Should I apply for SSI / SSDI?
Are you really sure mental health disabled aren't watched or do you just think that? I would suspect if they see someone can work in their garden or sweep the front porch they would say they could find a menial lawn mowing or janitorial job regardless if they are autistic. I mean there are low spectrum people that bag groceries in my town so I suspect they would try to force others with ASD or other mental disorders to work if they saw they could do anything.
And how does that work staying on SSI or SSDI and being on Medicare? What I'm trying to say is I've heard that SS requires you to see a medical provider every 2 months to prove you are trying to get better. Yet I've been told Medicare doesn't pay for mental health care and if you try to pay it out of pocket they will take your Medicare away. So then how does one get mental health care once they have been on SSDI for 2 years and gotten Medicare? Do they also try to force mental health disabled to take SSRI's though there is no proof the stuff will treat Aspergers?
And for the person that was forced to be examined every year at the state hospital. Was that an outpatient visit or did they make you stay overnight?
If a person is really watched that much then it would behoove them not to spend hours on end on the internet because then Soc Sec could say well if you can chat and surf the net all day then you could do data entry.
That is if they can find that job position in their area and they have the ability to get there and if they aren't requiring any previous experiance in it.
Jobs are too lazy to train newbies so they require experiance and it makes it hard for people to get a job in new areas or get their first jobs.
Yes. Security and Cleaning. My hearing problems are not good when using a radio. With the cleaning job I had I was spilling and breaking things. I also had trouble following instructions and directions. When I say I've literally tried everything I could I am telling the literal truth.
It might be my fault as well but I don't understand what you're trying to tell me. Can you clarify?
I have a terrible work history, bad credit, no personal references, and problems with social skills. It makes getting a job hard let alone keeping it. Don't get me wrong I'm just looking for help. If anything else I at least want Medicaid so I can get treatment. I do not give up easily and I'm willing to get a part time or full time job if its something I can do. The most important thing is getting help. I really need it and if nothing else I really need the medical help. I agreed to go into their vocational program at the outreach center. I'm presenting myself as I really am. I want help above all else and if they find me something I can do thats great.
I have problems with both. I have a lot of problems doing work.
The important thing with SSI is that if you're going to be unable to work, you have to find some other useful way to spend your time, or you will go completely bananas. First step, I'd say, would be to find the voc rehab office in your area and get them to help you try to find a job. You may have to fight with them to make the point that a "simple" job is not necessarily a job you can do, because there are more factors than complexity that make a job possible or not. If that doesn't work out, find volunteer work to do, just anything to keep you busy. Or you may be able to cover community college with grants, which you don't have to pay back later. (Probably not a regular four-year place, but community college is doable. Remember those grants will pay for textbooks. You will want to talk to whoever does your SSI to get the grants exempted from your income, because they are going straight to the college--you never see any of the money--and you are using them to try to make yourself employable.)
If you can't handle full-time, you may still be able to do part-time. That won't be enough to kick you off SSI if your job doesn't pay a great deal; and it's a chance to keep your self-respect by earning as much of your own money as you are able to. There's not too much shame in taking money you have to take; but there's a great deal when you know you could be working for a third or half of it, and you aren't.
I'll continue to live with my family. Its going to take some time before I could ever take care of myself. I am going to have to learn how to cook or something. I know its something everyone probably knows how to do to a certain extent but not me. I have trouble understand some of the directions.
SSI you getr Medicaid. SSDI you get Medciare. But you are FORCED to take Medicare. I had private insurance I liked and payed for to feel less like a free loader and it gave me hope. Now I can't go back onto private because of pre-existing ocnsditions.
So this is the wa it is unles I Leave the country. I am a citizen of anotehr, so I may to be free.
It is OK, I guess if you are disabled. I really am, so anyoe who spies on me would get an eye full.
I never had a reval when on SSI, so I hear they are more often on SSDI.
Be careful because if you make to omuch, you can't get both emdicare and mecdicaid. Then you have to buy a medicare supllemnt, and for the disbled, tehy are VERY EXPENSIVE. I would spend like $600 a month.
If you do go from SSI and are forced into SSDI like me (My dad retired and I was put on his) then you can have the PassAlong rule which lets you keep Medcaid.
So you can have Medciare and Medciaid.
My friend was not given that because tehy messed up and she went trhough hell till they gotr it fixed.
You have to really know what you are doing if you want to get into this. It is more coplex than the tax code.
I will definitely need help from my family the Social Security Office and my mental health center. I can't even begin to do any of this on my own.
If a person is really watched that much then it would behoove them not to spend hours on end on the internet because then Soc Sec could say well if you can chat and surf the net all day then you could do data entry.
