address - still concerned...

[light trip]

If you're on Social Security Disability, what are you using for a residential address?

I read in the rules of Social Security you can not use a commercial address for a residence, otherwise benefits can be discontinued. I've gone through all the post in this thread, but still wondering, if you are on disability and you didn't want to use family or friends for a residence address, what are you using? I think Social Security would catch on pretty quick to a mail forwarding business, many people with the same mailing address showing up all the time in their records.

I thought about asking a cheap hotel or a person to rent me a room I would never stay in or use at a reduced rate. Or rent a primitive (no water or electric) campsite at a campground I could stay just long enough to pickup mail and take care of business.

I've been disabled all my life, but worked physical jobs for forty years until three heart attacks and permanent brain damage. I just started getting Social Security Disability and it's my life line, I don't want to mess this up.

Thanks for any help.

 

[jeanontheroad]

We will be using our son's address. It is not a stretch for parents to live with children. He will take care of anything that is needed. The SS payments go directly to the bank and we do most things online. If our house does not sell b4 we leave this spring, we will leave him power of attorney and he is willing to deal with that, too. If you have family, or maybe friends, that will let you use their address as your official one, it is a good solution.

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If you really do not want to use friends or family, why not call the ss department? Get any answer you can use in writing or email so you have it if you get questions, later.

 

[papas34]

I'm not sure, but I think mail forwarding services give each member their own address.
Many full timers set up residence in South Dakota because of all the advantages.

 

[light trip]

We will be using our son's address. It is not a stretch for parents to live with children. He will take care of anything that is needed. The SS payments go directly to the bank and we do most things online. If our house does not sell b4 we leave this spring, we will leave him power of attorney and he is willing to deal with that, too. If you have family, or maybe friends, that will let you use their address as your official one, it is a good solution.

---

If you really do not want to use friends or family, why not call the ss department? Get any answer you can use in writing or email so you have it if you get questions, later.

---

Thanks, yes I do everything over the Internet, banking and so on, even when applying for benefits, and yes, direct deposit.

I have the answer from SS in black & white, you can not have a commercial address, it must be a physical place where you live. It's states very clear, it must also be some place they can come visit you to see your living arrangements, however and oddly, it can even be located in most other countries.

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I'm not sure, but I think mail forwarding services give each member their own address.
Many full timers set up residence in South Dakota because of all the advantages.

Papa, that's a great thing to check on, even if all mail forwarding services don't offer a unique address it something that boondockers might want to check on.

 

[Kevin H]

We have been using a mail forwarding address in South Dakota for years now. No issues on anything. We are not in SS mode yet, but I do know that a lot of retirees use them. In SD, TX and FL, po boxes are considered legal addresses. We vote, pay taxes, register vehicles, buy insurance and everything else you would do at a static residence. We have been called for jury duty too. We contacted the county court and told them we are full time rvers - no problem. We were dismissed.

There is another BIG one in Livingston, TX that I am certain has many, many SS recipients. In reading their forum for years, I have never heard of anyone having a SS problem due to their address and transient lifestyle.

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

Let's note that the original poster wasn't talking about regular SS, he was talking about SS DISABILITY. Could maybe be a whole different set of rules for that.

Reagards
John

 

[ccbreder]

Yes. the burden of proof to demonstrate continuing disability.

 

[katelyn]

I've been on disability for 5yrs now and moved twice. I thought I changed my address with them but I only changed my forwarding address. When I called to change it back, man the lady was pissed! She started threatening me about how I broke the law because I have to notify them every time I move withing ten days. Also she said that I could go on a 'review' to see why I moved so much. BS!
Now I'm planning on buying cheap desert land in AZ or NM and making that my homebase, put a cheap ole' camper on it just for show, then move about as I like. Be careful about how you do things on disability.

 

[Patrick46]

Yes. the burden of proof to demonstrate continuing disability.

GREAT THINKING Uncle Sam!!!

I'm better now. I grew my severed leg back...but thanx for asking! :dodgy:

 

[ccbreder]

There are other things short of missing limbs that get you on SS disability. Some that recover.

