Is applying for Social Security Disability worth it?

Post Reply New Topic

So just for reference I am a 24 year old male who was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome when I was in 1st grade, and I have just graduated from college after taking all my classes online. For the past 10 years or so I have had horrible anxiety issues to the point where leaving the house causes me to wretch and vomit. I don't even have to leave the house to be honest just thinking about going somewhere, or becoming stressed causes me to feel ill. Although I am in therapy at the moment to help with this, and I would like to find a job and be a "normal" person in the eyes of society I don't see that happening for a few months at least. Where I am going to have to start paying back student loans in 6 months I want to start planning ahead and I am unsure what to do as far as whether or not I should apply for social security disability, or if there are any other programs I should look into to help with my loans or what I should do. I feel terrible that my family has to deal with hearing me when I have a problem because it upsets their stomachs just as much as mine when I have a problem. I feel like I don't help out enough as I should and I want to start at least trying to take care of things like doctor bills and food that I eat to take some stress off of my parents. Where I do not have any income it makes it quite difficult. I hate asking people for money, or help because I always feel like a massive baby. I don't know if anyone else has gone through disability or other programs and can lend advice, if so I would appreciate it.

I would say yes, sign up for it for now. Sounds like you have it bad.

https://www.ssa.gov/planners/credits.html
A big issue is that it is actually an insurance program that you have to pay into by working "quarters." They won't give you benefits you need if you have not paid into the program by working long enough.

Before age 24 - You may qualify if you have 6 credits earned in the 3-year period ending when your disability starts.
Age 24 to 31 - You may qualify if you have credit for working half the time between age 21 and the time you become disabled. For example, if you become disabled at age 27, you would need credit for 3 years of work (12 credits) out of the past 6 years (between ages 21 and 27).

https://www.ssa.gov/ssi/text-eligibility-ussi.htm
Here are the eligibility rules for Supplemental Security Income

The biggest difference between the two programs is that people on SSI are poor and cannot accumulate substantial resources. If you are on Social Security Disability and marry someone who makes a lot of money, your benefits are not cut. In fact, combining a low income and high income often results in a net tax advantage for a married couple.

Practically speaking, the worst that could happen if you apply would be that you'd be refused benefit, and even then you can always appeal. Emotionally speaking, you might find the process is hard and stressful, depending on our constitution and how much help you get from say an advocate and / or genuine expert advice. How decent the adjudication process is depends to some extent on the individual(s) who deal with your claim.

I appreciate everyone who has responded and I have looked at all of the responses, I will probably talk stuff over with my parents considering that I still live with them and I am unsure if that is a factor or not when applying for disability. I have family members as well as friends who are trying to get disability pay and I am unsure if it is worth the hassle or not. If I could get some sort of help so that I could in fact help out with bills and such that would be great. Where I currently struggle with leaving the house finding a job just doesn't seem in the cards atm. I also don't know how long it might take to even get approved for disability or what to do if I am able to get past this. I will have to do more research on the subject as I am unsure if it is just medical or physical and not mental or if I need to do some tests or whatever to prove to them that I am in fact struggling.

http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shot ... ment-rules
Long Waits And Long Odds For Those Who Need Social Security Disability

It will get even longer if they government gets bogged with things like appointing judges.

If you already have an autism diagnosis, then you should get your benefits quickly. I got mine within several months of applying, because I already had diagnosis papers.

byakuugan, I got diagnosed in the 1st grade I am unsure if I need updated papers or not, I will talk to my Mom about it in the morning, but if having that helps then I might go for it I also want to talk to my therapist about it as well.

I'm not sure if that will be an issue. I was diagnosed at 14 and applied for SSI at 20.