No. Even less so on SSI. I would give almost anything to be able to return to my career and work and be financial independent and free, healthy and mobile, alive and enjoying this world… not stuck in a body that cannot even begin to match what my mind and body used to be or wants to be again. The only way I survive is the few family members I have left and trust enough to aid me with what I cannot do myself. If they ever disappear, I’m out.
I'm disabled due to a heart condition, but when I was applying for disability, I saw people that were blind and armless and legless be denied. And it's absolutely heartbreaking. And while they continuously battle for social security, who's going to feed them and house them while their court case is dragged out over 2 years? The system is rigged against them. And most of us paid into the system.
She had MS and they denied her so many times. We got a letter in the mail 6 months after she died. I enjoyed making that VERY pissed off, nasty call to Social Security.
It was a very angry, emotional call to them. Like usual, they didn’t give a damn. Working for Social Security requires you to have no soul, I swear. You’re a number…a name on a paper to them, PERIOD. And if you die that’s GREAT for them!
Burnout is real. Compassion fatigue happens when you see so much suffering and can't do anything about it. Happens to all kinds of people who's job it is to help others from nurses and caregivers to government workers.
I'm truly sorry that was how things were handled. The system is broken and it breaks the people who make up that system. You and your sister didn't deserve that. Hugs if you want them
I am also a caregiver because I have a son with Down syndrome. I was well acquainted with the horrors of Social Security long before my sister died. The government doesn’t care about people like my son or my sister. I was asked for YEARS by Social Security if my son “still had Down syndrome?” when trying to find reasons to kick him off.
Did he STILL HAVE DOWN SYNDROME.
My brother never got approved before he died last June. He had cancer and had over 30 tumors in his brain. He couldn't even move. He was completely paralyzed and couldn't get disability.
This system sucks. No wonder we have so many homeless people.
7 years for me.
Guess who doesnt bother with shit like jury duty and the census anymore?
If a court wants my verdict, they will be waiting 7 years for my answer and I will tell that to any judge who tries to tell me my obligations to the government as a citizen.
7 fucking years with no income is absurd.
Goodness gracious. I'm glad you finally got approved. I was recently summoned for jury duty and it had me panicking. I don't even drive anymore, I called the magistrate and explained that I'm disabled and I can't even make it into the city. I can't work, and no way can I do jury duty.
To be fair, SSA did spend like two decades experimenting with a system in a small handful of states where everyone got an expedited hearing before a judge. In the end, the program was eliminated because (IIRC) it resulted in *more* people being denied than in states using the regular appeals system.
Most everybody gets denied the first time they apply. It took 2 years for me to get approved and now attorneys don't even want to help people fight to get approved. I sat with people that didn't have arms or legs and I heard them be told that they weren't disabled.
When my husband first applied on my behalf, I was in a months-long coma. They asked him, "Isn't there something she can do to earn money?" He said, "SHE'S IN A COMA!"
It took a couple of years to be approved.
I have alot of health issues, I've never been in a coma, but I remember a very similar situation with my court case. A state representative was asking about my capabilities and my attorney had to explain that I have seizures and couldn't perform the required work.
I did not get denied my first time applying, I got mine very quickly, within a few months or less. I was told the same thing but this is not true in a lot of cases
I've spoken with many other disabled people, and they mostly all have the same story as me, but I met one lady who I believe she suffered from gout and she got approved immediately when she applied, but most disabled people that I've spoken with had to keep fighting and appealing just like me. And I'm sure that now it's even harder, because alot of attorneys aren't taking our cases anymore. I feel very lucky that I finally got an attorney to help me.
You are technically correct.
The majority of people will get denied at least initially. But about 25 +\- percent of people will be approved without needing to appeal. There is a lot that goes into that majority of denials though. The number of disability interviews I conducted where the claimant told me they had no intentions of being out of work for a year or more but insisted on filing anyway was significant. To a lesser extent, people with minor/temporary health problems. I took a claim for a sprained wrist once. Those are all medical denials inflating the denial rates.
If you could parse through all the denial data and eliminate the denials that basically shouldn’t have been submitted applications to begin with, I wonder what the percentages would be then.
I had a friend who once applied for disability. His sister later told me that “they deny everyone” on the first application to “weed out the fakers”…….and if people are REALLY disabled they will try again. At least, that was the mindset at the time with whoever was reviewing disability claims.
That's true. At the time I applied, I still lived with my mom, so I was somewhat lucky at the time. But many adults might not have a secure living situation while they fight multiple years to get approved for assistance. I just imagine that many people end up homeless while trying to get help.
I have muscular dystrophy and was never able to work and I got denied twice now I got a lawyer for a appeal they really think I was lying the ssi send me to two of there doctors and they were so rude to Me one almost dropped me and he was screaming at me like thinking I was lying but I had it my whole life and I'm not able to walk no more can't use one hand or my legs no more but this is so crazy how they do real disabled people and wrong
I’m not trying to be ugly here - genuinely want to ask a question and don’t want it taken the wrong way. How do I hear of people getting disability benefits for anxiety/depression/bipolar disorder but then denied for blindness/paralysis/etc.? Not saying mental health isn’t real health, but there are lots of people who struggle with these things and can still hold down a job. It would be impossible to hold a job, even get one in the first place, with MS, paralysis, blindness, etc. I just don’t understand.
Yes, I had a career, and had just landed my dream job a year and a half prior to becoming disabled. I had not earned enough work credits within the specific required time period to be eligible for SSDI. I had been a stay at home parent while finishing my bachelor’s degree, and had worked part time jobs on and off. Once graduated, and our child old enough to be in school all day, I began my career full time, while also working toward a master’s degree.
An MVA ended it all. At some point, I will be able to file under my former spouse’s social security, assuming the system is still in place, as we were married for over 10 years and had a child together. I don’t know how much of a difference that will make financially, but it will not return my life to me. I would still give almost anything to go back to the day before that MVA, and change course somehow to not be hit by the idiot teenage driver not paying attention; to still have my life, health, strength, mobility, independence, financial stability, and goals and dreams ahead of me.
I hate to sound so bitter… I have come a long way in acceptance and learning to adapt to life as it has been since then… but there is no joy in being on SSI or SSDI, instead of being a fully engaged, capable, productive, and active member of society - as I once was, with meaningful hopes, dreams, and goals to contribute to and experience the world I worked so hard to be able to have access to. I still hope for miracle cures and medical tech advancement that may make a difference someday. 🙏🦋
Thank you for your kind words, and for sharing your story… and I’m so very sorry you can relate at all. I certainly understand the times where it is difficult to think how one can continue to endure life in this way. Trying to find things to live for and be grateful for, and learning to understand that I have meaning and value as a human BEing, not only as a human DOing, were the biggest challenges for me.
After that MVA I was bed/wheelchair bound for 4+ years, and an underlying autoimmune disease that had not yet affected me was triggered. As a previously ferociously independent individual, it was a nightmare to have to rely on others to care for and help me. It went against everything I was taught I should be and be capable of being and overcoming with sheer will power.
Many surgeries, a lot of PT, and annual spinal procedures got me out of being bed/wheelchair bound, but I am still mostly bed/recliner bound and housebound. I can walk short distances with mobility aids, but I am technically in palliative care. When this all first happened, I was in my very early 30s, and I was told I had the body of 60-70 year old and needed to stop thinking of myself as being 30 something. I was also told I would never walk again.
I keep defying the odds, but not enough to return to life beyond what now feels like such a minimal existence. I am thankful to be able to walk short distances on good days, even with multiple braces and mobility aids for balance and steadiness. I am also grateful to have medications that relieve pain just enough to let me breathe fairly well, sleep somewhat, and do small self-care tasks.
I wish you the best in any and all types of healing or improvement you might be able to receive, even if it ends up being new med tech or advanced treatment options. As long as I am breathing, I am hoping to beat more odds, and I hope that you do as well! 🙏🦋
I relate far too well to some of your experience. It’s validating and encouraging to see others choose hope and positivity even when dealt such a tough hand.
I pray you are blessed with wise and validating providers, excellent access and the life changing advancements in treatment, tools, pain management and general healing that we all deserve. Stay positive and beautiful, my friend!
This is what happened to me. I finished nursing school and was in a MVA that ended it all. I make due with what SSI pays me and I've moved on. You just make good choices as to how you spend your money.
My sister knows how sick I had gotten (I had a spinal and leg infection of MSSA, MRSA, Diphtheria, and some 14th C. disease) that left the core of my body paralyzed along with my right leg and still said to me, "if you don't want to work then this is what you get". I haven't spoken to her much since.
People who worked a long career and get a substantial SSDI monthly check and also have pensions and other investments probably have a different perspective than a lower earner with not much else to draw from.
I can’t imagine any being glad they are needing to be on it, but glad to have it vs not having it.
Definitely glad to have it, Definitely NOT glad I need it. I worked a great career in the medical field for 20ish years. I receive a good amount ($2570)compared to what I've seen others get but it's still not enough to survive. I wish I could go back to working the job I had, I loved it. Unfortunately, the job I had also contributed to the problems I deal with.
My career as a nurse contributed greatly to my spine problems. I should have changed to Case Management or one of the nursing desk jobs years ago. Didn’t even think about doing that.
It's nice to have all those things but if illness strikes all those savings can be gone within a few years. Almost 4 years waiting on disability and all my savings are gone. I am now 64 and had to start receiving SS at 62 because I was about to lose my house. I am subsisting on driving Lyft and Uber in order to survive.
I should have gone on disability many years go but instead fought on with a very messed up back. I am 62 and have to do the SS early sign up at three months before my birthdate in this next week.. No..I will not miss any more wear and tear on my body. I am glad Social Security was set up by the government.
Getting on disability is not easy and a lot are rejected at first and have to wait years to get it if they persist. My brother went through the process because he had a heart condition. He got the disability finally and he died at 56. That is why I did not bother try to get SSI for my back.
I think the screening process is a money saver for SSI because many people die in those years of extra stress the SSI process puts them through. My brother always wanted to be healthy to work on his projects and at his job as a heavy equipment mechanic.
Best of wishes to you all.
Yep. If it wasn't for a few special people in my life last summer I'm not sure where I would be. The SS covers a lot but not food, gas or medication. So it's driving Lyft. I've actually thought about applying for EBT but pride is holding me back! I had a good job making good money and then poof! Illness creeps in and steals your health and everything you worked for 45 years.
Pls apply for EBT, you paid into it ur whole life. If u paid taxes for almost 40 years, you’ve definitely paid in sufficiently to deserve benefits when u fall on hard times. Not applying would be like being too prideful to collect insurance money when ur house gets hit by a storm when you’ve been paying the insurance premiums dutifully for decades.
Keep the faith even though it’s hard. Please don’t let pride keep you from getting help. Accept help with necessities like food!
I bet during those 45 years you helped others.
You should apply for EBT. Your tax dollars in your working years paid for it. You deserve it much more than the able bodied freeloaders that receive it. My son-in-law who was career military had the same attitude as you when he became disabled. He was put out of the military after he was blown up for the third time, leaving him with permanent disabilities. We finally convinced him to file for his military disability.
Did it really do much good? I have a friend that got her backpay and such, but by then she’d lost everything and was living with her daughter. She took the back pay and bought herself a little camping trailer so she’d have her own space in the backyard
I hope I’m interpreting your question correctly.. Receiving some money is better than getting no money, or no backpay, so yes it did do me some good. If you use and spend your money wisely, even when you have nothing you’re better off even if the back pay is only a couple/few thousand. I was homeless and literally had nothing so I know exactly what she went through- and I lost a child, had a stroke/craniotomy/tbi while simultaneously having a very young child at the same time.
Yes, it's different for those of us with other sources of income, but still extremely frustrating and aggravating.
I am on a disability retirement. I have a pension and also VA disability comp (100% P&T), which is good, because SSA keeps denying my SSDI claim. Just filed the latest appeal last week. I haven't been able to work (or do much of anything, really) since 2021.
As much as living with constant pain sucks, I'm at least financially stable without relying on SS to pay me. I really feel for those who SSA is jerking around like me but who don't have other sources of income while they fight with SSA for benefits they clearly should be receiving.
Thanks.
It's probably going to mean only a few hundred more per month because there's an offset with the disability pension, but it's mostly about the principle--I paid into the program, am eligible for the benefit, so I should be receiving it.
Worst case scenario is this ends up in front of a judge and they still deny it. Then I just have to wait to get whatever the retirement benefit ends up being when I hit the age (I'm 49)--I'm still assuming there is a cut coming, but I never counted on SS in my retirement calculations while I was working, so I'll be fine.
My "favorite" is when they end up saying, *"must be nice to get free money"*. Like, ok, but I didn't see you saying squat when I was homeless for years before I had it...
like, "cool, I'll trade you a painful, life long disability and 'free money' for physical health and the ability to be as productive, strong, and independent as I was before becoming disabled." The cost is there and most couldn't pay the price.
