CRYSTAL MELERO:
So you're about to enter
a new stage in your life that
will focus on getting a job.
It is really important that
you know what your dreams are,
that you know what kind
of a life that you want.
It's important for you
to know these things
because getting
the right job can
help you make those
particular dreams come true.
Under the federal government,
the Social Security
Administration has
two programs that
provide different types
of financial support
to individuals
with disabilities.
The first is SSI, or
Supplemental Security Income,
and the second is SSDI, or
Social Security Disability
Insurance.
Some people collect only SSI,
while others collect only SSDI,
and still others collect both.
Some people feel content
to collect Social Security
benefits and to not work, and
that may be OK for some people.
However, there are
still others who
feel that collecting
Social Security benefits
and not working
really limits them
both in terms of their
financial resources
as well as their experience.
So you will really want
to take the opportunity
to think about that now
while you are a young adult.
After all, you have
goals and life dreams,
so you may not want these kinds
of limitations placed upon you.
It's definitely
something to consider now
while you are young.
This section is of particular
importance for you.
I really want you to understand
the benefits of working
and how Social Security programs
can help you on your path
to getting the right job so
your life can really take off.
I want you to have
a sense of being
in control of your own life.
SSDI and SSI benefits
are there to support you
in making your dreams come true.
They're not there for you
to simply sit back, collect,
and do nothing.
I want you to learn more about
the options that you have.
I would now like to
take the opportunity
to talk with you about
how a job offers you
more options than just
collecting SSI benefits.
To begin, you can
earn more money
working than you can simply
from collecting SSI benefits.
And the more money that
you earn will offer you
additional choices in your life.
Some of these choices may be
home ownership, purchasing
nice furniture, and technology.
Maybe you have a
dream of traveling
to unique destinations
with friends and family.
All of these choices may
be part of the larger dream
that you have for your life.
Now that we've explored some
of the financial incentives
to work, let's look at another
good reason for you to work,
and that is to achieve your
own personal independence.
I know for many of you
all the way through school
on through graduating
high school,
you've been primarily
dependent upon your parents
to provide you with what
you need, and that's common.
But now is the time
for you to decide
if you want to continue being
dependent on your parents
for assistance or if you'd
rather become independent.
Maybe as part of
your independence
you'd like to move
into your own apartment
so you no longer have to
follow your parents curfew,
and you can choose to come
home to your own apartment
whenever you choose.
And if you want to
become more independent,
then you need to figure
out how much money you'd
need to earn in order to
become more independent.
This will help you as you
navigate your own life's
journey.
Another reason you
should work is the chance
to learn new skills.
At this point, you may have
very limited work experience,
and that's OK.
But with every job you'll
increase your knowledge base,
you'll strengthen your
skills, and you'll
improve upon your ability
to interact with people.
In addition, you'll
learn critical problem
solving skills for various
situations that arise.
And the more that
you work, you'll
begin to strengthen your job
skills as well as your people
skills, which means your
ability to work and to interact
with people in a professional
and courteous manner.
You should know that sometimes
to get the perfect job you
actually need to
start at the bottom
and then learn what you need
to in order to work your way up
to your ideal position.
Another reason to work
is that it can give you
the chance to meet new people.
When you're out meeting
people on the job,
those relationships can
lead you to new information
and to seeing new perspectives.
And those new
relationships, information,
and new perspectives can lead
you to new job opportunities.
Another reason that
you should work
is because of what happens
inside of you emotionally.
Let me tell you
what I mean by that.
Some people have told me
that they feel good inside
and feel proud of themselves
with what they have
accomplished when they work.
I've also heard people say that
when they work and interact
with a number of
people, they just
are generally happier and
more content with their lives.
So maybe you do
want to work and you
think that would be
a good thing for you,
but maybe you've heard people
say that if you do work then
your Social Security benefits
as well as health insurance
will stop--
period, end of story.
And I know that people worry.
I do understand that.
But if you do collect
Social Security benefits
and you don't feel entirely
satisfied with only collecting
those benefits and
you want a job,
the Social Security
Administration
has programs that will help you
transition from just collecting
benefits to working.
That is why we have more
detailed information for you
so that you can start to
understand the full picture
and you can make the right
decisions for yourself.
