Reluctant To Apply For Ssi/ssdi, Experiences Anyone?

[Tribulations]

We're going to be doing the application today, after we do our weekend chores. My girlfriend is being supportive, as she knows this is hard for me. Which is good, it makes me feel slightly better.

Safenow my girlfriend brought that up actually, but she is being patient with me. The income will definitely help, just gotta figure out this guilty feeling.

Therapybankrupt, does this apply if my files are in my home state and I have since moved to another state? I don't have a therapist, working on getting to a point where I can trust one again. I also don't have insurance anymore, so that could pose a problem.

 

[pumpkinpie]

Hi Tribulations, I applied exactly 4 years ago for SSI/SSD. I never had to go in for an appointment at any government offices, but I did have to go to an appointment with a pschologist selected by SS. It wasn't long and the guy was very nice. I didn't have an attorney, and received word in 6 months that I was eligible, and started getting payments and back payments a month later.

SSI is for the times when you are/were indigent and couldn't make your usual income due to your disability. SSD eligibility begins 6 months after the date of disability. It's important to let them know when the disability first caused a problem with your income, as well as when you became completely disabled. So apply for both!

The more records there are showing that you have sought treatment for your disability, and over a long period of time, the better. You will just need to provide the dates/providers/places/addresses (if you have them) of treatment, and SS will find any place that has closed.

It doesn't hurt to periodically call the SS office once your file has been assigned to a particular worker, to find out what records they are still waiting for. That's the thing that most often holds up a determination, so if you know which places records haven't been obtained, there is where you can do something - by calling, writing or visiting (best) their medical records department and getting things moving. Just don't call the SS person too often.

You don't need an attorney at first, usually. Most applications are turned down the first time, so if you do get turned down, you may want to consider doing the appeal on your own, and only hiring a disability attorney if the second application is denied.

Eligibility for medical insurance will depend on your monthly benefit amount. Right now, you should be signed up for Medical Assistance, food "stamps", and cash assistance if your income meets the guidelines. Once you start getting monthly SSD payments, your income may exceed the guidelines and there will be a period in which you have neither (although that may have changed with Obamacare). Medicare eligibility begins 2 years after your SSD eligible date, which is 6 months after your disability date.

Whew! I sure hope you were asking about SSD in the US! Good luck, and I hope this helps. :)

 

[Tribulations]

Well I didn't get to do it this weekend, it got super cold where I live and I had to spend my time insulating what I could, with what little we have. Trying to not use the heater so much so electricity isn't over 300 bucks again. I'm going to shut off our breaker and have the gf check the meter outside. I think someone is stealing electricity or the wiring in this place is just that bad. 2 bed 2 bath apartments shouldn't run that high, especially when nothing is ever on really. Sorry for the rant.

Anyhow we will be applying before or after she goes to work. I am kind of glad I got preoccupied with house work this weekend. It gave me time to really process this mentally, which is good. I'm more comfortable with idea now, still beating myself up for it though. It's hard to explain but it's like a voice in the back of my head is telling me tsk tsk tsk. I am going to guess and say that doing things alone and a delusional level of pride has been super engraved in my brain.

Pumpkinpie, thank you for sharing your experience with me. The more stories I read about everyone's experience, the more comfortable I get with this whole thing.

I would visit the state office where I was admitted but I moved across the country (USA). So there goes that unfortunately. I also have a record in my mother's state when I was admitted. Which is a state away so I could try to visit, but I don't remember the name of the place. I know 2 of the places I went to are shut down but I am not sure of the others, going to have to research that.

I wish I wasn't so reluctant or felt so wrong about this. I guess I'm just dealing with admitting I am not strong enough to do this alone anymore. Admitting that I can't do something is hard for me, I try to excel at anything I do. Perfectionism is a pain sometimes. I just keep thinking "How did it come to this, where did I go wrong?" or "Why can't I do this anymore?". Then I start thinking of opportunities that got shut down, and where I would be if they hadn't. Again sorry for the rant.

You've got to get drug through the crap, to see the glory I guess. In my case there's a lot of crap.... air freshner anyone? Lol.

I will keep you all updated, thank you again and hugs to all.

 

[pumpkinpie]

I understand the reluctance to be dependent or "on the dole" lol...I had worked since the age of 15 and had put 7 years of full time college/grad school into my career and was all full of the Protestant work ethic and all.

But all those years of work did count towards a higher monthly benefit, and remember, you paid into SS all this time and you earned it. I don't feel guilty about it one bit.

