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Beginning
I would like to tell everybody about the Boo Boo I made by going to work.
First,
I went to Work Job-groups. I was then convinced that I should go to work. At
Social
Security, I got a pamphlet about going to work while you're still on SSI. It
told of
three people who worked and how well they did financially. Well there was
one
person who made about three hundred dollars profit each month. That sounded so
great,
because, if I worked, in time I would be completely out of debt. Well, I went
to work
and monthly sent in my check stubs. The first time I had one check for one week
and my
$512.00 SSI check was lowered to $349.50 per month. My next checks were two
one-week
checks and my SSI check was lowered to $312.50. Then my food stamps were cut
off
completely and the worst thing that happened was I got a letter from Section 8.
It said congratulations, you make so much money that you are no longer eligible
for Section 8. They might as well have said, "Isn't it so wonderful, you now
get
to pay full rent of $375.00 per month instead of $118.00." I had an
appointment in May to be re-certified for July. Since I was already laid off,
she told me, "If you get a letter about your lay off to me in time, you won't
have to pay full rent for the month of June. Well, it didn't happen that
way because trying to get a letter like that from IRS is like pulling
teeth.
I called personnel and they gave me a number. I got 'voice-mail' for that
person.
Then four days later, she called and said she couldn't help me and she gave me
a
number and I got the 'voice-mail' deal again. Of course, four days later
she called me and said she couldn't help because they didn't know I was laid
off.
I called my manager who got a hold of her boss, who had his secretary
write me a letter saying I was laid off and he signed it. But of course, it was
too late and I had to pay full rent. When I want for a check-up, my
doctor
said I wasn't physically able to work. I told her this job was 'seasonal'.
I wanted to prove to myself that I could do it until I was
laid-off.
I really liked the job very much even though I strained my eyes, staring at the
computer all night. My knee replacement and my back hurt a lot. I had to drag
myself to the break room or car to go home. I had spurs on both my heels
that need to be cut open and ground off.
Since I didn't
come out ahead, I spoke to someone who figured out how I went in the 'hole'.
They said SSI gives you an $85.00 deductible. I should get hold of
Social Security, Section 8 and the food stamp office to find out how much
money I can make before I lose all these benefits. They want me to come
back next year, and I will with shorter hours so I won't go in the 'hole'
again.
CONCLUSION
Last Friday, June 30 I received a letter from SS administration
telling me what I would receive for June, July and August. I saw that
they paid me $304.50 for July. I now owe Social Security $232.42.
I have to pay $51.00 every month until it's paid off. In August, I will
get $512.00. I sat down and cried and cried. Now here is what you
should do before getting a job. Call Social Security and ask how much
you can make in a month before you will lose benefits. With SSI, I know
you can earn $85.00 per month and not be penalized. After the first
$85.00,
every 2 dollars you make they will take 1 from your check. However, just
to
be certain, always ask what the total is per month before you lose that first
penny of SSI. I am not trying to discourage anyone from going to
work.
If you are physically and emotionally able, it is great to work. You
learn a
lot and you meet new people. It gets you out of the house and you can feel
proud
of your accomplishments. One thing I must add, by working I was able to
pay
off the following bills: my telephone bill ($250.00) and my drug store bill
($263.00). That was a great help to me and I couldn't have done it if I wasn't
working.
Marcia Jean Griffen
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