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I had asked because of medical benefits. My brother qualified for medical benefits from the VA. I was hoping that KK was a veteran so he could go down to the VA and apply for medical benefits.
...never served in the military. Was classified 4-F during Vietnam due to a congenital spinal condition.
...update:
Well partisan bickering and a filibuster has killed the UC extension bill for now. Just came from the Washington Post site where they are as up in arms about it as I am. People's lives are being held hostage by petty conditions like policy and process procedure.
I as well as many others throughout the nation have sixteen days to come up with rent and utilities. What makes matters worse is that the longer one is out of work, the less chance one has to be hired. Most employers will not even consider someone who has been unemployed for an extended period of time (beyond 27 weeks) even of their background and skills are a perfect match for the job. These are the people they should be penalising, not those of us who ended up on the short end of the recession.
What is worse, our elected officials is about to take a recess this week without acting on the measure. Hope they have a nice vacation.
Apologies, but right now it has me steaming mad.
*hugs* and prayers is all I have I'm afraid
...thank you. Still very much appreciated.
Not sure what to do anymore now.
I'm so sorry to hear you're going through this :-(
If your student loans are through Sallie Mae, you may be able to register at the government Website and move them into a forbearance status for a few months. If so, interest will continue to accrue, but it'll free you from having to worry about payments until you get back on solid ground.
I went through a rough period about a decade ago and had to move mine into forbearance for about half a year. Amazingly enough, it doesn't require a whole lot of bureaucratic nonsense to get done.
...unfortunately they are with a different lender. Actually was getting close to them paid just before I was laid off. (based on the interest deduction I would get every year when I filed my taxes).
Part of my contention about needing an attorney for SSD is that these are benefits I have already paid into. I shouldn't have to resort to litigation to get them if I qualify. All that is doing is letting someone else make money off what is rightfully due me should my claim be approved.
Of course that will take time to file and have all the information evaluated which is something I don't have much of left before losing the place where I live.
Right now my hopes are on my local state taking up and approving the proposal to provide up to six weeks of emergency benefits to help get us through the next month and half while congress turns it's attention to other measures and then takes it's vacation.
The lawyer part is about quick approval. Without a lawyer, you will have to apply multiple times to be approved, and may still be turned down (as was one of my friends before he got a lawyer). The lawyer is the best way to get you before the judge quickly and efficiently.
You aren't bringing a lawsuit, KK, you're getting your benefits. The system works best when counsel is involved.
I do not wish to be a butt head, but to me the fact you have known your physical condition would preclude you from certain jobs in a limited job market and then not looking into benefits you are entitled to from the very beginning was a big miss step. I respect your desire to be a productive member of society but when job offers were not coming in the first few months you should have at that time done everything needed to submit for benefits that I see you as qualified to receive. Yes SSD can be low but it is better than no income and in the US you are allowed to earn 16K a year on top of your benefits before you lose anything. The SSA wants me to work part time so bad it hurts, I'm just not able.
...I've heard from some where if they did take a part time position their benefits were reduced.
16,000$ is pretty generous I didn't realise the limit was that high. Crikey after taxes and deductions, that's just a couple thousand less than I made per year working Full Time.
For SSD I need to get assigned to a Primary Care physician through the state programme so I can go in for an exam to get the process rolling. I can't afford to walk into a doctor's office off the street. While I was still working I was not eligible for the programme's coverage since my workplace offered a plan (which was both expensive and had lousy coverage with a high deductible and lots of "exceptions"). On what I was earning, it basically came down to a choice of healthcare coverage or a transit pass to get to work
The state only recently changed the selection process for their plan to allow anyone who is receiving food benefits to enroll. Prior to that. it was done by a lottery like process that had on average an eighteen month wait list just to get an appointment to see whether you qualified or not.
