People with AS, How Do You Pay For Your Expenses?

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I live off my Disability cheques, and I do a bit of work on the side.

I pay all of my expenses working a job @ $8/Hr. I have fairly cheap rent which is pretty good, and I am able to save a little cash, which I hope to use for education, and a better paying job at some point. --My job is essentially a dead end job.

I'm shocked. How in the world did you get any benefits based on an AS diagnosis? I'm a US resident and NEVER heard of this. I applied for SSI based on AS as well as a physical injury and was rejected. And I've also never heard of a state government paying your entire college expenses. Wow. If you could go into detail about how you accomplished this magic feat, it would help some of us (me, for instance)

I'm unemployed at the moment,but am fortunate to have been working for the most
part of 30 years.I haven't got an official diagnosis but even if I did there's no guarantee of getting 'disability' benefit anyway. In the UK,AS doesn't exclude you from things like jury duty,so it's not necessarily treated like a 'disability' as far as work goes either unless there are overlapping issues like bipolar or severe anxiety

Last edited by pluto on 15 Apr 2007, 6:29 pm, edited 1 time in total.

I live off student grants and loans plus an academic scholarship and also money that I hoarded whilst I was working full time.

My college costs are paid for by the state's Department of Social and Health Services, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation. It would seem odd if your state didn't have a DVR. They will pay for you to go to college if, and only if, (1) because of your AS you are currently unemployed or working a job that is far below your level, and (2) having a college degree would enable you to find a job that is right for you. If these circumstances apply to you but you don't have proof of them, they will also pay for you to obtain that proof (e.g. a psychological evaluation, including AS diagnosis if you don't have one already).

I live with my parents. I get food, place to live, place to work. I don't ask for money very often. Apart from when I went to my shrink and some other things. My experience in working in an office let to me to break down, the psychiatrist said to avoid working in open plan offices or anywhere where you can't be alone. I do some programming but get pocket change it isn't enough to live on. It is not a problem getting work but I can only cope with 2 clients at a time. I work about 12 hours a day on average but I'm not productive. I don't really take holidays, work of w/e bank holidays often, no perks, etc. Still I can't imagine not working from home that is the only way I'd feel comfortable. I just want to solve this problem so I can exceed because I find it really interesting and I want to do it. I'm fed up being 24 and still living at home. I need space. I'm not so family orientated. I recon even if I had my own place now I wouldn’t be able to cope. It is really frustrating. Even if I could get some supplemental benefit the idea of going in there having to explain all my problems which I don't fully know yet fills me with terror.

FYI in Hawaii you qualify for senior housing at age 52. I'm not far away myself, and am eyeing the cute apartments with an ocean view and a monthly rent of $50 and weekly drop-offs of free food...

Noted. Thanks.

What about social security? How'd you swing that one?

yeah its impossible to get on social security disability

I didn't apply for SSI. (I did apply for their low-premium health insurance, but I couldn't get that because my wife's income was too high.)

I am fortunate that I don't have any expenses. I live at home, have been working part time at the library for almost five years, and have been diligently saving my money. I hope someday to get a full time job. It would also be great if I could get my book about my cat published. I am still awaiting word on that.

A bit of everything.

(The beaten path isn't for everyone.)

I've made most of my income from working, and until I find a permanent job, I work for a temp agency doing various assignments for them. Until I have a permanent job to where I can afford rent on an apartment, I'm living with my parents. I don't make large purchases, as I prefer to save what money I earn.

I did get turned down for SSI, but the only reason I'm appealing that is for the health insurance as once I find a permanent job, I'll earn enough money to support myself. I was told that the vast majority of people who apply for SSI are turned down, but usually the appeal works and you get approved.

I currently live of a disability welfare.
Here in the Netherlands practicly all authistic people around my age live off of that.
However on top of that practicly all of us are also working for free to gain experience for a paid job.
I should be out of this welfare and into a paid job next year.
Than i can say bye bye to the measily 750 a month

I'm a grad student with an ongoing assistantship so I get about $13,000 to live off of per year. Once I start teaching undergrads (semester after the next, knock on wood) it'll be a wee bit closer to $20,000, but still relatively meager.

Years ago I had the opportunity to go on SSI. When I was a teenager I was diagnosed with childhood schizophrenia. I was also diagnosed as autistic when I was a toddler. Nobody told me I had Asperger's Syndrome until I was 22 years old, but my psychiatrist had known for some time. (He is/was one of the foremost experts in it on the West Coast).

Sometimes I think being a quote-unquote "welfare bum" wouldn't be so bad. I'm a lazy mo'fo and loathe the very notion of labor. But I figure if I have to work it ought to be academics. Not because I'm elitist, but because it's the only job that I can handle. I think I'm gonna start another thread.