Dear Ben, I get SSDI Childhood Disability Benefits on my disabled father’s record. What would be the effect on my benefits if I began trading stock and options, not as long term investments but closer to what would be considered day trading? I don’t want to violate any rules by trading stock and doing research [...]

Hello Ben! I am working with someone who is currently receiving SSI benefits (he became entitled in March of 2009). We just found out this person will probably become eligible for Disabled Widower’s Benefits, retroactive to September of 2008. His Disabled Widower’s Benefit will be about $847.00 per month. The consumer is very concerned about [...]

Hi Everyone: It’s been difficult to stay in touch lately and I hope you are all doing well. Here’s a recent pic from my travels from the Erg Chebbi Dunes, in the Sahara, Morocco. It was a beautiful sunset but I don’t mind saying I was a little afraid of this camel who’s name was [...]

Hi Everyone: Hope 2010 has been treating you well so far. I have been taking some down time from the traveling so far this year, except I recently drove to D.C. to spend some time with my sister Quimby and ended up being stranded for a while so I thought I would share a photo [...]

Happy belated Thanksgiving everyone! As I indicated in my last post, some warmth was in the plans for my next travel destination. I’m happy to be checking in with you from paradise – Kauai, Hawaii. Even more exciting, my sister Quimby was able to join me for part of this trip and experience her first [...]

My friend Nate from ERI is always asking me when I’m going to take a trip to someplace interesting like Antarctica so I’m very excited to give him a shout out from that very place! “Hey Nate! Thanks for the suggestion.” I can report that I have not seen any polar bears from land, air [...]

Hello Friends I’m checking in from one of the most beautiful places I have ever been – Manarola, Italy. I received the following question about Childhood Disability Benefits (DAC). Dear Ben, Several years ago my father died when I was 19 and I started to receive DAC benefits (I think they’re officially Childhood Disability Benefits) [...]

Hi Ben, I’ve been getting SSDI based on my own work for several years now and I’ll be coming up on the normal retirement age, 66, in a couple of years. I was wondering if my disability benefit amount will change once I hit retirement age? Otto Moquah, WI Dear Otto, Someone in your situation [...]

Green vegetation as far as the eye can see, with leaves as big as elephant ears. Jade colored water. Toucans, monkeys, iguanas, dolphins, majestic blue butterflies – all are on splendid display here in Golfo Dulce, Costa Rica. Though well known for my ability to sleep soundly no matter where I am, I did have [...]