Help Social Security Disability

[lifesucksiguess]

I've been in the process to seek disability benefits in the United States. I am going to start speaking with a lawyer soon.

Does anyone know if lawyers in Washington State are mandatory reporters? I want to tell them that I have a plan to kill myself to see if it will help my case. I would want to let them know that I have N to show them that I mean what I say. I would tell my psychiatrist or my therapist, but they are mandatory reporters and they will commit me if I do so. I don't want my place to be searched and my N confiscated.

I am considering giving social security the chance to help me out before I ctb. One of my biggest stressors is having to waste so much of my life at a job to get the resources to survive. Who knows, maybe without that stress things will get a bit better.

 

[unperson]

Fuck... I am compelled to be honest and I don't know how it will be for you and how it is in your state but my experience with wanting to get ssi has been awful. Because I'm not too knowledgeable about this stuff all I can do is share my experience with you.

I'm pretty sure they're not mandatory reporters; that said, I have no idea how they would react. Also my experience has been an awful push and pull deal of the lawyers wanting me to really try to convince the professionals I see to put in a word for my case as if it's dependent on that factor; and the professionals either not taking my dysfunction seriously or saying they'd submit the basic information but can't 'state whether or not I'm incapable of working sufficiently and therefore need disability' and I, the mentally ill insecure fuck, am caught in-between this tormenting shit storm of legal and medical and social bullshit and then even if I want to ctb, it's probably not considered valid evidence unless it was explicitly stated in the treatment notes which would mean actually telling the therapist/psych and possibly getting involuntary inpatient; so like I'm competent to be forced to fend for myself to survive and in conjunction somehow have a life worth living but not to make a decision as an adult to choose if I want to live or die? What kind of horseshit is that?

And the professionals are responsible for reporting potential suicidality and whatnot, oh but they're not responsible if that ends up causing additional trauma and more harm than good and they're also not responsible for adequately helping me win a disability case so my life can be a little less hopeless bleak and intolerable; or if I end up homeless and suffer from treatment resistant mental illness preventing me from coping with the perils of insufferable squalor. Gee how convenient for them.

Ok that was a little self-centered and rant-driven and also I don't live in your state or have your life; so I really hope that the conditions for you are such that you don't go through the same kinda aforementioned difficulties and I also think it's worth a try. You deserve to give this a chance because it's worth trying and possibly will lead to some relief and the opportunity to enjoy doing things you like while having some financial security. If it doesn't work out I'm sorry but give it a chance first and ask the legal representative these kind of questions, they won't do anything over you just asking hypothetical questions.

 

[saltshaker]

If you're hanging your hopes on the American welfare system you're going to be let down.

 

[lifesucksiguess]

Fuck... I am compelled to be honest and I don't know how it will be for you and how it is in your state but my experience with wanting to get ssi has been awful. Because I'm not too knowledgeable about this stuff all I can do is share my experience with you.

I'm pretty sure they're not mandatory reporters; that said, I have no idea how they would react. Also my experience has been an awful push and pull deal of the lawyers wanting me to really try to convince the professionals I see to put in a word for my case as if it's dependent on that factor; and the professionals either not taking my dysfunction seriously or saying they'd submit the basic information but can't 'state whether or not I'm incapable of working sufficiently and therefore need disability' and I, the mentally ill insecure fuck, am caught in-between this tormenting shit storm of legal and medical and social bullshit and then even if I want to ctb, it's probably not considered valid evidence unless it was explicitly stated in the treatment notes which would mean actually telling the therapist/psych and possibly getting involuntary inpatient; so like I'm competent to be forced to fend for myself to survive and in conjunction somehow have a life worth living but not to make a decision as an adult to choose if I want to live or die? What kind of horseshit is that?

