House GOP releases budget that would 'destroy Social Security as we know it'

[Kaleva]

35. Being on disability, I'm stuck on the low end of benefits

I wasn't able to work much during what should have been my most productive years.

When I first got on disability, my income was about $1100 a month and that's what I lived on .

Had I been able to work full time till I reached retirement age, my monthly SS would be much higher.

When I do reach full retirement age, my SSDI will convert to SS but the monthly pay will remain the same.

So going on SSDI was like taking early retirement but as with SS, if you retire early, you get far less then if you had waited to retire when you are eligible for full benefits. It's a really big pay cut. But it's worked out. I adjusted, am doing fine and I'm still alive. My doctor had told me I'd probably die if I kept trying to work.