rescueme
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
There is a two year waiting period after you are on SSD before Medicare is available. The exception to this rule is if you have been awarded SSD for renal failure, your waiting period is two months. There is no health benefits (currently) for the 24 month waiting period.You also get Medicare when you're on Social Security Disability. I overheard someone the other day talking about going to "get [their] Disability payments turned back on."
What you may have heard is that SSD benefits are "turned off" if you do work and make beyond a certain amount of money. This is common for a lot of folks on SSD but do not spend their life "sitting on the couch" all day.
My own disabled son, drawing SSD does work in a sheltered workshop. His pay is often based upon piece-rate and due to his disability operates at a high prloduction level than most of the folks. We have to constantly monitor his pay (on which he pays income, SS, and all other taxes BTW) to ensure he does not exceed around $240/week - gross.
While he does get Medicare, he also pays the part B (SSD deduction, just like normal SS) along with preimums for a medigap policy.
Being poor or low income due to conditions beyond your control is something that I believe most on this board would not consider a "lifestyle" that they would want. Even though my son does not live with us (shares an apartment with another disabled person), he has the same expenses as most folks, including paying for his food, car, insurance, etc. Life is not a "freebe".
For that person that was getting their "benefits turned back on" were probably making more than the SSD limits and did not get any benefits while they were gainfully employed. There is no "double dipping" in the program (I know).
One last thing. Don't confuse SSD with SSI. SSD is "earned" as part of your SS contributions over the years. SSI (and any welfare benefits) are granted to those who did not work (for various reasons). Those on SSI get Medicaid, not Medicare.
There are comments of both "systems" on this thread; just to show the difference.