Applying for SSI and going to counseling is it necessary?

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I am applying for ssi and have been to counseling before but it never helped me personally much at all pretty awkward alot of the time anyway I was wondering if this helps your ssi case if you have to go to get it?

Welp....

Who says you need help and can't work?

You?

Like SSA will take your word for anything.

You go to counseling to prove you are a) trying to get a handle on what is keeping you from working and b) have a professional giving an expert opinion on why you CAN'T work.

Around where I live, almost no one gets SSI for a primary Autism I diagnosis alone. It is almost always coupled with some mental health comorbid-depression, OCD, SocAD, GAD, PTSD, bipolar, BPD..schizophrenia.

The younger you are (under 40), it is nearly impossible where I live. Unless you have a heavy duty SPED history (like being in a self contained class for the majority of your schooling).

People with autism do work. It's considered a developmental disorder, so SSA doesn't see it as an issue why you can't work (on the level of someone who is blind or deaf- yes it's a hassle, but can be worked around). The anxiety, depression whatever may or may not be treatable. How severe those issues are can keep you from working.

So you see the shrink or therapist to have a paper trial to prove that you can't work.

My husband is on his 4th appeal. His disability insurance company is making him file. SSA keeps saying he isn't disabled, even though he is on long term disability.

Good luck and pack your patience!

I understand that it varies a lot from state to state, and that often the person has to hire a lawyer. The lawyer typically works on consignment, maybe like 40% of back SSI collected but they're not going to get any cut of future SSI.

I also wish you good luck and good patience with the process!

No obligation, but feel free to give updates at times of your choosing, so that some of us may learn from your experiences.

I get SSI so do both my parents.

I'm on SSI, I LOVE the money, but the people at Social Security are SOOOOO Dumb! When they screw up with something, they blame me. I got on SSI in the early 90s, they have to review me every year to see if I'm still disabled, I was born disabled, there is NO cure. I used to talk to them on the phone with my mom with me, she helped me alot with my SSI. Now, the SSI people give me forms to fill out, they give out 18 pages. I so hate dealing with the SSI people on my own, I easily get anxiety now.

I get SSI, but despite what people think, it's almost impossible to get, unless you have an attorney to handle the appeal when you're denied. They are always trying to kick people off SSI, as they have annual reviews to see if you're still disabled even if it's something you were born with and will never improve.

As others have said, getting SSI is near-impossible, no matter where you are in the country, even if you have a lawyer.
My Grandfather's back was so destroyed, he was wellchair-bound and couldn't hold something over five pounds, and even with multiple lawyers, it took him nearly 15 years to get disability, and he only got it then because he got lung cancer.

Even if you know you can't work, you'd likely have a better chance at actually landing a job somewhere than actually getting approved for disability or SSI. Social Security's job is to find ways to deny you, not help, no matter what they tell you otherwise. To get SSI for autism, you're going to need probably atleast two other diagnoses of things such as major depression (not just plain depression), bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, etc, and years, possibly decades of regular visits to a psychiatrist...

Personally, I've never found counseling with either psychologists or psychiatrists all that helpful. They tend to be individuals with big egos and pet theories who love to hear themselves talk. I'm sorry, but they do.

Yes, for SSI you might need to get professional evaluations, but I think that might be different from going to counseling.

In fairness, some people here at WP have had positive experiences with mental health professionals, and for our fellow members who've had positive experiences, I say, more power to you. In general, I'd say both experiences, finding it helpful or finding it not particularly helpful, are average, typical, standard experiences. I'd almost use the word 'normal,' but would prefer not to.
There's no such thing as 'normal' anyway and how boring a place the world would be if there were!