I received a letter in the mail today from Social Security. Always a bit worrisome, but this one was also in a huge envelope so even scarier than usual.

Unfortunately, my gut reaction that this was gonna be bad is right. It seems my writing among other things is potentially being considered "substantial gainful activity." TLDR: They are considering taking away all of my disability benefits.

I don't even make something like $100 a month from writing. My last gig as an "editor" was only doable because I literally could do the work from bed every day, take breaks, and even nap as needed. There's no way my body would hold up to regular employment. Nor any writing jobs that'd pay me enough to even live (if I could keep up the impossible output numbers places require these days).

I'm... Not doing good and pretty extremely terrified for my future now. Going to try and make some phone calls, hope for the best, but uh. Yeah. This isn't good.

@literalgrill that's so fucked up 🫂
@literalgrill I'm so sorry. I would call the people at SSA devils but that would be unfair to devils. 🫂

@literalgrill *hugs you* that's bulls- ): how did they even calculate that was substantial, do they just assume how much you make? Sounds sus

I hope you can right this, I'm so sorry

@ami_angelwings It's sadly extremely easy to decide something is "substantial" and I guess especially without a whole bunch of other federal nonsense to track things, the fact that I need so much time in bed doesn't count towards making the work "easier" either or whatever.

I live in a nonsense country that is particularly bad to the disabled.

@literalgrill
I'm so sorry :c if you want some help navigating it please lmk!