SSI and school?

So basically I recently applied for SSI for Borderline Personality Disorder, Bipolar Disorder, Anxiety, Depression… It’s a toxic combo and together I just can’t work (let alone take care of myself tbh). However my dad really wants me to go to college, or rather community college. He’s very disappointed I am not going to school rn. Actually, he’s not disappointed. He’s pissed. And basically demands that I go back to school. He’s fine with me applying for SSI, because he understands my mental illnesses disable me but just can’t understand I cant go to school. Whatever. I am willing to try.

So I was wondering if it was possible to take a class or two and apply for SSI? If I could I would only take an art class or two. I would get accommodation recommendation and such from my psychiatrist. I mean… taking an art class is nothing like working full or even part time right? But who knows how SSA thinks! (But honestly like I said I can barely take care of myself so I don’t even know if I’d be able to go to school I just want to make my dad happy)

Anyways, has anyone tried it? Or know of anyone who’s tried it? I did google it and google had pretty mixed answers and it just made me more confused tbh!

My understanding is that if your able to take a few college classes then SSI feels you could work those hours.

Best place to find the correct answers is to actually go ask where you filed for SSI, local SS office

Good luck

the Social security website says college students can not receive SSI, the reasons why they can not is because colleges have scholarships and financial aid grants that can help students. and if someone is well enough to attend college classes they are well enough to work.

Maybe you should wait until you actually get it and not just applying. I get SSI and I went to school for a month once, but I had already been approved and was getting it.

can you point me where it says that specifically on the website? because i've been searching for a while now and can't find anything regarding being a student.

thank you for the reply! i think i'll talk to my dad about that and going after/if i get accepted.

i'll also call SSA on Monday hopefully. I've been too anxious to do it this week. :/ thanks everyone for the responses so far!

https://www.ssa.gov/schoolofficials/...ents.htm#&a0=2

8. Can I get benefits for taking college courses?

No. At one time, SSA did pay benefits to college students, but the law changed in 1981. We now pay benefits only to students taking courses at grade 12 or below.

forgot to add, by calling Social Security Administration (SSA) through the number on their website or your nearest\local social security office they will tell you the reasons behind why social security does not allow college students to receive SSI\SSDI while going to college.

Important Note: My comments below apply to SSDI. I do not know if the same rules apply for SSI.

Actually, the information referenced applies to children receiving survivor benefits or benefits due to a Parent receiving SSDI or SS retirement benefits. This information does not apply to Nana's situation as she is not a dependent receiving benefits due to a parent's death, disability or SS retirement benefits.

Still good advice about contacting SS. May also want to review the SS Ticket to Work information. Once found eligible for benefits, SS will work with you to improve your chances for employment and one way to do this is by attending college. Also, once receiving benefits, you are not cut off immediately from SSDI. Look on the SS website for information on Trial work periods and the maximum amount of income an individual can earn before the trial work period even begins.

I found out about this link and info through my local social security office when I was temporarily on SSDI due to inability to work after witnessing a domestic violence murder of someone I was with at the time of the crime.

i was told I would not be able to receive my SSDI if I chose to enroll for the semesters in which I had my SSDI grant. At that time I asked them if this was a rule with just SSDI and they said no its for all social security grants. anyone receiving any SSI /SSDI will lose their grants due to the fact that you have to report income, colleges have financial aid for students (Tuition Assistance Program,College work study, PELL, Student Loans, and other scholarships) that pay for a students cost of living and schooling while attending college. most of which after school costs have been paid for the students receive a refund of the rest of their grant in one lump sum which usually exceeds the amount of money SSI, SSDI, Ticket to work and such allowed to earn without losing their grants.

I also know many who wanted to go to college but lost all or a portion of their SSI\SSDI grants when social security found out they were attending college and getting their SSI\SSDI

Ticket to work program is a program where a person on SSI\SSDI can get a job and earn a certain amount of money without their grants being affected. yes in some cases a person signed up with the ticket to work program can attend college, if there is no other training programs in the area\field \career of choice available for example in my location the one signed up for Ticket to Work takes a psychiatric evaluation\IQ testing, then based on the results they get referred to Office Of Vocational Rehabilitation. OVR teaches them how to apply for jobs, and other job related skills. and in some cases will have them do a placement test to see if they can handle college level classes numbered 101 and above. if so OVR "sponsors" the student for one semester, while the student applies for TAP and PELL. once the student receives their approval letter for TAP and PELL the award letters are taken to social security. they make a photocopy and tell the student if the awarded amount will result in their losing a portion (usually 10% of the SSI/SSDI grant each month to "recoup"the excess money they are no longer elligable for because they are getting TAP and PELL to help with school and living costs) or whether they will lose their SSI\SSDI for the duration that they are in college.

to find out if your own locations ticket to work program does this you will need to contact your own social security office.

lots of info given and i really appreciate it!!! it's been confusing still, but i appreciate all the info nonetheless. anyways after some digging i found this page https://www.ssa.gov/ssi/text-resources-ussi.htm and and it says "WHAT RESOURCES DO NOT COUNT FOR SSI ... grants, scholarships, fellowships, or gifts set aside to pay educational expenses for 9 months after receipt" so i started to thinking one could go to school and receive SSI? well thats not solid enough for me so i called SSA and waited on the phone for 50 mins today and asked a v nice man if i could take a college class or two and apply for/receive SSI. And his response was something like "Yes. SSI only takes in to account if you can work or not. We dont consider school as working." So thats interesting and v helpful! And i know the i wont receive that much financial aid since i'm only taking 1 or 2 classes? so i dont see how i'll go over the max income allowed? especially since i'm not planning on continuing education, i'm just taking classes to please my dad, so it'll probably only be for one semester. I want to continue my education, but only when i'm better. Not now.

Anyways thanks for the help everyone!!!