Applying for SSI in the united states

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I am 27. I have ASD, Severe anxiety, Major Depressive Disorder, PTSD, Borderline Personality Disorder, and Fibromyalgia. It took me over 2 years to get on SSDI. I had to appeal multiple times. It finally got to the stage of a hearing. I totally broke down at the hearing. The judge made an on the bench decision (very rare). It was a huge hassle but I am finally on it. I recommend having someone help you with the paperwork.

I've been on it since 19. After 3 years they sent a questionnaire to fill out. Some months later, I received a 'we want you to see a special doctor' letter. The special doctor asks me who the President is, to remember the word 'banana' and what I would do if the house was on fire. Based on my answers, SSI sends me a letter a few weeks later telling me I'm healed. My mom had to help me fight to get back on. Another 3 years goes by, same thing. I was nearly catatonic after a devasting relationship collapse at the time. Old doctor reads my wailings and tells me "vot's de matter vith yew?, YEW can verk!' I wish my meltdowns weren't dormant at that moment, a hospitalization would have been a good bump. Another 3 years go by and I'm briefly homeless, so they skipped me over that time

. Around the next 3-year period my mom had to quit working and signed up for SS. She got denied twice despite showing up to their meetings looped out on opiates and benzos. After the 2nd appeal she got on SSA, and they transferred my status to SSDI, despite my only ever having worked 1.5 summers of JTPA jobs and a week at Taco Bell. Currently, it seems they only want me to visit their special doctor after 7 years instead of 3 now, I just did one last fall and the ruling is I get a reprieve for another year. In 2009, California kept cutting the 'small' check from $250 or so, to $150, to $25, to eventually $0, at which point they tried to yank my Medi-cal. The SS office sent me to DPSS and I was able to keep Medi-cal so I still have Medi-Medi, and while I was there I applied for and received EBT food, at $200/ month. Which is almost as good as it was. Prior to 2009 I was working under the table with the good fortune that it was in one of my aspie interests, when that went along with the SS drama I was nearly at the end of my rope. I was able to build up a solid reputation out on my own, working in my special interest. and having some clients tell me I should charge more. Most of what I bring in gets tied up in supplies and inventory, so I've been caught short a few times so far.

On the last visit to Dr. I let the cat out about feeling down about no revenue calls coming in, his suggestion was to hit up Vocational Rehab. Last time I went to them, they sent me to Goodwill where I could expect to earn minimum wage after doing custodial there for 5 years, or being a custodian at this, that or another place, or going to live in a dormitory for 6 months to learn how to pour concrete and nail drywall, which, in most places anyone wants to live, there is a Home Depot where there are already 30 guys standing around in front who can do all that. I don't know how much is changed, but I'm hoping almost quixotically that they'll have anything remotely near my special interests before I give them another try.

I'd say to think out any way to situate yourself in life with your interests before SSI, and only consider as a last resort. In hindsight I wish I hadn't struggled to deny my condition and waste time and energy trying to fit in and being shut out for my troubles

As far as timeline goes, I applied on December ... 27th or 29th, I forget which ... 2010. My first application was rejected. My file for reconsideration was also rejected (as such things usually are). My hearing is in three days, on May 9. So that's a ~16 months and two weeks from application to hearing.

In my case, despite having an advocate supplied by the state and then getting an attorney for my appeal, I've found that people are not actually telling me which impairments are relevant and which impairments are not when trying to explain why I can't work, so I am worried that I will need to have another appeal because I am not sure I am adequately prepared for this hearing.

Apparently, for example, difficulties in self-care are mockable and not relevant.

strange questions indeed, had my phone interview and i am not sure how it went really....seems like they only asked about information they already had or I had given them permission to get. At the end of the phone call i was told it could be 120 days before any decision was reached. The interview was very depressing, and I am just left to wonder what was actually written down, how long this will take, and how could such an interview help in any way. The interviewer seemed like he didn't even understand what i was saying half the time i had to repeat each diagnosis over as if he had never heard of them. =/

I just want to say that not all of their psychologists/doctors are alike. The one I was assigned was VERY good at her trade and it wasn't until after the fact that I realized how good she was. I felt she understood my problems better after 2 hours than my therapist who I had been seeing for 6 months. She did a very thorough assessment and it was very strongly in my favor (I still got denied).

I filed my reconsideration about 2 months ago. Anyone know how long the reconsideration takes? I don't really want to go in front of a judge but when you get turned down after SSA's psychologist tells them you can't work it's probably headed to court.

Reconsideration takes as long as the first application. Then it can take awhile for your appeal to go through.

It's currently harder to get approved for SSI as well, at least where I live.

I'll write up what happened at my hearing later. Right now I am not really able to put it all into words.