Attending college while on SSDI

[Quahog]

I am curious if anyone knows if it is acceptable to attend college while on SSDI. I have been on disability for about 2 years now and have been taking a few classes at my state's university. I have also sent my information to vocational rehabilitation in order to obtain some financial assistance. IE; Paying for my course/s purchasing other items needed for school.

I have been told that I will need to use my ticket to work.

Now what I am concerned with is that voc rehab has sent letter to my doctors in order to find out if I am able to return to school. My doctors all agree that I could do it. What happens to my disability? Then if for some reason I am unable to complete this degree program or I am only able to attend classes and not able to work afterwards what would happen then?

Could doing this cause the SSA to rule me as no longer disabled and kick me off disability? To be honest I would love to get off disability and go back to work but this is proving to be very difficult. However, I am giving it the old college try :p ;)

If anyone has done this or has other information I should know about please let me know.

Thanks again

Glenn

[ange11]

Good for you Glenn for trying to further your education, improve your life and attempting to get off SSDI. I understand there is a fear among people on SSDI of losing their benefits. It is because of this fear that you will probably hear different advice. Your benefits will not be discontinued simply for attending college. However, when it comes time for review all your daily activites including going to school will be considered in determining your level of functioning. There are so many things though to be considered. Were you allowed for physical impairments? Going to school is considered rather sedentary activity so not as much of an impact. People in wheelchairs are quite able to attend college. On the other hand if you were allowed for something like ADHD or severe anxiety with inability to concentrate. The fact that you are taking several classes and earning good grades could show that you have had improvement in your functioning. Losing your benefits as scary as it seems is a lot harder than you think. Don't let fear prevent you from achieving something better in life. SSA has many programs out there such as the ticket to work which allows you to attempt working. Benefits are not immediately stopped. If you fail benefits are continued.

[Jim59]

I was on SSDI from 1984 through 1996. I started and completed a Masters Degree. That was all OK back then. The following is what I did wrong. I started substitute teaching while looking for a full-time teaching job. I was afraid of losing my Medicare benefit and going uninsured so I didn't tell SS. There was a trial work period then but by not notifying SS of my limited income, I forfeited the monthly work amount they permitted you to earn and finally ended up having to repay many months of benefits. It's easier and less expensive to tell them what your doing and taking advantage of trial work period and earnings. Back then they would have allowed me to purchase Medicare at the same monthly cost as what was deducted from my benefit.
Take care and good luck to you. I have a great life post SSDI so don't give up.
Jim

[CanRelate]

glenn:

Sorry this is a short answer...for once:p .

School is NOT the same as work. Plus incentives are in place from SSA to help us POSSIBLy get back in the work force...we don't lose just because we had the guts to try.

I have been taking classes to finally get my B.S. in business...on vocational rehab's dime (for the most part)....and will be starting a business -- esentially on SSA's dime through ALL the various work incentives --- and *potentially* (maybe 4-5 years from now...) get off monthly benefits.

More specifics later..... there are things to do and consider before beginning on this road of education and self-suffiency...... and there are MANY sources of funding/resources/support in doing this. You would do well to be acquainted with these things so you can make informed choices which will maximize your chances of success AND maximize the benfits which you gain/retain rights to by making the best choices.

Good for you for even trying to do it...

More soon.....

Warm regards,
CanRelate


I am curious if anyone knows if it is acceptable to attend college while on SSDI. I have been on disability for about 2 years now and have been taking a few classes at my state's university. I have also sent my information to vocational rehabilitation in order to obtain some financial assistance. IE; Paying for my course/s purchasing other items needed for school.

I have been told that I will need to use my ticket to work.

Now what I am concerned with is that voc rehab has sent letter to my doctors in order to find out if I am able to return to school. My doctors all agree that I could do it. What happens to my disability? Then if for some reason I am unable to complete this degree program or I am only able to attend classes and not able to work afterwards what would happen then?

Could doing this cause the SSA to rule me as no longer disabled and kick me off disability? To be honest I would love to get off disability and go back to work but this is proving to be very difficult. However, I am giving it the old college try :p ;)

If anyone has done this or has other information I should know about please let me know.

Thanks again

Glenn

[budha3]

Try to find courses online, and you can make a better argument if they try to deny you. I can take a nap any time I want to because I only take online courses. If i feel bad, I just stop studying

[mike1157]

I asked my Attorney about this about a year ago and she said that there was no set ruling on whether or not someone on SSDI could attend college. It would appear to be one of those things that could muddy the water though.

[mike1157]

I have a question for those who think it should not be an issue. How can you really argue that a person who is able to leave their house, attend classes and complete assignments on a college level is not functioning at a fairly good level? If I was the judge I would have a hard time ruling in favor of a person in this situation.

You can argue all you want that work and school aren't the same thing but they both require a degree of functional capacity to accomplish. Social Security seems to view things from a fairly black and white perspective and I could not fathom that the ability to attend college would just be ignored in evaluating a persons "residual functional capacity".

[Lisa2You]

When I applied for SSDi I don't remember any questions about school at all. They asked about my educational level but not anything about attending school. Does this change with a review? I am currently taking a class once a week for two hours. It is a language class, which my MS doctor highly recommends; not a language specifically, but any class that will keep your mind active and engaged. Though it is a small thing, it has given me a purpose, gotten me out with other people, and helped to alleviate depression. It would be crazy if that could be used against me in the long run. Do they check college transcripts? ~L

[CanRelate]

No, they do not check transcripts.

It is an activity.....so may be an answer to daily activity questions if one were to get a full blown review.

School is not prohibited.

At the same time, if one is awarded disability due to say spine issues, and the doc letters said not able to carry weight, nor sit for xx time.....and this person is taking a full load of classes, carring bookbag around campus, and sitting thru class with no need to stand uo and more around....well, that could be used to show ability to now engage in these physical activities again, and perhaps to be able to work again because of the newly regained abilities....

This example is a stretch, but do you see what I am saying?

(I have been taking classes online (1 or 2 at a time) during my last 2 review periods....and still didn't get a full blown review. Not an issue....

CR




When I applied for SSDi I don't remember any questions about school at all. They asked about my educational level but not anything about attending school. Does this change with a review? I am currently taking a class once a week for two hours. It is a language class, which my MS doctor highly recommends; not a language specifically, but any class that will keep your mind active and engaged. Though it is a small thing, it has given me a purpose, gotten me out with other people, and helped to alleviate depression. It would be crazy if that could be used against me in the long run. Do they check college transcripts? ~L

[plips]

Lisa - when you get your continuing disability reviews - they most certainly ask if you have taken any educational courses - when, where, etc. They ask lots of questions as to how you are able to function throughout the day - it's pretty much the same as proving you were disabled the first time. The questions are very comprehensive. By the way to anyone out there that hasn't had a review you need to be able to provide a list of each doctor you saw, dates and why plus all testing, dates and why including inpatient and outpatient. They want to know who, where, why and when. I just did a matrix that was easy to sort in word and it worked really well - now I can just add to it. You might to do one for your medications also - my included the drug, dosage, doctor prescribing and purpose.