Why do you go to work?

If you asked that question to everyone in the workforce right now, what would they say? If they were being honest, most would admit it was for the paycheck. But that is far from the only reason people get up in the morning. Some people do it more for the impact they have on their communities. Others may do it to stay active in general.

For those collecting long-term disability benefits from Social Security, those motivations are still there. It is only natural for them to want to get back to work. That’s why thousands of people with disabilities are out in the workforce every day, all over the country.

So for this article, I want to share two success stories. They show that while the process might not always be fun, it’s worth it.

Independence and Financial Stability

When Mackenzie Clare relocated from Northern Virginia to Denver it meant leaving her job at a grocery store and trying to find employment in her new state. As a paraplegic, she was collecting Social Security, but not nearly enough to support the life she wanted.

“It was not enough to live on,” Clare says. “My boyfriend and I were living with my parents when I first moved out here, so getting a job that would bring in more than the $800 a month I was getting from Social Security was a big must for me in order to pay rent.”

Clare had a degree from Northern Virginia Community College and wasn’t picky about where she worked. She just wanted a job. She applied to all sorts of places — hair salons, nail salons, spas, etc. And just about every time she applied, the story would be the same: a great phone interview, followed by an immediate change in tone when they met in person and learned Clare was in a wheelchair. Each time it happened, it was a little more disheartening.

There were days that Clare felt like giving up, but she kept at it, knowing that it only takes one employer to take a chance. “I knew that the more places I applied to, the more chances I had for it to eventually fall in place. Even if it’s 100 interviews or 1,000 —
I just told myself that one day, one of these places is going to work out.”

For Clare, that “one” was a place she was already a familiar face: her rehabilitation therapy center. About a year after she began going to Chanda Center For Health for therapy, they had an opening at their front desk. They asked her if she wanted to apply, and the rest is history.  That was almost two years ago. And while the process of navigating Social Security and Colorado’s Medicaid program wasn’t always fun, that job has changed her life for the better.

“Employment has improved my quality-of-life 1,000%. It has allowed me to be financially stable. I can buy food and gas, and I can travel. I was able to move out of my parents’ house,” says Clare. “It is a huge relief.”

It Was My Obligation

Most people can relate to Clare’s aspirations to be financially independent. But sometimes, a job is more than that. It can be a way to help others. For Richard Bagby, that is what drove him to rejoin the workforce after becoming a quadriplegic following a diving accident.

“I wanted to work because I felt like it was my obligation,” says Bagby. “I’ve been given so much in life from various support systems, so I felt it was only right to motivate myself to try to pay that forward.”

Following his accident, Bagby was continuing his pursuit of a college degree at the University of Richmond when he was presented the opportunity to co-found the United Spinal Association of Virginia. He jumped at it.

The catch? The venture began as volunteer work, as is the case for nearly all new nonprofits. It took Bagby several years before he was able to earn a salary. But the work was always more important than the salary for him. It was that “obligation.” He was helping people at a vulnerable time in their lives, and that is what mattered. [Editor’s Note: Thanks to Bagby’s dedicated work with the Virginia Chapter, he was recognized as United Spinal Association’s Advocate of the Year in 2022]

“When someone has just had a spinal cord injury, so much is being thrown at them — doctors, physical therapy, occupational therapy, Medicaid, Social Security,” he says. “The most rewarding part of my job is helping folks navigate that initial stage and following them on their journey as they find a new normal.”

You Can Do It. Help is Out There.

If you have a disability and want to get back to work, the answer is simple. You should do it. It will help your self-worth and mental health, and the money will help your financial stability in the same way it helped Clare.

In my previous NEW MOBILITY column, “Government Work Incentive Programs are Harder Than Rocket Science,” I talked about how complicated it is to work off of Social Security and navigate government work incentive programs if you don’t have experience. I wasn’t lying. But that isn’t a reason not to get a job.

Getting a job should be an exciting moment in your life, and all of your focus should be on being as successful as possible in your new role. As for the Social Security transition? You do not have to do it alone.

That is how I know both Clare and Bagby. I was their one-on-one job mentor as they transitioned from Social Security into the workplace. Wherever you live, there are experts who know the ins and outs of the laws and regulations and want to help you find a job you enjoy.

To get started on your journey, you can contact me at josh.basile@gmail.com or fill out this survey: tinyurl.com/JoshOnJobs to ask questions or to be matched with a benefits counselor. You can also visit United Spinal’s Pathways to Employment program at unitedspinal.org/pathways-to-employment.