Social Security?

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Hello guys, my first post here. Well, I think I have Asperger's Syndrome. I've never heard of it until a week ago, when I read some article on it. But after doing some online research, it really does sound like I have it. And after talking with my grandmother about it, she said when I was in 3rd grade my teacher talked with my parents because she thought I had Autism. My parents never told me. They figured because I had good grades that I didn't have Autism.

Anyways, I'm pretty sure I have Asperger's Syndrome, or something similar. I can't keep conversations going. Talking on the phone is awkward for me. I am doing horrible in my Effective Speaking class I gotta take for my degree (lol). I speak in a monotone voice (don't notice when I'm speaking, but it's really obvious when I listen to a recording myself). I kinda "space-out" a lot. People think I'm a pot-head for some reason (maybe just the long hair?). And I'll confess: most of the time when I smile or laugh it's fake.

Well anyways, are there any reasons to get diagnosed as having Asperger's Syndrome? I have no way of paying for treatment, or anything like that. Would I be able to receive Social Security benefits, or medicaid, or something like that?

I just want to say that I am in the same situation as you, so I am also interested in the reasons for or against seeking a diagnosis.

I haven't talked with my family about it yet, but of course I have all of the signs of AS that I can tell. A few years ago, I had a friend who was my best friend for a long time, so his family got to know me, and his mom thought that I was autistic.

well, i am 27 and i'm on social security right now, have you been diagnosed with anxiety, ptsd, adhd, ocd or anything related? autism or aspergers will not get you on social security disibility, but if you can get diagnosed with most of the following you have a chance to get on disability, the government will not give you ssd unless you have serious co-existing symptoms with alot of adults 20+ who have autism or aspergers/adhd diagnoses are sky rocketing for adults right now. i have been diagnosed with the following which has very similar symptoms of autism/aspergers/adhd, etc and i'm almost 30 yrs old.

Somatization Disorder
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Major Depressive Disorder
Posttaumatic stress disorder
Schizophrenia (undifferentiated Type)
Social Phobia
Cognitive Disorder
NOS
Personality Disorder
Visual impairment
Significiant sensory-motor Integration Delay, Hearing loss in left ear and mild sensorial loss in right ear, Disc disorder, intervertebral, lumbar

I don't know if I've been officially diagnosed. But, I went to my general practice doctor once for depression when I was 16 (I'm 22 now). He put me on anti-depressants (Zoloft). Well, I quit taking them because it made me goofy, and I don't like the idea of taking drugs every day (don't trust them). I kinda just accept that I'll always be depressed now. And I've always struggled with anxiety, especially social anxiety. I had a panic or anxiety attack last year for the first time. I didn't know what it was at the time, thought I was dying. After the Ambulance came and calmed me down, I went to my doctor again. And he prescribed me anti-depressants (Prozac) again for anxiety. I took them for about 6 months, didn't help with my anxiety, made me goofy, and again, I don't like taking drugs, so I quit. I still struggle with anxiety now, but I've only had a few smaller anxiety attacks, and it helps knowing what they are and I won't die. As for depression, I think it's natural. Who wouldn't be depressed in the f***** up world.

well i would talk to your doctor(if you trust him) or perhaps and see what he thinks he might be able to refer you to a physcologist and a Psychiatrist, or ask a friend if they know anyone.

I would try to see both a physcologist and a Psychiatrist to increase your chances. and if you have anything related to neurologist stuff. you may also want to take a look at this specialist link

Unfortunatly, most people that don't know much about syndroms think that any 'disorder' means impairment for the entire brain. When really, it's only some parts of it, not all. Hence the " but she has good grades" thing.



Same here! I can't afford official diagnosis or other aiding stuff either, but have many things in common with others with Aspergers. I looked back to my youth and thought "yep, definate likeness to Aspergers there" I read out loud perfectly, but they couldn't figure out why I didn't grasp the rest of Reading and English. They also were confused as to why I didn't socialise with my peers. I didn't refuse to interact with them; I didn't know how to.

I receive Social Security. The thing is that in addition to my AS, I have Clinical Depression, a heel spur, on my left heal, and fecal incontinence, as well. I guess they think those are all really good reasons, for me not to work.