And the professionals are responsible for reporting potential suicidality and whatnot, oh but they're not responsible if that ends up causing additional trauma and more harm than good and they're also not responsible for adequately helping me win a disability case so my life can be a little less hopeless bleak and intolerable; or if I end up homeless and suffer from treatment resistant mental illness preventing me from coping with the perils of insufferable squalor. Gee how convenient for them.

Ok that was a little self-centered and rant-driven and also I don't live in your state or have your life; so I really hope that the conditions for you are such that you don't go through the same kinda aforementioned difficulties and I also think it's worth a try. You deserve to give this a chance because it's worth trying and possibly will lead to some relief and the opportunity to enjoy doing things you like while having some financial security. If it doesn't work out I'm sorry but give it a chance first and ask the legal representative these kind of questions, they won't do anything over you just asking hypothetical questions.

I know someone who has gotten disability for depression, so it can be done. By my own metrics, I am a much better candidate on paper. That said, I know it is a long shot. A lot of it is how well you can play into the system. Truthfully, that is something I am not good at. I am hoping that my past record is enough for my case because I don't want to be put into another psychiatric hospital. If I have to check myself in again then I might do that.

If you're hanging your hopes on the American welfare system you're going to be let down.

Yeah, I don't have high hopes but I figured it is worth a shot. I honestly doubt that even if I am awarded disability it will be enough. But it would be better than not having it.

 

[western_heart]

Good luck. I filed for social security disability for depression and was denied after appeal/hearing. Biggest problem for me: most of the medical records that support my disability were not considered since they were from the years before I filed, when I was still employed and struggling to work. Back then, I saw a doctor who was supportive of me going on disability, but I moved away after I stopped work and could no longer see him.
By the time I applied, I was seeing a psychiatrist who was unsupportive of my disability AND unwilling to provide any treatment beyond antipsychotics or hospitalization. I declined antipsychotics since I'd already tried that class of drugs & declined hospitalization out of fear. I think being hospitalized would be traumatic for me, especially if him/his hospital was involved, and the risk of increased suicidality after getting out doesn't seem worth it. I have never been hospitalized and have no documented suicide attempts, having those may have helped my case.
one of my lawyers wanted me to try to work during the application process, implying that I would likely fail & that would help my case. Other than that, my lawyers provided me with very little direction when it came to getting doctors to take me seriously and write favorable reports. I'm not sure if telling them I was suicidal would have made a difference (at the time, I had a method which I did not disclose to them)

My current therapist (psychologist with a PhD) wrote a favorable report a few months before my hearing, but the judge said she was not credible. I really wish I'd started seeing her earlier so I had a longer documented history with her & also wish I found a better psychiatrist back then. I've always denied the full extent of my suicidal desires, so finding good providers still might not have been enough to win.

After the denial came, my attorney suggested I work with a state program for finding employment. Sometimes I wonder if I should do that... My family expects me to work again someday but I don't think I will.

I didn't expect to/count on winning SSDI, but I had to apply to get money from an employer long-term disability plan.

One of my biggest stressors is having to waste so much of my life at a job to get the resources to survive. Who knows, maybe without that stress things will get a bit better

once I stopped working things got better for me for awhile, but I eventually ran out of settlement/retirement money...

 

[Rayzieka]

I highly recommend you don't tell them about the N. I don't know if they're mandatory reporters or not but just because they aren't doesn't mean they won't tell on you. And if you make threats against your life to anyone you'll probably be placed in a psych ward.
Everyone told me SSDI would be hard to get and probably take a year, but I applied and got approved and received my check all in under 3 months.
I think having the records of attempting to get help ( going to a therapist and trying medications ) plays a big factor in getting approved.
For me I also wrote a two page long letter about my condition and explained why it's keeping me from working.
So that might've played a part as well. Good luck.

