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.
