Friday, July 22, 2016

Keeping your benefits



Will your benefits be cut off once you begin working?  

            At one point in time, I talked to Sally Atwell, a Benefits Navigator. She works for Shepherd Center, which is in a cooperative agreement with the Social Security Administration. A benefits Navigator is supposed to provide support for people ages 14 through retirement who receive funding from Social Security Income, Social Security Disability Income or both. They are supposed to help with how earnings and work may affect the benefits.
                I went to her recently and learned that you had to tell SSI about all income, not just full-time.I thought since you receive less money doing part-time that it would balance out. So I’m in the process now of telling them! It’s such a pain though, you have to fill out all necessary paperwork and there is a lot of it. Paperwork such as amount you are receiving, vacations and holiday pay, more rest breaks, fewer duties, etc.
                Apparently if SSI gets cut off you will lose your Medicaid insurance: which covers therapy and other related expenses. However, in most cases you can still receive SSI payments even if you receive too much payment. Follow these guidelines to figure out if your still eligible.

https://www.ssa.gov/ssi/spotlights/spot-medicaid.htm




http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/how-much-can-you-work-while-receiving-ssi-disability-benefits.html

Thursday, July 14, 2016

Swim

So as a part of my physical therapy regimen, I was told to go swimming.  People informed me that swimming helps with balance and stability while building confidence.

    It seemed to me to be an uncomfortable idea. I would have to hold onto the side of the wall for fear that I would loose my footing. If the water was over my head then I would be in real trouble because I can’t swim anymore!

    However, without risk of falling you can strengthen certain muscle groups. It can also aide in you understanding your body’s mechanisms, which is often lost after the injury. Basically knowing what the body can do. Your best bet would be to get a highly trained therapist to help you move around in the water.

    It is still scary to me to swim, but after researching it some it seems beneficial! Maybe one day I will try it! 

Thursday, July 7, 2016

The test!



      So I took my driving evaluation on Monday. This time, I had a different driving instructor than the last 3 times. I even told him that all I wanted to do is drive around Alpharetta. Which means I will still be waiting hours for Marta taking me to and from work L
   Well I did not pass, but there is still something good about it. The driving instructor said that my processing speed was not an issue. That is what I was working on through work at Parent to Parent and what I was concerned about. He also said that I did much better than he expected after reading notes from my previous instructor. He then offered me lessons!
     So what he’s going to do is pick me up at my house and I will drive around for lessons in Alpharetta. He just thinks I need more practice because it’s been so long and I’m a little rusty. Now these lessons usually cost $150 an hour, but he is going to try and reduce it because I had tried so many times.
      It’s very upsetting to me to try 4 times and fail every time, but at least there is a little bit of hope. To be able to drive around Alpharetta and go to the stores I need, would be so refreshing. That is all I really need for right now. Then I will make driving the highway my goal.

Wheelchair



So I went to the Seating Clinic appointment yesterday. I was wanting to get a new manual wheelchair. I use that wheelchair for my room, bathroom and hallway. I need something to transfer from to the shower and to the bed right now.
 My wheelchair I’ve had ever since the accident which occurred, 8 years ago. It’s starting to fall apart like the leg rests and arm piece are gone, the tires are flattening and it has so many scrapes!
In 2014 I got a power wheelchair for work. Ever since I got that power wheelchair insurance won’t cover the manual one. I guess they see it as a step backwards.
So either I’m stuck with the old one, or I buy a new one. Some wheelchairs cost as low as $122.