My only source of regret in this matter is that I didn't apply sooner. It just never occurred to me, and over a 10 year period my psychiatrist just watched me lose job after job and all my quality of life, until I was jobless AND homeless. It was totally preventable. Don't let it happen to you! Hey that sounds like an insurance ad, doesn't it? Hang in there. :)

 

[Tribulations]

That last part about regret really sunk in. I already regret not doing this when I was younger. I know my previous jobs paid into it, it's just feeling dependent as you said. The irony of that is I will most likely feel less dependent being dependent lol. If that makes any sense, I'm just waiting for my partner to wake up. Probably going to go back to bed and snuggle lol.

Thanks again pumpkinpie, and yeah it sounds like an insurance or lawyer ad lol! Awesome *high five*.

 

[Tribulations]

Okay this is our second attempt to apply. We both got frustrated. So, let me clarify since the information on the Social Security Administration (ssa) site is making us over think this.

Click the Social Security Insurance (ssi) tab, apply for ssi, then after 6 months go back to the website, click the disability tab and apply for Social Security Disability (ssd) correct?

Another question in regards to medical records, my girlfriend did some research and we have to pay 30 dollars for the first 15 pages and then 25 cents per page after. Now this is a huge issue.... if this is the case my charts/files are going to end up costing hundreds if not thousands of dollars. My girlfriend is going to call the state medical society to see if they have any records but if that doesn't work we're up the creek. Apparently they are 2 different agencies. EDIT: I got so flustered I forgot to ask the question errr. How do I do this without having to pay hundreds of dollars? Can my girlfriend call on my behalf? I don't talk on the phone ever, I text.

Also to get a representative, does it have to be appointed to you or can my girlfriend be my representative? I'm sorry for all the dumb questions, I assure I'm not that dumb. The site has almost too much information and personally I think it is kind of vague about some points.

Sooooo freaking frustrated right now and feel so stupid.

 

[safenow]

Hi Trib. Take some breathes, girl.

First off, you don't need all those pages of medical records. Just provide them with the names of the doctor's and/or hospitals. Secondly, your girl friend can fill out all the forms for you, then you will need to sign and verify that the information is correct.

Do you have a mental health clinic in your area? If you do, you can call there and ask them for a Case Worker. A case worker can help to expedite all of this for you.

Don't forget to keep breathing. Tell your girl friend I said hi.

 

[Tribulations]

Sorry Piratelady didn't mean to make your job harder, I will be more careful. Thank you for correcting and doing your task as a moderator :).

Thank you Safenow, we're breathing. I don't remember all the names, I remember a few but not all of the doctors. I was in a lot of places from 13 to 18, some multiple times. My memory is very spotty with past memories for some reason. My girlfriend called the state medical society, they referred her to the city hospital association, and said if they aren't there to check with the american medical association. I told her what you said about the clinic, and she says "Tell her I said hello :).".

So we shall see where this gets us, if we are still having problems I will look into a case worker. Thank you again for your patience and insight as always.

 

[pumpkinpie]

Even if you don't remember the names of your treating physicians, just telling them the name of the facility and a range of the possible date, i.e. 2002-2003, will be enough, because they will just request all the records from the institution, whether it is a hospital or a community mental health clinic. Good luck and hang in there.

 

[Tribulations]

The facility names I remember, but the problem is two of the main facilities I have the most records with are closed down. They've been closed for years, hoping to yield some results with the organizations we were referred to today. These records are at least 10 years old, the oldest being 15 or so years. Really am kicking myself in the butt for this one.

 

[safenow]

Trib, One hospital I was in during the 1960s closed, and yet in the late 1970s the records were opened and the place I went obtained them. They have even been able to dig up the records and x-rays from the 1950's, so ten or fifteen years is not all that long ago. LOL.

Dust yourself off. Get a drink of water. Step outside and breathe, then start over again. You can do this.

 

[Tribulations]

Thanks Safenow, the unknown is very nerve racking for me. I always am afraid something will go horribly wrong if I don't have my ducks in a row. Darned over thinking again lol.

I will do all except the outside thing, my neighbors have been harassing me still. It has gotten so bad that I don't eat if my girlfriend isn't here. Too much anxiety, even going to the restroom is hard because when they hear me they start banging. So I just lie in our bed with our dogs and read on my phone. It really sucks, but moving along.

I think I'm going to drink some hot tea, take an allergy pill, and prepare for the crap day I know is going to come. Maybe the allergy medicine will clear up my sinuses and knock me out lol.

Thank you both for the support, it means a lot. I hope your days go well.