Based on the last statement I received from the SSA (several years ago) If I took SSI retirement at that time, I would be locked into that amount for the rest of my life. As I remember even the projection of retiring at 60 didn't really make much a difference. Only if I continued working until age 71 would I then get full retirement benefits. I haven't received an updated statement for some time now most likely due to the fact you now need to use their website.
When just I tried to open a user account on the SSA site to get a more recent update, I first was told there was an error on the form. However, it wouldn't show me where the error was. When I went though everything and submitted again my I was told to contact them by phone. The third time I reentered everything, double checked all the information and then submitted only to get a screen that said my access to the site was locked for 24 hours. So I have no idea what \the error was, cannot view my status and have to wait another day. Under their "contact us" ink, they did have a PDF form to request a statement, but it had to be printed out, filled out by hand, and mailed in after which they would mail me the status report. The form couldn't even be filled out electronically not much less submitted. How bleedin' arse archaic. That could take over a month when all is said and done (provided they could even read my handwriting).
It's no wonder people give up when subjected to this kind of drek.
My monthly SSD is only $400 less than my Full retirement on SSI would have been at 67, I'm only 52 at this time. In the last 5 years I have had 3 cost of living adjustments that really would not cover the cost of one bill all totaled but the amount we receive does go up. I think I now get just over $100 more than my payment was at the beginning. The thing about living on a fixed income is budgets, make one and stick to it. Give up somethings so you can have or do other things.
As far as litigation to receive benefits that you are entitled to and the FIRM that took it to court for you taking a cut is just how things are done to fast track our very slow system. A SSD Judge, and yes their are those that specialize in this, to me is the person I would prefer making the call on my case. Here are my reasons I would go to court over just SSA. The Judge will not be handling 200 other claims on his desk at one time, they will not send your claim back for one error such as a typo in a form and say apply again in 6 more months. A Judge is more interested in serving the public and seeing it prosper than the SSA, which IHHO prefers to keep the SSD enrollment down if possible. What can take years can take in many cases just one court visit that can be ready in just weeks.
I personally had no issues qualifying through SSA as my medical condition was well documented. But as I noted before these Firms that will handle SSD cases are professionals at this, they do everything by the book so they can win the case because yes they want that cut of your benefits. I see nothing wrong at all with FIGHTING for what is yours by all rights in the first place.
I will now hush on this, I hope you only the best. May things turn in your favor soon. I hope to see you around here as long as I am around here.
...so is it true they only take their fee from back paid benefits?
I still will need to go to a doctor and get an exam (and whatever other tests may be required). Can't front that on my own which is why I hope that I get an acknowledgement on my coverage soon (ugh there's that "dirty" word again, at least I'm not dealing with Daz this time)
Meanwhile I'll have to check into who handles this locally.
To me it is still sick that a programme which is supposed to be there for those who need it and is something we all pay into all our working lives has to be handled in such a bloody arse 19th century petty bureaucratic manner that it makes glacial movement look as if it is happening at hypersonic speed.
If you decide to use an attorney, make certain to get everything up front in writing. Before you sign anything, read everything including the fine print.
If the law firm is successful, they will take a portion of the initial pay out. The actual percentage should be spelled. While many law firms state in their advertisement that if they don't win, you don't owe them anything isn't always completely accurate.
If they make your claim and it fails, you may still be expected to bear costs such as paralegal time, filing fees, investigative fees. This is not to discourage you but to make you aware so you know what questions to ask.
Also ask what happens if, for whatever reason, you begin the process and then call it off. I'm not saying you would but it's best to know ahead of time, especially since you still seem to be having doubts. I would not want you to to start the ball rolling, get discouraged, call the attorney and tell them to drop it only to be hit with a bill for attorney's fees because of it.
About taking your SS benefits early:
Think of it this way, you can collect the reduced benefits from the time you're eligible until you are 71. Think how much money that will amount to over 8 years.
Now how long will you have to draw the full amount after 71 until you have made up the difference of the money you didn't draw during those 8 years?
