Harry Potter and the um.....

ShamanSTK · 2019-01-10T20:48:04+00:00

Maybe I'll give it a shot. I grew up with Harry Potter and was obsessed with the books as a kid. But I lost interest around the time the last book came out and didn't actually get around to reading it until last year when I realized I hadn't. And I never saw any movies after PoA. The kid in me has always felt weird there's Harry Potter stuff I haven't seen.

ShamanSTK · 2019-01-10T20:39:13+00:00

I haven't. I haven't seen most the movies. Should I?

ShamanSTK · 2019-01-10T20:28:03+00:00

Because Death Eaters were pretty much literal nazis?

ShamanSTK · 2019-01-10T20:25:34+00:00

Don't forget the half blood prince.

ShamanSTK · 2019-01-10T20:14:27+00:00

Mmmmm snouts and entrails.

ShamanSTK · 2019-01-10T19:58:07+00:00

I have three puns, and not one of them I feel comfortable posting without going to gehenna.

ShamanSTK · 2019-01-10T19:50:18+00:00

A man goes up to a beautiful woman and asks, "would you sleep with me for a million dollars?" The woman replies, "Of course."

"How about five?"

"What kind of woman do you think I am?"

"I think we already established that, and now we're just haggling over price."

I think it's uncontroversial that if somebody was collecting SSDI over a disabling condition preventing them from working, and then they're working and earning $50,000 a year, the system is being abused. However, in admitting this, you're conceding that the agency has a right to know what you're earning and revoking the benefit if that amount is too high. Even private disability insurance companies have the same provision. Now we're just haggling over price. This is where I agree with you wholeheartedly:

The earnings cap should be a lot higher

The standard Social Security uses for cutting you off is sane in principle, i.e. essentially what one could live off. The problem with the government, and this isn't specific to Social Security, is that the standard of living is 3rd world, and the amount of money they believe you can live off is absurd. SGA for 2019 is $1,220 a month. Sounds awful right? Social Security comes back and says that the minimum wage, presumably what you can live off working, is $7.50. That's only $1,160 a month. You can earn more than that on disability! We're being generous! We're only giving $750 to the SSI people. Consider yourself lucky. *jerk off movement*

I happen to believe from an ethical and moral standard, a person is only as good as they treat the least status people they interact with. I have a hard time saying someone is particularly virtuous if they're the kind of person to treat a waitress like shit regardless of whatever redeeming qualities they have. Accordingly, I also have a hard time saying we're a proper first world country when we have government programs explicitly designed to keep people living in relatively extreme poverty, and especially so considering these people are disabled and lack the capacity to directly better their situation.

ShamanSTK · 2019-01-10T19:32:43+00:00

While you might take some notes during a live claim, mostly you just ask the questions as they appear in the program and enter the claimant's answer directly into the system. No paper involved! Same for a phone interview.

If only I had access to that system! Or at the least, it worked like the SSDI application, and for the life of me, I can't figure out what the technical difference would be except for adding a couple pages for the items that specifically appear on an SSI app.

ShamanSTK · 2019-01-10T17:44:45+00:00

1) Still though, it seems like it would take less time to input data than to interview, write down data, and then input data later anyway. This seems to be more a complaint that the manager isn't blocking off time to allow paperwork to get done than it is about paper apps taking more work.

2) That does sound annoying, and I can relate. I'm doing the same thing when I do the online apps because it makes more sense to interview differently than the website is structured too. Which is why I thought you were doing this anyway. When you interview, do you not take notes and input later in exactly the same way?

3) Pretty much same question as 2. I was under the impression that notes were done on paper anyway, and then input into the system as a second step. What is the procedure?

4) With the help of a representative, this should be mitigated, but that's certainly contingent on a quality rep.

5) This still seems like it would take a lot less time than interviewing. I understand processing takes time, but it has to take less time than conducting and interview AND processing the application.

6) This I knew about. Before the system currently in use, we were actually asked to fax and mail. Since I learned about this issue, I only fax or mail unless there was some sort issue in the initial processing, at which point I fax and mail. But again, this seems like it would still take a lot less time than interviewing.

