Hi Janet,

Ysraal is right, you need to explore the "Ticket to Work" Act that was passed a number of years ago to encourage people with disabilities to return to work.

Also, as I said in my response to your SharePost elsewhere, you need to see if Ky has a Medicaid Buy-In Program.

Hopefully with a new administration in the White House [I do hold out this hope] there will be universal healthcare for people who want to better themselves and be productive instead of lying on the couch all day.

This system is seriouisly screwed up if it encourages people not to work.

I would make it a point to contact your elected officials and suggest some kind of unversal healthcare option.

The bottom line is, I know people who collect government disability benefits, and they do work, so I think it is premature to conclude there's no way out of your situation.

As far as I know, too, you will possibly be able to pay for your Medicare premiums, once you start working, so that you can continue your health benefits.  This happened to me in 1990, I was sent a Medicare premium bill when I started working, but maybe it's changed.

Whatever you do, research this throroughly and fight it every step of the way.

You deserve to work.  It may greatly reduce your disability benefits each month,a nd that is okay.  As for the health insurance, once you get the experience with Cracker Barrel, you could move on to another job.  The Starbuck's in my neighborhood, for example, has a hiring sign in the window and claims that qualified part-time employees get health benefits.

So you may want to research companies that provide health benefits to part-time employees.  These places are rare, I know, but it's worth looking into a Starbuck's-type employer.

Cheers,

Chri