Research studies on people who are unemployed show they are more likely to be depressed, abuse substances, feel worthless, be isolated from others, have low self-esteem, and to have low income levels.

There is no research to indicate that work makes psychiatric symptoms worse! Studies show that diagnosis, number of hospitalizations, types or degree of symptoms, and other aspects of mental illness do not predict who will succeed in holding a job. In fact, there are studies that indicate that 60-70% of people with severe mental illnesses want to go back to work, and that work can improve self-esteem and the ability to control symptoms.

Many people who are in recovery from severe mental illness talk about how their return to work was a very important step in rebuilding their lives. By building confidence about their ability to work, they built confidence in other areas of life as well. Local and national research demonstrates that people have more positive recovery outcomes if they are engaged in employment services with treatment than receiving treatment that does not offer a link or connection to employment services.

Although your SSI check is reduced for any income you make above the federally specified amount  per month, you will have more money to spend or save by working and continuing to receive a SSI check. If you receive the standard individual SSI benefit  per month and earn income from work, although you may receive less from your SSI benefit, you will still receive more total income than you would receive from a SSI check alone. -Furthermore, income you save for a specific work goal through the “plan to achieve self support” (PASS) program is not included when calculating how your work earnings impact your SSI check. Like many workers these days, you would be paying part of your income for your health insurance (medical coupon).

If you receive Social Security Disability (SSDI), you are allowed nine “trial work months” in a five year period without impacting your SSDI benefit. A trial work month is any month in which your income (minus work expenses) is more than the federally identified income limits per month. After completing the Trial Work Period, you may receive your SSDI benefits for an extended period while if you earn less than the federally identified income amount.

Each year, the federally identified income limits and benefit amounts change. For the most updated information, consult the benefits specialist at your behavioral  health agency or call Plan To Work at 1-866-206-322-8181.

A state program called Healthcare for Workers with Disabilities (HWD) allows people with disabilities to purchase medical coupons on a very reasonable sliding fee schedule. If your net income is less than -the federally identified amount per month for one person, you can purchase medical coupons to pay for your medication and medical care.