 

[lifesucksiguess]

I highly recommend you don't tell them about the N. I don't know if they're mandatory reporters or not but just because they aren't doesn't mean they won't tell on you. And if you make threats against your life to anyone you'll probably be placed in a psych ward.
Everyone told me SSDI would be hard to get and probably take a year, but I applied and got approved and received my check all in under 3 months.
I think having the records of attempting to get help ( going to a therapist and trying medications ) plays a big factor in getting approved.
For me I also wrote a two page long letter about my condition and explained why it's keeping me from working.
So that might've played a part as well. Good luck.

My thinking was that an attorney might be bound to not tell, depending on how the law works.

I've been in the process for over a year now. I've decided to try a lawyer because they're not considering my childhood and they haven't been bringing my case up to date with the psychiatrists/social workers I've been seeing over the past year.

I've been told that I my best bet is being considered a disabled adult child. But that won't happen unless they actually consider my childhood records, which is also the strongest evidence I have. It will also give me benefits based off of my parents' work records.

When I turned 18 I took it as an opportunity to get some of my freedom back. As a result, my record is pretty sparse in between my 18th birthday and ~2 years ago. I wish I knew to apply for social security disability back then. If I did it then I would have probably been given it, but because I don't have good records after I turned 18 it is making it more difficult. That said, being free from the mental health system was great. I generally felt a lot better for those years.

Doesn't mean that I wasn't having problems during that time. I've worked a few jobs but I've needed to keep the hours low. The most I have ever worked is ~20 hours on a very busy week. I've only been able to work ~10 hours/week before I start getting very suicidal.

It's a shame that I can't tell people that I do have a plan and I have the means to kill myself. It would be a very good piece of evidence. I get asked in each one of my psychiatrist sessions about my suicidal feelings, and I always have to lie and tell them I only passively wish to die because it is the closest I can get without being a considered a risk to myself.

But I will never tell them because they'll just confiscate my stuff and put me in another psych ward. Then I will have to wait awhile before people stop watching me and I can start planning again. Plus, I'll be out a decent chunk of money. At least my last suicide attempt only cost me ~$50.

 

[lifesucksiguess]

So I found this https://www.courts.wa.gov/court_rules/?fa=court_rules.display&group=ga&ruleid=garpc1.06&set=rpc

(b) A lawyer to the extent the lawyer reasonably believes necessary:

(1) shall reveal information relating to the representation of a client to prevent reasonably certain death or
substantial bodily harm;

I don't live in Washington, but my attorney will. I assume an attorney is bound by their own jurisdiction and not my own state.

This article seems to imply a lawyer can break confidentiality, and consult other professionals if they believe that you are suicidal.

A Client Threatens Suicide — What Can You Do?

Information on how to handle situations when a client is in crisis.

www.lawyersmutualnc.com

A client's expressed suicidal thoughts or intentions is one of the most difficult scenarios we will face as lawyers. If you ever find yourself in that situation, know that it is not professional misconduct for a lawyer, acting reasonably and in good faith, to exercise her professional judgment to disclose or not to disclose in this most delicate and critical of situations. Evaluate the credibility of the threats to the best of your ability -- and with any assistance that may be available -- and then use your best judgment to determine whether it is reasonably necessary to reveal the client's suicidal intent to others.

It seems to say it is generally up to the discretion of the lawyer to decide if they want to report their client if they find the threat credible.

I guess I will need to keep my secret and find some other way to show them I am not functioning.

 

[faex42]

What impresses reviewers and judges is that the person cannot function in any kind of work enivironment regardless if they are in therapy or taking medication. Punto.
Having the means and intent to cbt will be regarded as an unhelpful distraction. They likely think that people can be very suicidal right now but might feel less so in a month or so. Or in other words, the person is reacting to an emergency and might not be chronically dysfunctional. Suicidal ideation if included with more "vegetative" symptoms might help a little but not as much as people think. They want to know whether you might be work capable. A person with a history of acting out or not being able to follow directions due to depression and thereby getting fired job after job after job is a much better candidate for approval.
Always have a lawyer. For the Love of all that is Holy get a lawyer who specializes in disability work.