Is anyone here on disability for their mood disorder? Pros and cons?

[onlyeverexisting]

I can't even fathom having to go to a job everyday right now. But bills are starting to pile up, so I've got to do something soon. Anyone been in a similar situation?

 

[BPD Barbie]

I claim welfare cheques in the UK for my Bipolar and BPD. It's not a lot, but it helps pay the bills. I get the higher premium as well because I've been so unwell mentally. It's better than me trying but failing to hold down a job. Hope you are able to get something sorted, I know how stressful money can be and it can make situations worse.

 

[Deleted member 10475]

I'm on it, here in the US.

I originally applied for it years ago, maybe 2014. I'm working a small job now, but it's always been hard for me to keep one for too long due to my ptsd.

I'm not sure where you are, but it's really hard to get on it here. I was denied first and had to get a lawyer to help me with my case, but they want you to give up so you have to keep fighting.

Another con is the pay. It definitely helps and it's nice to have some extra income for bills, but I only get $500 a month. Thankfully I'm still at home, otherwise I'd never be able to survive on it, especially here in NYC. I think the more work history you have, the bigger amount you'll get each month.

You'll also have to be in therapy and to have them help back you up on your condition being bad enough that you can't work.

I'm rambling lol but I've just had a lot of experience with this. If you're in the US, I can give more advice. There's so many resources for people like us, so I always want to give out as much info as I can.

 

[feast or famine]

I'm on it, here in the US.

I originally applied for it years ago, maybe 2014. I'm working a small job now, but it's always been hard for me to keep one for too long due to my ptsd.

I'm not sure where you are, but it's really hard to get on it here. I was denied first and had to get a lawyer to help me with my case, but they want you to give up so you have to keep fighting.

Another con is the pay. It definitely helps and it's nice to have some extra income for bills, but I only get $500 a month. Thankfully I'm still at home, otherwise I'd never be able to survive on it, especially here in NYC. I think the more work history you have, the bigger amount you'll get each month.

You'll also have to be in therapy and to have them help back you up on your condition being bad enough that you can't work.

I'm rambling lol but I've just had a lot of experience with this. If you're in the US, I can give more advice. There's so many resources for people like us, so I always want to give out as much info as I can.

I'm trying to look into this for myself (I'm in the US). Where does one even start to apply for this? Any info would be appreciated.

 

[Brick In The Wall]

I'm trying to look into this for myself (I'm in the US). Where does one even start to apply for this? Any info would be appreciated.

This is typically handled by the Social Security/Disability department in your local area. You should be able to find a phone number for your local Social Security office online. With covid I can almost guarantee you'll have to set up an appointment to get an application.

 

[Myforevercharlie]

I do. I get about 600 euros a month because of my BPD, Anxiety Disorder and depression.
It's not much, but working isn't an option anymore.

 

[Deleted member 10475]

I'm trying to look into this for myself (I'm in the US). Where does one even start to apply for this? Any info would be appreciated.

How I personally did was going through a legal aid lawyer, since I didn't have any money for a big time one. They're free and pretty great, they do all the legwork for you in applying and all that stuff.

 

[onlyeverexisting]

I'm on it, here in the US.

I originally applied for it years ago, maybe 2014. I'm working a small job now, but it's always been hard for me to keep one for too long due to my ptsd.

I'm not sure where you are, but it's really hard to get on it here. I was denied first and had to get a lawyer to help me with my case, but they want you to give up so you have to keep fighting.

Another con is the pay. It definitely helps and it's nice to have some extra income for bills, but I only get $500 a month. Thankfully I'm still at home, otherwise I'd never be able to survive on it, especially here in NYC. I think the more work history you have, the bigger amount you'll get each month.

You'll also have to be in therapy and to have them help back you up on your condition being bad enough that you can't work.

I'm rambling lol but I've just had a lot of experience with this. If you're in the US, I can give more advice. There's so many resources for people like us, so I always want to give out as much info as I can.

US here too. You're not rambling at all, I'd really appreciate any advice you have.

I'm worried that they'd look at my history and decide I'm too functional, and wonder why I can't just get back to that. I was high-functioning for a very long time, (only because I couldn't stand to be alone with myself) save being on meds for a decade now and a few hospitalizations. I got into a good school (even though I ended up dropping out), was able to hold down a job, the bit. The last job I had, I held down for a year and was even promoted. Of course, I've wanted to die every second of every day throughout all of it for years- but hey, looks like I was doing well from the outside right?

