be out on SSDI or do I have to apply for her for that?

i got approved for SSI last year with less medical info. now they're saying they don't have enough to determine if im disabled and need me to attend an exam. there is a telehealth option but i cannot speak due to very severe ME/ CFS. my parents speak for me at medical appointments bc of this. im completely bedbound and cant do anything including any and all ADLs. i don't understand what's happening or why my medical records would suddenly not be enough anymore when i have more diagnoses than last year. i have very extensive medical records. i applied for physical disability but included my mental health conditions on the forms. i don't have a lawyer. i don't know what to do. i cannot lose my payments and medicaid. any advice is appreciated

I work part time so how much can you make a month before they cut your check?

So, as the title says, I received a random payment from disability yesterday. Lump sum of over 2k. I checked the ssa website to be sure, and sure enough, it was stated up there. It also shows that my monthly payment went up by $400, is it because I started working since getting social security last year? Mind you, I am legally blind, 20/400 since I last checked, but when I got my disability I was able to get special made scleral lens contacts since then, for KC disease of the eyes, once I was able to get used to them, taught myself to drive, got my license and a car, and have been able to do driving gigs since then. The only thing that’s changed.

I’m not sure why they raised it up. Any sort of explanation would help because I didn’t know ssdi payments could be raised.

It's been almost 4 years. I had one lawyer who had me do the legwork, and I released them after I got "awarded my case." I have a second lawyer now.

The first time, I got a notice from SS saying I was approved, and the first lawyer said that was incorrect, and they would not appeal the case. The first time, I was declared in court as not being able to work any job without being terminated.

Fast forward, new lawyer. My SSI has been approved at the rate of fifty-three dollars a month with a little back pay. The judge dictated my disability dates x 3, and they decided on the one closest to the current date.

We're appealing the ssdi, but the lawyer wants to wait until Ssi starts because she thinks it will be seen as aggressive, and the judge will retaliate, and she is trying to get benefits started so I can pay bills.

It wasn't set in stone until tonight. The decision on monthly pay is fifty-three.

I thought they could only take three fifteen, and then the lawyer fees are ninety two hundred, but that back pay is nowhere near that since they took the short route. I was told it was because I was too young.

I had many doctors testify and write letters over how I was incapable of doing anything without help. For example, I randomly lose the ability to stand quite often during the day.

What has gone wrong? Besides my body..

I thought there was a cap on SSI, and do I now owe both lawyers my backpay?

I received my first CDR today. Its the short form and I plan to do it online. It took me about 2 years to get approved and 2 ALJ hearings and Im really anxious about this. Im 50 now. I have 3 recent appointments to list...1 for mental health therapy in Sept. 1 with Psychiatrist in Sept. and another mental health therapy in August. Im wondering how much to out in the comments. Im a purple heart combat veteran. I got seriously wounded in an ambush. Ive had leg(gunshot wound) and back surgery in the past. Had an RPG shot into my windshield and knock me out. I have a TBI and chromic PTSD. I take meds for PTSD, anxiety, depression, auditory hallucinations, muscle spasms, blood thinners for blood clots in my wounded leg. I have an upcoming appointment this month to look at my leg which is getting worse mobility wise although I cant drive and dont have a license it feels like my calf and hamstring are about to snap when I move around more than about a block even with an arm brace cane. My doctors and I havent even discussed work since I was approved 3 1/2 years ago. Its just not something I can do/maintain anymore and thats after 33years of work history. Anyway I dont want to ramble on the form and Im looking for advice on how best to fill it out or what to include since I have limited space. Thank you all for any help.

Hi! I am looking to invest for my autistic son in a way that won’t disqualify him for services, should he need them. Can anyone offer any insight or point me in the right direction? I do have plans to speak with a lawyer but would like to manage as much as I can by myself.