It depends on where you live. Where I live it's perfectly possible to have an ASD diagnosis only and be on disability. However, in the US, everything appears to be a lot more complicated than that.

it says here from a US disability website:

People who think it's based on name of diagnosis and have been refused it might not have the minimum amount of support needs and impairment required for diagnosis,they use exactly the same way for DLA here.
In the UK,am recieve the highest rate mobility component of DLA-which is only ever associated with severe physical disability,but am get it for LFA related needs-label/type of disability should not matter in any dis. benefit.
Although,am have saw some members on here say they were automatically refused DLA [both care and mob] without their support needs being assessed just because they have an AS diagnosis.

Can always try for it and see what they say,the worst they can do is say no.

Diagnosis of Adults:
http://www.aane.org/about_asperger_synd ... dults.html
Interventions for Adults with AS:
http://www.aane.org/about_asperger_synd ... dults.html
Living with AS:
http://www.aane.org/about_asperger_synd ... dults.html
Recently AANE redesigned their website & these were the best articles/reference sheets (IMHO).

The last link also mentions some other dx's that people may have accumulated (previously), by time they finally get ASD dx-also discusses some confusing features (based on stereotypes), which aren't always indicative of having/being AS or not.
As KingdomOfRats quotes from a website,

it's not the dx that one gets benefits (or reaches threshold for "disability"), it's how that dx is manifested in individual's life. I finally got accepted for SSI, but it only provides small amount of money per month.

I have tried to get Social Security. I have not only been diagnosed with Asperger's but Anxiety Disorder, Cognitive disorder, social disorder, etc... The list goes on. And yet they STILL rejected me. I am thinking of reapplying. This is ridiculous. Maybe it's because I've managed to have a fair work history, even though most of it was temp jobs. If I get rejected again, I am gonna fight it.

I was asked once whether I was on SSI...

I don't even know how the system works...do people at the Social Security administration evaluate you?

I have impairment to a certain degree when it comes to holding jobs and whatnot...but i do not have much of a history of diagnosis....mostly for not being able to afford it.

I have always gotten alot of financial assistance from my parents...which I feel somewhat guilty for...

My ex-roommate who was/is on SSI had is messed up alot worse than I am, and um..has a long case history to back him up. He has had a job now for a while though...even though he is quite volatile and talks to himself and yells at people and whatnot...

I wasn't able to get DLA (I'm in the UK). My mum thinks that's because I don't take medication for my epilepsy though (which I don't because I took several overdoses, and don't trust drugs, which I explained. I'm still making changes to make sure that I don't trigger it).

I think it really depends on your situation, and how much you're impaired, like has already been said.

(Warning, true statement will follow, whoop, whoop, true statement, true statement, whoop, whoop)

Or, you could take this list and just call it, "being human disorder"

wow, the truth sure is simple.....lol

I've wondered if I were to get Social Security, would it label me for life? Would they require me to undergo forced counseling or treatments in order to keep getting the Social security?

Most Importantly, Would those "mental" conditions be listed with the local law enforcement agencies in the U.S. or be part of a background check? Also, if I wanted to emigrate to another country, would that data be available to them? is it part of the passport data?

If anyone knows the true privacy laws concerning social security, please let me know. I realize that these laws are currently changing and some attempts have been made recently to get "mental conditions" put on background checks.. That means any potential employer or local police officer could read about your info.. I don't like that idea..

If anyone knows, Please tell me any info. concerning Social Security privacy.

Thanks.

L

It sounds like the major benefit for you at this point would be getting a waiver for the speech class if you end up failing it. That would be something that you can work with the special services department on. You can get social security, but really, if you can get a job and keep a job, you don't really need it. You would also be eligible for services through vocational rehabilitation, which, if you have trouble finding a job and you haven't been diagnosed, they may be able to help with that.

There isn't really any treatment, because it's all about sensory perception at your age and counseling if need be. The benefits are not really all that great, but you would be afforded some protection when job seeking and during actual employment, which considering how many jobs I've had problems with because of my AS, I would count as huge bonus plan.