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

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Aspergers is probably the most debilitating disorder that goes uncovered by most public assistance programs, at least in the U.S. How do people with AS cope with this? At a time when competition for good jobs is fierce, how do people with AS manage the greatest beast of burdens; money and bills.

"Other," I'm dependent on my husband. I have worked, in the past, before I got married, and it always ended badly. I honestly don't know if I'll ever work again. I toy with the idea of getting a M.Ed. in special education-- I could be a literacy specialist, I think, because I wouldn't have to deal with a whole group of kids, just a few at a time. I don't know if it would be worth it, though, because my kids need me so much, and I am spread thin as it is.

I support myself by working(9.75 an hour.....I am 43 and have a useless BA in Psych)I have been homeless,on welfare had some support over the years from my parents.

"Other." I'm undiagnosed and unemployed living with my father off of money I obsessively hoarded during my last job.

I have a job, but I'm not very good at it, it won't last, and it doesn't make much money. For now I am mostly depending on my husband.

Edit: this is a depressing thread I want to be able to support myself someday

Quoted for truth...

I have a pile of cash from lawsuit, insurance, bank robbery, ect

I choose that one but many of the other apply. Had help from the government while in college , family has allways helped me some, I have worked a jobs in the past, I live fairly cheap. I can certainly live well on under $10 a day.

I am in the UK and I work 4 days a week (the most I can manage without becoming unwell) though I don't know how long it will last. I am trying my best as I enjoy the job, but I know that people there think I'm a little odd.

I also receive Disability Living Allowance, which helps a little, but is not very much money.

I live with a relative at the moment which saves money as I only pay bills - no extortionate rent. But I may have to move out soon and rents where I live are VERY high. I've thought about moving to a different area, but it would take me ages to organise support (social workers etc) in a new area and also all the places that are reasonable commuting distance from my work are pretty expensive.

If I left and moved to a less expensive area, the salaries there would be lower too, so I wouldn't actually be any better off.

I think that we should at least get prescriptions free (and assistance with special diets like GF/CF) if we are diagnosed or if we can show that we need the medication over a long period (as opposed to 1 week of antibiotics). You can get prescriptions free for some conditions, but not others - which is prejudiced. ALL diagnosed conditions should equal free prescriptions, not just a few.

The option "spouse works" should be included in the poll.

My wife works, I am going to college, and when I'm done with school I'll hopefully find a suitable job.

It does not seem true to me that AS is not covered by public assistance programs in the USA. The state government here pays for all my college costs (tuition fees, books, supplies, and anything else that might come up), and will continue to do so until I have my Master's degree. I also get to ride the bus for free, and have free entrance to the zoo... These benefits are based on my Aspieness, I have no other conditions that label me as "disabled".

Embezzlement.

Other. I work and I get SSI.

I think a couple are kidding, etc... I have a LOT of the ASPIE symptoms. I consider myself aspie. I make low 6 figures. If I had the same talents, was a little less honest, and more social, I could EASILY make 2-3 times as much. But HEY, what I am making is like 3 times the national average. I made a couple big mistakes early on, etc... but I really could end up with an OK retirement.

I DO look normal, try to act kind of normal, don't do obvious stims, etc... But HEY, I work with people worse off than I am that probably make something close to what I do.

So I probably won't work in sales, management, entertainment, etc... OH WELL!

Anyway, don't be so depressed. You may come back in a few years and LAUGH at this.

BTW I had my WHOLE LIFE planned out before I was 5! I'm not as good at math as I wanted. I changed to computers from electronics because prototyping is easier. I ended up making MORE than I planned because of inflation, etc.... I just wish I knew about AS, and planned accordingly. Otherwise, I did ok.

Steve

Last edited by SteveK on 15 Apr 2007, 1:04 pm, edited 1 time in total.

I've been working and making enough to pay my own way for 22 years.

I work for $10.00 per hour, but I can some times work up to 10 to 20 hours
of overtime every week (At $15.00/hr). My rent is a little under $400.00 per month gas and electricity
included. I'm doing ok.

i work p/t, corvus would be happy to know that i am no loger on foodstamps because i am worth more than $3,000

I work for 11.60 an hour with benefits and have been working that job almost a year, but who knows how long it will last, as I am seeing cracks in that security forming every day . I have a completely useless BA in Sociology . I was looking for a job when I found this one, so I could be looking for a job when I leave this one, too. Its just one damned thing after another!

This is the best I have done in about 7 years, since last year this time I was living in my friends gardening shack w/ no electricity for a couple of years while I took myself off Celexa cold turkey.

I have 8 more years until I qualify for age 65 retirement. It's just happy happy, joy, joy all the time in my life!


Merle