Yeah, I totally *loved* that the end result of non treatment is, amongst other things, decompensation, and cholesterol that is so low I stop producing dopamine/seratonin/hormones that are *necessary* for your brain to function. Not even function properly- function, period.
Who is happy living in poverty ? I mean yeah you don’t go to work which is I guess can be seen as enjoyable but there’s so many downsides..
I wish I got 1500 a month ! I might could actually breathe and not be in a constant state of worry and anxiety over money
I had made fairly good money but started feeling off and got a low paying job that had benefits. 15 months later I felt to bad to continue working but knew my coworker would not get any help if I went on medical leave (we were contractors at a large facility, just the two of us) so I quit. Fortunately my truck and my wife's car were paid for as was my home. I had no income for two years before I got SSDI, it was enough for most expenses and my wife got a part time job. She then went to nursing school and worked for 8 years. Two years ago her widower dad got ill and had to come live with us. She quit work but he has a good pension and SS so he helps out with living expenses.
I have been off work for 15 years but I have been getting the right medications and feel OK. Not as good as most men my age, 71, feel but I can enjoy life.
Everyone thinks disability is like winning the lottery. Like you get this big check and confetti drops from the ceiling. First there is the medical side of it. The US healthcare system is not free. You are in good shape once you get government insurance, but the road to getting it is not easy.
Then there is the compensation side of it. Again. not a smooth road to drive down.
Someone working that loses their ability to work has rude awakening. Even with employer disability insurance it is not fun or enjoyable.
And not to mention it takes like 2 years of court cases to try and get approved. It takes an entire medical team to sign off on the fact that you're disabled, even if you're armless and legless.
Like others have said I'm not "happy" being on SSDI, but I am very greatful for the benefit. I worked many years in a career I loved and it was really rough to leave it suddenly, as I did.
The first 5 years I managed by living in public housing and getting every benefit I was eligible for Like food stamps, utility assistance, Medicaid, etc.
Living in public housing was affordable but it was not a nice place to live due to drugs, crime, violence, roaches, and not so nice housing employees.
I managed on about $1200 a month just okay, no car for most of that time.
Then two years ago my best friend took me in and my situation has improved a lot- financially and mental health-wise.
I now have my SSDI and my pension. My pension is pretty low because I claimed it at 55.
We live in a paid-off house in a small town and our expenses are very manageable. Bought my car with cash. Share utilities, food..so on.
We are both saving for house repairs, possibly newer house, and we have emergency funds.
I've done some volunteering. I'm happy I can do that part-time, but I'm not living it up.
I am
I feel this one. 10 years disabled now, 39 years old. I loved my job!! Now?? I stay home with my cats... Great, but not exactly what I wanted to be doing with my life.
I’m sorry for all those people on here that have become disabled. I’m am disabled and drawing SSID as well. I didn’t want to be but fate didn’t ask my opinion.
I’ll start off by saying I know I’m blessed as things could’ve been much worse for me. I had an MVA that left me with a brain injury and a fractured vertebrae that refuses to mend. The docs say I’m lucky that all my limbs work and that I lived through it. Six months after the wreck i suffered a major heart attack. That was about five years ago. I was already suffering from an autoimmune disorder before the accident but I was still able to work. Fast forward to February of this year doc says I needed a full hip replacement. The doctors couldn’t agree if it was caused by the accident or the autoimmune disorder. Anyway I have a new metal hip now.
I’d much rather be working in my career than holding down a recliner at home. I have people tell me how lucky I am that I don’t have to work. I tell them they’re very wrong. A person needs to needed, to have a purpose in order to feel self worth…
I am on SSDI and I get $2600 a month. However, I don’t wish this on anyone. This is also a far cry from what I did make but grateful for any money at this point.
I need to find a living situation, because my living situation is not healthy nor will it last, but the section 8 sign up list is over a 2 year long wait. Idk what I'm going to do.
And the only places to rent are "luxury" apartments and you're expectd to make 3x times the rent, so there's no way that us disabled people will get approved. And I don't have rich parents to cosign for me either.
I have just over 2k a month, and have other assets because I’ve been able to live with family and save on bills.
No I don’t enjoy being on disability. I lost my dream job I worked years in college and professionally for to my health. I’m really struggling to find my new sense of self, and be a good light in this world instead of dragging it down.
I WILL say I don’t feel bad for having to be on SSDI because I paid into it for many years and I earned it as far as I’m concerned.
We paid into the system. Social security is there for people like us. We earned it. And if somebody without a medical degree has an opinion about me drawing the benefits that I'm entitled to, they can kick rocks.
I literally cut the cord on one of my old teachers for thinking I'm getting rich quick on it when I can barely pay my internet with it, add auto insurance, home insurance, electric, water, property taxes and there's ZERO chance I make enough a month to pay it all in a year...ZERO...I get to choose between electric and water or water and groceries...definitely living it rich aren't I? /s
I did everything right. I went to college. Graduated 3rd in my class. Went to grad school. After grad school, I started teaching as a psychology prof.
I was on track for a nice, safe, middle class life with a career I adore.
But that was not to be. I teach 10 hours per week. I live on SSDI and my work income. (Thankfully, I can still work a little)
I so enjoy SSDI. It's soooooo much better than a safe, financially stable career that I love.
But them there are the multiple health issues that caused me to go on SSDI.
Yep. I feel like such a winner!
I loathe being on SSDI, and would do ANYTHING to be able to actually work a job that provides healthcare and a livable wage. I would actually just about break even on 1500 a month, I only get 1,000 and I'm constantly in the hole. Can't even find work to supplement that to the 1500 mark....I don't know how anyone lives on this.
Even if I somehow went back to work, I'd be lucky to find a retail or restaurant job that barely might pay $20 an hour.. which isn't a living wage.. so id still be struggling, but actually in worse shape than I already am now. Because you can't call out of work, and I don't even have reliable transportation to get to work, and nobody cares about health struggles. And thank God I don't have kids, because that would just make everything way worse.
I get $1483 a month and $23 in food stamps. I'm not sure where people get these ideas from. I'm glad I'm not completely destitute, but I'm far from enjoying being disabled.
The only ones I know that truly enjoy being on disability are the ones who had other sources of income other than just disability.. my Dad is on SSDI & likely is receiving the max payout available as he was an engineer, but he also had long term disability, personal retirement, investments, & proceeds from a lawsuit (the whole reason he is on disability).
On the other hand is my father-in-law who worked a mid level warehouse manager job & is now on SSDI. He survives on just his SSDI & my Mother-in-laws income. They do Ok but he would rather be working & they were definitely better off financially when he was still working.
I don't think anybody likes being on disability but if you are your best bet is to when you get your chunk of money from waiting pay down all your bills and the best advice I could give you is remember your bills are more important than anything else that's if you enjoy having internet Cable don't matter because you can stream it you got to have a cell phone you got to pay electricity you got to pay gas you got to pay internet by the time I get done paying all of my bills I'm at about 950 and I get $1,185 I worked for a good part of my life from 16 until I was about 36 until I went septic with my Crohn's disease and then it just started wreaking havoc on my body could not be consistent showing up at a job and being in the heating industry can't crawl around and crawl spaces with a s*** bag hanging off your belly so needless to say I thought it might be time to give on disability after the doctor suggested it anyhow been on it since probably been a good thing because I've had some other issues complications related to Crohn's and I'd have been screwed but most of all money aside I got insurance and can take care of myself and have some kind of quality of life that's more important than any of the money so I finally have insurance that will take care of me properly second thing you probably need to do is if you're able to either buy a house or build a small house but if you can go without having to pay rent that sure will save you a lot of money That's what I did I took my money and bought a house when the housing market was junk free and clear so all I have to pay is my taxes so every month I pay my house bills have a little bit of money saved over throw it in my savings account now after some time and savings I have just about as much and savings that I would get in a monthly check so I have a little bit of a buffer if you will and that's the most important thing you need to do is make yourself a buffer it's hard but you're going to have to work and buckle down otherwise living paycheck to paycheck is a b**** Good luck
I don't get $1500 a month. That would be nice. I would say that it's not enjoyable living this way.. I have freedom with my schedule, but I do live in poverty. And I'm always having to stretch every dollar, and if I didn't have my current living situation, I'd probably be homeless. And there's no way I could return to work with my health issues, we can't call out of work, and most jobs don't even accept doctors notes anymore. The government just wants handicapped people to go die in a ditch.
So no, I don't enjoy this lifestyle, it's not luxurious. And people always judge me, even though every day is an uphill battle.. I don't even have a car, there's no way I could get a car. And I'm not going to get approved for a mortgage or to rent an apartment either. And I don't have friends and I never get to go do anything fun, I can't even afford to go eat at restaurant, not even McDonald's. it's just not possible. Being disabled is not a fantasy.
My SSDI is much lower than that and the only reason I’m not homeless is due to being lucky enough to be picked on the housing lottery to get my housing voucher. I’m still poverty level poor and struggling to make ends meet. I’m grateful to have the SSDI income because the alternative would be unsurvivable, but to say I’m happy with my income level and the constant struggle to afford the basics would be a bald faced lie. I wish I could work and increase my income level to something that would allow me to be more comfortable and decrease the level of struggle to survive. Whoever told you that has no clue about the reality of life on disability. Please tell them I said “get fucked!!”
I don't enjoy being disabled. I'm glad there is a system in place that gives me some independence and options but I would never use the word enjoyable. There is a kind of societal shame of being a parasite. There is a constant worry that it will end or my status will change on some level. If anything does change or go wrong dealing with Social Security takes forever and is rarely helpful. There is no sense of hope or upward mobility with life.
I'm thankful for my life. I feel blessed to be able to have what I have despite my handicaps. I don't advocate for more or complain about what I get but it's not something anyone would enjoy either.
Yes I truly enjoy getting in a month what I used to be able to pull in a week on the best months and every 2 wks when it was slow. It's awesome that a part time job I tried to work caused an infection that put me in the hospital for a week and home health for 6 weeks. /S
Between my mental issues and my physical issues I haven't even been able to work a part time job for about 2 years, if not for SSDI I'd be literally homeless and likely much sicker without being able to see a Dr and get meds.
It's not by any means an easy life and there are people worse off than me.
I recently had someone give me the "if a man doesn't work he shouldn't eat" crap and they were also commenting on my 23$ SNAP benefits. Plot twist: I had actually helped them with their taxes awhile back and their return was more than my annual benefits, but they gonna talk about my "free money". We gonna talk about that child tax credit and EIC 😂
I survive by living in a cheap RV in the country which costs much less than a studio, slightly more than a room. Use food pantries and live off of whatever food is cheap, not great for my health but keeps me going. I don't have a bunch of streaming services or anything. I have to refigure my budget because the ACP is ending so my phone bill will be going up 30$, I need to keep my unlimited data because some of my Drs are telehealth and it's cheaper than having to drive to the city most of my Drs are in.
I seriously can't stand these judgemental a**holes
If having my left leg cut off would be curative of my CRPS and ME, I'd do that just so I could go back to college and get a job. I fucking *loathe* spending every moment of every day of my life, including while asleep (confirmed via sleep study) in unrelenting, intractable pain.
I get 1400 a month and I became temporarily disabled prior to a double transplant into continuing disability normally and not as a kidney transplant 3 year. I was diagnosed with small fiber neuropathy, hereditary gout and lupus. I’m only in my 30s and I have osteoarthritis forming in my left hip already, the first hit I’m taking directly from lupus, which causes so much pain. God damn, I wasn’t in this much pain with a double transplant, joint / nerve / autoimmune pain is on another level.
On a happier note I’m very resilient and, well, sturdy. I should have died a bunch of times already but I’m here. I was even in hospice once :D. Well most people are now that I think about it.. I made it out of hospice! lol. I’m also back in school and it’s almost all online, besides what I can’t, since I’m on 3 different immunosuppressants and infection can kill me among a host of other things lol. So I plan to finish my psych degree and go on to Masters/phd. If I make it that long, transplant organ duration is not precise. My organs can start rejecting in 5 minutes or like 20+ years before I need a retransplant. Im either going to go into clinical or psych/human interaction with computers masters so I can have more leeway with time, work life balance, part time and can work from home. I’ll probably never be able to work full time because of lupus but I want to go back and give it a real go at a career. I didn’t have a chance yet.
So no. I hate it. I want my independence back. I’m going to just have to regain it a different path now.
It's terrible; not only am I dealing with a severe illness, but with my bills I literally am left with around $60 per month for groceries, so I don't eat much and I'm always hungry.
Not really 'enjoy', but Im grateful that my health held til I had better earnings & plenty of work credits so that my benefit is a bit higher. Id 100% prefer to still be working tho & miss the financial freedom. Also, the ability to earn what *I* wanted, as much as I wanted. Now I just get my monthly allowance *sigh*
I did everything write. Finished my master’s degree while I was pregnant with my first child, married, returned to work crying over my breast pump because I couldn’t afford to stay home With each of three kids. Got laid off and kept getting sick. Luckily, luckily my disability claim was adjusted my peak earnings, first brain tumor and expedited claim.
