Applying for disability, and looking for a job?.

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Also wanted to add.

Someone in a very round about way already mentioned that Disability is about providing support for people that basically can't provide for themselves.

To be entirely honest, if I was a Case Worker in DSHS or the SSI Office right now, and you came up to me and told me that you beleived you wouldn't get EBT when you're unemployed, Id would probably deny your Disability request too.

DSHS and SSI process' tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of requests for assistance a year, and thats just for one state. One of the few measuring sticks they can use to determine the legitimacy of people's claims of need for assistance is the effort in which they're struggling to survive. Struggle, as defined by our society, tends to be demonstrated by provable attempts. You can't go through the process of trying to get an EBT card and not come away with a definitive answer about why you are, or are not, eligible for it, and if you don't have one (A definitive answer), they know you haven't even tried for it.

Another way of looking at it is this. The government only has so much cash to doll out (As evidenced by our Deficit). DSHS and SSI are an open flow of Cash Out back into our society. They have a responsibility to our society to at least try to make sure that people really need cash before they give it out. If you're being fed, clothed, and sheltered entirely by someone else, without even trying to get out on your own (Or as is the case between alot of parents and children, being forced out), they're just going to figure "They're being taken care of, they don't need what we can give, so we can give it to this 14 y.o. that was just beaten and physically thrown from home and told to never come back instead". Not that you're not just as deserving of financial help as that 14 y.o. is, but that 14 y.o. can probably go to a Case worker, point to a series of police reports to validate their story (Not to mention they've, at this point, certainly been sitting in DSHS for a few hours if not visiting over a number of days just for the chance to ask a Case Worker for help), be given the support they need and move on. So if you go to that same case worker, what are you going to point to? The more you struggle for it, the more proof you are going to accumulate that you really can't do what you say you can't. It won't be easy, it was designed that way, otherwise everyone would be drawing SSI and sitting back doing nothing.

At the very least, I highly suggest going down to DSHS and talking with them. I recommend not doing it over the phone because the phone banks they tend to run tend to be designed for people that already know exactly what they want and are probably already getting it, but if you're unsure about things, calling is at least a first step.

DSHS is the place that runs most of the Social Nets you've heard about. SSI is the only exception (To the best of my knowledge), but I promise you're going to have a MUCH stronger case for disability benefit if you come to them with a list of all the other assistance you're getting because you can't do it on your own.

Good Luck,
Aldran

I hate misunderstandings, so Ill try and clear this up some.

I didn't say what I did to tell you these things aren't going to happen, or that you should give up. I said them as an outline about how they work.

The mention of CPS was meant to be funny, I apologize it didn't work. I figured you were over that age because you said you were in College at one point.

The point Im making about EBT is that anyone can get it.... Its dead easy to get. And Im asking you to please not assume anything, particularly based merely on your parents income. If you're over the age where CPS could do anything for you, DSHS, and indeed our entire society, will consider you to be an adult, and treat you as such. An Adult is a person capable of going out and living on their own, even if they need help to do it, be it Financially or not.

The point I was trying to make about SSI/Disability is that if you don't do anything but send in applications for JUST disability, all you're doing is proving you know how to fill out paperwork..... Anyone can fill out paperwork..... Paperwork doesn't get you disability...... Being Disabled gets you disability, and if you're really unable to work, you have to prove it, but don't worry because you CAN prove it. Just go out there and do it. I know Im even willing to help you do it to what extent I can considering Im living in a different state at the moment and only know you through a computer screen..... If you've been to college, you can deal with DSHS, this isn't hard stuff.....

But w/e. If you're so convinced that you're right you won't even go look it up or try for it, far be it from anyone else with actual experience of the system to give you any advice I guess.....

Good Luck regardless, and my offer still stands,
Aldran

DSHS = Department of Social and Health Services.

Wellfare? Medicaid? EBT/Food Stamps? All of these are managed through DSHS. SSI is a seperate office. Financial Disability Aid tends to be through SSI, but EVERYTHING else, to the best of my knowledge, is through DSHS.

Applying for one thing and not getting DOES NOT equate to being turned down for EVERYTHING. It just means they don't think you have a strong enough Case for THAT ONE thing.

DSHS is THE PLACE you go when you need Financial help and have no where else to go. They usually can't help you the Same Day, but they can get the ball rolling on some pretty powerful tools.

EBT is a Seperate Program from Disability.....

Anyway, I need to go as I dont have anymore time atm to deal with this. PM me if you wish, and Ill get back as soon as I can. I might not be back on the board for a few days though.

And no, I don't mind helping. My only issue with your attitude was the apparent assumption you had that "Oh, they'll never give it to me". You wont know until you try.

Good luck,
Aldran

Aldran, you do need to realize how different DSHS benefits are state to state.

In Massachusetts, the income of people who you live with, who aren't applying, also can be taken into account (its not guaranteed to, or not to). In Colorado this might also be the case.

I'm unemployed, being given money by my parents, fit the requirements for SSI medically, and because I don't financially fit the requirements for SSI, I do not qualify for most of the potential DSHS benefits. SNAP in particular I'd qualify for, but for a very limited amount of money (because the money from my parents counts as income and reduces the money they'd give me, despite the fact that if you take into account my medical expenses (which I'm spending the money beyond food and rent on), I'd get near the full amount possible).


In order to count my medical expenses, I'd need to be getting benefits that I only can get if I'm either working or have SSI. In order to get something like Mass Health, I'd need to be working or have SSI. In each of these cases, the fact that I'm on the highest priority category for vocational rehab is irrelevant, and I can't attempt to prove a disability to them directly. I only can qualify as 'disabled', if I can get SSI (or benefits that are harder to get than SSI for me personally).

My situation here is straightforward. I have a trust fund with more than $2000 in it from my grandparents, and until my parents help me transfer it into a special needs trust, or until I spend it (which my parents have been limiting, though I legally have access to it, which basically means buying a house or with my parents' help), I can't qualify for SSI, despite the fact that even before I was diagnosed with Asperger's I was told I should apply for SSI. I'll go through that process as soon as the monetary side has been taken into account. I've been told it shouldn't take more more than one appeal.


Sweetleaf, as for the original question at the beginning. I've been told if you're looking for a job, they're more likely to accept an application for SSI, not less likely. If you try looking through your state's vocational rehab, that might be even more likely (I know in Massachusetts that is said to be the case, but I also know that working with Mass Rehab much requires a higher level of disability than required in other states, because of lack of money to do much with people who aren't priority level 1).

I just want to say this about SSI. Many people seem to think they will be approved based on a condition such as autism, ADHD, PDs, etc.. This is not the case. If you are approved it will be on the basis of:

Not being able to perform single and multi step tasks.

Not being able to work without special accommodations.

Not being able to adapt to the usual stresses of a workplace.

Not being able to recognize and react to normal hazards in the work place.

Difficulty dealing with the public, supervisors, and co-workers in an appropriate manner.

You need to approach your application with these things in mind for every step of the process. AS and ADHD won't get you approved, the above will however. So don't apply based on your DX, apply based on what problems you experience. If you can demonstrate the above sufficiently one of the final steps of the process is an evaluation with a state hired psychologist in which you will probably get the diagnosis you were seeking at no charge to you. The most important thing is don't try to be on your best behavior, present yourself as you normally are.

Thread moved from General Autism Discussion to Work and finding a Job.