•  Why Work?
• -Work and My Benefits
  • 
    
  • Disability Benefits Programs
  • What are the Tradeoffs?
  • Find a Benefits Specialist
•  What Do I Want to Do?
•  What Can I Do?
• +Paths to Success
  • 
    
  • Learning Workplace Culture
  • Encouragement
• +Getting Experience
  • 
    
  • Volunteering
  • Temporary Work
• +The Job Search
  • 
    
  • Resume and Cover Letter
  • How and Where to Search
  • Responding to Job Leads
  • Interviewing
  • Disability Disclosure
  • Veterans and Other Resources
• +Getting Help on the Job
  • 
    
  • What Can I Ask For?
  • Assistive Technology
  • The CT Tech Act Project
  • Personal Assistance
  • Job Coaches

At Connect-Ability, we understand why you might be reluctant to seek employment. We acknowledge the difficulties, but also want to make you aware of new opportunities so you can make the decision that is right for you.

• Fear v. Information - Fear of losing eligibility for cash benefits and support programs can stop you from even considering employment. This fear can be reduced by learning how you can actually work and maintain benefits, or even work your way off of benefits over time.
• Reduction of SSI Benefits v. More Money - If you are working, even part-time, you must report your earnings to the Social Security Administration. Even though your cash benefit will be gradually reduced the more you earn, it will not be reduced dollar-for-dollar. Therefore, your income will be higher if you work than if you don't.
• Loss of SSDI Benefits v. More Money - If you are working, even part-time, you must report your earnings to the Social Security Administration. Once you reach the level of Substantial Gainful Activity (monthly income, which goes up each year), you may lose your cash benefit. There are ways, however, of using disability-related and work-related expenses so that you can still receive Social Security even if your income is over the SGA amount.
• Loss of Medicaid v. Access to Medicaid - If you are already on Medicaid and go to work, it is likely that you will become eligible for Medicaid for the Employed Disabled, which provides exactly the same coverage as regular Medicaid. If you have not been Medicaid eligible in the past, working may give you access to Medicaid services. The income limit is $75,000 per year. The asset limit is $10,000 if you are single and $15,000 if you are married (as of 5/07).
• The Same Paperwork v. More Paperwork - Unfortunately, all benefits require ongoing paperwork and periodic redetermination. Working while maintaining benefits will increase the burden of paperwork. If you keep good records, the load is manageable, but it is another thing to do.
• Spending Time Being Disabled v. Spending Time Working - Having a disability often involves coordinating supports, interacting with insurance companies and other bureaucracies, investigating equipment or treatment options, going to appointments, and caring for personal needs. It is natural to wonder how you will fit work into your busy life. Not everybody can do everything; but a surprising number of people do juggle significant part-time and sometimes full-time jobs along with all of their other responsibilities. And simply having something to focus on each day can make dealing with those disability issues a little easier.

Everything we do in life involves looking at the trade-offs. To make something better over here we may have to sacrifice a little over there. Recognize that your concerns are valid and then get the information you need to address them. Only then will you be able to make informed decisions.