 

[Patrick46]

Sorry CC


....but I'm not much for passing up on an opportunity to be a smarta$$

 

[VanLifeCrisis]

Just get direct deposit and keep up to snuff on corespondence. Ive been a payee for ssi and my mom has been on it for 20 years. She has never had ssi come to her for anything. Ive even had someone accuse me as a payee of mismanaging funds and they called us in, they never came to the home. I also know there are many actual on the street homeless that get ssi

 

[light trip]

Let's note that the original poster wasn't talking about regular SS, he was talking about SS DISABILITY. Could maybe be a whole different set of rules for that.

Reagards
John

Thanks, yes this is disability not SSI. When dealing with the goverment it makes a difference.

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Thanks to all for the ideas and responses. Disability really knows I'm disabled, they don't plan on reviewing my case for 5 to 7 years. I really worked longer then I should have, by the time I applied I was approved my first time doing everything on-line myself, in four months, with no appeals. My disability isn't in doubt.

I think if anyone is applying for disability, the key is to have all your medical records, follow any instructions from Disability to the letter and go to their (SSA) doctors appointments. It's not about your disability, it's about what you can prove.

It isn't that I wouldn't use family or friends,,, but if I had a way to not impose on anyone, it would fit in much better with who I am. Yes to everyone, on-line is the way to go with as much as possible.

Thanks again to all, I keep looking in case there are more post... light trip.

 

[ccbreder]

I know friends and family collecting SSI for various disabilities. As long as the correspondence is keep up to date, appointments kept, they have no problems with SS at all. No one has ever visited them at home. That said. Homeland @ss is making drop box addresses more difficult to maintain. At present except for the USPS PO Box, it is a question of what the different states allow to obtain a drivers license.

 

[user 423]

Bump:

If your state pays for your Medicare premium or you get foodstamps,do you have to reapply every year? Some states will require that you reapply every six months and only in person. Other states will just mail you the yearly application and may call you to update by phone (so keep your cell #).

I haven't done this but it would seem that if you already have a PO box in your present state, you could do a temporary change of address with the PO to forward your mail to MyDakotaAddress or similar and not change residency. A temp COA is good for up to a year. So then you come back to reapply and do some visiting, banking and whatnot. When you're ready to hit the road again, you put in another temp COA to the mail forwarder.

Anyone have success doing it this way?

 

[light trip]

Thanks Slow2Day, I don't receive food stamps, Medicare or any other kind of assistance. I wouldn't even worry about any kind of requirement from a government agency that I be at my home state and city once or twice a year. Nothing a few days on a “dog” (Greyhound) couldn't take care of. Proof of residency isn't that hard either, it's just not a big deal if you have a 1099, W-2 or bank account.

And although Social Security Disability may be bluffing over a visit to my home, the loss of disability payments in my condition would be devastating. Not worth the risk, and based on the responses, it would seem there is no good answer, accept to maintain a place to live.

<b>To that end I have two paths of thought if anyone reading this finds themselves in the same predicament.</b>

<b>1.</b> I could purchase a used slide-in pickup truck camper ($200 to $500) and rent a cheap, primitive campsite. Why, remember a slid-in camper is personal property. It doesn't require to be titled, registered or need a license plate. It could be moved by simply renting a pickup truck or hiring someone with a pickup. Make sure you get a bill of sale.

<b>2.</b> go into assistance, subsidized living and apply for all benefits. A last resort, I would rather live on as little as I can over asking for more help.

Either way, from there you could hit the road on the cheap. I don't know anyone that can live cheaper then me. Not saying they aren't out there, just never met them. In the late 1970s I left southern California to return to Philadelphia at the end of the summer. I left on the road with $6. When I arrived in Phila. five days later, I still had enough money to take the Broad Street subway. But actually $6 went a lot further back then.

 

[oldogre]

I feel your pain. I am having same dilemma. something to think over but probably would not work, what if you resided in slab city or said you did. don't other people live there all the time? I not only have the disability issue but must see the doctors 3 time per year. minimum. So staying in Florida is not an option since I want to be out west.

 

[Lucky mike]

I keep my Address in the same place with the same P.O Box......my disability (SSD) goes to the same bank , I have to see my doctors 3 times a year plus.....alot of my doctor Visits are done via Skype and labs in the area Im in......like others have said you have to keep up your paperwork with SS in a timely fashion , as far as home visits my case worker knows I live in an RV and is aware home is where I park it.....when questioned about it once I pointed out that one could not get a room and attempt to survive on less than 1000 a month....she agreed.

now if you are on SSI/D you are at the mercy of the issueing state and the rules are totally different than they are on SSD/I which is issued thru the government and more relaxed because you paid for it .