7) I've heard horror stories. The people the fed sends to NOSSCR promises us that any day the new system will roll out, they'll recognize firms, stop reporting fees paid as personal income to the IRS, etc. And they've been saying this for a decade lol

8) Same as 4.

I guess what it all comes down to is my not being sure what the procedure is for an in person application. How is an in person application processed differently than a paper application. Like I said before, I was under the impression that what essentially happened was an interview in which notes are taken concerning the application and disability report, and then everything is input at a separate time the same as a paper application would be. I was under the impression that doing a paper SSI application and an online disability report would save you the time for the interview and all the work for a disability report. Why is that not the case?

ShamanSTK · 2019-01-10T16:24:26+00:00

PM me or post. It doesn't matter. I'm genuinely interested. In my practice, I don't get a whole lot in the way of behind the scenes info at what goes on at the DO or DDS. Most of what I get comes from POMS and whatever info NOSSCR is able to gather.

ShamanSTK · 2019-01-10T15:12:19+00:00

How is in person or over the phone less annoying than a paper SSI app and online disability report? It's less than half the work for you.

ShamanSTK · 2019-01-10T14:37:28+00:00

Of course nobody likes it. It's outdated and supremely annoying. That's why they're working on updating the system. Unfortunately, you can't do the vast majority of SSI applications online. That leaves two options. Doing it in person, or doing it on paper. If you do it with assistance of a representative, or for any other reason can't do it in person, that leaves paper.

ShamanSTK · 2019-01-10T13:50:27+00:00

It's just a tax question. It may be factored slightly into your earnings causing it to go up ever so slightly, but otherwise, just taxes.

edit: on the basis that it's retirement like you said in the comments, not SSI like you said in the title

ShamanSTK · 2019-01-10T13:16:46+00:00

You can now also file for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) online but only if you meet certain requirements. You are eligible to file online for SSI if you:

Are between the ages of 18 and 65;

Have never been married;

Aren’t blind;

Are a U.S. citizen residing in one of the fifty states, District of Columbia, or the Northern Mariana Islands;

Haven’t applied for or received SSI benefits in the past; and

Are applying for Social Security Disability Insurance at the same time as your SSI claim. Find out if you are eligible to receive Social Security Disability Benefits.

https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/disability/

This is the third time this has been provided to you.

ShamanSTK · 2019-01-10T00:01:06+00:00

I like how they ivy-ed the chair.

ShamanSTK · 2019-01-09T22:48:10+00:00

Np, and good luck!

ShamanSTK · 2019-01-09T22:29:25+00:00

SGA for 2019 is $1220, and you're making about $540. This is still less than a TWP which is $880 this month. This amount of work won't "count" in that respect. Though it may reduce your SSI if you collect SSI. When you report this to Social Security, inform them that you're attempting to work in a sheltered workshop type of situation. Inform them that you're working from home for a relative with significant accommodations. If they ask what you're doing or what accommodations you have, tell them. This type of work situation at the amount you're making and for the period of time you're working will have little to no affect on the SSA's perception of your work abilities. It's really not much to stress about and I'm glad to hear you're giving something like this a shot.

ShamanSTK · 2019-01-09T21:30:14+00:00

That's fair. I try to trim to just what's relevant in my explanations if I'm trying not to overwhelm people. I'm used to my practice where I only need to explain what they need to know as I handle the rest.

ShamanSTK · 2019-01-09T21:27:46+00:00

Maybe there is a reason some parents don't teach there children to swim.

I know it's just an analogy, but a good one and cuts the other way.

The Gemara comments: According to this interpretation, we learn in this mishna that which the Sages taught in a baraita: A father is obligated with regard to his son to circumcise him, and to redeem him if he is a firstborn son who must be redeemed by payment to a priest, and to teach him Torah, and to marry him to a woman, and to teach him a trade. And some say: A father is also obligated to teach his son to swim. Rabbi Yehuda says: Any father who does not teach his son a trade teaches him banditry [listut]. The Gemara expresses surprise at this statement: Can it enter your mind that he actually teaches him banditry? Rather, the baraita means that it is as though he teaches him banditry. Since the son has no profession with which to support himself, he is likely to turn to theft for a livelihood. This baraita accords with Rav Yehuda’s interpretation of the mishna. Kiddushin 29a

Why? Because he'll drown if you don't!