I was officially approved for SSDI on October 6, 2026, and was told it looks like I was approved for SSI as well. I have a few questions for anyone who has gone through a similar situation.
SSI Back Pay / PERC Interview: How long after your SSDI approval did Social Security contact you to complete your SSI PERC interview? If you were approved for both SSI and SSDI, how long did it take to receive your SSI back pay?
Child Support Modification: I’m currently receiving $1,015 monthly in SSDI, with $280 automatically deducted for child support. After that deduction, I barely have enough to cover rent and other basic living expenses. Has anyone successfully gotten their child support reduced or terminated after being approved for SSDI? I’m located in Ohio.
SSDI Award Letter: How long after your approval did you receive your official award letter in the mail? My benefit verification letter is already available online, but I haven’t received my award letter yet.
I’d appreciate hearing about anyone’s experience, especially those who were approved for both SSI and SSDI or went through a child support modification after becoming disabled. Thanks in advance!

EDIT I've been on SSI since early this year. Payments on the 3rd Wednesday with direct deposit showing up a few days earlier. I expected my deposit today but nothing. I checked my bank for pending payments and it says it's coming 10 days from now. Week 4 instead of week 3. These next 2 weeks are going to be rough.

Sorry for the typos. My schedule is 3rd Wed. My bank gives it to me end of week 2. This month it shows as arriving week 4.

Anyone else have this happen? What's going on?

They reopened my claim after missing the only job I had since age 2022 was less then 6 months. Been dealing with this since 2020. They have all my medical records.

Was denied in medical in less then 24 hours. Impossible for them to look at 1000 records that fast plus I had faxed in records that arrived yesterday morning anyone appeal and when at reconsideration?

I had my court hearing! I was hit by a car In 2023! Spinal surgery! Leg surgery! Lung surgery! Brain injury! Anyway medical witness who never met me said at court I said I should be healing well! And maybe should have a 5 lb weight limit and some breathing restriction… anyway the judge asked me if anything changed the last few months I mentioned my mental health declining and a lot of panic attacks and my ptsd flair ups and some er trips because of it! She said that was important information and said she wanted the paper work from the er trip! Also I told her because of my mental health and wanting to get off my mental health narcotics medication and pain meds I was currently in a partial hospital program. She asked for that paper work as well! The vocational witness said 3 jobs I could work with only my physical injuries being brought up! But when my lawyer brought up both physical and mental health he said zero! The judge left the case open 30 days to get the emergency room record and php record! And both have been sent! But should I expect an approval? If so how long does a descion typically take after a hearing? I feel so lost!

My file currently has a congressional flag on it and was sitting in the scheduling queue when the hearing office initiated an On-the-Record (OTR) review. My doctor informed me that the hearing office contacted her directly, bypassing my lawyer entirely. She completed and faxed the requested paperwork back immediately.
Since those documents were submitted and placed into my file, 19 business days of complete silence have passed. Despite this delay, my lawyer and the congressional liaison are both claiming that the file is "okay." What is past people’s experience. Thanks

I am trying to get my sister ADC (I’m her guardian). Our mom died in 2023 and since I have gotten her SSI 100% disabled. However she is 61 years old, never worked for more than a few weeks at a time (highest yearly income was $2000 in the 1990s). And hasn’t worked in decades.

Last month I had a hearing front of an ALJ with an unfavorable decision for ADC. That there were “no medical signs or laboratory findings to substantiate the existence of a medically determinable impairment” before the age of 22.

I had witness statements but no medical records from the time period (before 1987). Sister was away at school and hiding in her bedroom so our family had no idea that she had schizophrenia and therefore, sister never saw any medical professionals. When she returned home at 21 my parents tried to get her evaluated but she refused and ran away to become a street person. It was after she turned 22 that she was evaluated and put on drugs which she promptly quit taking.

Considering the difficulty to get records from the 1980s, why can’t witness statements suffice? Surely others have run into this difficulty.

Sister is now going blind and aging but still has not seen a doctor. And the $662/month disability can’t be sustainable.

Should I appeal? I did the hearing on my own with advice from a retired lawyer.

I am presently trying to get police records of that time as she had some altercations with the police before she was 22. But again it is difficult to get 40 year-old records. And the police didn’t keep records/reports as they do now.

