Am I the only one on here bothered by this?

Post Reply New Topic

Am I the only one bothered by people collecting disability and SSI for Asperger's? I don't view Asperger's as a disability, much less an excuse to be riding on the backs of people who work hard and pay taxes. That money doesn't come from the government just because their name is on the check; it comes from regular people.

I have been trying my damnedest to get by without any sort of special accommodation. It has been incredibly tempting at times to pull out the Asperger's card when things become overwhelming, yet so far I have managed to retain my dignity and get done what needs done. I feel as if too many people are using it as an easy way to avoid uncomfortable, yet doable responsibilities.

Some of you might honestly need it, but seriously, it seems like every other person here is getting bailed out when they could be earning their money.

I know this sounds harsh, but it is not a personal attack toward any particular person. I am not trolling; I honestly do have Asperger's, but I am quite opinionated and I realize that I have a very black-and-white way of viewing certain issues, and my previous posts will probably reflect that. I know I've stepped on toes before.

This is just something I've held back for quite a while every time I see a thread come up about Aspies on disability and SSI. I really want to see if anyone else on WP feels the way I do.

There is a broad range of people on the spectrum and AS effects each differently. Some people also have additional co-morbid conditions that alone or together with AS cause them to have greater difficulties. So each person has to be evaluated individually based on the magnitude of impact AS has on them.

I would rather see someone with AS getting the assistance than some who is having babies for the sole purpose of getting more assistance so they can pay for the gas for their Cadillac.

I'm not a fan of the system at all, whether you're collecting it being mildly Autistic, severely, or not even in the same category...

I think it depends on the individual.

I think you might have a perception that if a person with AS claims they can't work, they do so because they find some aspect of the work environment uncomfortable.

However, my difficulties in the work place as related to AS,(I'm not on SSI/Disability for AS mind you) never stemmed from me feeling uncomfortable, but from with issues superiors had with me due to my social dynamics.

I always did as I was told, I was never late, I was very responsible, respectful, etc, but there was something about me they found stressful or unsettling in some way, and so I would be "let go" because "it just isn't working out" and they "don't know why". In other words, they could not articulate that I am missing some intersocial component that makes NT's NT, but they could not deal with the fact that I am missing it.

Which brings us to the issue, that often times, it isn't that those with disabilities can't work because they can't do the job, it's more frequently that they can't work because employers and co-workers refuse to put up with them and their disability.

Well, I think it's justified when the person in question can't work or has additional costs (medication, therapy) due to their disability. But it should never be a hand-out to those that can be productive and are simply using it as a free pay raise.

I think a requirement of SSI should be that if it is at all possible, the person must do some form of productive work. Even people that have trouble finding a job normally can often do volunteer work which helps the community, and if that's possible then they should be doing that if they want to have the added income.

Disability is there for a reason. It is because people cannot secure work.

Are you suggesting that people should just stay homeless (as I was for 9 months)?

It's wrong to collect it if you are simply lazy, and want to use it as an excuse, but I don't think many people actually do that. They don't just hand out disability. It is given to people who have proven obstacles to employment.

Obviously you have never been fired from min. wage jobs, and lived a life of complete poverty. Do not judge others who have.
Many people with AS are very capable, but that does't mean employers are flexible enough to want to hire them, and put up with their differences.

If you can work you are ineligible for SSDI/SSI. Having a diagnosis in not enough, it is granted on the basis of inability to work. There is a lot of misinformation about that system floating around. --That it's easy to get on, and the "welfare queen" anecdotes which seem mostly to be made-up BS -- details that aren't possible like owning 2 cars and being on SSI.

SSA automatically rejects most first applications not on the basis of merit, but to deliberately make the process harder in order to weed people (justly or not). And many other traps and dishonest practices. Some people who are on the edge financially get screwed because they end up with a 2 or more years delay because of such stuff, and run out of money to live on before then. It's not easy, and it's a survival-level existence with no future if you can't get off it.

It doesn't bother me, to be on it. I really need it.

I'm good at finding things that I can be self employed at. Unfortunately, due to the problems I face from aspergers, these seldom last long before I'm broke and living homeless again no matter how hard I have tried to make it work.

When you are living illegally in the bush, eating scavenged food 4 out of 7 days a week if u are lucky and have a disability that keeps landing you back there, disability support is the most amazing help you could imagine. I was recently put on it.and I now have accommodation again and am able to eat every day. Eventually I will come up with a new idea to make my own income again and wont need it, but now have something to fall back on if I need it to save me from becoming homeless yet again if things don't turn out.


Peace ellomo