Getting Social Security Disability without emotionally disintegrating
Hi, everybody. I wrote about my travails in starting the process of applying for SSI elsewhere. Unfortunately, I posted it as a reply to Savannah's 'What is Personal Advocacy' topic, when maybe I should have created a new topic under the Personal Advocacy heading
. I don't want to duplicate what I wrote, so will you please check it out there and respond if you have any suggestions?
Thanks.
My question(s) involve Social Security Disability and how stay emotionally intact while trying to get it. We haven't tried to get it for me up to now because basically my parents have been in denial about my condition for years. Now, with my father's own health issues taking center stage, and sucking up all their savings, we're going to have to face it.
I'm overwhelmed by what I think the process must involve. It's like eating an elephant. When I try to review my work history, I completely fall apart emotionally. It's so gutting to think about all that failure and pain. I can't even remember some of those jobs, I've blocked so much of my past. Do I count the ones where I was fired within hours, where they probably didn't even file paperwork for me? What happens if I forget things, or get the dates wrong? How do they check all that stuff? Are they going to call all my past employers and humiliate me?
And my medical history is even worse. I'm getting the runaround from hospitals, former doctors, the state, my insurance group etc.. They can't find things, have allegedly destroyed records, don't 'help with SSI claims', or they flat-out won't give me mental health records because they've decided it wouldn't be good for me to see them. How do I get them to cooperate? And how do I deal with the PTSD that comes up when I remember the abuse I received at their hands?
Do I need a lawyer? I've heard good and bad things about these contingency lawyers.
Any advice on this process and how to survive it would be much appreciated
(I chose the undecided emoticon because I'm not sure whether I'm going to scream, laugh, or cry).
Sorry you have to deal with that Runawayspacedog! It is a horrible process and I am pretty sure it is designed to wear people out so that they never get their benefits. There are people who work as advocates to help people navigate the labyrinth of red tape and doubletalk. I have met some really awesome ones (at the Independent Living Center in Berkeley, CA), and also really horrible ones. Do you know if there are any people like that in your area?
If not, maybe you can get a referral from somewhere else. If you can't find a helpful advocate, a lawyer is probably not a bad idea. I am guessing it is hard to find a lawyer that understands. Hopefully some people here will have some good advice of ways to get through the process. I wish I had some too!
Thanks, Lori. You rock
. I don't know if there are advocates here in Colorado who do that, but now that I know the right word for what I need, I'm sure I can find out. Thanks for the suggestion.
The lawyers I know about who do Social Security stuff here are kinda sleazy. If anyone knows of a reputable, non/ambulance-chasing, not on tv during the Wendy Williams Show commercial break, lawyer here in Colorado, please let me know.
I actually have the same problem. My parents have been in denial for years about it and never tried to do anything about it so I am now just starting the journey with social security. I tried to apply back in 2002 but back then I was under mental health and they didn't know I had autism. They denied me. So I am trying again now. Basically the only thing that has worked for me in staying in school but now I am defnitely done all I can with that and have had no luck with work. Had several jobs but they didn't work out because of disability issues.
When I tried to apply this time I literally did fall apart emotionally every time I tried to extract my history. What I finally ended up with is DVR helping me get into a supported living services case management program that is now helping me apply. Without my case worker I would be so lost. I tried to finish the paperwork 3 different times and never managed to finish it and kept getting denied for not finishing it so they finally got me this case worker. She is awesome. Maybe there is someone in your state that can help you with that? Maybe through DVR or a non profit agency? That would be my recommendation. Find some sort of case worker to help. Otherwise, it's nearly impossible to do it alone unless your history is relatively uncomplicated and I don't think anyone with autism has that kind of history!
Good luck! I am still waiting to hear back from the determination people....fun!
Squirrel
I actually have the same problem. My parents have been in denial for years about it and never tried to do anything about it so I am now just starting the journey with social security. I tried to apply back in 2002 but back then I was under mental health and they didn't know I had autism. They denied me. So I am trying again now. Basically the only thing that has worked for me in staying in school but now I am defnitely done all I can with that and have had no luck with work. Had several jobs but they didn't work out because of disability issues.
When I tried to apply this time I literally did fall apart emotionally every time I tried to extract my history. What I finally ended up with is DVR helping me get into a supported living services case management program that is now helping me apply. Without my case worker I would be so lost. I tried to finish the paperwork 3 different times and never managed to finish it and kept getting denied for not finishing it so they finally got me this case worker. She is awesome. Maybe there is someone in your state that can help you with that? Maybe through DVR or a non profit agency? That would be my recommendation. Find some sort of case worker to help. Otherwise, it's nearly impossible to do it alone unless your history is relatively uncomplicated and I don't think anyone with autism has that kind of history!
Good luck! I am still waiting to hear back from the determination people....fun!
Squirrel
Hey, Squirrel, thanks for the advice, and for understanding. I feel dumb asking this, but what is DVR? Is that like what they call vocational rehab in my state?
Also, do you know if they (Social Security) call your former employers and talk smack about you?
I got my SSI in only 3 months. I can't rememember much of it. I copied my journal and sent it. My acceptance for SSI is based off of Clinical Depression. The person that put the file all together was great. I called every other day( that was until he told me to give it a week , then I called once a week to see if things all were coming in). I just remember it as them asking for a bunch of forms to be filled out, an assessment from a psychologist, and that was it. I was 19 at the time. I applied becasue i had to drop out of college and my dads insurance would no longer cover me.
Three months, huh? That's encouraging. Thanks, Genisa. BTW, who put your file together?
Hi sorry I haven't checked this in a while. Yeah DVR is vocational rehab.
It took me a long time to get on SSI and SSDI but that was only because I had so much trouble getting through the paperwork. Once I did they gave it to me no problem.
I am looking now into supported living communities. I know I need to live in a community and not in my own apt but I am having trouble figuring that out. I am so isolated and recieve no other help besides the voucher for my apt and social security. I don't want to live in a group home per se but supported living community with others with disabilities would be helpful. Do any of you know of any communities like that? It can be anywhere in the US.
Thanks!
Hey runawayspacedog, I am moving your post here so it is easier to find :)
-Lori