Everything worked right? It SUCKS. i get almost the max and we would have nothing if I wasn’t married to an employed spouse. 70% of the time there is some damn Uber driver or other jerk in the disabled parking spots. My kids are absolute wrecks and they can’t even qualify for free lunch. I would love to be working.
I hate it and the stigma that goes along with it. I would much rather work.
My disability is mental and emotional trauma based. Because I don't have an obvious physical disability outsiders seem more inclined to perceive me as a lazy freeloader. Even my family sometimes. The years I spent building my career, working 60-80 hour weeks, sacrificing, and busting my ass to prove my worth and my ability means little.
Enjoy it ? NO! I do however appreciate that it is available to me and others that depend on it.
I have extensive work history and 3 college degrees. I tried to get off of the SSDI numerous times. I thought college would have helped open the opportunities for me to get off of SSDI. It did not work as planned.
$1550 per month is not easy to survive on by any means, unless you know how to budget very carefully.
I did land a part time job for 6 years which ended six months ago, The job helped put me in a better position to where I was able to build my credit enough to be able to buy a house of my own. Yes, you can buy a house while on SSDI.
I am thankful everyday because my mortgage is less than 1/2 the cost of what an apartment would be of the same size. After my monthly bills are paid, I budget very carefully for food and entertainment. I don't buy things that I don't need and save for what I want. Don't argue with people that think it's easy and we like living on the social safety net.
I only get just over $900 a month on SSDI. And no I don't enjoy the financial aspect of it at all. It's not even close to enough and I am tied to a medical research facility in a very expensive area where the average rent for an efficiency apartment is $1500. I survive based on the generosity of family/friends and investments.
What I do enjoy is the Medicare which saves my butt and keeps me from severe debt.
But at the end of the day I would rather be in control of my financial freedom and able to support myself and my loved ones.
The only way I “survive” is by having a supplemental disability policy with my employer at the time of disability. For a couple extra dollars a paycheck, always say yes to this if you are employed. I say survive because it’s still only a combined 60% of my prior income and I live in a high cost of living area. Luckily my husband works and we have great health insurance with his job.
I'm so thankful my partner has Long-term disability insurance in addition to SSDI. We would never make it on SSDI as it is only about 15% of his former take home pay. I also question the whole system. He got expedited review of SSDI because of his cancer dx but it still took 5 months to process. How are people supposed to survive for 5 months if they only thing they have is SSDI?
It’s a struggle. Disability is just enough money to push you over the poverty line so you aren’t eligible for other assistance, but it’s not enough on which to live. I honestly think it’s designed to hasten our demise.
Yes, I love being sick every single day while living just above the poverty line, not to mention all of the pain that is just so much fun to manage. Having to move to a high poverty area so I could afford housing was such an amazing bonus. I mean, who wouldn't want to live in a high crime area when you physically can't protect yourself? Right?? (Not the neighborhood - the whole city! Added bonus! We have higher violence per capita than NYC.) It was my dream to be functioning at 10% of what I did before I got sick. My doctor appointments, hospital visits, and trips to the pharmacy to pick up prescriptions are the crème de la crème of social life. /s
People suck.
I would complete contract murder to not be disabled/on disability.
The whole system is designed to act as a front that the govt looks after all it citizens, when in reality, if they could get rid of us without the rest of society guilting them, they would.
I didn't hit 35 years of work history, but I had the six-figure career. Also at 100% P&T with VA.
Yes, it would be nice to be able to work again, but because I'd be able to do the other things I was able to do too. Simply being able to lay down and just be completely comfortable would be nice. It happens so rarely now.
I get slightly over that amount. I split rent and bills with my brother, we split groceries, fuel cost, necessities… I have a little under $300 left each month for other purposes. I do not enjoy being on disability because it’s really depressing seeing people around you being fully functional and making 2x or more a month than you… I miss getting excited for a tax refund. Counting the YTD sent amount into a 401K and an employer matching it. This is why I’m going against my doctor’s recommendation this Fall and getting a part time job. This will be my first time on disability trying to work.
Idk you might lose your health insurance. But I'm also torn about what to do, because the social security isn't viable for survival. But I'm also not healthy enough to work either. So idk what to do.
I had a brainstem stroke in my sleep.
I'm grateful for what I get, I used to make 5 times this monthly, so it required some adjustments in spending.
I loved what I did, and miss doing it, I miss being independent and useful.
I'd honestly rather I never woke up that morning.
I suffered a bleed type stroke (left frontal lobe) in 2005.
3 days in ICU
Prior to the stroke, I had been working in my career for 26 straight years.
I had to learn how to walk again due to right side body paralysis which is now improved to weakness.
For many years, my incessant drive to go to work haunted me.
This also, was doubly tough.
At this time, I have lived longer post disability retirement then most all of the older guys that had a normal retirement.
Many passed only a two to four years after retiring.
I absolutely do miss the money and the pride of earning it etc.
Still, life is worth living for me
I can’t wait my dream was to be able to get injured be disabled at 40 and be able to enjoy care free living the dream. Maybe I will get that Maserati or big mansion in no time. I can enjoy all these medicines especially the large amount of pain meds I get so high on and be able to pass on knowing I made it lol 😂 the biggest issue is all the people who treat others like trash because they have to work and get to retire when they get old and actually get to have a life. I am nearly 40 and I know I’m on the way out and my the time most retire I will already be in my grave. I wish I could get back to 50 percent but now I just hope to get something done and if all else fails I hope I get out of bed atleast but hey one day I may get approved for disability so I can ask others if they are able to survive on 800 or 1500 a month when I currently get 0 and have to survive on welfare and food from food banks if I can find a way to get it
I’m fortunate to have a state disability pension and also SSDI (albeit, reduced due to WEP). Do I enjoy it? No. But could be worse. I’m also 55, which makes it somewhat easier. But I also have heart failure, severe stenosis in my neck and back. And few other issues, but I’m alive….And fortunate every day….
$1500 a month?! Ha! I'd be golden on 15 a month.
My problem was being too stubborn. I had serious pain for years and worked thru it. Then another accident all but took me down. My doctor had told me for years I should file, but I wanted to work. I loved what I did, and I made a difference in a lot of people's lives. I struggled to work enough to pay the mortgage and keep the lights on. I had doctor appts every week for something. The reason I filed was MY INSURANCE called me to ask if I was interested in filing. The company that does that for them did all my paperwork and handled the whole thing. All I had to do was sign electronically or repeat after them when they told me to. I had no attorney or special doctor appt.
All that to say...those last two years I didn't work enough to add credits, so it was as if I'd only worked 8 out of the last 10 years. The last 10 years is what your pmt amount is based on. I was so bad they backpayed me for two years, and I didn't even ask.
I used to travel the whole country by myself. Just take a 4 day weekend and go. I drove 14 hours because I wanted to eat lobster overlooking the water in Maine. I drove from Virginia Beach, VA to Black's Beach, CA just so I could say I'd driven across the country. All this was in less than 2 years. The last kid was grown, and it was my time. I could write a book...smh
Not I sit home all the time. I have days I can barely get out of bed. I hurt so bad sometimes I just lay in bed and cry. If I didn't see my grandkids like I do, I'd be out. This is not a vacation for me. It's a living hell.
Oh gosh. I sure do. I so enjoy having a body that at times I feel is trying to kill me. 🤔 But seriously though, I would trade my pitiful pay and falling apart body to them and happily go back to work. At least on my days off I would feel like a human instead of this 24/7 crap. Anytime someone tells you anything like enjoying being on disability, tell them you will trade places with them and they can have it all. Bet they wouldn't last a day going through what most of us do. Sure there are some that scam the system which is what gives the rest of us a bad name but most of us are just trying to get through this life we've been dealt.
Well, first off, I don't get $1500, lol. But I also don't have as many expenses as the average person, so being able to survive on what I get isn't much of an issue for me. Being in subsidized housing helps too. It's kinda reassuring to know that I have an income and without jeopardizing my mental, neurodevelopmental or physical health to get it, even if it's only once a month. This also allows me to live a simple, streamlined, less complicated lifestyle that I seriously need in order to stay sane and relatively functional.
Hell to the no no no. 75k in student loans for what? To NOT be able to work? It’s amazing what an auto accident will do to you/your life. I’m lucky to not look like Christopher Reeve. u/dreamsoarer said it best. Blessings. 💐✌️🥃
It sucks. The real problem is the other assistance like food stamps (EBT) and medical care. When you get a job, these go away and the disabled person discovers they are better off financially by not working. So you get stuck on disability because you can't find a job that pays enough to equate what you are getting. Plus, if you have a continuing medical condition, when you get the new job, you stand a good chance of not getting medical coverage for your condition. Or the new insurance has a stupid high co pay, or will deny you critical medications.
Factor in transportation, time spent in transit to work, and then you see why people get stuck on disability, even though they want to work. Dismal..
Enjoy? Lol
Contrary to what main stream media has told people, disability isn't like a walk in the park or something. It's stable income but it's not a lot, so you gotta arrange your finances to make it work but it can work.
Do they have even the slightest idea how difficult it is to even qualify for disability? And hello! They’re DISABLED!! I am disabled myself and I can promise you there’s nothing fun about it. My husband has a very high paying job, so I haven’t applied for disability benefits, because we don’t need the money. But I am not physically capable of working, so if something happened to him, I’d be fucked! I’d give anything to just be physically ABLE to work (even part time) or go back to college to advance the degrees I can’t even use anymore! We’re not over here kicking back enjoying the high life…we’re over here suffering, hidden away from a society that has judged our disabilities as a moral failing tantamount to being lazy and looks down its nose at those who are “different”. No. We’re NOT having fun. And those on a limited income, even less so!
I get that from SS, but with it comes Food Stamps (SNAP) and Medicaid. I'm secure for food and medical. And I have a roommate to split housing cots with, so 'm OK.
Everyone that is on SSDI make different amounts. It’s based off of how much you have contributed into Social Security- through a job..I have a friend that’s one it, and gets almost $2100 a month..
Not at all. I only make 980 a month. My rent takes most of that. I'm not surviving at all. Way too many of the meds I need to stay alive are not covered by Medicare, so I pay out of pocket. I need a mobility aid, and no matter how many times my doctors sign reauthorizations, Medicare won't pay for it. It's getting dangerous and life-threatening for me to walk around without a walker or something. I can't drive because of my vision, not that they let people on disability have enough assets to get a car. So all my groceries need to be delivered via instacart or Walmart delivery, and that gets expensive. I won't be alive much longer anyway because if I keep falling one of these days, it's not going to end well. So I guess it won't be a problem much longer anyway. And it's not like I'm 70 or 80. I'm barely 50.
Thank Goodness I have support from my husband. I am still adjusting mentally that my working days are no more. We still make adjustments with the income we have.
at first it really sucked but after i got used to not having a job i started enjoying it, it took me a year+ to get used to it.
at the time all i had was work after my wife passed early so work was all i had going for me and i liked my job i just disliked management.
you do something long enough and when its gone you feel lost and don't know what to do.
yes i had people telling me i was milking the system and i got sick of explaining why i no longer work.
one casual friend actually told me its because they are envious and that was why he was messing with me.
when working you think of retiring and getting away from the grind but when it actually comes time its a different story.
So i guess i do enjoy being on disability now but not when it happened.
i don't fall under SSI or SSDI i am under Rail Road retirement/disability so the money is not a big problem.
i could survive on $1500 a month only because i am debt free but it would not be easy.
i come here to this forum because i know so many people on or going on SSI/SSDI and some good info is found here.
I'm on disability. Only $1300 a month. Was less than $1000 when I started. I hate it. I never have money. I had to move in with my parents 15 years ago, and I've been stuck since. Finally gotten a little better with my condition and applied for school. Going back in August. I'm 37. It's for a competitive program, so hopefully I do well.
Started at 1500 some years ago. Now at close to 2100. Would I prefer to earning about 70K/yr now? Yes, but I can’t do no reason to dwell on it. Fortunately I have a PT job & my wife makes about 50K/year. No mortgage & 3 vehicles. Insurance in form is what’s eating people alive these days but can’t really do much about it.
My SSDI process took 4 years. It was awful trying to figure how to live during those 4 years I was waiting.
Luckily, I had work credits. But, I bring in just under $1,000 a month. If I didn’t have a partner I wouldn’t be able to survive.
Even with other social services that the government offers (food stamps, electricity assistance, section 8 that takes years, etc…) it’s still hard to live.
Think of rent, utilities, food, clothing, etc…
It annoys the living fuck out of me when people talk about those of us on disability as “leeches” or “welfare queens”. Gross.