I have a lot of trouble organizing my activities and even my thoughts. I have honestly contacted at least 5 data entry jobs. They all required talking on the phone in addition to data entry. My hearing problems would make my work sub par at best. When I say that I've tried everything I mean I've tried everything. I've talked to military recruiters even.
Last edited by Whimsi-Cal on 24 Mar 2009, 8:26 pm, edited 1 time in total.
SSI/SSDI can make several different judgments about your likelihood of recovery: One year, three years, five years, or permanent. When that time is up, you get re-evaluated, and they make another judgment. It's much easier with a re-evaluation than with a new case. (My case is three years, incidentally.) They will delay re-evaluation in some cases, usually if you are actively seeking vocational rehabilitation that will allow you to return to work. That's also what's happening in my case, though I'll probably be employable before the end of three years anyway.
You can be denied SSI/SSDI for refusing treatment, unless: You have a mental disability that prevents you from being able to choose treatment (schizophrenia's the big one here, bipolar also), you're unable to comply for some reason (for example, someone with dementia who can't remember a medication schedule), it's major surgery that's failed before, it's a risky treatment that may cause more trouble than it cures, it's still experimental, or the treatment is eye surgery on one eye and your other eye is too bad that if the surgery failed you'd be blind. I think there's one other exemption. Can't remember now. Oh: you're also exempt if you can't pay for treatment, but most SSDI/SSI are on Medicaid/Medicare so that's not a problem unless you're one of the few that isn't.
For the case of Asperger's and SSRIs: This would fall under the "experimental treatment" category because it's not a proven treatment for AS. However, a doctor could make a case for it if he says you have significant comorbid anxiety or depression; and most doctors would do exactly that. However, most doctors also allow you the option of choosing a non-medical treatment for mild or moderate anxiety/depression, so unless you got a true believer in medication, it wouldn't be a huge problem. I stopped taking medication, with the blessing of my psychiatrist, a year ago; it didn't affect my SSI.
With AS, you are more likely to be attending counseling or social-skills groups; but they are much less likely to make you do this if you are actively looking for a way to make yourself employable. Once again--voc rehab is your friend. Well, kind of a stubborn friend that you have to badger into doing things, but still. The thing that keeps them off your back most is looking for work, even indirectly; and if you're successful, they'll be off your back forever.
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There are lot of cons are being on SSI, you can't go above $2,000 in your bank account. I sure did so I am not eligible for it anymore. I couldn't even understand why they were sending me SSI checks sometimes because my parents told me they check my banking account because of my social security number so I thought they would automatically stop sending me money. They did when I worked full time but if I lost hours, thats when I get something from them.
Also they don't give you much money so it's not even enough to love off of so you need food stamps, section 8 or affordable housing, this program phone companies have for low income people, and electric companies do the same too.
I'd rather work than not work because I get more money that way. Also when I get married, I might not be eligible for it anyway anymore my mom told me because my spouse's income would count as my income. So if the person was truely unable to work, they expect her/him to just sit at home and do nothing because he or she has no income of their own?
If they had kids, then that's different because at least the spouse has a job, taking care of their kids.
Also when on SSI, you have to remember to report any changes like when you get married, or if you live with your partner or room mate, get more bills to pay or less, your rent changes, etc. I didn't know about any of this stuff except for change of address. I almost thought about not being my own payee but they gave me the copy so I didn't back out of becoming my own payee. It has a list of things I need to report to them if they change and what my responsibilities are. That helps a lot.
Also you have to give them your pay stubs or mail them to them when you do have a job so they see your monthly income. the worst part is them saying they never got them so you have to ask for a copy of them at work which is a nuisance because they don't do it right away so I started making copies of my pay stubs before sending them in, then when I moved to Portland, I just gave them to them in person since the office wasn't that far away. In Montana, it was an hour away.
That's all the cons I can think of for now.
I do not think that many people want to be disabled. Most people want to work. They want to have money and I am no exception. This is coming from a perspective that I may become homeless and or die if I no longer have my parents around to help me. When its down to that it beats the alternative. I do not have any money. My parents have money. There is no way I'm ever going to be married. I gave up trying. I mean I am really low functioning socially even among Autistics and Aspies. I am on the low end.
SSI/SSDI can make several different judgments about your likelihood of recovery: One year, three years, five years, or permanent. When that time is up, you get re-evaluated, and they make another judgment. It's much easier with a re-evaluation than with a new case. (My case is three years, incidentally.) They will delay re-evaluation in some cases, usually if you are actively seeking vocational rehabilitation that will allow you to return to work. That's also what's happening in my case, though I'll probably be employable before the end of three years anyway.
