Disabled, Yet Unable To Qualify For Any Benefits State Or Federal Because Of Employment Status

[SeanCharles]

@Confused Wingless Thank you!

 

[SeanCharles]

One of the things that I have been dealing with ever since I was first in grocery and even now in the deli is my anger manifesting in a form of rebellion under extreme stress/anxiety. While I now know that this PTSD and is funneled through my DID neither conditions the company knows about because of my resistance to disclose WHAT my disabilities ARE.

These blow ups have been occurring as far back as my teen years and perhaps even earlier without understanding then as I do now. While my control of this anger is not as loose cannon since I realized and have implemented a means of management, the stressors and the fact that with exceptions (even though someone in me has issues) the direct manager and a few under her are women of authority which is an issue that stems to my childhood trauma, I realize this is not an excuse, but it is part of the PTSD, yet explaining myself is not going to happen.

Another fear I have is, Upon filing for Short-Term Disability with the company, will they finally learn what my disabilities are despite the fact that they can't rightfully ask directly? I almost don't really care if they choose to terminate me once I go on leave, the question for me to answer here is WHEN. My concern here though is that me and Ms Sheba are not in an apartment, so moving to a smaller place definitely is not an option. When I realized at the time that she was not an apartment dog, I moved forward with a decision that I had to fight for in ways to overcome. I am writing this as an individual homeowner with PTSD!

At least I know I have a shot with the state in determining what my actually disability status is. I know to a point that I do get an ADA ID card which qualifies me for a reduced rate on bus fare, that ID is stamped permanent.

Most likely, your employers are using tactics to get you to quit. Hang in there if you can. Especially if you are unable to do the work. It is counted as "the inability to give the employers the work standards that are necessary." I hope this helps. Even though I did work, I wasn't able to perform like I did before my breakdowns.

@Confused Wingless I have in ways suspected this recently. My problem is with this is that I can't quit for the wrong reasons. I am half tempted to look at my employee record.

I know for a fact that I'm not the only disabled employee in the company either, yet I am more function and can work more hours than another co-worker who is non-union and works fewer hours in another department.

It was buying this house and approaching my adversary agency (Vocational Rehabilitation) that prompted me, merely forced me into the hell I am in.

Without realizing that the open window could have been what it may have been, I closed it without realizing what the consequences I am facing now, although had I not closed it then, I can't say I would be writing this here now... Many decisions I realize after they've been made do have a purpose moving me forward even through trials and tribulations of fire like I one I am in now.

 

[AngelKeeperJ]

I hope that you have contacted SSD...you may have said so earlier...but your case will date back to when you first called.

I don't believe that they can fire you while you are out on sick leave. I should have used better judgement and not drawn blood while on medical leave, just because I was there at the time. I worked for a large HMO, and their bottom line is saving money. You might talk to a disability attorney, sometimes they will consult for free.

Best of luck!!! Don't give up or give in. You DO have a right to see your employment file. A supervisor may be able to sit in with you, but if you do, don't say a word about what is there.

Blessings of peace & wisdom being sent your way!!! :hug:

 

[Deleted member 20280]

@Geordie I am with you 100% on this one.

Here in the UK they have abolished Disability Benefits entirely and replaced them with a totally **** system that we have to "qualify" for depending on our "social needs".

I have been informed this week that when I was made "unemployed" nearly a year ago my case worker THEN! should have put me forward for the extra benefits. Only problem is this ..... I do Not need assistance 100% of the time as PTSD has good times and Bad times.

As they (the Social Security) cannot quantify my 'disability' they find it hard to understand my actual needs.

@Geordie mate.... the Benefit and disability system in both our countries needs a sharp, swift and very very HARD! kick up the proverbial ******* to put it bluntly..

I say no more on the matter apart from this.

We, you and I and so many others all suffer day by day with this 'Injury' maybe it's about time someone with a small amount of common sense actually stopped for a moment and listened to US the Sufferers!

Massive :hug:s bro

Laurie

 

[SeanCharles]

My last application (which was either pending and then closed because I failed to return some paperwork which part of which was to be completed by my employer; was 2010. I failed to have my employer fill out the paperwork because of something I wasn't sure existed and I wasn't comfortable having them complete this. One of the questions referred to a Subsidy which I am not sure exists in my situation... I know that I am paid the same wages, It's not because they deduct work related expenses unlike my non disabled co-workers, It's because like my co-workers we're union.

The only service that I received and was paid for outside of the company was job coaching which my management likely feels is needed. I terminated that service because in many ways I wasn't happy with the non-profit receiving the grant money that paid for this service AND in part something my Store Sales Director said to myself and a job coach in a meeting when the offer to move to the deli department with more hours was offered (as a correction to a problem that was discovered several years earlier in 2010 when our store was in the remodel and the Store Director transferred to the other local store because of his lack of remodel experience from what I understand.)

Not realizing that one of the key issues I was having with grocery was a female with authority, I went to the Store Director with a complaint against her which is how the deli offer was first offered to begin with when it came to me and cashier training, which would have been a three day class REQUIRING me to have been able to identify 60 produce codes with 80% accuracy. With the deli offer I was offered the opportunity to cashier training (a one day class) which removed several of the issues I would have dealt with in the 3 day class.