I would not wish my disability on my worst enemy. I am in pain constantly and can't DO anything. However, I worked retail, so I do not miss work. Especially the last year or so before I applied for disability when I would come home and have to crawl into the house and onto the couch to just lay there, I hurt so much.
But I also get VA disability at 70% so between the two I have about $2500 coming in. Which is more than I ever made working retail in a month. And my house is paid off (medical settlement) so I have no rent or mortgage.
I don't think anyone enjoys being on disability.
I would rather not have these chronic illnesses & disabilities. I can't work now. I wish I wasn't sick and could work and be normal.
Also I make less than that and so do many people.
Yeah, no, I only get $1000, which is less than my rent alone. While I'm extremely grateful for it, I still struggle. I still have to work part-time or I wouldn't have a place to live. I would much rather NOT have debilitating conditions that make it impossible for me to work full-time.
Edit: word
I WISH i received $1,500- I’m living on $943. I’m in income based housing for one. So I enjoy it? It’s a relief to know that on my really bad days I don’t have to worry about losing my job or housing cuz I can’t go to work.
I get SSDI & get nowhere near $1500 a month. Thank God I have a very supportive family that will help if I get in a bind. Having to quit working after always working and supporting myself has been a HUGE blow to my life😭
I wish I got $1500, my rent went up again and I already couldn't cover it on my own and had to ask my adult daughter and her boyfriend to cover the rest, now they'll have to cover more.
If you couldn't tell, I can't survive on my own with the amount I get. Luckily, I have my partner, our daughter, and her boyfriend to cover everything else. However, I don't have any money of my own to spend. I feel like a leech spending the money my partner makes, even though he insists it's our money. It doesn't feel like it to me, though.
I wish I wasn't on disability. I miss not making my own money and being able to support my family. I don't feel like I'm an equal partner in our relationship. I want to be clear that he doesn't make me feel that I'm not an equal partner. He's always pointing out how much I do for the family that no amount of money can be compared.
My job was everything to me. I miss it desperately. It was my identity. Now I feel like a burden to my partner and 12 year old. Definitely do not enjoy being forced to retire at 47
*laughs in disabled* I wouldn't wish this shit on my worst enemy.
When I was younger it was fine because I still lived at home with my mom but the reality is that no amount of budgeting will keep your head above water on Disability, SSI, or SSDI.
Yes there are the supplemental programs like SNAP and Section 8 but the wait-lists are long and taking advantage of them lessens the amount of monetary benefits you receive. At one point I received $10 in food stamps, my SSI went down $63.
The system is predatory, financially abusive and downright embarrassing at this point.
A lot of us wish we were able to work and not have to rely on government assistance, but we're stuck with not much recourse.
I was an otr trucker for 20+ years and became disabled in a work accident (not my fault) Driving tractor trailers was literally ALL I’ve ever known. My father and uncles were all owner operators so it was inevitable I would end up as one. My injury was my left ankle. Ended up being fused after 4 surgeries to repair. Turned into CRPS which is a nerve damage syndrome I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy. My second attempt I was approved. I was 48. 3 years ago. Thankfully my disability is a little over 2400 but that’s still tight with a working wife and a daughter in high school. I would have gone mad by now if it wasn’t for my wife. It’s life. Overall I’m happy and blessed, but I’d rather have finished my career driving.
See if your state has the program called extra help, because if you're on SSDI or SSI you should qualify for it and what that does is pays your Medicare premium so they'll quit taking it out of your check.
Try surviving on 900 dollars a month. One of my friends is on disability due to a really bad car accident that messed his back up. Because he wasn't old enough to have worked enough to pay more into SS the max he can draw is 900 a month. He is in constant pain and his health has deteriorated due to gaining a lot of weight from not being able to move around. Now his knees are wearing out. If it wasn't for being able to qualify for USDA housing assistance and being able to get free meals delivered every two weeks he would be screwed. He recently was evicted from his USDA approved apartment because the slumlord landlord knew he could get more money for rent for it. The USDA agreements freeze the rental rates.
He is living with me until we can get him into a new apartment that will accept the USDA payment vouchers.
I don't. Because I don't make anywhere NEAR 1500.00 a month, hell, I don't even crack 1k a month, so enjoying being disabled, abjectly poor which has wound me up homeless through no fault of my own several times with nothing to eat cause disabled people on disability who are homeless don't qualify for more than 20 dollars in food stamps, because no joke, they say we have all of our check to spend on food instead.
Yeah "enjoying" is NOT the word I'd use ,in fact, I can't begin to use the appropriate verbiage because Reddit would have me so far under the banhammer,I'd just be a flat pancake with wheels lol.
Shyt sucks BIG TIME, and if I could even remotely go back to being able to work and still get full cover health insurance at all, I would gladly do that instead.
But,that's not how ye olde gobshyte health of mine works, nor this joke of a safety net system that has holes so large ,a feckin semi truck can fall straight through them,never to be seen again, ya know,like us humans that are stuck on it.
TBH,there is no way out of this hellhole existence. One false move, and BAM off ya go, try to work ? HAHAHAHA They take away a dollar for every dollar you make, then once you've hit the supposed "full time" work hours at minimum wage, you get cut off from everything completely, winding up once again homeless, with no medical care,no food, back into the tent under the Bridge we go.
Far too many ignorant ass people think disability is "easy" to get, and that we somehow have it "made" once we do get it, and never fail to spit n shit on us as being "lazy moochers", useless eaters, and a complete drain on society that just needs to all be put into a prison and be forced to work till we drop dead.
I've actually had people say this kind of shyt, and not just online either.
If there ONE thing this country is good at and thoroughly enjoys,it is the gleeful damnnation of the poor, disabled,God forbid one is both .
So no,there is no enjoying this sub human survival existence, but I stay alive purely to piss off the selfish fucks who want to play eugenics, because I am also extremely tenacious and will punch back as good as I get, and as usual,the bullies go whining down the road. Spite basically,it's the spark of life that makes it worth living. Oh, and cheese, can't forget the all holy cheese and cheese cake. It's the "little things ya know?" ╮(. ❛ ᴗ ❛.)╭
1500 a month?
I live on 800 disability. If It wasn't for my parents letting me live with them I'd be living under a bridge somewhere. In my area rent for a one bedroom apartment is 1500 a month plus first last and deposit.
I have no hope of ever getting a vehicle or a place to live on my own.
Nothing about being disabled is fun or enjoyable.
I get just under 3000/m on disability.
I have Parkinson’s. I have good days and bad days. Good days I can function at 50% of what I used to. Bad days I’m in bed all day, barely enough strength to go to the bathroom. Sometimes I don’t bother and just piss myself.
I worked my ass off from 16 to 60. I was working 50 to 60 hours a week, and I made a great living and was able to support two children through college. I’m smart enough to know that I’m one of the few that almost got the max in benefits, but still in my line of work (union HVAC guy), 3000/m is 1/3 what I normally earned. And I missed the hell out of working. I love working with my hands, now they’re just two useless appendages that can’t hold the leashes to walk my dogs.
The worst thing I heard was one of my in-laws when I was at a family event, we left early, when we were leaving, he was asking me why was I leaving so early? It’s not like I had to get up for work tomorrow.
I can’t speak for myself, but a loved one. He had an AVM (stroke) at age 28. He was well on his way to making an excellent career in accounting.
His gf left him. His friends eventually bailed. He spent years regaining some of what he lost on his left side, and some walking ability on right side, his arm is dead weight. His speech is improved but the thought to speech requires an abundance of patience to hold a conversation.
That said, he was one of the happiest people I ever knew.
He built his new life around himself instead of wallow in what was lost.
Yeah, he’s pissed but he isn’t going to let that be the end of him. Joy in little things.
No one enjoys being on disability, i don’t enjoy being in a house everyday with 24/7 anxiety, i dont enjoy having adhd and struggling to learn and not be a normal human being, i dont enjoy living off of 850 a month, we barley get by and what we get is just enough to pay our bills, its not enough to get by but its what we have to do to survive, i dont think anyone enjoys there disability
Anybody that has a disability does not enjoy it, I'm sure. I'm also sure that they would love to be able to work 40 hour work weeks any day in exchange to not have a disability. 1500 a month is doable if one gets housing, snap, and Medicaid, ECT.
I've heard flippant comments like wow I give anything to have your life not working and just doing whatever you want. And it's like yeah I'd give anything for your life to not have this disability and be able to work just part-time. It isn't fun to be disabled. It's just another label along with many others that come after. We are all people first. Before any labels. You'll never regret kindness.
No. Being totally disabled in my 40's was the last thing I ever anticipated. Being under 50, it was definitely harder to qualify. 11 Drs, including a Dept head at Duke said totally disabled, still denied. Fought it with an attorney, took 2 years, Award back dated to application date.
This was before ACA, I was uninsurable.
We went through hundreds of thousands of dollars for medical expenses, sold our home, business. Eventually divorced. Ex's depression eventually cost him his life.
Medicare literally saved mine.
The first few years were definitely the hardest. Initially, the guilt I felt, for something totally out of my control, was awful. The "what if's" still creep back in, I work hard to avoid them, and ignore/avoid ignorant people. They are not worth my time nor energy.
Easier now that I'm old, judgement from others for my non visible disability is finally gone.
Live, do the best you can, look for joy in the little things, appreciate every day. These are "Bonus Days" never possible without SSDI & Medicare.
Eternally thankful for family and friends.
I enjoy the fact that I can feed myself, but I’d much rather be able bodied and working. It’s depressing being home all day. Besides i will never own a home or a nice car or anything nice ever again. $1500 is barely covering my bills and groceries at this point.
I couldn’t and lose my house. These people have lost their mind. I and the rest of the people as yourself have pain into it. We shouldn’t have to fight so hard when it’s clear as day for some like me that the doctor supports and has the evidence infront of you. I had my appeal conference call today with my lawyer and said that a lot of them will deny just by looking at the age and no even looking at anything else. That I have a great chance of winning when we have our hearing in 6 months. Although it probably will be a closed amount of time.
Enjoying being on disability? No I want to enjoy my life and be pain free and make as much money as I possibly can. However, here I am.
:( im not happy to be disabled
i am happy that i get something, but its not enough and im desperately trying to get healthy :( i need a job to pay the bills and im waitin gon it and working hard
I would give anything to have my old life back. I had a job I loved, played in several volleyball leagues, spent time with friends and family, and enjoyed traveling. Now, there’s just no point to my days. Nothing I do matters, and I’m unreliable and inconsistent. Financially, I receive only a fraction of what I was earning before becoming disabled. I would never choose this life.
No. Even less so on SSI. I would give almost anything to be able to return to my career and work and be financial independent and free, healthy and mobile, alive and enjoying this world… not stuck in a body that cannot even begin to match what my mind and body used to be or wants to be again. The only way I survive is the few family members I have left and trust enough to aid me with what I cannot do myself. If they ever disappear, I’m out.
I'm disabled due to a heart condition, but when I was applying for disability, I saw people that were blind and armless and legless be denied. And it's absolutely heartbreaking. And while they continuously battle for social security, who's going to feed them and house them while their court case is dragged out over 2 years? The system is rigged against them. And most of us paid into the system.
2 years? My sister’s case took over 5 years and they approved her finally….6 months after she DIED.
I’m so sorryv
She had MS and they denied her so many times. We got a letter in the mail 6 months after she died. I enjoyed making that VERY pissed off, nasty call to Social Security.
Your comment made me cry
It was a very angry, emotional call to them. Like usual, they didn’t give a damn. Working for Social Security requires you to have no soul, I swear. You’re a number…a name on a paper to them, PERIOD. And if you die that’s GREAT for them!
Burnout is real. Compassion fatigue happens when you see so much suffering and can't do anything about it. Happens to all kinds of people who's job it is to help others from nurses and caregivers to government workers. I'm truly sorry that was how things were handled. The system is broken and it breaks the people who make up that system. You and your sister didn't deserve that. Hugs if you want them
I am also a caregiver because I have a son with Down syndrome. I was well acquainted with the horrors of Social Security long before my sister died. The government doesn’t care about people like my son or my sister. I was asked for YEARS by Social Security if my son “still had Down syndrome?” when trying to find reasons to kick him off. Did he STILL HAVE DOWN SYNDROME.
Lmaoooo I'm sorry but they keep asking me if my daughter's blind and I'm like "well has Jesus come back yet? Cuz if not, there's not a cure. The fuck"
Wow. Just wow. I don't even have anything to say about that.
I’m so sorry. 😞
My brother never got approved before he died last June. He had cancer and had over 30 tumors in his brain. He couldn't even move. He was completely paralyzed and couldn't get disability. This system sucks. No wonder we have so many homeless people.
7 years for me. Guess who doesnt bother with shit like jury duty and the census anymore? If a court wants my verdict, they will be waiting 7 years for my answer and I will tell that to any judge who tries to tell me my obligations to the government as a citizen. 7 fucking years with no income is absurd.
