TEW

Hello I'm new to this site. I have a couple of questions I hope some of you may be able to help me with. First off, I'm 45m, Born HOH. Worked all my life. My hearing has steadily gotten worse over the years. I now have a profound hearing loss. I wear Phonak 413AZ with a little success, mainly a lot of lipreading. I lost my job of 20 years about a year ago and cannot seem to find another job. I went to a lot of interveiws, but no job offers. My speech is not that great. I'm considering applying for ssdi. My Hearing loss is greater than 90 decibels in both ears. My speech recognition is zip, without lipreading. According to my file, if I was determined to be disabled, I could get 2100.00 a month from ss. I think I could possilby draw my retirement from the previous job of 20 years. The thing is, I'm not sure if I will be determined disabled. I'm in great shape other than my ears. I would really like to draw, go back to college, get another degree in a different field, then get off ssdi. Anyone drawing ssdi with a similar hearing loss? Do you think I can get ssdi?

Deafness

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jillio

I would suggest, rather than attempting to go the SSDI route, which will be extremely difficult given that you are under age 50, you go the SSI route. SSI is a temporary assistance that will allow you to retrain, continue education, and complete a job search.

TEW

I thought about that, but I think I have too many/much assets.

Kalista

First of all, welcome to AllDeaf TEW

You asked us wrong people, we are not the representive at Social Security office. I strongly recommend you to go to Soc Sec office with an interpreter provider for a better communication accessible.

Check Social Security Online

Good Luck!

TEW

"You asked us wrong people, we are not the representive at Social Security office." Uh.... I was asking if there was any board members on SSDI with a similar hearing loss as mine. I understand this is not the Social Security Administration web site.

Sunshine1

Okay ... SSD is for people who are unable to work and have doctor's proof for any reasons. They must have certain number of years working and/or amount of taxes paid in the past. I hope that's the answers you need.

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Kalista

We can't determinate if you are qualified to collect the social security. I do not pity for the hearing loss people; they can find the jobs around in your local. I am profoundly Deaf since my birth, work two jobs to pay my bills.

I do not consider hearing loss or Deaf are disability!

Angel

Yes, I know someone who is on SSDI, she's in her late 40's, worked for more than 20 to 25 years before she applied for SSDI. Check into your nearest Social Security district office for assist. You would be ask to fill out an application etc.

Good luck ..

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Angel

Forgive my manners here, I forgot to say "welcome to Alldeaf", so welcome, hope you enjoy your stay here.

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TEW

Thank you Angel. That's what I was asking.

Kalista, I think deafness is a disability, whether or not it is disabiling is debatable. I think you misunderstood my post in its entirety. I am not seeking a handout. I am trying to change career paths to better suit my needs. I am willing to do what it takes to get to that point. You state " I do not consider hearing loss or Deaf are disability!" If this is true, why did you send the following letter to Bush last year? You cannot say "I do not have a disability" then turn around and ask for protection under ADA.

The Honorable George W. Bush
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President Bush:

I read a letter, I agree with them. Letter said that we are really respect you as much as you did do many good jobs for us deaf Americans but you may have overlooked or ignored one missing thing for us (Deaf Americans)is the ADA.

On July 26th,1990, your father, George Bush signed the new ADA is good for blind, disabled wheelers, etc. but ADA is does not help the deaf people because it have too many loopholes. We heard horrible stories from the deaf people that they tried ADA and it did not protect them from like discrimination against them in being not hired for jobs, deal with law enforcement, etc. some of reports mentioned that some deaf victims tried to sue private companies for discrimination that involves not being promoted in their jobs or the company ignored deaf employee's required interpreter for meetings then at the end, the deaf victims were counter-sued and lost their houses, money from bank accounts, etc by greedy and insensitive private companies who hired the top lawyers in the field. Many deaf people cannot afford top ADA lawyers. President, now you see that's why many deaf people are leery of using ADA to file complaint against private companies, states, and cities, etc.