 

[KwanYingirl]

@SeanGeo
I'm a little late in this thread. It took 2 years for my application for SSDI was approved. I was permanently disabled to working around toxic fumes. Also if I found work, it had to be part time.

I worked with Vocational Rehabilitation to find work I could do. I was broke for four years. I did find work in a nontoxic field and am on the Ticket to Work program of working while collecting SSDI.

There are guidelines for working that you can read on Social Security website.

Any determination they make starts two years after the disability began. You'll need docs to support you and may be asked to be seen by a third party. It can't hurt to get the ball rolling and get your application in. Everything takes so long. I have to be very careful not to earn more than $1,000 a month in addition to my SSDI benefit.
If I can help you understand the system please ask.

 

[Don't trip]

Hello,

I'm late replying to this thread and I've not been on the forum for a long time.

Anyway, I applied for SSI two years ago in March. Due to lifetime of exposure to pathological individuals and extreme abuse, I've suffered immensely with PTSD, Major Depression and I have several chronic illnesses that are subjective, with only a few validated by tests. I have a lengthy mental health record that my attorney's have in their possession. I raised six kids alone and without any child support, exception one year while my ex was on probation. I attended college part time for many years, and with loans and grants it helped me to make it through as well as being a very good student and excelling.....except for my PTSD, depression, etc. I could never complete what I started. I've lived in a state of hypervigilance most of my life. I'm terrorized by authority figures and have extremes in social phobia and I isolate. I cannot tolerate stressful environments. Not only do I have PTSD, but I"m also a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) and an introvert by nature.

Any perceived 'threat' or criticism viewed by me means complete shut down or overreacting inappropriately.

A few folks have shared here that those gaming the system make it hard for those who really need it. This happens a lot with SSDI folks vs. SSI folks. I get it from all sides.

After the living hell this has been for me in waiting for a hearing, and in reference to your concerns about being jobless and being able to pay your bills, I can't tell you it would be any less then hell in waiting. I've made it through two years of waiting and not working, with no work history for the past 25 years. But with the love of friends and family who have helped get my bills paid while I wait for my hearing, which should be any day now, I'm barely barely surviving. I've learned that waiting for a hearing, in itself is traumatic when you have no income or way to support yourself because your limitations prevent you from working. My attorney knows clients who are homeless. How anyone could game the system without lining up doctors and specialists and therapists to validate their supposed pretentious claim is beyond me. You have to have substantial proof that you're disabled. I can't imagine that anyone gets disability because they are fraudulent.

I prefer not to assume about others, sitting here saying they are not disabled or that they're frauds. Why? Well, I remind myself that my PTSD, Depression, Fibromyalgia, Hashimoto's disease, Lupus, etc, etc, etc, are invisible illnesses. Just because someone is able to go to the grocery store, or drive, or whatever, does not mean they are not disabled. I wish those applying would try to remember this because there are folks out there who probably believe that you are gaming the system too. Right now, society is not nice to those applying for any type of governmental assistance.


Having said that, I understand just where you are, even though it was not a job that I struggled with but instead it was school. I kept going until I could not do it any longer. I applied for disability several years ago, then as my hearing date approached, I could not validate my own disabilities, internalizing so many voices around me who thought I was not sick enough to continue through the process. So in bailing from my claim, I went back to school again and was a dismal fail. At the time, I was not aware of my limitations in that something was quite wrong with me, but not knowing what it was. I just thought it was not enough 'positive thinking' that prevented success. Anyway, you're between a rock and a hard place. Keep going until you have a meltdown, or continue anyway. You could also apply and still work. I have a friend who worked right up until the day she won her benefits, part time. She had no choice and many people don't. Either way, it's a difficult decision and the support for those filing is very, very slim.

In conclusion, your claim ultimately is decided by the ALJ. This is what determines whether you win your claim or not. I've found out the hard way that you could have an excellent air tight case to present, the best attorney hired and still lose if the judge is a 'denier'. We have a few in our jurisdiction, one that approves only 15% of cases. Then we have one that approves 82% of cases.

I've read much about how people perceive those applying for disability. There are those in my attorney's office who believe that half are applying who really don't 'need' it. These people are weeded out early on. I think it's critical to share something I've learned that I hope helps others here struggling with PTSD and other health or mental health problems and something that tripped me up the first time I applied several years back: what affects me that becomes an impairment, may not affect someone else the same way. There might be those who have suffered greatly with abuse as I have, yet are able to maintain their jobs and relationships, but I have not been able too. There are personal factors relevant to each of us that may not be to someone else. This is why I think it's so important not to judge someone else in saying they're fraudulent, faking or whatever because you're falling into the same trap that others fall into when perceiving you as not needing it.

Just because you can make a store trip, or because you can sit online and type, does not mean you are not limited in a severe way. Food for thought and good luck with whatever you choose to do. It's a very difficult, traumatic and painful process.