Social Security advice seriously needed, please!
By cobrateacher
@cobrateacher (8432)
United States
March 7, 2010 3:04pm CST
Increases in the amounts taken out of my paychecks has brought me to the point that I can't pay all the bills any more. That's embarrassing! A friend was advised to go on Social Security, and told that he could collect a reduced amount while maintaining his job. We make quite a handsome salary, but take home only about a third of it in each pay check. That's far from sufficient.
Please, can any of you advise me as to a way to collect SS, or another way to increase my income? A second job is unlikely, since I live where unemployment is highest, and my "regular" job requires enormous amounts of time. Teachers take home many hours of work after the school day ends.
Has anyone been successful at increasing their income appreciably?
2 people like this
5 responses
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
8 Mar 10
There is a Social Security or disability or whatever specialist at some of the Independent Living Centers across the USA. That person could sit down with you and advise you. They have to go to classes and be able to help people figure different ways of doing things and getting things done with social security and disability. I defer to the experts. When I worked at NCCI, we had one there and she helped people with questions like yours. So see if you have an Independent Living Center there. If you would like me to ask NCCI to look on their USA ILC chart to find an ILC there, let me know, I will give them a call. There are many ins and outs and legalities and everyone's situation is different, so it's hard to say and advise someone on the internet. But they were able to help some people work and collect money also. It depends on lots of factors. Good luck, thanks and take care.
@cobrateacher (8432)
• United States
8 Mar 10
As usual, Edge, your advice is wise. I just had no idea where to begin when my friend told me of this possibility I'd never heard before, so I thought there might be some people on line who had such an experience.
I do know of a couple of Independent Living Centers in my area, and I'll contact them. Thank you so very much, my astute friend!
1 person likes this
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
8 Mar 10
Hopefully, there will be someone at one of them that has someone to help you. We just lost our person for that due to healt problems, and they just hired someone who is going through training to help people walk step-by-step through the system and if this, do that, but if this do this, but if something else, then something else.
Great! You know what ILCs are and you know about 2 of them. I never get that. I should have known you'd be "in the know," So few people know what they are, and where one is in their area, I should start a discussion about ILCs. It's hard, each one is sooo different. Like here, ours is very limited in what it does and can do. It's about to be more so with cutbacks. Across the lake in Vermont, they've always had way more at their ILC. Ours mostly has guidance, theirs had way more programs and even some money to help people. Ours had places to get all kinds of loans, but no real funds to give out-right grants directly from them. So two would be wonderful. One might have help the other one doesn't. Good luck and let me know how that turns out.
1 person likes this
@cobrateacher (8432)
• United States
9 Mar 10
When I was stronger and healthier, I used to visit a couple of them and help people learn English who spoke only Spanish and, therefore, felt a bit excluded. At one, I taught a few classes in gourmet cooking, using the stuff they had available there - a major challenge!
@savypat (20216)
• United States
7 Mar 10
Are you getting any back on your income taxes? If you are you could reduce your withholding each month by increasing your deductions. This is the first idea we use to give people with credit problems who had steady employment. Of course if
you have to pay each time you file this wouldn't work for you.
2 people like this
@cobrateacher (8432)
• United States
7 Mar 10
Hi, Pat!
I can always count on you for sound thinking! I do have a sizable refund coming, since my medical expenses are so high. I'll certainly look into reducing the withholding!
Thanks so much!
@leenie50 (3992)
• United States
8 Mar 10
Hey Jo,
I'm sorry to hear that you are stuggling so bad. I read everyone's suggestions and hope that you find some answers. I would look to local Legal Aid to see if they can come up with suggestions. Our Local Office has helped me so much. Then I would also call Social Services. They should have a list of places and phone numbers to call. Let me know if you find the help you need. I can always use more ideas. Hang in there Sweetie, it takes a lot of patience and determination but I know you can do it.
Love You
Leenie
@cobrateacher (8432)
• United States
9 Mar 10
With all you're going through yourself, how lovely of you to think of me! It's going to be hard, but I'll find something, The problem is that I make a very good amount. I just don't get to actually have very much of it! Add costs for lousy health, and I'm lost. I'll come up with something, though. Like you, I won't let it do me in!
Love you!
Joanne
@icesmile (7160)
• Romania
8 Mar 10
Hi Teacher, I'm so sorry you're in that situation, but I am not in your country, i do not know what I could learn to do that gonna get some help, and here the situation is very difficult for many people, it seems that the crisis it not end, I hope God help us all, but especially good people, just like you, I hope someone out there can help with some helpful tips.
I work in social services, and i help many people here, as much as i can, but here are different laws for people who need help.any way, i will think in this, and maybe i will got some answers for you, if i can from some friends who live there.
@cobrateacher (8432)
• United States
9 Mar 10
Thank you, my dear friend. I'll come up with something. I earn too much for benefits to be there for me, even though I don't get to keep much of it!
@kaylachan (71762)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
8 Mar 10
Social Sercurity can be difficult to get. They don't just hand it out to anyone thease days. I am on disability, but my dad had to die for me to get it. Quite often, if you get Social Sercurity you are restricted as to how much you can work, and the amount they pay is quite often not worth it. Right now I get 946/month, but I'm unemployed. And, part of that are servivor's benifits.
I would look at your income. If you make over a certain amount a month, and they deem you physically capable of taking on a second job, they will deny you.
1 person likes this
@cobrateacher (8432)
• United States
9 Mar 10
You're so right! I didn't think my friend got very realistic advice. We earn quite a good living; we just don't get much to take home.