This will cause more and more deaf people to become depressed and lose pride in themselves and more will be poorer and turn to crime. Trust and believe me because our own eyes have seen some of our deaf friends became homeless, sell ABC fingerspelling cards at someplaces, etc. because we did try so hard to get good jobs but we got burned sooner or later after we tried ADA and a lot of private companies treated us like 2nd class citizens. Many deaf people rely on SSI to survive because we cannot get jobs even they got college degrees and /or training in certain fields - why? Many companies chose to ignore a deaf qualified applicants because it cost too much (equipment and interpreters to help deaf communicate with the hearing) and we don't want to take the time to communicate and train new deaf employees.

If you want to see many deaf people become big successful like have good jobs and good families and reduced dependence on SSI. If the SSI payments to deaf were cut off then how we can survive if no one wants to hire us? Imagine if you were deaf and you cannot get a job. What would you do to survive? Become straved with no food and you have to steal so that you can live for another day. Then make the ADA strong with teeth to bite those who abuse the deaf rights. We will be very appericate if you help us by tell the Congresses to cork loopholes in damn ADA now! or you better to pray that million deaf Americans do not know become criminals to survive or more impovished and end up in more new federal and states prisons someday.

I write this.....
After your father signed the new ADA, in 1991, my husband and I are both deaf, my husband is a family man of our two hearing children. He was laid off from his job of 20 years service at Bankers Trust Co in New York City. I shocked horrible to learn that my husband loses his job. He tried to fill applications out for permanent full job long time. He applied the Social Security Disability. Two months later, he got a SSD check for pay the bills. It was not enough income. We went to see a ADA lawyer. He asked my husband about what date of layoff? My husband told him. A lawyer said that less than a year, he can do. more than a year, he can't do. We frustrated.

He had many temporary jobs. He does not know what rule of SSD about allow limited salary per month. He lost the SSD because of overpayment. He was very upset and depression. He found underemployment without the SSD. I lost the SSD too. I was complaint to need money for taking care of our children and buy the food. SSA applied a form for me. I got a part income. My husband hid from me, took some his IRA money for paying the bills often time. Later, he frustrated to get tax bill from penalty of his IRA. I was very upset.

I called a bankruptcy lawyer to give him an interpreter telephone number. Later, a lawyer said that he can't afford to pay an interpreter 150 dollars per hour. I had to be patient to go visit the lawyer's office for meeting. I wrote front and back to him and his secretary who knows fingerspelling a little. I tried to communicate too hard for them. I was afraid of them probably misunderstand. I got a letter that we are both completely deaf and after losing employment in the city decided to seek employment in this area. Unfortunely the employment search involved reduction in income for quite a period of time, and the new job now obtained does not have a very high-income level sent to the credit card companies. I agree with a lawyer.

1991 thru 2002, he had underemployed without the SSD to treat our family and me. That not enough money. SHAME. We need home improvement for roof, blacktop on driveway, deck, and bathroom. This means mad taxpayers will pay mult-million dollars to fed deaf mates and me!!

Sincerely,
annoymous

Angel

Good postie TEW!! and yw.

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jillio

I am a hearing rehab counselor. That is why I posted the inforamtion I did. If you are concerned about assets, I would reccommend that you contact your local BVR office regarding retraining. You stated that you were interested in retraining. Given the fact that you worked for 20 years with your hearing loss, and it is very difficult to be determined to be permanently disabled and unable to work at any type of employment, and thus qualify for SSDI, under the age of 50, you are going tohave a difficult time indeed being awarded SSDI under these circumstances. It is not that you cna't work, it is that you are having a difficult time finding a job. That is hardly sufficient for SSA to declare you permantly and totally disabled. You would be considered to be more of a displaced worker than permanently and totally disabled, simply based on your deafness and the fact that you lost your job and are having difficulty finding another. Either that, or just go ahead and draw your retirement from your previous job. But your chances of being awarded SSDI are extremely slim.

