I live in Canada and have been on disability since I was about 20 or 21. I tried to go to college straight out of high school for 10 months. I managed to complete the program, but towards the end I couldn't function to complete the practicum to get the certificate, not getting a job in what I went to school for.
While being on disability, I also worked for a few months cleaning at a resort and cleaning two small offices that was arranged through a program for people with mental health issues, but the pay was quite low and I ended up getting too sick to keep doing that.
It took me several years to find something I felt I could do, which is working from home a few hours a week and still being on disability. It gives me something to keep me busy, but I would like nothing more than to one day be able to work outside of the home and get off of disability. While it is good to have a safety net, it can also make you feel inadequate, even if you've never really had a 'real' job before.
While being on disability, I also worked for a few months cleaning at a resort and cleaning two small offices that was arranged through a program for people with mental health issues, but the pay was quite low and I ended up getting too sick to keep doing that.
It took me several years to find something I felt I could do, which is working from home a few hours a week and still being on disability. It gives me something to keep me busy, but I would like nothing more than to one day be able to work outside of the home and get off of disability. While it is good to have a safety net, it can also make you feel inadequate, even if you've never really had a 'real' job before.