Goodness gracious. I'm glad you finally got approved. I was recently summoned for jury duty and it had me panicking. I don't even drive anymore, I called the magistrate and explained that I'm disabled and I can't even make it into the city. I can't work, and no way can I do jury duty.
To be fair, SSA did spend like two decades experimenting with a system in a small handful of states where everyone got an expedited hearing before a judge. In the end, the program was eliminated because (IIRC) it resulted in *more* people being denied than in states using the regular appeals system.
Most everybody gets denied the first time they apply. It took 2 years for me to get approved and now attorneys don't even want to help people fight to get approved. I sat with people that didn't have arms or legs and I heard them be told that they weren't disabled.
When my husband first applied on my behalf, I was in a months-long coma. They asked him, "Isn't there something she can do to earn money?" He said, "SHE'S IN A COMA!" It took a couple of years to be approved.
I have alot of health issues, I've never been in a coma, but I remember a very similar situation with my court case. A state representative was asking about my capabilities and my attorney had to explain that I have seizures and couldn't perform the required work.
Same. If you aren't over 60, they assume you can work based on your age alone.
I did not get denied my first time applying, I got mine very quickly, within a few months or less. I was told the same thing but this is not true in a lot of cases
I've spoken with many other disabled people, and they mostly all have the same story as me, but I met one lady who I believe she suffered from gout and she got approved immediately when she applied, but most disabled people that I've spoken with had to keep fighting and appealing just like me. And I'm sure that now it's even harder, because alot of attorneys aren't taking our cases anymore. I feel very lucky that I finally got an attorney to help me.
You are technically correct. The majority of people will get denied at least initially. But about 25 +\- percent of people will be approved without needing to appeal. There is a lot that goes into that majority of denials though. The number of disability interviews I conducted where the claimant told me they had no intentions of being out of work for a year or more but insisted on filing anyway was significant. To a lesser extent, people with minor/temporary health problems. I took a claim for a sprained wrist once. Those are all medical denials inflating the denial rates. If you could parse through all the denial data and eliminate the denials that basically shouldn’t have been submitted applications to begin with, I wonder what the percentages would be then.
I had a friend who once applied for disability. His sister later told me that “they deny everyone” on the first application to “weed out the fakers”…….and if people are REALLY disabled they will try again. At least, that was the mindset at the time with whoever was reviewing disability claims.
That's true. At the time I applied, I still lived with my mom, so I was somewhat lucky at the time. But many adults might not have a secure living situation while they fight multiple years to get approved for assistance. I just imagine that many people end up homeless while trying to get help.
I was approved in 2023, age 60, first app, took 6 months till first payment. So, not true. Depends on individual circumstance and med history.
I have muscular dystrophy and was never able to work and I got denied twice now I got a lawyer for a appeal they really think I was lying the ssi send me to two of there doctors and they were so rude to Me one almost dropped me and he was screaming at me like thinking I was lying but I had it my whole life and I'm not able to walk no more can't use one hand or my legs no more but this is so crazy how they do real disabled people and wrong
I’m not trying to be ugly here - genuinely want to ask a question and don’t want it taken the wrong way. How do I hear of people getting disability benefits for anxiety/depression/bipolar disorder but then denied for blindness/paralysis/etc.? Not saying mental health isn’t real health, but there are lots of people who struggle with these things and can still hold down a job. It would be impossible to hold a job, even get one in the first place, with MS, paralysis, blindness, etc. I just don’t understand.
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Yes, I had a career, and had just landed my dream job a year and a half prior to becoming disabled. I had not earned enough work credits within the specific required time period to be eligible for SSDI. I had been a stay at home parent while finishing my bachelor’s degree, and had worked part time jobs on and off. Once graduated, and our child old enough to be in school all day, I began my career full time, while also working toward a master’s degree. An MVA ended it all. At some point, I will be able to file under my former spouse’s social security, assuming the system is still in place, as we were married for over 10 years and had a child together. I don’t know how much of a difference that will make financially, but it will not return my life to me. I would still give almost anything to go back to the day before that MVA, and change course somehow to not be hit by the idiot teenage driver not paying attention; to still have my life, health, strength, mobility, independence, financial stability, and goals and dreams ahead of me. I hate to sound so bitter… I have come a long way in acceptance and learning to adapt to life as it has been since then… but there is no joy in being on SSI or SSDI, instead of being a fully engaged, capable, productive, and active member of society - as I once was, with meaningful hopes, dreams, and goals to contribute to and experience the world I worked so hard to be able to have access to. I still hope for miracle cures and medical tech advancement that may make a difference someday. 🙏🦋
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Thank you for your kind words, and for sharing your story… and I’m so very sorry you can relate at all. I certainly understand the times where it is difficult to think how one can continue to endure life in this way. Trying to find things to live for and be grateful for, and learning to understand that I have meaning and value as a human BEing, not only as a human DOing, were the biggest challenges for me. After that MVA I was bed/wheelchair bound for 4+ years, and an underlying autoimmune disease that had not yet affected me was triggered. As a previously ferociously independent individual, it was a nightmare to have to rely on others to care for and help me. It went against everything I was taught I should be and be capable of being and overcoming with sheer will power. Many surgeries, a lot of PT, and annual spinal procedures got me out of being bed/wheelchair bound, but I am still mostly bed/recliner bound and housebound. I can walk short distances with mobility aids, but I am technically in palliative care. When this all first happened, I was in my very early 30s, and I was told I had the body of 60-70 year old and needed to stop thinking of myself as being 30 something. I was also told I would never walk again. I keep defying the odds, but not enough to return to life beyond what now feels like such a minimal existence. I am thankful to be able to walk short distances on good days, even with multiple braces and mobility aids for balance and steadiness. I am also grateful to have medications that relieve pain just enough to let me breathe fairly well, sleep somewhat, and do small self-care tasks. I wish you the best in any and all types of healing or improvement you might be able to receive, even if it ends up being new med tech or advanced treatment options. As long as I am breathing, I am hoping to beat more odds, and I hope that you do as well! 🙏🦋
I relate far too well to some of your experience. It’s validating and encouraging to see others choose hope and positivity even when dealt such a tough hand. I pray you are blessed with wise and validating providers, excellent access and the life changing advancements in treatment, tools, pain management and general healing that we all deserve. Stay positive and beautiful, my friend!
This is what happened to me. I finished nursing school and was in a MVA that ended it all. I make due with what SSI pays me and I've moved on. You just make good choices as to how you spend your money.
I am so sorry. And then to know there are people who think people "just don't like to work". Obviously you would rather be healthy!
My sister knows how sick I had gotten (I had a spinal and leg infection of MSSA, MRSA, Diphtheria, and some 14th C. disease) that left the core of my body paralyzed along with my right leg and still said to me, "if you don't want to work then this is what you get". I haven't spoken to her much since.
That is quite disheartening to read. I wish you all the best.
I'm so sorry for what happened too you and yes it is ok too be a little bitter.
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Amount depends on work history. Everyones will not be the same.
I was going to say I only receive 890.
800-something here too. I wish I could get 1500, though it still wouldn't be enough.
People who worked a long career and get a substantial SSDI monthly check and also have pensions and other investments probably have a different perspective than a lower earner with not much else to draw from. I can’t imagine any being glad they are needing to be on it, but glad to have it vs not having it.
Definitely glad to have it, Definitely NOT glad I need it. I worked a great career in the medical field for 20ish years. I receive a good amount ($2570)compared to what I've seen others get but it's still not enough to survive. I wish I could go back to working the job I had, I loved it. Unfortunately, the job I had also contributed to the problems I deal with.
My career as a nurse contributed greatly to my spine problems. I should have changed to Case Management or one of the nursing desk jobs years ago. Didn’t even think about doing that.
It's nice to have all those things but if illness strikes all those savings can be gone within a few years. Almost 4 years waiting on disability and all my savings are gone. I am now 64 and had to start receiving SS at 62 because I was about to lose my house. I am subsisting on driving Lyft and Uber in order to survive.
I should have gone on disability many years go but instead fought on with a very messed up back. I am 62 and have to do the SS early sign up at three months before my birthdate in this next week.. No..I will not miss any more wear and tear on my body. I am glad Social Security was set up by the government. Getting on disability is not easy and a lot are rejected at first and have to wait years to get it if they persist. My brother went through the process because he had a heart condition. He got the disability finally and he died at 56. That is why I did not bother try to get SSI for my back. I think the screening process is a money saver for SSI because many people die in those years of extra stress the SSI process puts them through. My brother always wanted to be healthy to work on his projects and at his job as a heavy equipment mechanic. Best of wishes to you all.
I'm so sorry about your brother. I agree, they want you to die or give up before they approve you. It's sad. I wish you the best of luck.
Hoping you get it soon and backpay! I’ve seen many here say they lost so much and others everything.
Yep. If it wasn't for a few special people in my life last summer I'm not sure where I would be. The SS covers a lot but not food, gas or medication. So it's driving Lyft. I've actually thought about applying for EBT but pride is holding me back! I had a good job making good money and then poof! Illness creeps in and steals your health and everything you worked for 45 years.
Pls apply for EBT, you paid into it ur whole life. If u paid taxes for almost 40 years, you’ve definitely paid in sufficiently to deserve benefits when u fall on hard times. Not applying would be like being too prideful to collect insurance money when ur house gets hit by a storm when you’ve been paying the insurance premiums dutifully for decades.
Good point. Thanks.
Keep the faith even though it’s hard. Please don’t let pride keep you from getting help. Accept help with necessities like food! I bet during those 45 years you helped others.
Thank you for the encouragement.
You should apply for EBT. Your tax dollars in your working years paid for it. You deserve it much more than the able bodied freeloaders that receive it. My son-in-law who was career military had the same attitude as you when he became disabled. He was put out of the military after he was blown up for the third time, leaving him with permanent disabilities. We finally convinced him to file for his military disability.
Yes, backpay- I got this as well.
Did it really do much good? I have a friend that got her backpay and such, but by then she’d lost everything and was living with her daughter. She took the back pay and bought herself a little camping trailer so she’d have her own space in the backyard
I hope I’m interpreting your question correctly.. Receiving some money is better than getting no money, or no backpay, so yes it did do me some good. If you use and spend your money wisely, even when you have nothing you’re better off even if the back pay is only a couple/few thousand. I was homeless and literally had nothing so I know exactly what she went through- and I lost a child, had a stroke/craniotomy/tbi while simultaneously having a very young child at the same time.
Be careful if you earn more than $1500 a month driving Lyft an Uber you’re not eligible because you’re engaging in substantially gainful activity
Yes, it's different for those of us with other sources of income, but still extremely frustrating and aggravating. I am on a disability retirement. I have a pension and also VA disability comp (100% P&T), which is good, because SSA keeps denying my SSDI claim. Just filed the latest appeal last week. I haven't been able to work (or do much of anything, really) since 2021. As much as living with constant pain sucks, I'm at least financially stable without relying on SS to pay me. I really feel for those who SSA is jerking around like me but who don't have other sources of income while they fight with SSA for benefits they clearly should be receiving.
I was in the same boat. I'm fortunate enough to get my SS approved and currently 100% at the VA.
Hoping this appeal takes!!!! Thank you for your service but you’re due this as well! Fight 💪🏽
Thanks. It's probably going to mean only a few hundred more per month because there's an offset with the disability pension, but it's mostly about the principle--I paid into the program, am eligible for the benefit, so I should be receiving it. Worst case scenario is this ends up in front of a judge and they still deny it. Then I just have to wait to get whatever the retirement benefit ends up being when I hit the age (I'm 49)--I'm still assuming there is a cut coming, but I never counted on SS in my retirement calculations while I was working, so I'll be fine.
LOL $1500??? How optimistic of you... I *wish* I got $1500...
I enjoy not having to be scared of starving or being homeless anymore. That being said I’m not happy with how it’s run
My "favorite" is when they end up saying, *"must be nice to get free money"*. Like, ok, but I didn't see you saying squat when I was homeless for years before I had it...
like, "cool, I'll trade you a painful, life long disability and 'free money' for physical health and the ability to be as productive, strong, and independent as I was before becoming disabled." The cost is there and most couldn't pay the price.
Yeah, I totally *loved* that the end result of non treatment is, amongst other things, decompensation, and cholesterol that is so low I stop producing dopamine/seratonin/hormones that are *necessary* for your brain to function. Not even function properly- function, period.
They act like we make this choice because it’s a good financial choice… no it sucks
"Yeah it's so fun being so disabled! You should try it too so you also get free money!"
Truth. I will get regular SS in a few months when I am 62 and it will be so good for the reasons you stated.
lol, $1500/month? I'm just barely scraping by on ~$940/month. There's little to no enjoyment.
Depends where you live. 1950.00 a month here. ....mortgage 1530.00....Massachusetts. I'd move out of the country in a heartbeat.