You can be denied SSI/SSDI for refusing treatment, unless: You have a mental disability that prevents you from being able to choose treatment (schizophrenia's the big one here, bipolar also), you're unable to comply for some reason (for example, someone with dementia who can't remember a medication schedule), it's major surgery that's failed before, it's a risky treatment that may cause more trouble than it cures, it's still experimental, or the treatment is eye surgery on one eye and your other eye is too bad that if the surgery failed you'd be blind. I think there's one other exemption. Can't remember now. Oh: you're also exempt if you can't pay for treatment, but most SSDI/SSI are on Medicaid/Medicare so that's not a problem unless you're one of the few that isn't.
For the case of Asperger's and SSRIs: This would fall under the "experimental treatment" category because it's not a proven treatment for AS. However, a doctor could make a case for it if he says you have significant comorbid anxiety or depression; and most doctors would do exactly that. However, most doctors also allow you the option of choosing a non-medical treatment for mild or moderate anxiety/depression, so unless you got a true believer in medication, it wouldn't be a huge problem. I stopped taking medication, with the blessing of my psychiatrist, a year ago; it didn't affect my SSI.
With AS, you are more likely to be attending counseling or social-skills groups; but they are much less likely to make you do this if you are actively looking for a way to make yourself employable. Once again--voc rehab is your friend. Well, kind of a stubborn friend that you have to badger into doing things, but still. The thing that keeps them off your back most is looking for work, even indirectly; and if you're successful, they'll be off your back forever.
My last two jobs (one physical and one mostly mental) I would get home, wake up, and barely be able to move. My back was stiff and hurting really bad. It felt like I was paralyzed. I still don't understand why it happened so much. I suffered through it for months on end off and on. The anxiety and depression was definitely causing me to feel sick all the time too. I felt like I had the flu much of the year in addition to the back problems.
Oh and the reason my outreach center is going out of their way to help me is that I've made it very clear that the most important thing to me is getting treatment. I would be overjoyed if they just gave me medicaid let alone SSI or SSDI. The anxiety and the depression is really severe and hard to deal with. I really need help. I can't live like this any more. I've told them that I would be more then happy to do their vocational program and social skills training which I am currently in. Some people think that people trying to get disability just don't want to work. NO that isn't the case. If they even find me a parttime job that I can actually do I would be fine with that. I am being really reasonable. I just need help though because without it I might end up homeless, in jail, or dead. I'm praying I at least get the medical treatment coverage. At the very least....
There really aren't ninja's hiding in the bushes waiting for you to sweep your porch. LOL Seriously.
I've been on SSDI and SSI for 6 years now. I had one "review" in the form of a letter that asked me to tell them if things were the same, better, or worse. I answer that one question and mailed it back. I never heard from them again.
You can't keep a lot of money in the bank, though that doesn't stop you from putting it under your mattress. They might watch what I spend, but since I'm also on the food stamp program they can see everything you buy with that too. Its no surprise that somewhere, someone can see what you're doing. But its not just the low income or the disabled. Its everyone.
Living day to day on money from SSDI and SSI isn't a lot. When my husband and I got married, we lost $350. SSI still has a marraige penalty. A couple is only allowed so much SSI money collectively. We were over that, so they halved his amount. Nothing had changed but a piece of paper. (we were already living together, there are no rules about that.)
As long as you're willing to put up with some silly rules, then the money just might be what you need. I was receiving SSDI even before my Asperger diagnosis. (Agoraphobia, anxiety and panic disorder, and OCD)
I've been on SSDI and SSI for 6 years now. I had one "review" in the form of a letter that asked me to tell them if things were the same, better, or worse. I answer that one question and mailed it back. I never heard from them again.
You can't keep a lot of money in the bank, though that doesn't stop you from putting it under your mattress. They might watch what I spend, but since I'm also on the food stamp program they can see everything you buy with that too. Its no surprise that somewhere, someone can see what you're doing. But its not just the low income or the disabled. Its everyone.
Living day to day on money from SSDI and SSI isn't a lot. When my husband and I got married, we lost $350. SSI still has a marraige penalty. A couple is only allowed so much SSI money collectively. We were over that, so they halved his amount. Nothing had changed but a piece of paper. (we were already living together, there are no rules about that.)
As long as you're willing to put up with some silly rules, then the money just might be what you need. I was receiving SSDI even before my Asperger diagnosis. (Agoraphobia, anxiety and panic disorder, and OCD)
Hey I wouldn't complain if they saw me through the window playing video games and guilt tripped EA, Ensemble Studios, or Blizzard Entertainment into hiring me as a video game tester. LOL
Whimsi-cal and Callista,
I think perhaps you misunderstand what I am trying to say. And perhaps to what Gary said. I'm certainly not questioning your disability or inability to work, so you need not have to keep explaining how you can't sweep or mow. And I believe Gary understands too. What we are trying to say is Soc Sec doesn't necessarily understand how AS can cause someone not to be able to do menial work even if they have no physical health problem. Part of the SSD process is Soc Sec tries to figure out a way to say oh you can work X number hours a day in a physical labor job that doesn't require learning a lot of skill because you are able to sit or stand X number of hours. Getting mental disability is said to be really hard. I've heard doctors say the only way to get SSDI is to have both mental and physical impairments so that's why people say with fibromyalgia who apply for disability also need to have say a depression diagnosis too because they have to be both mental and physical disabled to impair them enough for SS to not say there is some job category out there that they could do.