Kalista

We did not try very hard to fight ourselves for successful our career at the private industries and federal government agencies. They look down at us to pity us because we can't hear. Hello.... We are human like other hearing people. We need to educational them about the Deaf language and culture to expose hearing people to become familiar with our language. I taught ASL to my hearing colleagues. That is how, I got promotion my job because I tried very hard to educational them. Now each of the State of Commonwealth established Disabilitiy Agencies to help with Deaf people for training, school, jobs, etc... Why do we encourage high school students to stay home to collect SSI/SSDI? They look up at their parents stay home to collect SSI, the children think oh the government would support those children rest of the life. NO !! We need to teach the Deaf children how important colleges and jobs for their future.

We did not fight enough with the congressmen. They allow to support more and more forgien people who are coming to this country. Our taxes constantly go up and up billion dollars to help with forigen people. There is lack of people who speak up for provider a better training for the Deaf people's climb up their career promotion. They just sit down and feel sorry for themselves....

NO NO !! Need stop feel sorry for ourselves because we can't hear !!! We need to fight ourselves with Private Industries and Federal Government Agencies, WE CAN DO.... Expect... CAN'T HEAR AND SPEAK...

Angel

I do not force my children to attend college or what kind of jobs they should be looking for, I let them make their decision on their own, same applies to my friends who are on the government programs, You and I do not know what is going on in their lives, or the reason for them being on the assist programs.

Some are on the programs cause of low incoming when they do have a job as well. some are on the program to attend college or classes etc.



I don't feel sorry for myself either does my friends.

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TEW

Thanks for some more info Jillio. What exactly is a hearing rehab counselor? I may need to look into these services. Also, what does BVR stand for? Business vocational rehabilitation? I'm trying figure out the best approach, I fear I will be totally deaf in a couple of years. I need to get going on a new career path. I would really like to figure out how to go back to college and retrain. But, like everyone else, I've got bills to pay. I understand it is difficult to offer a "diagnosis" (for lack of a better word) via the internet. I plan on visiting the SSA, I just wanted to get an idea as to what I'm up against.

Kalista, I have no idea what this is saying?

"NO NO !! Need stop feel sorry for ourselves because we can't hear !!! We need to fight ourselves with Private Industries and Federal Government Agencies, WE CAN DO.... Expect... CAN'T HEAR AND SPEAK"

I'm going to take a stab at it:

-If you think I feel sorry for myself because I have a hearing impairment, I don't.

-If you feel we need to push for better accomodations with the Goverment and Private sectors, I agree.

-If you are saying: We can do anything we put our minds to. Absolutely...

Cheri

Can't speak? I'm sorry I would have to disagree with you there, I do speak, I do lip-reading, I do signs, so don't speak for me as in "we".

Sorry for the TEW

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jillio

I am hearing (I have a deaf son). I am a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor, and a Liscensed Professional Counselor. My wording was a bit confusing. I specialize in services for the deaf.

BVR stands for Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation. They are a state agency that specializes in re-training for persons experiencing the same circumstances you are experiencing. I have a couple of clients that are currently being served and are receiving college assistance to advance their education. The college also has several displaced workers (not deaf) who are served through BVR. When you make an appointment, I would reccommend requesting a counselor that specifically works with deaf clients. They can also assist you in obtaining grant monies for school, and temporary SSI, if it comes to that. BVR will coordinate all available services for you, and insure that you are receiving any type of asssistance for which you are eligible.

If you feel that you have been discriminated against during any of the interviews that you have been on since loosing your job, they also offer employer mediation services that will insure that the employer provides accommodations as needed and make sure that your rights under the ADA are not being violated.

TEW

LOL.... Man, I know I was discriminated against. Impossilbe to prove. I chased this one outfit all over the state. 7 testings, 7 interveiws. Aced the test everytime. Called for an interveiw. I honestly think I was a "Stat". Just so they could say they interveiwed me. I finally gave up. It became obvious they were not going to hire me. I just could not figure out why they kept calling. I really wanted a job with that company. Besides, even if I could force someone to hire me, who in their right mind would want to work under these conditions. I couldn't do it. Thanks for the information on BVR. I will check into this sometime this week. Thanks.

jillio

You're welcome. If I can be of further assistance to you, you can p m me.