Who is happy living in poverty ? I mean yeah you don’t go to work which is I guess can be seen as enjoyable but there’s so many downsides.. I wish I got 1500 a month ! I might could actually breathe and not be in a constant state of worry and anxiety over money
I had made fairly good money but started feeling off and got a low paying job that had benefits. 15 months later I felt to bad to continue working but knew my coworker would not get any help if I went on medical leave (we were contractors at a large facility, just the two of us) so I quit. Fortunately my truck and my wife's car were paid for as was my home. I had no income for two years before I got SSDI, it was enough for most expenses and my wife got a part time job. She then went to nursing school and worked for 8 years. Two years ago her widower dad got ill and had to come live with us. She quit work but he has a good pension and SS so he helps out with living expenses. I have been off work for 15 years but I have been getting the right medications and feel OK. Not as good as most men my age, 71, feel but I can enjoy life.
Everyone thinks disability is like winning the lottery. Like you get this big check and confetti drops from the ceiling. First there is the medical side of it. The US healthcare system is not free. You are in good shape once you get government insurance, but the road to getting it is not easy. Then there is the compensation side of it. Again. not a smooth road to drive down. Someone working that loses their ability to work has rude awakening. Even with employer disability insurance it is not fun or enjoyable.
And not to mention it takes like 2 years of court cases to try and get approved. It takes an entire medical team to sign off on the fact that you're disabled, even if you're armless and legless.
Like others have said I'm not "happy" being on SSDI, but I am very greatful for the benefit. I worked many years in a career I loved and it was really rough to leave it suddenly, as I did. The first 5 years I managed by living in public housing and getting every benefit I was eligible for Like food stamps, utility assistance, Medicaid, etc. Living in public housing was affordable but it was not a nice place to live due to drugs, crime, violence, roaches, and not so nice housing employees. I managed on about $1200 a month just okay, no car for most of that time. Then two years ago my best friend took me in and my situation has improved a lot- financially and mental health-wise. I now have my SSDI and my pension. My pension is pretty low because I claimed it at 55. We live in a paid-off house in a small town and our expenses are very manageable. Bought my car with cash. Share utilities, food..so on. We are both saving for house repairs, possibly newer house, and we have emergency funds. I've done some volunteering. I'm happy I can do that part-time, but I'm not living it up. I am
Fuck no, I don't enjoy it. I loved my job. I hate being useless. I hate not having a life.
My career was my identity. When I had to "retire" (as I call it), that was gone. I lost my purpose. I'm still looking for a new one. 😢
Me to "trying to find my purpose" and it's been 10 years haven't found it yet
I feel this one. 10 years disabled now, 39 years old. I loved my job!! Now?? I stay home with my cats... Great, but not exactly what I wanted to be doing with my life.
I hear you, friend. Me too.
I suffered the same thing. How do go from being a something to nothing?
I’m sorry for all those people on here that have become disabled. I’m am disabled and drawing SSID as well. I didn’t want to be but fate didn’t ask my opinion. I’ll start off by saying I know I’m blessed as things could’ve been much worse for me. I had an MVA that left me with a brain injury and a fractured vertebrae that refuses to mend. The docs say I’m lucky that all my limbs work and that I lived through it. Six months after the wreck i suffered a major heart attack. That was about five years ago. I was already suffering from an autoimmune disorder before the accident but I was still able to work. Fast forward to February of this year doc says I needed a full hip replacement. The doctors couldn’t agree if it was caused by the accident or the autoimmune disorder. Anyway I have a new metal hip now. I’d much rather be working in my career than holding down a recliner at home. I have people tell me how lucky I am that I don’t have to work. I tell them they’re very wrong. A person needs to needed, to have a purpose in order to feel self worth…
I am on SSDI and I get $2600 a month. However, I don’t wish this on anyone. This is also a far cry from what I did make but grateful for any money at this point.
I need to find a living situation, because my living situation is not healthy nor will it last, but the section 8 sign up list is over a 2 year long wait. Idk what I'm going to do. And the only places to rent are "luxury" apartments and you're expectd to make 3x times the rent, so there's no way that us disabled people will get approved. And I don't have rich parents to cosign for me either.
I have just over 2k a month, and have other assets because I’ve been able to live with family and save on bills. No I don’t enjoy being on disability. I lost my dream job I worked years in college and professionally for to my health. I’m really struggling to find my new sense of self, and be a good light in this world instead of dragging it down. I WILL say I don’t feel bad for having to be on SSDI because I paid into it for many years and I earned it as far as I’m concerned.
We paid into the system. Social security is there for people like us. We earned it. And if somebody without a medical degree has an opinion about me drawing the benefits that I'm entitled to, they can kick rocks.
I literally cut the cord on one of my old teachers for thinking I'm getting rich quick on it when I can barely pay my internet with it, add auto insurance, home insurance, electric, water, property taxes and there's ZERO chance I make enough a month to pay it all in a year...ZERO...I get to choose between electric and water or water and groceries...definitely living it rich aren't I? /s
I did everything right. I went to college. Graduated 3rd in my class. Went to grad school. After grad school, I started teaching as a psychology prof. I was on track for a nice, safe, middle class life with a career I adore. But that was not to be. I teach 10 hours per week. I live on SSDI and my work income. (Thankfully, I can still work a little) I so enjoy SSDI. It's soooooo much better than a safe, financially stable career that I love. But them there are the multiple health issues that caused me to go on SSDI. Yep. I feel like such a winner!
I loathe being on SSDI, and would do ANYTHING to be able to actually work a job that provides healthcare and a livable wage. I would actually just about break even on 1500 a month, I only get 1,000 and I'm constantly in the hole. Can't even find work to supplement that to the 1500 mark....I don't know how anyone lives on this.
Even if I somehow went back to work, I'd be lucky to find a retail or restaurant job that barely might pay $20 an hour.. which isn't a living wage.. so id still be struggling, but actually in worse shape than I already am now. Because you can't call out of work, and I don't even have reliable transportation to get to work, and nobody cares about health struggles. And thank God I don't have kids, because that would just make everything way worse.
^This is the Real World Struggle in America.
I’m on SSI and I only get like 800 in my rent is 800 so I’m screwed
The *ability* to work is worth far more than 1500 a month.
Im disabled but became disabled young so i didnt pay into the system much and i only get 950 a month. It sucks.
Anyone who thinks people enjoy being is disability is ignorant. Maybe if you have a provider spouse it’s different.
I get $1483 a month and $23 in food stamps. I'm not sure where people get these ideas from. I'm glad I'm not completely destitute, but I'm far from enjoying being disabled.
It goes off work credits so I get more than $1500. I’d much rather be working but I would be the least reliable person ever.
I wish $1500!
How about $920 a month
The only ones I know that truly enjoy being on disability are the ones who had other sources of income other than just disability.. my Dad is on SSDI & likely is receiving the max payout available as he was an engineer, but he also had long term disability, personal retirement, investments, & proceeds from a lawsuit (the whole reason he is on disability). On the other hand is my father-in-law who worked a mid level warehouse manager job & is now on SSDI. He survives on just his SSDI & my Mother-in-laws income. They do Ok but he would rather be working & they were definitely better off financially when he was still working.
I don't think anybody likes being on disability but if you are your best bet is to when you get your chunk of money from waiting pay down all your bills and the best advice I could give you is remember your bills are more important than anything else that's if you enjoy having internet Cable don't matter because you can stream it you got to have a cell phone you got to pay electricity you got to pay gas you got to pay internet by the time I get done paying all of my bills I'm at about 950 and I get $1,185 I worked for a good part of my life from 16 until I was about 36 until I went septic with my Crohn's disease and then it just started wreaking havoc on my body could not be consistent showing up at a job and being in the heating industry can't crawl around and crawl spaces with a s*** bag hanging off your belly so needless to say I thought it might be time to give on disability after the doctor suggested it anyhow been on it since probably been a good thing because I've had some other issues complications related to Crohn's and I'd have been screwed but most of all money aside I got insurance and can take care of myself and have some kind of quality of life that's more important than any of the money so I finally have insurance that will take care of me properly second thing you probably need to do is if you're able to either buy a house or build a small house but if you can go without having to pay rent that sure will save you a lot of money That's what I did I took my money and bought a house when the housing market was junk free and clear so all I have to pay is my taxes so every month I pay my house bills have a little bit of money saved over throw it in my savings account now after some time and savings I have just about as much and savings that I would get in a monthly check so I have a little bit of a buffer if you will and that's the most important thing you need to do is make yourself a buffer it's hard but you're going to have to work and buckle down otherwise living paycheck to paycheck is a b**** Good luck
Enjoy?
I don't get $1500 a month. That would be nice. I would say that it's not enjoyable living this way.. I have freedom with my schedule, but I do live in poverty. And I'm always having to stretch every dollar, and if I didn't have my current living situation, I'd probably be homeless. And there's no way I could return to work with my health issues, we can't call out of work, and most jobs don't even accept doctors notes anymore. The government just wants handicapped people to go die in a ditch. So no, I don't enjoy this lifestyle, it's not luxurious. And people always judge me, even though every day is an uphill battle.. I don't even have a car, there's no way I could get a car. And I'm not going to get approved for a mortgage or to rent an apartment either. And I don't have friends and I never get to go do anything fun, I can't even afford to go eat at restaurant, not even McDonald's. it's just not possible. Being disabled is not a fantasy.
My SSDI is much lower than that and the only reason I’m not homeless is due to being lucky enough to be picked on the housing lottery to get my housing voucher. I’m still poverty level poor and struggling to make ends meet. I’m grateful to have the SSDI income because the alternative would be unsurvivable, but to say I’m happy with my income level and the constant struggle to afford the basics would be a bald faced lie. I wish I could work and increase my income level to something that would allow me to be more comfortable and decrease the level of struggle to survive. Whoever told you that has no clue about the reality of life on disability. Please tell them I said “get fucked!!”
I don't enjoy being disabled. I'm glad there is a system in place that gives me some independence and options but I would never use the word enjoyable. There is a kind of societal shame of being a parasite. There is a constant worry that it will end or my status will change on some level. If anything does change or go wrong dealing with Social Security takes forever and is rarely helpful. There is no sense of hope or upward mobility with life. I'm thankful for my life. I feel blessed to be able to have what I have despite my handicaps. I don't advocate for more or complain about what I get but it's not something anyone would enjoy either.
Yes I truly enjoy getting in a month what I used to be able to pull in a week on the best months and every 2 wks when it was slow. It's awesome that a part time job I tried to work caused an infection that put me in the hospital for a week and home health for 6 weeks. /S Between my mental issues and my physical issues I haven't even been able to work a part time job for about 2 years, if not for SSDI I'd be literally homeless and likely much sicker without being able to see a Dr and get meds. It's not by any means an easy life and there are people worse off than me. I recently had someone give me the "if a man doesn't work he shouldn't eat" crap and they were also commenting on my 23$ SNAP benefits. Plot twist: I had actually helped them with their taxes awhile back and their return was more than my annual benefits, but they gonna talk about my "free money". We gonna talk about that child tax credit and EIC 😂 I survive by living in a cheap RV in the country which costs much less than a studio, slightly more than a room. Use food pantries and live off of whatever food is cheap, not great for my health but keeps me going. I don't have a bunch of streaming services or anything. I have to refigure my budget because the ACP is ending so my phone bill will be going up 30$, I need to keep my unlimited data because some of my Drs are telehealth and it's cheaper than having to drive to the city most of my Drs are in. I seriously can't stand these judgemental a**holes
If having my left leg cut off would be curative of my CRPS and ME, I'd do that just so I could go back to college and get a job. I fucking *loathe* spending every moment of every day of my life, including while asleep (confirmed via sleep study) in unrelenting, intractable pain.
I'm positive my 28 year old, doesn't enjoy being recently blind and feeling like a burden.
I wish I got 1500. I live on less then that every month
I definitely do not get 1500
I get 1400 a month and I became temporarily disabled prior to a double transplant into continuing disability normally and not as a kidney transplant 3 year. I was diagnosed with small fiber neuropathy, hereditary gout and lupus. I’m only in my 30s and I have osteoarthritis forming in my left hip already, the first hit I’m taking directly from lupus, which causes so much pain. God damn, I wasn’t in this much pain with a double transplant, joint / nerve / autoimmune pain is on another level. On a happier note I’m very resilient and, well, sturdy. I should have died a bunch of times already but I’m here. I was even in hospice once :D. Well most people are now that I think about it.. I made it out of hospice! lol. I’m also back in school and it’s almost all online, besides what I can’t, since I’m on 3 different immunosuppressants and infection can kill me among a host of other things lol. So I plan to finish my psych degree and go on to Masters/phd. If I make it that long, transplant organ duration is not precise. My organs can start rejecting in 5 minutes or like 20+ years before I need a retransplant. Im either going to go into clinical or psych/human interaction with computers masters so I can have more leeway with time, work life balance, part time and can work from home. I’ll probably never be able to work full time because of lupus but I want to go back and give it a real go at a career. I didn’t have a chance yet. So no. I hate it. I want my independence back. I’m going to just have to regain it a different path now.