And how long is the average life expectancy?
Just some food for thought, KK.
BTW, I took early retirement 3 years ago. I also am now 60. I will start drawing my SS the second I'm eligible for the aforementioned reasons.
Why does the SSA make a point of encouraging people to wait for 100%?
Because of the large number of people who will die before drawing anything.
What you described is exactly what my accountant said to me when I told him I was thinking of retiring early, and asked him if I were better off taking my SS benefits at age 62, or wait until I could get the full benefits. I listened to him, and now 10 years later, I'm glad I did. Of course, I do have a pension which just about got me through my monthly expenses those first 2 years, but I'm not sorry I took my SS benefits as soon as I could. The monthly amount will be smaller than what you would get if you wait, but the total amount of money you'll be collecting in the meantime is well worth it.
...that has been my thinking as well
Just like our transit system which over the last few years raised the minimum age for senior fares from 58 to now, 65. it costs 100$ for a regular monthly pass vs 26$ for a senior pass (a 74$ difference). Just to commute for five days at the normal fare costs 25$ (no price break like other transit systems give if you purchase a book of tickets). Given all the service reductions that occurred and are forthcoming, on top of the ever increasing fares and no cost saving incentives to use the system, it's no mystery why they keep losing ridership.
Guess that's my complaint of the day.
[edit] whoops, wrong thread.
What you described is exactly what my accountant said to me when I told him I was thinking of retiring early, and asked him if I were better off taking my SS benefits at age 62, or wait until I could get the full benefits. I listened to him, and now 10 years later, I'm glad I did. Of course, I do have a pension which just about got me through my monthly expenses those first 2 years, but I'm not sorry I took my SS benefits as soon as I could. The monthly amount will be smaller than what you would get if you wait, but the total amount of money you'll be collecting in the meantime is well worth it.
...I'd like to see where I am at if I only could get on their bleedn' site. All the information I entered last night was correct to the best of my knowledge. If they would just show me where the "alleged" error is, I could figure it out, but without that information I'm just shooting in the dark.
This is your thread, KK. You can do what you want (TOS-compliant, that is).
You may want to check with your local SSA office in person. Phone first for an appointment, if possible.
BTW, I've tried getting my info online lately, and it kept rejecting my form as well.
Maybe it has something in common with a certain other site that has been in the news a lot lately.
To say more would violate the TOS's "no political discussions" rule. (A rule I agree with BTW)
....makes sense.
I feel I've been treading the line here myself but so far seem to be OK.
Well there's an office in Downtown, and one way out on the east side. Hope they don't send me to the east side one as that is a 5$
bus trip.
Also notice there is an SSD Advocates office downtown as well. Maybe I'll just have to go there in person on Monday as my phone service was cut off.
...I'd like to see where I am at if I only could get on their bleedn' site. All the information I entered last night was correct to the best of my knowledge. If they would just show me where the "alleged" error is, I could figure it out, but without that information I'm just shooting in the dark.
Yeah, it's sad that they can't at least point you in the right direction.
Kyoto, I know this doesn't seem like a very hopeful time at the moment, but I don't think this whole Unemployment Cut-off thing is over by a long shot. Many state senators like mine, Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, is downright furious about this and is not giving up on getting an extension. The way I see this is, if they can come to an agreement after a government shutdown, then they can come to one after an unemployment cut-off.
...I'm hoping, but not betting on it. Both sides are to blame for letting this happen.
If they really cared they would not go on holiday and stay in session for the next week until this was resolved.
I hope they either get third degree sunburn sitting on the beaches or end up stuck in some out of the way hub airport for several days living on Cheetos & lousy vending machine coffee and sleeping on the floor.
I just looked at your travel costs there, to get from my house to the nearest city, which is 15 miles away, 5 days worth of normal return fares would cost me double what you would pay! So, in some respects the US cost of living is at least cheaper than ours, but, even in your situation I'm guessing that isn't much comfort.