Also someone mentioned "permanent disability". Apparently you don't know that permanent doesn't mean permanent to SS. If someone is under the age of 50 and are given permanent disability their case generally is reviewed every 5-7 years until their mid-50's. Then they are said to be unemployable due to advanced age and inability to learn a new trade by going back to college. I have a friend who had that happen. I mean she's sicker than ever, but still after 7 years they made her go through a review to make sure she was still permanently disabled.
And in response to the police being the ones that spy. The police do not do this; its not part of their job. The SS hires investigators to spy when necessary as do long term disability insurance companies some people have through their work and also workman's comp. Ages ago I was contacted by phone by one of these spies who questioned me like I was a criminal about some man they claimed I knew who I didn't know who they thought was claiming disability but wasn't disabled. It finally dawned on me after repeating his name in my head, with his last name and all that he must be the husband of my Tai Chi instructor. Yeah the investigator tried to insist that this man was getting disability for a back injury yet was teaching Tai Chi. I told this idiot over and over the names of the two WOMEN who had been instructing the class and that no man ever had since I had started. The b*tch didn't believe me and kept saying I was covering for him and calling me a liar. And I kept telling her I had never met the freakin man which I never had!! ! What is even creepier than her behavior is how the heck she knew I attended this little Tai Chi school, how she knew my name and my phone#. Believe me there are spies because I talked to one. I do not know if this spy was working for SS or private disability insurance. She never said other than she was an investigator.
No one from SSI has watched me yet. Don't worry, no one is going to come and check on you unless you are on it for a psychical condition such as having a bad back. If you're on it for a mental condition, no one is going to come and watch you.
If my bf were to get on it for his feet condition because working causes his feet to be in pain because they didn't heal right when he was a baby. They might come and check up on him to see what he is doing. They might even put restrictions on like what he can and can't do. But he deals with the pain 24/7 and still works. He just can't work out or else he be in too much pain for his job. Only work outs he can do is things that won't make him be on his feet so he can still do his job.
If an investigator is any good you'd never know they are watching you Spokane Girl. Seriously technology is so advanced these days a person can be watched from great distances and wire tapping a phone is easy. They can also call friends and family and question them and you not know it. And she would be applying for SSDI because she has worked not SSI. SSD or federal disability is more likely to spy. SSI is the same program as welfare so it is easier to get and not watched as closely.
edit--oh, I lost a third job, too. I forgot that one because it only lasted two weeks. Glad it only lasted that long--the overload would've made me stupid enough to fall into the machinery or something.
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WOW
Anyways.
I wanted to ask you all if I should apply for SSI /SSDI?
Here is a list of my problems.
Aspergers. They've already told me its highly suspected
I'm sure I have it ALSO.
I have an auditory processing problem that makes it almost impossible to understand what people are saying sometimes. Its worse with noise and people who talk low or talk improperly.
I have all THAT also!
I've been the same!
What, were you "driving" a jetbridge? I stay away from such things, because I know my limits. BTW I had at LEAST 2 flight delays from plane damage due to a jetbridge!
I wasn't QUITE that bad, but many are!
Same here!
I decided to drop out basically.
Well, the credit problem, etc... isn't because of some disorder on your part.
I'm going to have to work more on that myself. 8-(
I have trouble understanding directions, instructions, and I get lost even near my own neighborhood.
I have blank spells from time to time, especially if I am overstimulated to where I get confused, light headed, and freeze up.
Let's just say I can relate.
I could even say a lot of that!
Well, I can relate.
As you can probably tell from this post I have a real hard time organizing my thoughts. lol
Well, I wasn't in special education, or called a slow learner, but I can relate.
I bet you could do better.
If there is pharmacology involved, Medicare pays. So that brings psychiatrists into coverage. Medicare only pays for counseling if a licensed clinical social worker is the provider of the counseling.
Ick I hate phones so I don't use them or talk on them. I hang up on telemarketers. Can they tap my cell phone? I use that most of the time. I also don't have friends so I doubt they be calling them since they don't know me well or don't know about them. How would my mother know what I'm doing in my personal life? I don't know what she is doing or my dad or my brothers.