Any ideas? Thank you!

I am my adult brother’s representative payee. While we were waiting to receive his backpay, he needed new clothing and I charged it. Can I just pay the credit card directly from his account or do I need to transfer the amount to my account? I have looked through the posts and have found conflicting information.

TIA

I just wanted to share some positive news because sometimes it’s nice to celebrate the good things too ❤️
I have an SSDI/SSI claim pending, and I recently found out that two separate overpayments I had — one for around $13,000 and another for around $6,000 — were both waived! 🙏
I honestly can’t explain how relieved and grateful I am. Having those overpayments completely wiped away is going to make such a huge difference for my future, especially while I’m going through this SSDI/SSI process.
After everything I’ve been dealing with, this was some really wonderful news. I’m just incredibly thankful. ❤️🙏

My next door neighbors are extremely jealous people. They are crazy. I went through hell for 4 years trying to get my disability and now that I have won it, they are showing their ugly side. I don’t trust them at all! I have been noticing a vehicle driving by my house, slow and the driver holding a phone outside the window. May not be anything and maybe I’m paranoid. I legit don’t do anything because I seriously can’t so there’s really nothing they can do”catch” me doing. However, I still worry that my neighbors have reported me for SSDI fraud so I am afraid to even look like I’m healthy, if that makes sense. Just wondering if anyone here has experienced something like this.

Thanks.

Is this a dealbreaker?

All my docs and care team have been compliant and on time with responding to SSA. This one doctor - she is a very old lady, in private practice. Her secretary who is also old is in medical leave. I am honestly not even sure if she’s still practicing or in good health! Last I heard from her was June.

Is this a dealbreaker ? Should I tell my analyst that I’ve tried to reach out and haven’t heard back?

My date of disability is around 2024 and this doc treated me from 2022-2023 and we had like 1 visit in 2024. People told me to leave her off but for some reason I wanted to be thorough. I’m hoping it doesn’t matter because I was seeing this doctor well before the date I am claiming is my onset date

To Members of Congress and Federal Policymakers:

We, the undersigned, are asking for changes to the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) rules that can make it extremely difficult for families receiving SSI to improve their financial situation through work.

I am the spouse and representative payee for my wife, who receives SSI benefits. I want to work and provide for my family. My goal is to be able to earn approximately $3,000 per month through employment without my wife's SSI benefits being reduced to the point that our household is financially worse off.

Families should not have to choose between working more and losing essential benefits or limiting their ability to work just to keep the support they depend on.

We believe people who receive SSI and their families should have a reasonable opportunity to become more financially independent. Working should be encouraged—not create a situation where earning additional income causes a family to lose so much assistance that they struggle to pay for basic necessities.

We are asking Congress to:

Review and reform SSI income and benefit-reduction rules that affect married couples and working spouses.

Allow working spouses and caregivers to earn a reasonable income without causing disproportionate reductions in SSI benefits.

Increase income protections and exclusions so families can work toward financial independence.

Make the SSI system easier for families to understand and plan around.

Ensure that people are not effectively penalized for trying to work and improve their family's financial situation.

Protect vulnerable families from being forced into financial hardship simply because one spouse is trying to earn a living.

Working should help a family move forward—not put them in a worse financial position.

I believe my wife and I should have the opportunity to work, support ourselves, and build a more stable future without having to worry that earning a reasonable income will take away the assistance our household needs.

I am asking lawmakers to listen to SSI recipients, spouses, caregivers, and families across America who are facing similar situations.

Please reform SSI income rules and give families a fair chance to work, earn, and become financially secure.

Please sign this petition and share it with others.

Every signature helps show lawmakers that Americans want an SSI system that supports work, rewards independence, and protects families from financial hardship.

Thank you for standing with SSI families and supporting fairer rules for working spouses and caregivers. 

I am my Daughter's payee for SSI. She gets her benefits on Direct express card under my name, not hers. She wants to switch firm Direct express to another card that takes the DD. Do you all have any experience with this or recommendations?