Most people who are blind are on what is known as SSI (Supplemental Security Income). These monthly benefits-the amount to live on today in Colorado are $796.  I was on this government program for 18 years.  For every $2 I earned, $1 was taken away.

There is little ability to get off this system unless one could financially make enough to support oneself.  This is a challenge for there is 60% unemployment in the blind or visually impaired communities.

Wanting to better myself, twice I was penalized for making too much money; which is a common issue with this program. I had put money from teaching music lessons (approved by them) into a PASS Plan savings account. Later, they said I didn’t report my spending.

I acknowledged that I didn’t understand the rules and spent my earnings on self-help classes.  I was docked $12,000 to be paid back in increments of $300 per month over the course of many years. Fortunately, the state of Colorado Social Services department made up the difference.

Learning my lesson, the second time this happened (by spending my money on needed computer equipment) I documented my spending. After two long intense meetings, I was told I couldn’t report spending money both to the IRS and to the SSI simultaneously.  I asked if there was a signed document in their records stating I knew this fact.

There wasn’t, and my fine was reduced from $12,000 to $2,000.  Again my monthly checks were docked to pay the government back.

A few years later, my dad went into his Social Security office to check out his social security benefits.  In the course of the conversation, the fact that he had a child with a disability was disclosed. Soon after, the Social Security office called and stated I was eligible to receive SSDI-Supplemental Security Disability Income.

This is a much better system; however, unless a person has a job and loses it or is a child of a vet and disabled before twenty-one years of age, this isn’t applicable to most people who are blind.

On this system, I received $900-ish per month (½ of Dad’s monthly check) and could make up to $2,000 a month without being penalized. I was not scrutinized of how I spent my money.

From then on, our social security numbers were linked, and I received ½ the amount of his benefits until his death, when my benefits increased to ¾ of his amount.  When I reached sixty-five, I was moved to social security. Immediately, I lost my Medicaid and food stamps, amounting to the same amount I was increased.

When I sold my Habitat for Humanity home, the entire profits had to be placed into a trust for people with disabilities. If I kept the money, Medicaid could and probably would recapture the entire amount for expenses they have paid out for me over the years.

In the big picture, selling my house and putting my money into the trust is a blessing for I’ve been able to finance going to Australia, rebranding my business and website, hiring an assistant, and paying my apartment rent.

For more information, check out this interesting article.