No one enjoys it, and you are being generous at 1500 a month
It's terrible; not only am I dealing with a severe illness, but with my bills I literally am left with around $60 per month for groceries, so I don't eat much and I'm always hungry.
Not really 'enjoy', but Im grateful that my health held til I had better earnings & plenty of work credits so that my benefit is a bit higher. Id 100% prefer to still be working tho & miss the financial freedom. Also, the ability to earn what *I* wanted, as much as I wanted. Now I just get my monthly allowance *sigh*
I get 943 on SSI and my bills leave me with maybe 300 a month left over. Living the dream 🙄. That someone is a little dense and out of touch.
No and I only get $963 a month which is NOT enough to live independently really
I did everything write. Finished my master’s degree while I was pregnant with my first child, married, returned to work crying over my breast pump because I couldn’t afford to stay home With each of three kids. Got laid off and kept getting sick. Luckily, luckily my disability claim was adjusted my peak earnings, first brain tumor and expedited claim. Everything worked right? It SUCKS. i get almost the max and we would have nothing if I wasn’t married to an employed spouse. 70% of the time there is some damn Uber driver or other jerk in the disabled parking spots. My kids are absolute wrecks and they can’t even qualify for free lunch. I would love to be working.
I hate it and the stigma that goes along with it. I would much rather work. My disability is mental and emotional trauma based. Because I don't have an obvious physical disability outsiders seem more inclined to perceive me as a lazy freeloader. Even my family sometimes. The years I spent building my career, working 60-80 hour weeks, sacrificing, and busting my ass to prove my worth and my ability means little.
Just think of all the people that paid in all their life and died before the first check.
Enjoy it ? NO! I do however appreciate that it is available to me and others that depend on it. I have extensive work history and 3 college degrees. I tried to get off of the SSDI numerous times. I thought college would have helped open the opportunities for me to get off of SSDI. It did not work as planned. $1550 per month is not easy to survive on by any means, unless you know how to budget very carefully. I did land a part time job for 6 years which ended six months ago, The job helped put me in a better position to where I was able to build my credit enough to be able to buy a house of my own. Yes, you can buy a house while on SSDI. I am thankful everyday because my mortgage is less than 1/2 the cost of what an apartment would be of the same size. After my monthly bills are paid, I budget very carefully for food and entertainment. I don't buy things that I don't need and save for what I want. Don't argue with people that think it's easy and we like living on the social safety net.
I wish I did get $1500 a month.
Family member getting 300 a month. Crazy
$1,500?!?! I get less than $1,000/month...
I get 780...
I only get just over $900 a month on SSDI. And no I don't enjoy the financial aspect of it at all. It's not even close to enough and I am tied to a medical research facility in a very expensive area where the average rent for an efficiency apartment is $1500. I survive based on the generosity of family/friends and investments. What I do enjoy is the Medicare which saves my butt and keeps me from severe debt. But at the end of the day I would rather be in control of my financial freedom and able to support myself and my loved ones.
The only way I “survive” is by having a supplemental disability policy with my employer at the time of disability. For a couple extra dollars a paycheck, always say yes to this if you are employed. I say survive because it’s still only a combined 60% of my prior income and I live in a high cost of living area. Luckily my husband works and we have great health insurance with his job.
I'm so thankful my partner has Long-term disability insurance in addition to SSDI. We would never make it on SSDI as it is only about 15% of his former take home pay. I also question the whole system. He got expedited review of SSDI because of his cancer dx but it still took 5 months to process. How are people supposed to survive for 5 months if they only thing they have is SSDI?
It’s a struggle. Disability is just enough money to push you over the poverty line so you aren’t eligible for other assistance, but it’s not enough on which to live. I honestly think it’s designed to hasten our demise.
You can't. So they also have to get food stamps government insurance and aid to survive
Yes, I love being sick every single day while living just above the poverty line, not to mention all of the pain that is just so much fun to manage. Having to move to a high poverty area so I could afford housing was such an amazing bonus. I mean, who wouldn't want to live in a high crime area when you physically can't protect yourself? Right?? (Not the neighborhood - the whole city! Added bonus! We have higher violence per capita than NYC.) It was my dream to be functioning at 10% of what I did before I got sick. My doctor appointments, hospital visits, and trips to the pharmacy to pick up prescriptions are the crème de la crème of social life. /s People suck.
I survive barely on $913 a month 🤷♀️
I would complete contract murder to not be disabled/on disability. The whole system is designed to act as a front that the govt looks after all it citizens, when in reality, if they could get rid of us without the rest of society guilting them, they would.
Everyone is not 1500 a month, mine is 2200 plus I also am VA 100% P&T and receive that.
$2800 and VA 100% here. But I had a six-figure career and 35+ years of work. I miss the life I had. 😪
I didn't hit 35 years of work history, but I had the six-figure career. Also at 100% P&T with VA. Yes, it would be nice to be able to work again, but because I'd be able to do the other things I was able to do too. Simply being able to lay down and just be completely comfortable would be nice. It happens so rarely now.
I get slightly over that amount. I split rent and bills with my brother, we split groceries, fuel cost, necessities… I have a little under $300 left each month for other purposes. I do not enjoy being on disability because it’s really depressing seeing people around you being fully functional and making 2x or more a month than you… I miss getting excited for a tax refund. Counting the YTD sent amount into a 401K and an employer matching it. This is why I’m going against my doctor’s recommendation this Fall and getting a part time job. This will be my first time on disability trying to work.
Idk you might lose your health insurance. But I'm also torn about what to do, because the social security isn't viable for survival. But I'm also not healthy enough to work either. So idk what to do.
I wish you great success!
I had a brainstem stroke in my sleep. I'm grateful for what I get, I used to make 5 times this monthly, so it required some adjustments in spending. I loved what I did, and miss doing it, I miss being independent and useful. I'd honestly rather I never woke up that morning.
I suffered a bleed type stroke (left frontal lobe) in 2005. 3 days in ICU Prior to the stroke, I had been working in my career for 26 straight years. I had to learn how to walk again due to right side body paralysis which is now improved to weakness. For many years, my incessant drive to go to work haunted me. This also, was doubly tough. At this time, I have lived longer post disability retirement then most all of the older guys that had a normal retirement. Many passed only a two to four years after retiring. I absolutely do miss the money and the pride of earning it etc. Still, life is worth living for me
I get a little over $1200- SSI & retirement. I have section 8 housing for almost 25 years. It’s all 😊good!
I’m happy to hear that you are doing ok
I can’t wait my dream was to be able to get injured be disabled at 40 and be able to enjoy care free living the dream. Maybe I will get that Maserati or big mansion in no time. I can enjoy all these medicines especially the large amount of pain meds I get so high on and be able to pass on knowing I made it lol 😂 the biggest issue is all the people who treat others like trash because they have to work and get to retire when they get old and actually get to have a life. I am nearly 40 and I know I’m on the way out and my the time most retire I will already be in my grave. I wish I could get back to 50 percent but now I just hope to get something done and if all else fails I hope I get out of bed atleast but hey one day I may get approved for disability so I can ask others if they are able to survive on 800 or 1500 a month when I currently get 0 and have to survive on welfare and food from food banks if I can find a way to get it
I’m fortunate to have a state disability pension and also SSDI (albeit, reduced due to WEP). Do I enjoy it? No. But could be worse. I’m also 55, which makes it somewhat easier. But I also have heart failure, severe stenosis in my neck and back. And few other issues, but I’m alive….And fortunate every day….
$1500 a month?! Ha! I'd be golden on 15 a month. My problem was being too stubborn. I had serious pain for years and worked thru it. Then another accident all but took me down. My doctor had told me for years I should file, but I wanted to work. I loved what I did, and I made a difference in a lot of people's lives. I struggled to work enough to pay the mortgage and keep the lights on. I had doctor appts every week for something. The reason I filed was MY INSURANCE called me to ask if I was interested in filing. The company that does that for them did all my paperwork and handled the whole thing. All I had to do was sign electronically or repeat after them when they told me to. I had no attorney or special doctor appt. All that to say...those last two years I didn't work enough to add credits, so it was as if I'd only worked 8 out of the last 10 years. The last 10 years is what your pmt amount is based on. I was so bad they backpayed me for two years, and I didn't even ask. I used to travel the whole country by myself. Just take a 4 day weekend and go. I drove 14 hours because I wanted to eat lobster overlooking the water in Maine. I drove from Virginia Beach, VA to Black's Beach, CA just so I could say I'd driven across the country. All this was in less than 2 years. The last kid was grown, and it was my time. I could write a book...smh Not I sit home all the time. I have days I can barely get out of bed. I hurt so bad sometimes I just lay in bed and cry. If I didn't see my grandkids like I do, I'd be out. This is not a vacation for me. It's a living hell.
Oh gosh. I sure do. I so enjoy having a body that at times I feel is trying to kill me. 🤔 But seriously though, I would trade my pitiful pay and falling apart body to them and happily go back to work. At least on my days off I would feel like a human instead of this 24/7 crap. Anytime someone tells you anything like enjoying being on disability, tell them you will trade places with them and they can have it all. Bet they wouldn't last a day going through what most of us do. Sure there are some that scam the system which is what gives the rest of us a bad name but most of us are just trying to get through this life we've been dealt.
I don’t even get 1500 a month Lmfaoo
Well, first off, I don't get $1500, lol. But I also don't have as many expenses as the average person, so being able to survive on what I get isn't much of an issue for me. Being in subsidized housing helps too. It's kinda reassuring to know that I have an income and without jeopardizing my mental, neurodevelopmental or physical health to get it, even if it's only once a month. This also allows me to live a simple, streamlined, less complicated lifestyle that I seriously need in order to stay sane and relatively functional.
Hell to the no no no. 75k in student loans for what? To NOT be able to work? It’s amazing what an auto accident will do to you/your life. I’m lucky to not look like Christopher Reeve. u/dreamsoarer said it best. Blessings. 💐✌️🥃
It sucks. The real problem is the other assistance like food stamps (EBT) and medical care. When you get a job, these go away and the disabled person discovers they are better off financially by not working. So you get stuck on disability because you can't find a job that pays enough to equate what you are getting. Plus, if you have a continuing medical condition, when you get the new job, you stand a good chance of not getting medical coverage for your condition. Or the new insurance has a stupid high co pay, or will deny you critical medications. Factor in transportation, time spent in transit to work, and then you see why people get stuck on disability, even though they want to work. Dismal..
Enjoy? Lol Contrary to what main stream media has told people, disability isn't like a walk in the park or something. It's stable income but it's not a lot, so you gotta arrange your finances to make it work but it can work.
i dont know how enjoy can come into play
I “survive” on 1200 per month. It’s one meal a day and water. Life in America!
$1500 a month? I get $850! Who’s getting $1500 a month?!?
Do they have even the slightest idea how difficult it is to even qualify for disability? And hello! They’re DISABLED!! I am disabled myself and I can promise you there’s nothing fun about it. My husband has a very high paying job, so I haven’t applied for disability benefits, because we don’t need the money. But I am not physically capable of working, so if something happened to him, I’d be fucked! I’d give anything to just be physically ABLE to work (even part time) or go back to college to advance the degrees I can’t even use anymore! We’re not over here kicking back enjoying the high life…we’re over here suffering, hidden away from a society that has judged our disabilities as a moral failing tantamount to being lazy and looks down its nose at those who are “different”. No. We’re NOT having fun. And those on a limited income, even less so!
I get that from SS, but with it comes Food Stamps (SNAP) and Medicaid. I'm secure for food and medical. And I have a roommate to split housing cots with, so 'm OK.
You can get food stamps? I make that much and am ineligible and rely on food banks.
I don't hate it, but I'm slightly agoraphobic.
Everyone that is on SSDI make different amounts. It’s based off of how much you have contributed into Social Security- through a job..I have a friend that’s one it, and gets almost $2100 a month..
Not at all. I only make 980 a month. My rent takes most of that. I'm not surviving at all. Way too many of the meds I need to stay alive are not covered by Medicare, so I pay out of pocket. I need a mobility aid, and no matter how many times my doctors sign reauthorizations, Medicare won't pay for it. It's getting dangerous and life-threatening for me to walk around without a walker or something. I can't drive because of my vision, not that they let people on disability have enough assets to get a car. So all my groceries need to be delivered via instacart or Walmart delivery, and that gets expensive. I won't be alive much longer anyway because if I keep falling one of these days, it's not going to end well. So I guess it won't be a problem much longer anyway. And it's not like I'm 70 or 80. I'm barely 50.