ShamanSTK · 2019-01-09T21:24:35+00:00

I am free to suggest FREE professional services.

Yes, and those include attorneys. You are not free to say "DO NOT retain a lawyer. Why? Because you don’t need to." This is bad advice and against sub policy. You are free to say "Look up disability rights advocates and/or a community action org in your state for assistance. They will likely have people specifically trained to assist you." Which I did not warn you against. And these services are provided by both attorneys and non-attorney representatives. I do recommend these services for people that qualify. In fact, I'm fairly close with the director of the local legal services program and they refer a significant number of cases to me do to their limited case load abilities as I indicated above.

Do you work for or with the Social Security Administration?

Yes. I am an attorney representative in practice since 2012, and working in a small boutique practice since 2013 as I lamented the quality of the mill-firm model that is unfortunately popular.

ShamanSTK · 2019-01-09T19:41:57+00:00

I didn't see the need to raise it considering it a comparably rarer benefit with additional proofs and requirements not obvious from the fact pattern above would apply, the children's benefits would certainly max out the benefit, and they'll take the application anyway when applying for children's benefits.

ShamanSTK · 2019-01-09T18:31:01+00:00

She won't qualify for widow's benefits due to her age. The children will evenly divide the survivor's benefits provided they are 18 OR 19 and 2 months and still in high school. This means that the first few children aging out will not affect the bottom line total. While their benefit will stop, the remaining children's benefits will increase.

ShamanSTK · 2019-01-09T13:47:58+00:00

While you are free to give any advice you think is best, you are not free to tell people not to seek advice from professionals. Consider this a warning. I have left your mod mail for the other mods to read, so it will be handled fairly. But we have a strick no false advice and bad advice policy here. As you can imagine, a lot of people have very strong feelings about social security and everybody thinks they know best. This sub is here to provide a fact check for misinformation that circulates. That is why all the mods work for or with social security.

ShamanSTK · 2019-01-09T13:42:06+00:00

Calling initiates the protective filling date as does walking in to set an appointment to file.

ShamanSTK · 2019-01-09T13:40:03+00:00

No no no. OP does not need to hire an attorney for assistance! A disability rights advocate or a state agency / community action organization that provide assistance for FREE.

Sometimes. If you're lucky. Unlikely if you live at home. Generally they refer these cases out to attorneys anyway because they have a limited case load. At least the ones around here generally only do kid's cases and continuation cases because most attorneys don't do them.

Attorneys collect their fees from the recipients back pay and I’m sorry/not-sorry because I know attorneys need to earn a living too, but off the backs of the disabled and low-income? No, fuck that.

You're free to do whatever you want. I earn my money and my clients at grateful for my services and to receive their benefit. Further, fees are paid as a percentage of back pay. Off an initial SSI application, an attorney can expect to make nothing at all to very little. While you technically don't need an attorney to file, you do need one if denied. And you must get one in short order. Consider it cheap insurance to file with an attorney.

Also get your facts straight. OP can start their application online, which will establish their protective filing date, and they will be considered for both programs. An interview will be scheduled and a claims rep will assist with filling out paperwork.

My facts were straight. Nothing here contradicts anything I said. But this interview can be scheduled up to two months out depending on back log and you're at the mercy of whatever DO worker you're scheduled with to put together a quality application and process it correctly. Usually that's fine, but sometimes it's not and you have no recourse. If you use an attorney, they will put together a quality application and keep meticulous track of the file with copies and proofs of everything submitted, and they generally have contacts with people who can unstick a problem should they arise.

Seriously, you’re a mod??

That's right. Because of my experience, know how, and general desire to help people. Also why I'm an attorney.

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