Psychiatric testing and applying for disability?

Post Reply New Topic

This is my understanding.

Sure, and that is why I think the OP should go for the "testing" and at least begin some documentation that might later prove indispensable. In my own case, I had virtually no "history" to present and found myself in the precarious position of needing far more advocacy than is typically available.

I was just going by what my attorney told me.

This is what I was saying earlier in the thread about impairments and daily living.

It's possible that when he told you that he was fishing for more information... I don't know...

I know. I'm not trying to argue. I just feel like the entire process sounds like a mess and is far more art than science. Like, two people with exactly the same impairments and daily difficulties can be approved or denied for SSI or SSDI on the basis of how they describe their difficulties. Apparently the issue is that the people who look at these things don't connect the dots - they need to have them connected. It needs to be obvious and explicit what kinds of difficulties make one disabled, and I think some degree of exaggeration is typical.

Well, I definitely want to go in and get the testing done and get some official documentation, as long as I can afford it. My therapist is supposed to call me as soon as she hears back from her colleague, so hopefully I will have some more information by this time next week.

I appreciate everyone's feedback.

Same here, and I believe your attorney told you correctly:


I have a friend who has MS, but her work history up to the date of her disability left her just a couple of points short of qualifying for SSDI.


Correct. A diagnosis does not prove disability apart from all the actual disability documented.


Yes, and that is because "success" at college causes people to assume success later on ... and that even happens to people right here who eventually find themselves baffled by themselves after graduation.


Precisely ... and I still do not know for certain how my case finally "came together" in the eyes of the judge. However, and where it had been implied I might as well not even bother showing up in front of one judge, the particular judge I actually got seemed to me to be making efforts to actually connect the dots if at all possible within the SSA rules.


Cool!

leejosepho, you got approved?

If so, that's good to hear. I know you've been working at it for months, and I remember you sounded really discouraged when I first joined.

Yes, and I think I posted that in my thought-it-might-never-end "Today I applied ..." thread!

After missing one appeal hearing because I had no transportation, I ended up having one during the last week of April ... and even that might not have happened if someone had decided to not let me re-schedule. But, I had actually called a couple of days beforehand to let them know I might not be able to get there.

In any case, the "fully favorable" decision was made near the end of April, and I have been told I will get my first monthly allowance (for June) near the end of July (and with the retro back to October coming along sometime).

Excellent!

I missed the thread somehow.

Let me get this straight... someone who can't hold a job and pretends they can't dress or bathe themselves is telling *me* to be a grownup.

A sarcastic, mocking tone is a *perfectly* appropriate response to someone having the gall to brag on a public forum about their illegal activities.

Instead of making this about people "bullying" you, why don't you think about how your actions affect other people? Just because life is hard does not mean you are entitled to steal. That money didn't grow off a tree.

Mollytroubletail hasn't pretended to be unable to do anything.

Not being able to hold a job is not always a sign of maturity. For many, it's a sign of how much energy one can spare, or how much one ends up burning out by using too much energy. It's not a simple thing.

And your accusation did come off as exceedingly puerile, as does this response.



No one bragged about illegal activities. You're misrepresenting what was said.

Further, it is pretty well-known among everyone who has any part of SSI/SSDI applications that there are ways to fill out the paperwork that make approval much more likely. It is very possible that MollyTroubleTail's psych was referring to that.

No illegal act has been committed, however, and MollyTroubleTail hasn't applied for anything under any claim about impairments. Perhaps you should tuck your accusations away for someone who's actually done something.

As for valid work from home opportunities, check out www.elance,com. Many varieties of jobs there - you have to outbid others for them, but they are valid. I write, and picked up a gig thru there, and have been paid.

I will address each point one by one:



You are saying that someone disabled who can't hold a job and needs assistance for self-care cannot be considered a grownup. I don't think anyone else here will appreciate this sentiment. This is an outrageous thing to say to anyone disabled!



I don't know what gave you the idea I pretended anything. I had a nervous breakdown followed by hospitalization and severe depression, during which I really couldn't dress or bathe myself. I've written in detail about it many times here. Do you think jumping to conclusions shows intelligent behaviour?



No, a sarcastic and mocking tone is a perfectly INappropriate response on a forum dedicated to support and education of Autistic people. And I will call you out on it each and every time you do it, whether it's directed at me or anyone else here.

In fact, you've managed to make yourself my special interest and I will closely follow every comment you make from now on in any forum, so I hope you do enjoy my kind of special attention.



I don't see where you saw any kind of bragging. I was simply informing the OP that it's difficult to receive benefits unless you can show you're severely impaired. A diagnosis of Aspergers, on its own, will not necessarily qualify you.



Where did you ever get any idea that I did anything illegal. My psychiatrist reported his findings in an exaggerated way. If you want to mock my psychiatrist or call him a liar that's fine with me, by why go after me? I wasn't the one submitting his report and I didn't put him up to it; I didn't find out what he'd written till later.



I never said people were bullying me at all. I said YOU were bullying me. I expect your apology for your nasty and baseless comments.



I don't see how any of my actions have affected anyone else at all. I'm disabled and I receive disability. Seems pretty straightforward.



Life isn't merely "hard", it is impossible for me without assistance. Are you saying disabled people who can't work like myself should die or turn to crime?



I have no clue what you're accusing me of having stolen. I am severely disabled and can't work, and therefore need government assistance. It's outrageous to claim that disabled people are stealing the meager benefits that barely allow them to survive.



No, it didn't grow on a tree. What a stupid thing to say. It came from my paying taxes during my 20 years of torturous on-and-off employment, and from other people paying taxes who are blessed by being much more capable of working than I am.

BlueMage, you need to smarten up and quit tilting at windmills. You're making yourself sound more and more ignorant with every attempted put-down and insult. I will not tolerate your rubbish and neither will anyone else. However, I do give you credit for now directing your ugly comments TO ME directly.

lying is rarely a good idea. maybe if you're doing something analogous to hiding Jews from Nazis. But not like this. What happens when they figure out you and your psych were lying?

also, if your psych gets caught he's likely to point the finger at you.