 

[light trip]

I feel your pain. I am having same dilemma. something to think over but probably would not work, what if you resided in slab city or said you did. don't other people live there all the time? I not only have the disability issue but must see the doctors 3 time per year. minimum. So staying in Florida is not an option since I want to be out west.

Yes, thought about Slab City too. I think for anyone reading this, if SSA wants to see your living accommodations they must have to give reasonable notice. Nothing in anything I've seen, states it would be a “surprise” visit. And just because you're disabled doesn't mean you stay there all the time and don't travel. So (I would think) SSA must allow you time for travel if they want to see where your living. The fact that they state you can not use a commercial address would seem to me that they have issues with people living this life style.

Slab City could be one solution, but it's been a year now since I've been able to drive, I'll find out next next month if this is permanent. And like you I need to see a doctor on a regular basis. I've seen people on bicycles a couple decades ago around Slab City, but I can't ride a bike anymore either.

Although if anyone is on the same boat, I might be able to ride a quad-cycle because I could go slow and wouldn't loss my balance. Electric assist might be an option well. I've also seen electric chairs that are made for travel outdoors, but charging becomes an issue, even with solar panels.

Living on a boat on one of the lakes in the southwest might be another option, but with my balance issues might not be good for me. I've seen pedal-powered pontoon boats (no motor equals no registration or fees in many states) on the Internet that look like they could support a small living space. Solar panels could prove electric while pedal-power could move you around short distances, like going ashore. Large distance could be covered be paying a tow boat. A pontoon would seem more stable for me over a sail boat and not have to be concerned with rigging hitting me. But haven't been able to find out what if any southwest lakes you can live on by dropping anchor or mooring.

It seems that the government steers you towards subsidized housing. Although there is risk of me falling overboard on a boat, I'm not so sure I wouldn't feel safer living on a boat, or even riding a quad-cycle on the side of the road for that matter over subsidized housing. In my condition, it would be easy for me to become a victim. Living on a boat would make it more difficult (not imposable) for criminals to gain access to me. Just yesterday I was approached by someone asking me for money while walking. And I've been threatened for not having money to hand over in the past. I've also been hit by a car while walking in the cross walk, with the walk light in my favor. Somehow (maybe wrongly so) I think boat living might be nicer.

If any knows if you can live on one of the lakes in the southwest I hope you'll post it here. Especially if it's near a WalMart or other type store.

Again for anyone finding themselves in the same situation, these options aren't cheap. I have decided I may have to live in a tent, camping on BLM land or National Forest to save up for one of these options if I need to make a move.

Here are some ideas for anyone thinkg about this:
http://www.pedalcoupe.com/
www.pedalpontoonboat.com/
http://1001boats.blogspot.com/2011/05/cruising-rowboat.html
http://www.rhoadescar.com/factsheet/4w1p.html

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I keep my Address in the same place with the same P.O Box......my disability (SSD) goes to the same bank , I have to see my doctors 3 times a year plus.....alot of my doctor Visits are done via Skype and labs in the area Im in......like others have said you have to keep up your paperwork with SS in a timely fashion , as far as home visits my case worker knows I live in an RV and is aware home is where I park it.....when questioned about it once I pointed out that one could not get a room and attempt to survive on less than 1000 a month....she agreed.

now if you are on SSI/D you are at the mercy of the issueing state and the rules are totally different than they are on SSD/I which is issued thru the government and more relaxed because you paid for it .

Very goods points Lucky Mike, thanks for posting.

 

[Lucky mike]

(Today 06:11 AM)oldogre Wrote: I feel your pain. I am having same dilemma. something to think over but probably would not work, what if you resided in slab city or said you did. don't other people live there all the time? I not only have the disability issue but must see the doctors 3 time per year. minimum. So staying in Florida is not an option since I want to be out west.

I not trying to sway your travel plans....everyone has there goal,but your in Fla. you have within short travel distances the mountains and all the climate areas .......I did the west and other than BLM for living it was a long travel to get out of the dessert heat and a big one to get back after it gets cold.