considering a transition from SSI to data entry work...

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Well I know I'd probably have to start with part time and work my way up to more hours...I guess that is still one concern I have though is that I may not actually end up being functional enough for full time. I suppose if that proves to be the case I think it is possible to make some part time income and still stay on a limited amount of SSI income to supplement that. But i do hope I could entirely transition away from needing the SSI.

There might be a wait list but you'd be near of top of it, there is a process you have to go thru before they'll invest money in you but a lot it can be expedited depending on how ready you are. The "process" is basically just unpaid work/training which wouldn't be so bad with some income, I don't know how it is everywhere but they were honestly too open with what I could do and I had no idea so you already having a clue makes things way easier. If they were going to steer you anywhere it would probably be toward data entry/IT since its kind of the stereotyped view of field so and they don't want to put you into anything you're not comfortable with. They can help job placement, training, they'll even pay for school if that's what you want to do, it's jumping thru the hoops and keeping in contact with them. Getting a good VR counselor is important, somebody you can talk to and feel cares. A bad one can ruin the experience but you can request somebody else easily enough. All I got going for me right now, I think they've ultimately been helpful despite the ups and downs and if I were better I could of made more use of the opportunities and quicker. I think if your goal is to transition off SSI it would be best to do it thru some agency than on your own, they'd definitely would want to help you do that.

I'd be careful of Ticket to Work, since I was on it at one time, and it didn't work for me.

I'd also be a bit wary of Vocational Rehab. If they're anything like PA, they don't have the foggiest idea on how to assist anyone with mental or developmental disorders. physical, neurological and intellectual disorders, yes, anything else, you're on your own, bub.

Can you say more about Ticket to Work not working for you, Meistersinger? I want to know what my daughter should look out for ...

I definitely second that, and you will know soon enough if your counselor is good enough. Stupid things like not returning your calls can be the clue.

I signed for Ticket to Work as soon as I was awarded SSDI. I was interested in a company called NTI that does contract work with several companies and government agencies, most notably Meijer and the IRS. I went through their training program, and signed on for the Meijer contract. I went through Meijer's training, but 15 minutes after I completed their training and testing, my application was rejected. I suspect that I was rejected due to 1) ASD and 2) No Apple Computer products are allowed on their network, even though I'm running Windows 7 SP1 on an Intel I-7 based Mac Mini Server natively (meaning not in a virtual machine). Shortly after I was rejected, my ticket was cancelled, and my case with PA voc rehab closed. I'm not the only one who has had difficulty with ticket to work. Read http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/07/busin ... abled.html about another disabled worker who got totally screwed by Ticket to Work.

Quite frankly, I'm tired of being screwed over by SSA, the Commonwealth of PA and every potential employer I have applied to since before being awarded SSDI. I wouldn't even bother, except I got too many medical bills that my so-called Medicare advantage plan says are my responsibility, too many credit card bills I ran up (and, in hindsight, I should have never applied for) and a car that is causing me to bleed money, in addition to friends and a housemate that think I'm an endless ATM.

I think Voc Rehab is probably hit and miss city to city, state to state, counselor to counselor. I think there is a lot difference between the 3 variables there, it's worth trying I think since you never know what is out there and there are some genuinely caring people that want to help people who go above and beyond what their job calls of them. I feel like they've helped me, there are different things available in different places obviously but you never know until you try.

Would you recommend just getting a job without going through any programs...and then just reporting the income to SSI? I think after 85 dollars or whatever they decrease your SSI for a dollar for every two dollars you make, not sure if its 85 a month or what though. I just don't want to suddenly get kicked off SSI if I just start working very minimal hours or something before I've established if I actually am doing well enough for work so that is why I thought maybe you had to go through one of those kinds of programs.

At the risk of getting arrested.... I'd recommend getting some under-the-table income to see how much you can tolerate working. Babysitting and housekeeping are easy to get into and typically don't report income. Now at some point you do need to shift to reporting the income, but why jump the gun if it turns out you are going to have difficulty with going to a job day after day?

If you are anxious about getting found out, that makes sense and I wouldn't put you down for that anxiety. It's just that dipping your toe in the water might be a better way to start.

I would not want to be responsible for someones kids for any length of time, as for any kind of housekeeping it seems most require you have a vehicle in order to transport cleaning supplies...the bus wouldn't be reliable for that sort of thing. Also I think I would prefer to avoid any legal issues, especially related to that.

Either way though not planning on making any specific moves for at least this next year, and also might look into other stuff similar to data entry as well.

Problem is, in PA, where services are woefully underfunded, if at all, OVR provides services under an Order of Selection. The most significantly disabled are served first, followed by the significantly disabled, then all remaining disabilities. OVR doesn't define these categories, but I suspect the physically disabled are served first, followed by the intellectually disabled, then the developmentally and mentally disabled. Remember, Former Gov. Corbett considers the mentally and developmentally disabled to be frauds, scumbags and lazy sonsofb!tches, an attitude the prevails to this day.

I haven't had this problem in Arizona believe it or not, it's such a red state on the state level that they actually get some basic functions of government done instead of using it as fodder in some apocalyptic partisan budget battle. Arizona isn't thought of as a bastion of progressive politics but it's more than the boogeyman it has been made out to be at times. Of course then they'll go do something racist or homophobic to make us look bad but I think the Midwest in general is a lot more privately judgmental and hateful than anywhere in the US. Smile and talk **** about you behind your back types, I'm sure they're everywhere but that's what I felt.

I really think OP should pursue whatever you want to do thru VR or some other agency, it's such a battle getting SSI that it's too much to risk on your own I think. They'll help you transition in the true sense of the word, I don't think just jumping into a job is a good idea. They'll put you in work environments and assess whether or not they think you're ready, it's possible you could get paid trial work or maybe you can train during it(that's what I did, it wasn't "work") Basically what I did was screw around in a computer lab for 6 months working out of the A+ book, I came to enjoy it quite a bit and really liked my instructor. I was a lot more comfortable then than I am now as student at community college.