I just don't have the energy to go through another bureaucratic battle y'know? My shit started so long ago, and I've seen how many times my mom had to fight with insurance companies to cover med changes, treatments, hospitalizations, etc. Lol, like this is something I'm choosing for myself. Now it's on me, and I can't even make doctor's appointments. But I'm not sure what other choice I have. I can't keep the facade up anymore, and the world isn't gonna wait for me.

I've been seeing my therapist for maybe 2 years now, and I'm not sure they'd back me up. I'm pretty sure they think I'm just lazy. They've told me that I'm acting like a child before.

If you're comfortable talking about it, when did your symptoms start? It sounds like it took a long time for you to finally be approved. How'd you survive in the meantime? Also, is there an asset/income cap? I've read that you can't even have a certain amount of savings or it'll be taken away. With a therapist, is it a state-appointed situation or someone you can choose yourself? Thanks for responding.

 

[Deleted member 10475]

US here too. You're not rambling at all, I'd really appreciate any advice you have.

I'm worried that they'd look at my history and decide I'm too functional, and wonder why I can't just get back to that. I was high-functioning for a very long time, (only because I couldn't stand to be alone with myself) save being on meds for a decade now and a few hospitalizations. I got into a good school (even though I ended up dropping out), was able to hold down a job, the bit. The last job I had, I held down for a year and was even promoted. Of course, I've wanted to die every second of every day throughout all of it for years- but hey, looks like I was doing well from the outside right?

I just don't have the energy to go through another bureaucratic battle y'know? My shit started so long ago, and I've seen how many times my mom had to fight with insurance companies to cover med changes, treatments, hospitalizations, etc. Lol, like this is something I'm choosing for myself. Now it's on me, and I can't even make doctor's appointments. But I'm not sure what other choice I have. I can't keep the facade up anymore, and the world isn't gonna wait for me.

I've been seeing my therapist for maybe 2 years now, and I'm not sure they'd back me up. I'm pretty sure they think I'm just lazy. They've told me that I'm acting like a child before.

If you're comfortable talking about it, when did your symptoms start? It sounds like it took a long time for you to finally be approved. How'd you survive in the meantime? Also, is there an asset/income cap? I've read that you can't even have a certain amount of savings or it'll be taken away. With a therapist, is it a state-appointed situation or someone you can choose yourself? Thanks for responding.

Well, my symptoms started a really long time ago. I'm 26 now and I've been in therapy since I was around 11/12. I was originally on disability when I was a teenager, but once you turn 18, I guess the requirements become a lot stricter so they took me off of it.

I appealed and got a really, really horrible judge who legit called me out and thought I was lying so he denied me. After that, I tried working and going back to college but I literally would only last a week before I quit. This happened continuously for a few years, and I was just having my parents support me if I wasn't working. Eventually, everyone was kinda like "You need to go back on SSDI." So, I applied again in 2015, Social Security sent me out to see their own psychiatrist and of course, they denied me. Then I reached out to a legal aid lawyer to help me appeal and build up my case until my hearing. I made sure reallyyyy communicate how debilitating my symptoms were. I talked about my social anxiety, my PTSD, my depression, and how it was affecting my day to day life. I was honest about my suicidal ideation and how I was regularly thinking about it, but I always reminded my therapist I never had any plan.

I had my hearing back in December, finally, and somehow got approved in April. In my award letter, the judge mentioned a lot of the stuff I had talked about with my therapist, mostly the suicidal thoughts. Its super frustrating dealing with the government and their bullshit, because they really don't want to hand out this sort of stuff, no matter how ill you are but you have to keep fighting because eventually, they'll bow down.

As for the income cap, I can't exactly remember but I think you can't have over 1K/2K in your savings or checking account, or they'll tell you to live off that for a few months and stop your benefits. Luckily, you can open up an ABLE account, which is a tax-advantaged savings accounts for individuals with disabilities. So you can totally save as much as you want without penalty.


Also, It's totally okay that you have a long history! It's actually a really great thing that would help you out a ton. My insurance pays for my therapy, so I go to an agency and they randomly give you one who has spots open and if you don't vibe well with the one you're given, you can always switch to another.

 

[Racon]

Wow, I didn't think it was possible/easy to get on disability for stuff like depression and mood stuff.

