Autism Doesn't Exist In the Eyes of the US Government

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VA worker here. If he was discharged from the military with a diagnosis of Asperger's he needs to go to the VA and register. Once in there he can talk to a counselor (not the medical kind but he can talk to those too) and start the paperwork for his disability. SS and VA benefits are completely different and if the VA starts giving him money then it makes things a lot easier for SS. He NEEDS to go to the VA on his own and ASAP because often times it can take a very long time for a decision review officer to look at his file. Please, if you know who this person is have him PM me for more information or pass this information along. VA is like an easier SS and really helps people who served and were discharged for any reason (well dishonorable work but can still be seen for SC conditions if there are any),

This is a constant fear for me. I spent the first 30 years of my life trying my absolute hardest to hold down any kind of job (and failing miserably) – and the past 10 being supported by my husband, who agrees that no amount of trying is ever going to make my roadblocks magically disappear.

My therapists have always assured me that I'd qualify for SSI, due to a combination of autism, bipolar disorder, and Lyme disease. But I still hear horror stories about the system, and worry that I'll be one of those people who gets denied help, despite legitimately needing it.

Meanwhile I've personally known far too many people who get free medical care, counseling, housing, and everything they need handed to them – based on the fact that they're drug addicts, in and out of prison all the time, and keep having babies they can't care for. It just seems so wrong that they have people to hold their hand and try to help them with their problems, and I don't.

You should go down to your local SS office and at least try. It can often take a few tries and a lot of work but you never know, you just might luck out on the first try. Also, having lots documentation from your therapist can also help.

Don't file for SSI by yourself.

The Government System is a political and bureaucratic racket and you need assistance from someone who knows the racket - an attorney who specializes in Social Security claims. Most of them work "No Win, No Fee," so it won't cost you anything but a little time, unless they win your claim (and they will, because that's what they do and they make good money knowing how to work the system). Once you're approved, they'll take their fee off the top of your first payment.

The way it works is, from the time they first file a claim in your name, Unca Sam starts setting aside payments for you every month. Those payments keep accruing, even if you're denied, until you exhaust all your appeals. So, if the attorney has to file an appeal or two (not unusual), and it drags out over a year or more, when you finally do get approved, you get all that back pay that has been building up, which can amount to thousands of dollars.

The Catch-22 is, once you're on Disability, you're not allowed to have more than $2000 in liquid assets available to you at any given time, so if you get $15,000 in back pay, you are required to spend $13,000 of it right away (within 30 - 90 days) - the assumption being that since you've been disabled the whole time, you probably have bills and expenses piled up that need paying off.

Of course, you could, if you wanted, simply take that lump payment all out in cash and hide it in your mattress for a rainy day. But you can't keep it in the bank, where the Government's spying eyes can see that you have it.

After that, you'll get a monthly "benefit" payment (usually based on an average of what you used to make when you were working), at which time you should immediately apply for Medicare, Medicaid (to pay for the Medicare), SNAP (food stamps), HUD (if you need housing) and any and all other assistance for which you qualify - not to be greedy, but because Disability alone will barely be enough to get by on (or less). Since you have a working spouse, some forms of assistance may not be available to you, but check anyway, you never know.

That, and the military can have very whimsical standards for what makes you "fit" to serve and they can be nowhere close to being "disabled."

And what if you can't be self-sufficient?

The state may be broken, but at least it helps some people who can't help themselves.

Thanks for the info, much appreciated! My need for SSI would only be if I lost financial support from my husband (we're legally married but separated). Hopefully it will never come to that, but if it does, I will definitely look for legal aid – I've heard from other people that's the best way to go about it too!

I'd urge someone in that position to find a more reliable support network than THE STATE.

A person with some sense of connection to you will do more to have your back than a government official to whom you are nothing but a number.

I posted this before ...

There are federal jobs that are only for people with an intellectual disability, a severe physical disability, or a psychiatric disability.

Job Title:OPPORTUNITIES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES (REPLACES NA13N0002)
Department:National Aeronautics and Space Administration

https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/354140000

Thank you for that information but unfortunately there isn't anything for the east coast. I'm trying to move back to my home state where I have family for support. That and the fact that there are no grocery stores with the same name as the ones in my home state here which causes a lot of distress. I've made some progression with the Schedule A issue and it does seem that they do acknowledge autism now. The thing I have to do now is convince my psychologist that a DX of ASD lvl 1 and 2 and severe anxiety isn't a valid proof of disability for the government. EEO (or is it EOO) stated they will only take a letter signed by my psychologist just stating that I have a long term or permanent disability. I was told by a lady who went through this that they don't want your official DX for privacy reasons. I guess that makes sense.