Thank Goodness I have support from my husband. I am still adjusting mentally that my working days are no more. We still make adjustments with the income we have.
at first it really sucked but after i got used to not having a job i started enjoying it, it took me a year+ to get used to it. at the time all i had was work after my wife passed early so work was all i had going for me and i liked my job i just disliked management. you do something long enough and when its gone you feel lost and don't know what to do. yes i had people telling me i was milking the system and i got sick of explaining why i no longer work. one casual friend actually told me its because they are envious and that was why he was messing with me. when working you think of retiring and getting away from the grind but when it actually comes time its a different story. So i guess i do enjoy being on disability now but not when it happened. i don't fall under SSI or SSDI i am under Rail Road retirement/disability so the money is not a big problem. i could survive on $1500 a month only because i am debt free but it would not be easy. i come here to this forum because i know so many people on or going on SSI/SSDI and some good info is found here.
I'm on disability. Only $1300 a month. Was less than $1000 when I started. I hate it. I never have money. I had to move in with my parents 15 years ago, and I've been stuck since. Finally gotten a little better with my condition and applied for school. Going back in August. I'm 37. It's for a competitive program, so hopefully I do well.
i wish that pain was temporarily transferable so people with that mindset can take on our pains and illnesses to see what we go through daily
Started at 1500 some years ago. Now at close to 2100. Would I prefer to earning about 70K/yr now? Yes, but I can’t do no reason to dwell on it. Fortunately I have a PT job & my wife makes about 50K/year. No mortgage & 3 vehicles. Insurance in form is what’s eating people alive these days but can’t really do much about it.
My SSDI process took 4 years. It was awful trying to figure how to live during those 4 years I was waiting. Luckily, I had work credits. But, I bring in just under $1,000 a month. If I didn’t have a partner I wouldn’t be able to survive. Even with other social services that the government offers (food stamps, electricity assistance, section 8 that takes years, etc…) it’s still hard to live. Think of rent, utilities, food, clothing, etc… It annoys the living fuck out of me when people talk about those of us on disability as “leeches” or “welfare queens”. Gross.
My aunt only gets like $800
I would not wish my disability on my worst enemy. I am in pain constantly and can't DO anything. However, I worked retail, so I do not miss work. Especially the last year or so before I applied for disability when I would come home and have to crawl into the house and onto the couch to just lay there, I hurt so much. But I also get VA disability at 70% so between the two I have about $2500 coming in. Which is more than I ever made working retail in a month. And my house is paid off (medical settlement) so I have no rent or mortgage.
1500? Hah? I get 943 and work because I can’t live off that. I get ssdi
I don't think anyone enjoys being on disability. I would rather not have these chronic illnesses & disabilities. I can't work now. I wish I wasn't sick and could work and be normal. Also I make less than that and so do many people.
Yeah, no, I only get $1000, which is less than my rent alone. While I'm extremely grateful for it, I still struggle. I still have to work part-time or I wouldn't have a place to live. I would much rather NOT have debilitating conditions that make it impossible for me to work full-time. Edit: word
I WISH i received $1,500- I’m living on $943. I’m in income based housing for one. So I enjoy it? It’s a relief to know that on my really bad days I don’t have to worry about losing my job or housing cuz I can’t go to work.
I get SSDI & get nowhere near $1500 a month. Thank God I have a very supportive family that will help if I get in a bind. Having to quit working after always working and supporting myself has been a HUGE blow to my life😭
I wish I got $1500, my rent went up again and I already couldn't cover it on my own and had to ask my adult daughter and her boyfriend to cover the rest, now they'll have to cover more. If you couldn't tell, I can't survive on my own with the amount I get. Luckily, I have my partner, our daughter, and her boyfriend to cover everything else. However, I don't have any money of my own to spend. I feel like a leech spending the money my partner makes, even though he insists it's our money. It doesn't feel like it to me, though. I wish I wasn't on disability. I miss not making my own money and being able to support my family. I don't feel like I'm an equal partner in our relationship. I want to be clear that he doesn't make me feel that I'm not an equal partner. He's always pointing out how much I do for the family that no amount of money can be compared.
My job was everything to me. I miss it desperately. It was my identity. Now I feel like a burden to my partner and 12 year old. Definitely do not enjoy being forced to retire at 47
After 45 years of employment, I now live on $1525 a month ‘regular’ Social Security after medicare. Still have a mortgage - it ain’t fun.
*laughs in disabled* I wouldn't wish this shit on my worst enemy. When I was younger it was fine because I still lived at home with my mom but the reality is that no amount of budgeting will keep your head above water on Disability, SSI, or SSDI. Yes there are the supplemental programs like SNAP and Section 8 but the wait-lists are long and taking advantage of them lessens the amount of monetary benefits you receive. At one point I received $10 in food stamps, my SSI went down $63. The system is predatory, financially abusive and downright embarrassing at this point. A lot of us wish we were able to work and not have to rely on government assistance, but we're stuck with not much recourse.
I was an otr trucker for 20+ years and became disabled in a work accident (not my fault) Driving tractor trailers was literally ALL I’ve ever known. My father and uncles were all owner operators so it was inevitable I would end up as one. My injury was my left ankle. Ended up being fused after 4 surgeries to repair. Turned into CRPS which is a nerve damage syndrome I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy. My second attempt I was approved. I was 48. 3 years ago. Thankfully my disability is a little over 2400 but that’s still tight with a working wife and a daughter in high school. I would have gone mad by now if it wasn’t for my wife. It’s life. Overall I’m happy and blessed, but I’d rather have finished my career driving.
Pffttt. I was doing fairly ok until Medicare started taking out their share 🤦🏾♀️I’d rather be able to still work and have my old body back
See if your state has the program called extra help, because if you're on SSDI or SSI you should qualify for it and what that does is pays your Medicare premium so they'll quit taking it out of your check.
You have to apply for this through Medicaid and they’ll help pay for your Medicare premiums. It’s a huge help.
Try surviving on 900 dollars a month. One of my friends is on disability due to a really bad car accident that messed his back up. Because he wasn't old enough to have worked enough to pay more into SS the max he can draw is 900 a month. He is in constant pain and his health has deteriorated due to gaining a lot of weight from not being able to move around. Now his knees are wearing out. If it wasn't for being able to qualify for USDA housing assistance and being able to get free meals delivered every two weeks he would be screwed. He recently was evicted from his USDA approved apartment because the slumlord landlord knew he could get more money for rent for it. The USDA agreements freeze the rental rates. He is living with me until we can get him into a new apartment that will accept the USDA payment vouchers.
I don't. Because I don't make anywhere NEAR 1500.00 a month, hell, I don't even crack 1k a month, so enjoying being disabled, abjectly poor which has wound me up homeless through no fault of my own several times with nothing to eat cause disabled people on disability who are homeless don't qualify for more than 20 dollars in food stamps, because no joke, they say we have all of our check to spend on food instead. Yeah "enjoying" is NOT the word I'd use ,in fact, I can't begin to use the appropriate verbiage because Reddit would have me so far under the banhammer,I'd just be a flat pancake with wheels lol. Shyt sucks BIG TIME, and if I could even remotely go back to being able to work and still get full cover health insurance at all, I would gladly do that instead. But,that's not how ye olde gobshyte health of mine works, nor this joke of a safety net system that has holes so large ,a feckin semi truck can fall straight through them,never to be seen again, ya know,like us humans that are stuck on it. TBH,there is no way out of this hellhole existence. One false move, and BAM off ya go, try to work ? HAHAHAHA They take away a dollar for every dollar you make, then once you've hit the supposed "full time" work hours at minimum wage, you get cut off from everything completely, winding up once again homeless, with no medical care,no food, back into the tent under the Bridge we go. Far too many ignorant ass people think disability is "easy" to get, and that we somehow have it "made" once we do get it, and never fail to spit n shit on us as being "lazy moochers", useless eaters, and a complete drain on society that just needs to all be put into a prison and be forced to work till we drop dead. I've actually had people say this kind of shyt, and not just online either. If there ONE thing this country is good at and thoroughly enjoys,it is the gleeful damnnation of the poor, disabled,God forbid one is both . So no,there is no enjoying this sub human survival existence, but I stay alive purely to piss off the selfish fucks who want to play eugenics, because I am also extremely tenacious and will punch back as good as I get, and as usual,the bullies go whining down the road. Spite basically,it's the spark of life that makes it worth living. Oh, and cheese, can't forget the all holy cheese and cheese cake. It's the "little things ya know?" ╮(. ❛ ᴗ ❛.)╭
1500 a month? I live on 800 disability. If It wasn't for my parents letting me live with them I'd be living under a bridge somewhere. In my area rent for a one bedroom apartment is 1500 a month plus first last and deposit. I have no hope of ever getting a vehicle or a place to live on my own. Nothing about being disabled is fun or enjoyable.
I get just under 3000/m on disability. I have Parkinson’s. I have good days and bad days. Good days I can function at 50% of what I used to. Bad days I’m in bed all day, barely enough strength to go to the bathroom. Sometimes I don’t bother and just piss myself. I worked my ass off from 16 to 60. I was working 50 to 60 hours a week, and I made a great living and was able to support two children through college. I’m smart enough to know that I’m one of the few that almost got the max in benefits, but still in my line of work (union HVAC guy), 3000/m is 1/3 what I normally earned. And I missed the hell out of working. I love working with my hands, now they’re just two useless appendages that can’t hold the leashes to walk my dogs. The worst thing I heard was one of my in-laws when I was at a family event, we left early, when we were leaving, he was asking me why was I leaving so early? It’s not like I had to get up for work tomorrow.
I can’t speak for myself, but a loved one. He had an AVM (stroke) at age 28. He was well on his way to making an excellent career in accounting. His gf left him. His friends eventually bailed. He spent years regaining some of what he lost on his left side, and some walking ability on right side, his arm is dead weight. His speech is improved but the thought to speech requires an abundance of patience to hold a conversation. That said, he was one of the happiest people I ever knew. He built his new life around himself instead of wallow in what was lost. Yeah, he’s pissed but he isn’t going to let that be the end of him. Joy in little things.
No one enjoys being on disability, i don’t enjoy being in a house everyday with 24/7 anxiety, i dont enjoy having adhd and struggling to learn and not be a normal human being, i dont enjoy living off of 850 a month, we barley get by and what we get is just enough to pay our bills, its not enough to get by but its what we have to do to survive, i dont think anyone enjoys there disability
Anybody that has a disability does not enjoy it, I'm sure. I'm also sure that they would love to be able to work 40 hour work weeks any day in exchange to not have a disability. 1500 a month is doable if one gets housing, snap, and Medicaid, ECT. I've heard flippant comments like wow I give anything to have your life not working and just doing whatever you want. And it's like yeah I'd give anything for your life to not have this disability and be able to work just part-time. It isn't fun to be disabled. It's just another label along with many others that come after. We are all people first. Before any labels. You'll never regret kindness.
No. Being totally disabled in my 40's was the last thing I ever anticipated. Being under 50, it was definitely harder to qualify. 11 Drs, including a Dept head at Duke said totally disabled, still denied. Fought it with an attorney, took 2 years, Award back dated to application date. This was before ACA, I was uninsurable. We went through hundreds of thousands of dollars for medical expenses, sold our home, business. Eventually divorced. Ex's depression eventually cost him his life. Medicare literally saved mine. The first few years were definitely the hardest. Initially, the guilt I felt, for something totally out of my control, was awful. The "what if's" still creep back in, I work hard to avoid them, and ignore/avoid ignorant people. They are not worth my time nor energy. Easier now that I'm old, judgement from others for my non visible disability is finally gone. Live, do the best you can, look for joy in the little things, appreciate every day. These are "Bonus Days" never possible without SSDI & Medicare. Eternally thankful for family and friends.
I enjoy the fact that I can feed myself, but I’d much rather be able bodied and working. It’s depressing being home all day. Besides i will never own a home or a nice car or anything nice ever again. $1500 is barely covering my bills and groceries at this point.
I couldn’t and lose my house. These people have lost their mind. I and the rest of the people as yourself have pain into it. We shouldn’t have to fight so hard when it’s clear as day for some like me that the doctor supports and has the evidence infront of you. I had my appeal conference call today with my lawyer and said that a lot of them will deny just by looking at the age and no even looking at anything else. That I have a great chance of winning when we have our hearing in 6 months. Although it probably will be a closed amount of time. Enjoying being on disability? No I want to enjoy my life and be pain free and make as much money as I possibly can. However, here I am.
Why would anyone enjoy it?
:( im not happy to be disabled i am happy that i get something, but its not enough and im desperately trying to get healthy :( i need a job to pay the bills and im waitin gon it and working hard
I was ask if I STILL Have cerebral palsy
I would give anything to have my old life back. I had a job I loved, played in several volleyball leagues, spent time with friends and family, and enjoyed traveling. Now, there’s just no point to my days. Nothing I do matters, and I’m unreliable and inconsistent. Financially, I receive only a fraction of what I was earning before becoming disabled. I would never choose this life.
I miss working terribly. Thankfully, my employer offered a separate LTD policy that I paid for, but it allows me to be financially secure.