I too have a disability and know how hard it can be to find work when your job choices are narrowed.
I so hope you get a satisfactory outcome really soon
CHEERS!
...if you have a Walgreens nearby or a target try applying, Targets and such often employ an operator who sits and answers the phone etc, Walgreens has an initiative to hire people with disabilities at their warehouses and are open to such at stores depending on what you can do, try walmart too...good luck, I will be unemployed in a month or two and trying to go back to school, its scary.
....thank you.
No Target or WallyWorld stores near where I live, all out in the burbs requiring long multi-bus commutes each way. However, there is Walgreens not too far away (almost walking distance) I'll check with them.
Trying not to spend most of my day off the clock commuting like I had to do to get to my last job (3 bus connections with long waits each way). Basically had no personal life and felt like I was only living for the job and nothing else.
Bus connections are definitely why I'm trying to get work in the city centre. I did get interviews for jobs on the outskirts, but, merely getting to the interviews was enough to make me glad I didn't get the jobs.
CHEERS!
I'm 65 now but as long as we're talking about getting social security payments before 65 I'll jump on the bandwagon too.
I registered for Social Security retirement benefits as soon as I was eligible at 62. For me it was a blessing. I'd been out of work for 9 years. Living on the good graces of family and extended family. Yeah, I was able to make some spending money here and there fixing other people's computers but could never have afforded rent or even utilities. It sucks to be tossed on the dung heap. So much for company loyalty. But the government came through.
I'd never taken unemployment benefits but for a while my father rented me a small apartment (electricity & heat included) and I was taking government food stamps and using a local food pantry to stay alive. When I reached 62 I was faced with the question "wait until 65 or start now?" I chose to jump in at 62 and the pitiful payments actually almost tripled my monthly income. Cool! I could actually afford to go to a movie and have TV, phone and high speed Internet. Of course I still didn't have Medicare because that doesn't start until you are 65.
Do I wish that I waited until 65 or later to get a larger Social Security check each month? Well, it would be nice now, but for the last three years I have been able to survive like a functioning human being again. I budgeted my reliable little income carefully, I kept track of every, literally every, penny and developed sensible habits about spending. Habits that I wish I'd used when I was making a six-figure income that I blew so carelessly.
With the reliability of income I crawled my way back to being nearly normal again. I was finally able to get off the floor and buy a real bed (a cheap bed). I could actually save a little each month and was able to eventually get my 15 year old car fixed and trust it for a trip to Florida to see my step-mother before she died last year. I could afford a new music CD or go to a movie now and then. I could even go out to eat at some place a little better than the dollar menu at Burger King. I was able to afford some new (inexpensive) clothes again and I could no longer use the line "I've got underwear older than you!" when talking to teenagers. 8-o
However, I still know that I have limitations. If it wasn't for the fact that I lucked into a decent inexpensive rent situation ($400/mo including elec. and heat) I would be hard pressed to meet my budget. And medical emergencies stole into my vault a few times. But now with Medicare and despite the $104/month cost of that service I can relax about most medical costs and emergencies.
Point being, that in my case accepting lower payments at 62 was the right thing to do.
Budgeting is most definitely a key thing, something you don't tend to appreciate when you're working and have a seemingly constant income. When I was working, I was spending money like it was going out of fashion, and mostly on a social life I never truly had. When my job got cut short in 2001, I had £600+ in the bank, that was in May, by August the same year it was all gone, mainly blown on drinking in clubs I couldn't really afford to be in with people I should never have been with. My drinking, albeit on a smaller scale, carried on till August 2003. Then I nearly got my head kicked in and had a wake up call. I quit drinking the day after and it has stayed that way.
Not having a social life has saved me a ton of money and I don't miss it. As the culture surrounding the places I used to go revolves around drinking I simply can't go back there. For anyone thinking 'What kind of life is that!?', having one to live at all is what matters the most to me.
CHEERS!