I agree with the discrimination. It can be very difficult to prove if a company did not come right out and say, "We are not hiring you because you are deaf." That is where the BVR mediation can be helpful.

Kalista

My point, high statistically Deaf seniors who graduated from high schoo then collect social security income. They expose from this society when they interact with other Deaf adults like sports events, expo, etc... Seniors look up at other adults who former from Deaf school. They did not go to work because they think that government constantly pay their lives... We really NEED to educational with other high school students, how important training at the agencies instead of sit on the chair to play the video games, watch movies, etc... They think that SSI/SSDI help with Deaf people because we cant speak very well and hear.

Kalista

Can you fluency speak like hearing people? Do you need an interpreter? If it is yes.. so, that mean - hearing people did not catch your 100% accurately pronounce words when you talk.

VamPyroX

You're better off talking with the Social Security Administration.

The amount of money you get depends on a lot of things... age, cost of living, location, needs, etc.

For instance... if you were living in a place where the cost of living was extremely low, then you wouldn't get much because getting more than needed would be considered unnecessary. If you had kids, you would get more. If you were older, you might get more.

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Cheri

Each deaf individuals are different from each others. Don't forget that, Kalista.

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Angel

I didn't have an interpreter that does the talking for me, I can talk on my own without an interpreter, I only need an interpreter to sign what the person is saying.

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Oddball

Hi, TEW

What Jillio says is very accurate and informative. Also, you can try to apply for unemployment insurance/benefits for while.. UI can assist you to retrain for another job (either training or college) up to 18 months. Depends on what state offers since I don't know what state you are currently living.

shel90

I agree but sometimes people find themselves in a situation where SSDI is needed like this man. He lost his job cuz of his deafness which is unfortunate. I am surprised that he didnt sue for discrimination but then again, we dont know what kind of job it is. Did it rely heavily on his ability to hear?

Some people use SSDI temporaly to get back on their feet. I did for 2 years and if it wasnt for it, I wouldnt be where I am now.

I do agree with u that I dont believe in deaf people taking advantage of it for a free ride.

Just my 2 cents.

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shel90

Hi TEW...many ADers had great advice. I think you should be able to qualify especially that u lost your job cuz of your deafness. Good luck!

I was on SSDI for 2 years while I went to Gally U. cuz my ex hubby and I separated and I was left without any income since I relied on his so I applied for SSDI in order to continue my education. Whatever helps to get you back on your feet, go for it!

Good luck!

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TEW

Hello and thanks for all the advice and well wishes. Let me just say, before this gets out of control, I did not lose my job because of my hearing impairment. The company I worked for is downsizing. They have been for a while, I wasn't shocked when my time was up. I wasn't the only one (hearing or not). Anyway, I just wanted to clear that up. Unfortunatly, my hearing is not now what it was when I walked into the place 20 years ago. So, with that in mind, I thought I weigh my options. Maybe find out from some that have "been there, done that" Thanks again. I'll keep you folks posted.

jillio

oddball!

ugh

TEW

What you are describing is exactly where I am. I could not find another job so I applied for SSDI and return to college. The state of Illinois is paying me to get my BS degree.

I just talked to another deaf friend who was recently laid off. He was too proud to get on SSDI even though he could not find a job. I told him, “the programs are available for people who are in situations like us so use it”. I could not get SSI because of my assets but I got SSDI even though I have considerable assets.

As far as I know, I have never meet any hearing impaired person who was turn down by Social Security Administrations. This process takes 6 months so don’t wait to apply.

This is where things get a little sticky. At your age, you may have earned enough credits to draw a reasonable amount from SSDI and if that is true then you may want to consider staying on SSDI and work part time. You will be allowed to earn up to something like 12,000 a year without losing your SSDI. This will not work for me because I am 34. If you prefer to go back to college then make sure you know that the job will earn more then SSDI and the part time income combine.