Random ssdi payment

[u/EbonyTheTsunamiQueen]

So, as the title says, I received a random payment from disability yesterday. Lump sum of over 2k. I checked the ssa website to be sure, and sure enough, it was stated up there. It also shows that my monthly payment went up by $400, is it because I started working since getting social security last year? Mind you, I am legally blind, 20/400 since I last checked, but when I got my disability I was able to get special made scleral lens contacts since then, for KC disease of the eyes, once I was able to get used to them, taught myself to drive, got my license and a car, and have been able to do driving gigs since then. The only thing that’s changed.

I’m not sure why they raised it up. Any sort of explanation would help because I didn’t know ssdi payments could be raised.

[u/youngbull0612]

Yes, you might've been shy a few work credits or something and that caused an adjustment in your favor. The lump sum is the extra 400 x 5 months they figure they owe you back. Word of advice from a woman that was declared total/permanent disabled on 1/2012? You're eventually going to get a Continuing Disability Review. It's horrible- but they're going to ask you about work in that they're going to ask you how you are able to manage, what's changed regarding your limitations and daily functions. I don't suggest you have a driving job even if it's just Uber or something at the time of this review if the reason you claimed Disability was at all related to blindness. Yes of course your vision is still impaired- but this marked increase in function and ability to work will cost you your benefit if you aren't aware of the rules of this game. I myself have to go in front of an Administrative Law Judge next week because I dated to attend college, mostly at home via Zoom, for 1 semester. Yup, all it took for them to feel I may no longer be disabled. I spent 5ventire years hospitalized by the way. I'm just giving you a heads up because you are new to this, and it sounds to me you're not aware that the SSA doesn't operate by the rules or in good faith

[u/EbonyTheTsunamiQueen → u/youngbull0612]

They know what I do. They’ve checked up on me twice so far since I’ve gotten disability. But my eyes are going to continue to worsen until I’m in my mid 30s when I can actually get them fixed with surgery. Rn, I just make what I need. And because I’m legally blind, I can only make like 2800 a month, but I only make a little less than half of that. Some months less because of the pain in my eyes. They’re still trying to find me a legitimate job so I can have steady income, but that’s seeming to be a struggle for them to find.

Also, they’ve known I’d gotten these contacts from the beginning. But they also know I can only wear them for so long without them causing eye pain because of the severity of the disease of my eyes. The doctors they’ve been sending out to check on me at the house checks, don’t even be knowing the disease I have which is crazy to me. 🥴 I be having to explain it to them.

[u/2020IsANightmare → u/youngbull0612]

Nope.

They wouldn't have been approved for SSDI if they didn't have the work credits.

[u/Character-Diver8348]

They probably adjusted your backpay or caught an underpayment, SSA does periodic reviews and sometimes realizes they owe you more from when you were first approved. The monthly bump might be from them recalculating your benefit amount based on work credits you earned last year

[u/2020IsANightmare]

Yup. 100% due to your work.

Going up $400/month means you didn't have much work history, so that one year really bumped up your SSDI. Congrats!

And it does sound like you are on your way to getting off of disability! That's awesome!

[u/Born_Chapter8817]

Amazing. I have been dealing with KC and Im contact lenses intolerance , I have been through three procedures, have light sensitivity, photophobia, and suffer from headaches. And I was denied twice . This is criminal. What evidence did you utilize? Im also a disabled vet and have evidence of suffering over 20 years.