How Do I Go About Applying for SSI?

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Yeah, try the vocational rehab people... you never know, they might be willing to pay for training. And you can keep using their services even when you are on SSI. Employment is always better than SSI, if you can sustain it. (You know, without burning out and landing your sorry butt in the hospital, like I did. Twice. Know your limits...) At worst, maybe they could help you find part-time or volunteer work that would help you get some skills that would eventually make you more employable...

My experience with these things is that you really need to take the shotgun approach and apply for everything you might possibly qualify for and be prepared to go through multiple appeals and rejections. SSI, SSDI, vocational rehab, food assistance, whatever you can go for, it all helps paint the portrait of someone who's in real need and trying to help them self.

It also helps to modify your appearance a bit if necessary when you actually go in to interview; take out piercings, cover tattoos, that sort of thing. The SS people in particular often have this idea that everyone applying is a low life trying to take advantage of them, so looking clean cut and straight laced actually can be beneficial.

Get cracking on this stuff, because even if you have to appeal and such your benefits will be back-dated to the date of application and you'll get a lump sum check for the months it took to get approved, which would probably help get your mom off your back.

If you do want a lawyer, there might be either a way to get financial assistance paying for a lawyer or a place in your area that provides free legal advice to people who cannot afford a lawyer.

I don't know what state you live in, but sometimes they have online applications...you just have to find the site for the SSI in your state, and send that in. Then usually they contact you to ask more questions and such, basically to determine if you fit their disability standard...but a lot of times you'll get denied the first time and might have to appeal. As far as I know its kind of complicated and you have to keep at it, I have tried to apply again but I haven't gotten any contact back so I might need to call or send in another application....but yeah the application starts the process and they usually contact you to tell you what they need from you.

I honesty think you're going to have to find something you can handle.

You could clean offices. A lot of offices hire after-hours/night cleaning people...

You could be a filler. A lot of offices around here hire people to file papers in folders.

There are so many people with incredible disabilities that I honestly can't imagine you truly getting SSI for the rest of your life.
There's a girl at my grocery store who is paralyzed and has a trach... can only speak with the implant in her throat. There's a volunteer at the local zoo who is missing an arm. There's a guy at my fast food restaurant who has prosthetic legs and very severe mental retardation.

I'm not mimalizing your issues. But, there are people with very, very severe disabilities-- mental and physical-- that I have seen denied SSI. I can't imagine you competing against them and landing SSI.

Food stamps? Yes. But, you have to be looking for a job. And, the money your mom gives you would affect what you receive.

Sometimes we just have to deal with freaking out and melting down... just to have a job. We have to learn to support ourselves, if nothing else, because that's all we can do.

You might try asking the local Goodwill and Red Cross. Sometimes Goodwill has job placement programs for those with special needs. Other local charities do they same. They find special jobs for "special" needs people. They're not high-paying jobs (usually). They're not even fun jobs. But, they help you find a job that YOU can do. Those job placement programs provide a great service.

I was rejected outright because I don't have enough work history.
Thanks for the help, everyone.

I hope they were at least nice to you. When I went just to inquire about food stamps and medicaid, everyone was really short with me and wouldn't answer my questions, so I had to apply without knowing if I qualified for either, and I finally sat down with this case worker who told me I did not qualify for medicaid because I'm not pregnant or disabled and I don't qualify for food stamps because I moved in with my mom so we could help each other out, meaning that we share some meals occasionally, and she's above the poverty line even though I'm not.

The case worker then asked me if I wanted to cancel my applications, and I said yes. I got a letter a month later saying I had been denied for the applications that were *supposed* to be cancelled. Now, that means if I become pregnant or disabled and need medicaid, it's going to be that much harder to get it.

I wish I were rich so I could help you :-/