Disability benefits, anyone?

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I will start getting SSDI (US, Social Security Disability Insurance) payments next month. The process took over 2 years. I tried to file my disability claim myself, on-line, at the SSA.gov site, but process was too stressful. Thought I could do it all without any human interaction - wrong. Among other things, I have auditory processing disorder and was required to do some interviews via phone, melted down and requested claim to be cancelled. Finally used a disability representative service.
Vocational Rehabilitation paid for the initial assessment with diagnosis of Aspergers, plus more. Got revised diagnosis when Aspergers was removed from diagnostic manual. Now ASD.
Very grateful to be receiving the benefit. Haven't work steadily for 8 years. Am not eligible for Medicaid or Medicare (medical benefits) for another year and medical services will be minimal because very few doctors accept Medicaid or Medicare patients because US government pays low rate. Several small towns have zero medical practitioners that accept Medicaid or Medicare which forces people to travel long distances, move to larger town, or go to closest emergency room affiliated with a hospital, which hopefully will not turn them away. Because of family members receiving Medicaid and/or Medicare I have personal experience in both of these scenarios.
Do I want to work again? Not really. Could I survive on just SSDI? Yes, if I got additional services like SNAP (US food program), rental assistance, public transportation assistance, etc. Thankfully my husband is still able to work so we have been able to live without additional services. That will change as we age. Do I wish I had more money coming in - absolutely. Am I embarrassed to tell people I am getting disability? I really don't have friends so that isn't a problem but when I told a couple of my family members they got angry and said some mean things. They never believed I was on the spectrum or had any problems other than being "sensitive" and "high strung". Family, aargh.
Amazing, since I haven't received my first payments but I am getting emails and calls from agencies that want to help get me back to work. Ticket to Work is a program that pays companies to assist people receiving disability benefits get a job. Where were these people when I was struggling to find a job?

Ironic, isn't it? When you're unemployed and not on disability, you're assumed to be able to get work on your own--just capable enough not to need help. Then when you get on disability, they start thinking, "Hey, wait a minute... maybe this person actually needs some help if he's going to get work." Yeah, like we weren't trying to tell them that years ago when we were struggling to keep our jobs.

However much too little, too late it is, take advantage of it. You might be able to find work this way--worth it if you do, worth a try even if you don't.

ESA and DLA (low care/mobility rate). I use DLA to pay for my psychiatrist.

I was officially diagnosed and live in the USA. I was perscribed medication for aspergers and general anxiety. I live in the US and have a full time job, and I really don't know what kind of aid I could even recieve if any.

A month or so ago, at the age of 41, I received my HFA diagnosis. I live in Australia, which has a somewhat awesome welfare system under threat by the current evil government.

I have struggled all my life to find gainful employment, and then keep the job. I am currently without lodgings or a job, collecting unemployment benefits.

3 years ago I survived an armed hold up at work. I haven't been employed since.

I applied for the Disability Support Pension last week. I have PTSD and HFA. I should get the pension, but I am concerned about the Job Capacity Assessment (JCA). I am worried they will say I am employable. The JCA tests for IQ. I am currently listed at #41 (top 2%, and still 15 levels to go) on Mensa Academy (Steam games network - look me up - I'm jake_day). I've measured my IQ at somewhere between 133 and 140. I hope Centrelink doesn't assume high IQ = employability, because I am hopelessly unemployable due to sensory and social reasons.

I find out if I get the pension in November. Fingers crossed - I bloody well need this support!!

Sorry if I am repeating myself. I worked for over 30 years, not at the same job but continuously. Very stressful and some days I barely functioned - but I worked. Then I got physically injured, was dealing with chronic pain from surgery, ASD plus learning disabilities, anxiety, and having a coworker bully me. The combination made it impossible for me to work so I quit a good job 8 years ago. Went from decent salary with good benefits to zero income. Huge life change. Didn't file for unemployment because I would have been forced to accept job offers and I truly wasn't able to work. Didn't think about filing for disability - had no idea I was eligible. Tried working 3 more times, at positions that paid a fraction of what I was earning previously, but couldn't do it.
Just received my determination letter from Social Security and it says "We found that you became disabled under our rules on May 31, 2008." which is the date that I became a client of Vocational Rehabilitation based on having Asperger's. I have physical limitations but according to the agency that filed disability claim for me, those weren't considered in the SSDI determination. My SSDI benefits began October 2013 and I will receive first payment in November 2013. My Medicare Part A and B (medical benefits) start February 2014. I will then be eligible to purchase Part D which is for drugs. All those years of financially anxiety and doing without and I didn't know I was eligible for disability. Oh well, I am getting benefits now and am on meds for anxiety and chronic pain.
Callista, you are right about the intense struggle to keep my job and after quitting, to find and keep another. I wish some agency would have offered help then but like you said, if I was able to work then I obviously didn't need assistance. Now that Social Security has found me to be disabled I'm actually getting help and have a motivated agency trying to find me a part-time job that I can physically and mentally handle.
JackDay, Your IQ is way, way above mine. Good luck in your Job Capacity Assessment. Allow yourself to show your symptoms while being assessed. That was hard for me to do. Being on the spectrum can truly be a hidden disability, especially if you present yourself well at times. I learned to stuff my sensory issues for fairly long periods of time and melt down in restroom or when I got home. Would force myself to function to the best of my ability at work and fall apart later. Now that I've been unemployed for so long my sensitivities make it almost unbearable to go out in public.