On Disability And Looking To Get Into Trucking.

My situation is rather complicated and I need some advice. I'm 39 and I am on disability because I have bipolar disorder. I am able to work but I won my case a few years ago and I have only been working part time the past 3 years. I want to go back to work but I make good money every month from SS. I get $1500 a month to do nothing. Sounds great but legally I cant make any more than $2200 a month between my disability check and part time income I'm allowed to earn. First off, being that I'm diagnosed bipolar does that disqualify me from getting a job in the industry. How would they know if I was? I do take medication but it is not anything that would affect my driving(To be specific I take Lamictal and Welbutrin). I know that I could do the OTR lifestyle because I don't have a family, I like to work alone, I don't really own anything, and I have little or no responsibilities. I have a DOT card because I've been driving a cab the past several months. Here's the tricky question: I can make $1050 a month working part time and keep my benefits. I'd like to get a taste of what trucking is like first hand before I surrender my benefits. Is there any possible scenario out there where I can have a job and not go over that allowed amount of earnings the first several months to a year out? Strange question because I know its always "What's the most I can make?" and not "Whats the least I can make?" I'm not looking to scam the system, like I said I just want to get my feet wet before I get off SS. I have no criminal history, and my current license is clean. I did have a license in another state that expired and had an at fault accident while I had it but it was over 3 years ago. Would that be a problem?

Not sure about the drug lamictal , You could always look into the PASS Plan with Soc. Sec., if you get one they'll pay for the things you need to get back to work as long as you include them in the plan. The disability will still be paid while on the plan etc. It's to early to try to explain it to you, just look it up on Soc. Sec. .gov and good luck to you. MRC

Honestly to stay out or below that amount with be tough. Companies have to run a certain miles a week to cover their bills. Even if you were lazy and did the bare minimum you would make more than $1050 a month. Even with Rhoel , has a 7 on and 7 off driving schedule you would make more than that and thats only working two weeks out of the month. You might find a company out there but to stay below that amount it will be super tough.

Honestly to stay out or below that amount with be tough. Companies have to run a certain miles a week to cover their bills. Even if you were lazy and did the bare minimum you would make more than $1050 a month. Even with Rhoel , has a 7 on and 7 off driving schedule you would make more than that and thats only working two weeks out of the month. You might find a company out there but to stay below that amount it will be super tough.

Agreed, Guyjax is right on that but with the Soc. Sec. Disability if you attempt to return to work you are given a Trial Work Period which is 9 months long , then you have the extended work period etc. All this is tied to whether you reach Substancial Gainful Activity which I believe is $780. etc. etc..... As I said earlier look up the Pass Plan and or check out the Voc. Rehab center and see if they can explain it to you. What you need is Work incentives planning assistance. Again, Good Luck MRC

Yeah I already used up those 9 months so I don't have a choice other than to just give up the benefits. I think the only thing holding me back is not having a regular sleep schedule. Being that I do have a mood disorder, it's important that I get regular sleep to avoid mania. I'm a night owl and I was thinking that if I were a team driver I could solve this issue by finding a partner that would prefer to drive during the day. Is that a common way of going about this?

Wow, I have no idea how the teaming would work, your still going to be making to much. The way it sounds to me, you might want to look into local driving, part time. That way you could keep your pay regulated and still get your benefits. Best of luck to you in your endeavor, MRC