 

[hatelife]

I wouldent even have tried getting one ififthats it wasnt for outside help, thats how sick I am, my parents had to work it out for me

 

[feast or famine]

How I personally did was going through a legal aid lawyer, since I didn't have any money for a big time one. They're free and pretty great, they do all the legwork for you in applying and all that stuff.

Thank you for letting me know. I had no idea about legal aid lawyers. Sounds like that is a great idea and you can't beat it being free.

This is typically handled by the Social Security/Disability department in your local area. You should be able to find a phone number for your local Social Security office online. With covid I can almost guarantee you'll have to set up an appointment to get an application.

Thank you for your info. Yeah, Covid is definitely making things more difficult, but this is a good place to start.

 

[mathieu]

I am on disability for bipolar/schizoaffective and BPD. I really can't work most of the time either. I just lie in bed 24 hours a day, pretty much.

 

[Deleted member 1465]

I have been in the support group for Employment and Support Allowance (UK) for several years. I've also been on Personal Independence Payments since around last Christmas. I wish I felt capable of working. Sometimes I feel like I could, but then I realise that I have to spend at least three hours every morning just managing my physical issues. And I have to time various things perfectly depending on what my body tells me, or I will get negligible amounts of sleep.
The only reason I regain some functionality in the afternoon, and can get any sleep, is because I spend so much time managing all the things that if you have a job, you have no choice but to take for granted.
I take nothing about my health for granted, I can't, I micro-manage and hack my biology as much as is necessary to have some stability - if I was to work, I'd be prevented from that level of self-management.
However, I wonder how much of that they took for granted in my assessments. I got the impression they were more concerned about mental health issues and much of what I have received is based on that. My mental health isn't too bad, as long as I have the luxury of time for self-care. Otherwise, it would go through the floor in a heartbeat, a fact I'm all too aware of.
A care need is still a care need, even if it is well managed.
If it's any help, when filling in the forms and having the assessments, I looked up the criteria they use to score people online, then tested myself against those criteria so I didn't miss anything. That will give you the opportunity to maximise your chances whilst answering their questions honestly.

 

[RedRumThisLoser]

I'm on disability for Schizoaffective disorder. A pro is I don't have to work a minimum wage job that I would probably hate. A con is I feel like an absolute worthless leech loser and worry about what people will think about me if they find out I'm on disability. I don't feel this way about other people on disability tho. I'm just very hard on myself.

 

[Worthless_nobody]

No because I'm in terrible US the land of the un free. All they see is I tried to get and hold a job... trying fucked me over. They don't think my mental/physical problems are bad enough to not go sit in an office chair and get bitched at by customers. That job was killing me...I leave every job I start and now I have such bad anxiety from ptsd I never leave house, drive, go to store...but I'm not "disabled enough" for them when I'm so non functioning it's not funny.....I hate this topic. Just another reason I want to ctb I can't get One Bit of help in this country but I can buy plenty of things to kill myself.

 

[http-410]

Those who aren't able to work, may I ask what you all do all day long?

I'm a wreck, and having nothing to do and being mentally underchallenged is really hard for me (which is also one of my reasons to die), but at the same time I'm just too quickly overwhelmed by everything. In addition, anxiety disorders make everything worse.

 

[Squiddy]

Those who aren't able to work, may I ask what you all do all day long?

I'm a wreck, and having nothing to do and being mentally underchallenged is really hard for me (which is also one of my reasons to die), but at the same time I'm just too quickly overwhelmed by everything. In addition, anxiety disorders make everything worse.

I sleep, watch anime, go to group therapy and learn some computer programming. Before I was in college, but I graduated and got my associate's. I'm looking to go back for my bachelor's in fall 2021

 

[DeathNoot]

Those who aren't able to work, may I ask what you all do all day long?

I'm a wreck, and having nothing to do and being mentally underchallenged is really hard for me (which is also one of my reasons to die), but at the same time I'm just too quickly overwhelmed by everything. In addition, anxiety disorders make everything worse.

I don't work (Not on disability, I'm looking at this because it would be helpful to me). I do a lot of art, and have some plants inside my place that I care for. I used to have a dog but he passed from old age. I bake sometimes. If/when you're feeling up to it you could try some random hobbies out and see how you feel about it. I'm forced to come up with a lot of things to do, since I don't really leave the house lol.